**2025-26 Foothill High School Music Program’s Newsletter **
Announcements:
Welcome Back! This is our first newsletter of 2026.
Cheers to a new year and to our spring season of music!
IMPORTANT: Please join us for our Jan/ Feb Parent Meeting this Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 7-8pm in the school library or via Google Meet (link below).
The next Parent General Board Meeting will be our Mar/Apr meeting on April 14, for board nominations and budget discussions and after that our last Parent General Board Meeting of the 25-26 school year is on MAY 12, for new board member elections- both Exec & Extended Board, and our final Board Budget vote! Blink! The year is flying!
Parents, every one of us is a booster member! Many hands make light work!
We need to elect new board members both extended and executive, as well as raise up a Band Review Chair or Co-Chairs and various other Band Review leads. The majority of our Board Members are going to age out so, we need to have shadows this next year, URGENTLY! The sooner you volunteer, the easier the job becomes under the tutelage of a mentor! Without an Exec Board, by law, the Boosters Organization cannot exist.
A NEW FACE: As you likely know, Mr. Fagundes and his wife are about to welcome their second son this week! His last day of teaching has been bumped up to Monday, January 26 and his tentative return date is March 17, a 30 day paternity leave. In his absence, we are fortunate to have our talented Mr. Nishimori directing jazz and strings as usual, and we welcome Hunter Franklin to our director’s podium. Hunter has worked previously with the FHS marching students as a music technician. He is well trained, with a BA degree in music, and he is well respected by the students. Welcome to Hunter!
Finally, we have been having lots of fundraisers lately because our family “Student Share” giving level is below the needs of our budget. We had hoped the Crab & Pasta Dinner would help to fill the gap, but sadly we didn’t sell enough tickets to make the event happen. We have approximately 53% of the “Student Share” donated at this point, and that is not enough to sustain our program needs. We have a $30,000 gap at the moment in “Student Share”. The student share gap has closed by $11,000 from Nov. to Jan., and for that we are VERY THANKFUL! Every penny given is needed for our program to function, we have been forced to trim items to balance the budget. Please be sure to donate to the programs your student is in, and even more if you are able! Corporate matching is sooo helpful!
Thanks very much for your time, talents, financial support, and friendship!
Our Parent Boosters- YOU- make things happen!
Warm musical regards,
Cheryl Goebel, Booster President
👏A Moment to Brag:
Mr. Fagundes was chosen by the VFW- Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pleasanton Post, as their choice for Teacher of the Year 2025! A well deserved award! Congratulations!
The annual CASMEC- California All-State Music Education Conference in Sacramento took place earlier this month..
One FHS Brass Student Made All State Jazz Band:
Noah Rahman (10th grade, Trumpet)
AND
Two FHS Strings Students made All State Orchestra:
Samantha Wong (11th grade, Viola)
Nicole Guan (11th grade, Viola)
AND
Two FHS Brass Students Made All State Band:
Elinor Cooper (10th grade, French Horn)
Eashan Khedkar (9th grade, French Horn)
We are so proud of our directors and all of our students!
Well done, Foothill!
🗓️ Important Dates:
1/27 (Tue) THIS TUESDAY!
All Parent Meeting/General Board Meeting in FHS Library 7:00-8:00pm
- Google Meet link HERE
2/12 (Thu) PUSD Joint Jazz Concert
- Jazz Band performing
- Call time TBA
- Concert begins at 7pm at Amador
2/14 (Sat) Campana Jazz Festival
- Honors Jazz, Jazz B, Jazz Combo – Performance times TBA
2/23-26 Honors Symphony Orchestra Auditions – email sent via Student Vue 1/15 Nishimori
2/25 (Wed) Joint Concert – Honors Wind Ensemble with Hart in FHS MPR @7:00pm
2/27 (Fri) Chabot College Concerts – FHS 7:15am travel via bus, all return 6:30pm
- Concert Band performs 9:45am
- Symphonic Band performs 1:30pm
- Wind Ensemble performs 4:15 pm
- Bring money for lunch; FHS Minimum Day
- Concert Dress Required WITH BLACK shoes, soles and socks as needed
3/3- 9 Honors Jazz Auditions – email sent via Student Vue 1/15 Nishimori
3/11 (Wed) Sonoma State Band and Orchestra Field Trip – FHS 11:30am via bus, return 8:45pm
- Honors Symphony Orchestra perform 3:00pm
- Honors Wind Ensemble perform 6:00pm
3/14 (Tue) All Parent Meeting/General Board for Mar/Apr in FHS Library 7:00-8:00pm
- Google Meet link HERE
- Board Member nominations and Booster Budget discussions
3/23-27 Honors Wind Ensemble Auditions – email sent via GC 1/20 Fagundes
*April – Silent Auction Fundraiser Opens Online – closes in person 5/15 at Jazz Night
4/16-19 (Thu-Sun) San Diego Trip!
