From the President ~ Welcome to Cario Bands 2013-2014!
Each week beginning the first week of school you will receive the From The Band Room ("FTBR") announcements via email. The information in the FTBR is timely, detailed and important. Please make sure you read through the entire message. We will keep you up-to-date with changes to events and schedules and pass along band announcements from the Directors. The FTBR can be lengthy at times; however, this minimizes the amount of emails I have to return.
While we don't want to see anyone go, please let us know if your child will not be enrolling in band this year by emailing me at president@cariobands.org. If you have questions about the band program, our booster board is ready to help. A complete contact list is available on the website.
We hope your child will find band to be an exciting and fun experience! I'm looking forward to a fun year and to seeing you all at Fact and Fee Day or Band Night.
Hallie Knudson
President, Cario Band Booster
Fact and Fee Days ~ All Band Students
Visit the band table to pick up your child's band packet, measure for uniforms (6th Grade only), payments toward your Fair Share Assessments (FSA) and general & volunteer information.
- Your packet will include the handbook, required forms, and special information about band. No need to print out forms from the website; we will have everything ready for you.
- We will measure 6th grade students for their Polo and t-shirt (provided by the band).
- You may also make payments towards your child's Fair Share Assessment (FSA).
- Note: Completing and returning the Student Band Packet is worth a homework grade ~ due by Wednesday, August 28th for 100%.
Monday, August 12th (Last names A-K)
Tuesday, August 13th (Last names L-Z)
2 – 6:30 pm in the Cario cafeteria
Friday, August 16th (Make-up day) ~ 9 – 11 am & 2 – 4 pm Cario Media Center
Parent Band Night ~ All Band Parents
Attend Band Night for Parents ~ Thursday, August 22nd in the Cario Gym. Come meet the directors and ask questions. (We are planning to have a Notary available at the meeting so you can have the student medical form notarized. This is necessary for the 6th Grade Carowinds Trip and the Florida Trip.)
6th Grade Parents
- 6:30 – 7:15 pm ~ Parent Meeting ~ Don't Panic ~ 6th Grade Band is not life consuming!
- 7:30 – 8:30 pm ~ Music & Arts & Instrument Doc (Trombone Rentals)
- Instruments will be delivered to the Cario Band Room for Fast Start Clinic
7th & 8th Grade Parents
- 7:30 – 8:15 pm ~ Parent Meeting
The Fair Share Assessment (FSA)
FSA is $225 per student and $200 for each additional child enrolled at the same time. A minimum payment of $100 per student is required no later than Band Night, Thursday, August 22nd.
Please do not let the Band FSA keep your student from participating in band. The Cario Band Boosters have a scholarship program, and FSA waiver forms will be available at Fact and Fee. Additional information about the waiver is in the handbook.
Volunteer Opportunities ~ All Band
Yes, it's that time again. Mr. Scott requires every family to volunteer 3 hours a year. We are planning a "Packet Party" in the Band Room on August 6th and 7th and we need help on Fact & Fee Day. Look for our Volunteer email coming soon!
Cario Band Instrument Rentals
Students needing to rent instruments (i.e. Bassoon Euphonium, French Horn and Tuba) from the band program will be provided information in class once school begins. Cario Band has a few Brass and Woodwinds instruments for those who need financial assistance. Please send an email to Jeff Scott at director@cariobands.org.
6th Grade Rental Program:
Representatives from Music & Arts and the Instrument Doc will be at Band Night on August, 22nd from 7:30 ~ 8:30 pm to assist parents with instrument rentals. We provide this service as a convenience to parents; however, there may be wait times depending on the number of people needing to rent instruments. Parents may visit Music & Arts on Savannah Highway or Instrument Doc in Mt. Pleasant (Trombones only) to arrange an instrument rental or purchase at their convenience. Note: All 6th grade students will need instruments in time for the Fast Start clinics on September 4th & 5th. They won't need them in class before then.
Returning Summer Rental Instruments: 7th & 8th Grade
If you rented an instrument over the summer from Cario Bands, please return the instrument on the first day of school. If the summer rental is your home instrument and it is in good working condition, please complete the Instrument Rental Agreement Form, and return the form along with your payment on the first day of school.
SmartMusic Subscriptions ~ 7th & 8th Grade
If your student used SmartMusic over the summer, you may get a warning to renew your subscription. DON'T! Your current subscription will expire on October 1st and all students will receive a new subscription in September (this is included in your FSA).
Music Books and Other Materials ~ All Band Students
The band program provides the music books, binders and SmartMusic CD that students are required to have in class. This will be distributed during class the first week of school (yet another opportunity to volunteer!).
Uniforms ~ All Students
We will have information on everything your student needs to be properly clothed for Cario Band concerts in your Band Student Packet. The Band program takes care of fitting students for T-shirts, polo shirts, concert dresses, and concert tuxedos. We will measure 6th grade students for the uniform polo shirt and the Cario t-shirts at Fact and Fee Day.
Uniform ~ 6th Graders:
Students wear black pants from Stagecoach Clothing Store (found in the shopping center between Target and Piggly Wiggly in Mount Pleasant) for their concert wear and cost $20. These pants are a requirement for all sixth grade students ~ no substitution is allowed! You must order the pants by Wednesday, September 30th. The personnel at Stagecoach know exactly what you need and are most helpful. Sixth graders will also need black shoes for their concert uniforms. Bonus: uniform pants can be purchased using Greenbax.
We are working to provide a limited number of uniform pants that have been donated to Cario Bands from former parents. The pants are worn twice during 6th grade and for those students that also participate in Chorus or Orchestra once. We are scheduling two uniform nights to distribute the Black Cario polo and the student's t-shirt. We will also have these pants available for students for a $5 donation and will be first come first serve.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, September 10th & 11th ~ 4 – 7:30 pm
Uniform ~ 7th & 8th Graders:
We will have (2) Uniform Nights to assign the concert dresses and tuxes. Please attend one of these nights so we minimize any disruption in the classroom. Please note that Jazz Band Students will wear the blue Cario band t-shirts and khaki pants or their formal dress or tux for performances.
- Tuesday & Wednesday, October 1st & 2nd ~ 4 to 7:30 pm
Uniform ~ 8th Graders:
Remember that you will have Wando Band Night where all the 8th grade band students from Mt. Pleasant perform with the Wando High School Marching Band on Friday, October 11th(attendance is mandatory). You will need khaki shorts and predominantly white tennis shoes to go along with your blue Cario band t-shirt. Note: Stagecoach has the very same khaki shorts that the Wando High School marching band wears for $20.
- IMPORTANT! Every 8th grader must try on their Cario Band t-shirt, complete the 8th grade t-shirt form provided in your band packet and return No Later Than Wednesday, August 28th. You MUST verify that your Cario Band t-shirt fits or order a new size. (Your student must also wear this t-shirt, if they are volunteering for Fast Start Clinic or the New Family Breakfast.)
Please contact our uniform chair, Caroline McKinney, with any questions you may have at uniforms@cariobands.org.