7 September 2025
2025-26 Foothill High School Music Program’s Newsletter
Announcements:
“Hello families. The students have been working very hard in band, and I’m really excited for the music performances we have coming up! I have already seen such a big improvement in just the first month of school, and it’s clear how dedicated they are—practicing, preparing, and showing up ready to play. That kind of growth only happens with strong support at home, so thank you for everything you do to encourage them.” – Mr. Fagundes
📣 Keep an eye on this Kick Off Meeting Slide Show throughout the year. This is updated regularly and has many important links and specifics for music students and families.
📣 Golden State Warriors Half Time Performance! – stay tuned for more info from Mr. Fagundes
📣 Mark 10/25 on your calendars – Foothill Band Review – all students and families required to volunteer!
📅 Important Dates:
9/12 Fri Evening ALOHA or BLUE/GOLD THEME Football Game: Pep Band
10/4 Sat Honors Jazz Band at NCBA Antioch (Time TBA: likely AM)
10/11 Sat First Marching Band Competition
10/13 Mon All State Orchestra and All State Band recordings Due to Teachers
10/15 Wed @ 7pm Fall Concerts for Honors Wind Ensemble & Honors String Orchestra
10/17 Fri Evening Football Game: Pep Band
10/18 Sat @ 8am Marching Band Picture Day
10/25 Sat, All Day. Foothill High School hosts our 51st Annual Fall Band Review! Fall Band Review is on Saturday, October, 25th. All program families (strings, bands & guard) and students are required to help. Save the date and Sign Up Here to volunteer : Band Review Sign Up
💵 Fundraising:
Vertical Raise Fundraiser – With new costs this year, these fundraisers are more important than ever. With everyone’s help, we’ll hit our $40,000 goal by Sept. 27
Surf, Turf & Earth Sale Fundraiser – Save the date! Our semi-annual “Victuals Sale” (formerly “The Meat Sale”) is at Foothill High on Sept. 20–21. This year we’re adding more options for our vegetarian friends. Watch for a SignUp Genius to help with the register, custom cuts, and bagging.
Trophy Sponsorship – Complete the form to sponsor a trophy for the 2025 Fall Band ReviewFoothill Fall Band Review Trophy Sponsorship.docx.pdf Questions? Contact Sue Kuo at susiekuo@hotmail.com.
🎶 Ensemble Classes
Honors Jazz – Need to be working on 88 Basie Street and Hammerhead for NCBA Antioch on 10/4
Jazz B – No updates
Honors Symphony Orchestra – Labyrinth and Mad King, Scherzo, Barrier Reef, and Idyll for 10/15 Concert
String Orchestra – Working on River Song and Valkyrie
Honors Wind Ensemble – Reading new music for the year. New coaches will be coming in to work with students in the next couple of weeks. Working on Pep tunes to prepare for the first Football Game this Friday 9/12. First concert is October 15th in FHS MPR at 7pm
Symphonic Band – Reading new music for the year. New coaches will be coming in to work with students in the next couple of weeks. Working on Pep tunes to prepare for the first Football Game this Friday 9/12
Concert Band – Seating auditions are complete. New coaches will be coming in to work with students in the next couple of weeks. – Working on Pep tunes to prepare for the first Football Game this Friday 9/12
🏈 Football Game Information
- Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band are all required to attend and perform at the home football games
- ** Call time is 6pm **@ K building
- September 12 home game, students should wear either Foothill blue and gold colors or Hawaiian/Aloha-themed clothing
- Pick-up time will be around 8:30 p.m.
🙌 Parent and Guardian Volunteering:
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to fill out your Parent Volunteer Form !
👔 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.Tuxedo Link
Concert Dress: Long black dress, Black dress shoes, flatsDress Link
- Students may choose EITHER option
- ANY tuxedo works fine – MUST BE ALL BLACK with a WHITE SHIRT
- Plan ahead for ordering, delivery, and alterations!
Concert Attire is required for all performances.
🥁 Marching Band and Color Guard
Marching Band & Color Guard Picture Day
- Group, buddy and individual picture options for picture day with “Photo 360” on Saturday, October 18th, at 8:00 a.m.
- Order forms will be distributed to students as we get closer to the date.
Fall Band Review 2025
The Fall Band Review is one of the biggest events of the year—a premier marching band and field show competition that brings schools from across Northern California in the NCBA circuit to Foothill. The day kicks off with a parade down Main Street and continues into the night with exciting field shows at the Foothill High School stadium. It’s a full day of music, family, food, and fun—and it takes all of us. Every music program family and student is required to participate and volunteer!
Sign up Genius is here: Band Review Sign Up Form
All Parents Invited to our Fall Band Review 2025 Weekly Planning Meetings
- Next Meeting: Wed. September 3rd, 7pm – Foothill Campus, Room C-6 (or join online via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/rqp-zxzp-ovh).
📸 Photography & Media
Hey Parents! The Media team needs parents to help take pictures at events!
If you’re willing to take pictures at your student’s event and send them to us, please reach out to photography@foothillmusic.org
Photographs of all Band events can be found onFlickr
- Videos will be uploaded to our Youtube Playlist for each performance.
Please note that most videos will be marked private, and are un-searcheable on the platform until the band season is over.
A New Way to Donate your Student Share!
Student Share is how your family supports your student’s music goals and ensures they get the best music program possible. 3 ways you’ve donated in the past:
1) Write a check! No transaction fee. Students drop them in the band box in the band room.
2) Pay through CutTime. Our Boosters management platform. Yes it’s instant, but charges a fee. But, no problem if it works for you!
**3) FutureFund (**https://foothill.futurefund.com/**). ** FutureFund (through PUSD – you probably saw this at registration). Easy to pay your Student Share online through FutureFund, but they also charge the boosters a transaction fee. Again, no problem if that works best for you.
BUT NOW – A 4th METHOD! Pay pal Giving Fund. Use your PayPal account (or set one up), pay in the app, donate instantly, no transaction fees for you or the music program!
**4) PayPal. Here is how it works: **
- Open the PayPal app, click menu in the upper left corner
- Scroll down and tap Donate
- Search and select Foothill Band Boosters
- Click the Donate button and select the Other category to input your student’s Student Share amount (see table below)
- Follow payment instructions and you’re done!
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 Guard Students: $900
Winter Percussion Students: $900
Please reach out to our VP of Fundraising with any questions, contacts, or ideas! fundraising@foothillmusic.org
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.