4/24 (Fri) End of the Year Student Banquet & Senior “Toast”
- Catered buffet dinner for all program students: strings, band & guard
- In FHS small gym at 6pm
- Students/groups prepare a short video to honor a graduating senior of their choice
- Senior Parents invited to attend
- SUG coming…
- Senior Student $1000 Scholarship Winner announced
4/29 (Wed) Spring Concert
- Concert Band, Symphonic Band, String Orchestra
- Concert Dress Required WITH BLACK shoes, soles and socks as needed
4/30 (Thu) Spring Concert
- Honors Wind Ensemble, Honors Symphony Orchestra
- Concert Dress Required WITH BLACK shoes, soles and socks as needed
5/1-2 (Fri-Sat) CMEA Competition at Amador HS
- Concert Band, Symphonic Band, String Orchestra
- Honors Wind Ensemble, Honors Symphony Orchestra
- Concert Dress Required WITH BLACK shoes, soles and socks as needed
5/12 (Tue) All Parent Meeting/General Board for May in FHS Library 7:00-8:00pm
- Google Meet link HERE
- New Board Members voted in & 26-27 Booster Budget vote
5/15 (Fri) Silent Auction & Spring Jazz Night
**Save the date for an evening of friends, music, drinks, appetizers and fun for ALL!. **
- Held at the Veteran’s Hall
- The final night of our Silent Auction! Come ready to bid on amazing items.
- Honors Jazz & Jazz B perform; other small jazz, brass or string quartets/ensembles welcome to perform by advanced request to Mr. Nishimori
🥁 Winter Percussion
Winter Perc practices are happening now!
Rehearsals: Tue & Thu 5:30-9:00pm; Sat. 1/31
Competition Dates are:
February 7th @ Fremont High School in Sunnyvale
February 14th @ Dublin High School in Dublin
March 7th @ American Canyon High School in American Canyon
March 14th and 15th @ James Logan High School in Union City (WGI Regional 2 day event)
March 26th – Friends and Family Performance @ Amador Valley HS
March 28th @ James Logan High School in Union City
April 11th @ Adventist Health Arena in Stockton
💵 Fundraising Fanfare!
Some exciting numbers to share! Great News…
Dave’s Hot Chicken Dine Out Event raised over $195
The Surf & Turf Sale raised $1700
The Popcorn Sale raised $3300
Our program depends on your support for events like those listed above AND on your Student Share Donations, we are at 53 percent donated thus far. We are making progress and it shows!
Please reach out to Steve Haney, our VP of Fundraising, at Fundraising@foohillmusic.org with any questions, contacts, or ideas!
📊 Treasurer of Student Accounts Information
The Student Share donation is how your family supports your student’s music goals and ensures they get the best music program possible. Please strive to meet or exceed the requested donation amounts, but any amount helps.
There are four easy ways to make your Student Share donation:
1) Write a check. Then give it to your student to drop in the locked band box in the band room.
2) Pay with PayPal. (https://paypal.com/).**** Use your PayPal account (or set one up if you don’t have one) to pay your Student Share in the app. Here is how it works: open the PayPal app, click the menu in the upper left corner, scroll down to Donate and tap, search for Foothill Band Boosters and select it, click the Donate button and select the Other category, input your student’s Student Share amount (see table below*), follow the payment instructions and you’re done!
3) Pay with CutTime (https://app.gocuttime.com/). CutTime is the Foothill Band Boosters management platform. Just login with your CutTime account, click below your students name, then click on the Payments link at the bottom of the list. Click on the green button that says “Make a Payment”, click the amount to pay, then fill in your debit or credit card information and submit the payment.
4) Pay with FutureFund (https://foothill.futurefund.com/). FutureFund is the PUSD sponsored platform that you signed up for when you registered your student for the school year. Just login to the site, click the Store button at the top of the webpage, click on the Band Boosters oval button below the page title, then select the Donation square designated for your students ensemble. Select your donation amount, fill in your students name, click Add To Cart, then proceed with the checkout process.
When using PayPal, here are the Student Share donation amounts for each ensemble to insert in the “Other” field:
- Fall Marching Band & Color Guard Students: $900
- Wind Ensemble Students: $225
- Concert & Symphonic Band Students: $150
- Orchestra Students: $100
- Jazz Ensemble A and B Students: $200
- Winter Percussion Students: $900
Please reach out to Monica Fey, our Treasurer of Student Accounts, at treasurer.student@foothillmusic.org with any questions, contacts, or ideas!
📸 Photography & Media (aka the Band Click – Thanks Alex & Kristine!)
Below you’ll find a Flickr album and a video of the Holiday Parade from various viewpoints. We’ve also included photos from Honors Jazz A at NCBA in Merced. Great job Honors Jazz A in representing Foothill!
2025 FHS Holiday Parade (Right, Left, Aerial View) (KA, MA)
Flickr Albums:
2025.12.06 Pleasanton holiday Parade (AO)
2025.12.09 Ensemble Wind & Symphonic (AO)
- Photographs of all Band events can be found on Flickr
- Videos will be uploaded to our Youtube Playlist for each performance.
Please note that most videos will be marked private, and are unsearchable on the platform until the band season is over.
Calling all parents of Ensemble Bands (Honors Jazz A, Jazz B, Honors Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Honors Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band), and Winter Percussion. We see you already taking videos/photos of your teen’s performances from the audience. Would you be willing to share them with their classmates and our FHS music community? No prior experience is needed, just a love for watching your teen perform with friends. If you’d like to join our Media Team and help represent your student’s band/ensemble/orchestra/winter group, please contact: photography@foothillmusic.org or join our group chat via the Band app!
Again, you don’t need a fancy camera to take great Photos or Videos… the best ones are taken close up – with a cellphone!
🙌 Parent and Guardian Volunteering
📣 Interested in leading our merchandising efforts? We are looking for a volunteer to step into the role of Merchandising Lead—a position that’s not only incredibly fun but also a fantastic way to get involved with the band program and support our amazing students. If you’re interested or want more information, please reach out to Richa Malik (merchandise@foothillmusic.org) or call/text: 484-686-6369!
📣Other Band Booster Immediate Volunteer Needs:
- Communication Lead – OPEN contact Mauli Desai: communications@foothillmusic.org
- Merchandise Sales**, contact Richa Malik:** merchandise@foothillmusic.org
- Truckers – We need helpers to transport & move equipment at competitions and away performances. Please contact Peter Goebel at logistics@foothillmusic.org
Executive Board Positions needed (or to shadow) for 2026-27
- Student Treasurer- SHADOW
- Communications Lead- NEEDED NOW/OPEN
- Secretary- NEW
- Fundraising- NEW
- Vice President-SHADOW
- President- SHADOW
- BAND REVIEW CHAIR or Co-Chairs Recommended
📣 Check the Kick Off Meeting Slide Show This is updated regularly and has many important links and specifics for band students and families.
📣 Stay informed by reading these weekly newsletters, installing the Band app, and visiting our Foothill music program website! Please install the Band app (iPhone or **Android). This is the best way to get fast and live communications from our band program community! **
👔 All Band and Orchestra Concert Attire
Students in String Orchestra, Honors Symphony Orchestra, Concert, Symphonic & Honors Wind Ensemble**** will need concert attire for performances this year.
Tuxedo: Black Tuxedo, Black Bowtie and cummerbund (or vest), White shirt (wing collar is a good choice), Long black socks, Black dress shoes (pants will need to be hemmed) Tuxedo Link OR ANY tuxedo works fine – MUST BE ALL BLACK with a WHITE SHIRT
Concert Dress: Long black dress, Black dress shoes (dress will need to be hemmed) Dress Link
- Students may choose EITHER option
- Plan ahead for ordering, delivery, and alterations!
Concert Attire is required for all performances.
Jazz Attire is per the director’s request (varies from the above concert attire):
Dark Colors; Long ties only; Coats for everyone wearing a collared shirt and tie; Dark Color Shoes/Black (NO WHITE SOLES); tall Black socks; Shirt should be either white, or dark.
That’s it for The Falcon Beat this week — thank you for your energy, time, and support in making Foothill Music thrive.
Go Falcons! 🦅
Email: president@foothillmusic.org to change or add contact information to our distribution list.