**2025-26 Foothill High School Music Program’s Newsletter **
👏Announcements:
Winter Percussion had their first competition of the 2026 season in Sunnyvale yesterday! They did great, learned a lot, and will compete again this Sat. 2/14 in Dublin. Go Winter Perc!
2/8-3/20 See’s Candy Spring Fundraiser has arrived! Order HERE!
- Candy purchased will cost the same as in store, no mark up!
- Our organization earns between 20-50 percent per item
- Items will be shipped directly to purchaser’s home; anywhere in the US
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 members to be voted in and our final budget vote!
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 and various 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! **
Executive Board Positions needed (or to shadow) for 2026-27
- Student Treasurer- NEW volunteer to co lead with current volunteer
- Communications Lead- NEEDED NOW/OPEN
- Secretary- NEW
- Fundraising- NEW
- Vice President-NEW volunteer to co lead with current volunteer
- President-NEW volunteer to co lead with current volunteer
- BAND REVIEW CHAIR or Co-Chairs Recommended- NEW
Winter Percussion Season has started! Trucks are being rented, the floor mat has been purchased, and food for participants and helpers is being coordinated. Watch for messages from Laura Bakar and Ryan Myers to stay current. All families, remember to pay your Winter Perc donation HERE **so there are funds to pay for what is needed for your child. **
**Go get ‘em Foothill! **
Every penny given is needed for our program to function. Please be sure to donate to the programs your student is in, and even more if you are able! Corporate matching is so helpful! Thanks very much for your time, talents, financial support, and friendship! Our Parent Boosters- you- make things happen! Hurray! “Student Share” donations HERE
Warm musical regards, Cheryl Goebel
🗓️ Important Dates:
2/8-3/20 See’s Candy Spring Fundraiser HERE!
- Candy purchased will cost the same as in store, no mark up!
- Our organization earns between 20-50 percent per item
- Items will be shipped directly to purchaser’s home; anywhere in the US
**2/12 (Thu) PUSD Joint Jazz Concert- all are welcome to watch performances! **
- Honors Jazz Band AND Jazz B are both performing
- Concert at Amador Theater; call time 6pm
2/14 (Sat) Campana Jazz Festival- all are welcome to watch performances!
- Honors Jazz, Jazz B, Jazz Combo 1 & 2
- At Amador High School
- Performance times: (all call times are earlier!)
- Jazz Combo 2- 8:00am
- Jazz Combo 1- 8:30am
- Honors Jazz- 11:15am in Amador Theater
- Jazz B- 1:15pm in AV Band Room
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
3/7 (Sat) Veggie Bazaar Fundraiser 10am – 4pm at FHS
- Enjoy vegetarian snacks & hot foods from local restaurants
- shop for lentils, beans, rice, produce & groceries
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 Online April 1st, closes in person May 15 at Jazz Night
4/1 (Wed)- “End of Year Banquet” Adult Ticket Purchase Due $20 Purchase Meal Tickets HERE
-Senior Yearbook Page Submissions PDF Due (see details below)
–2025-26 Music Program Yearbook Order HERE $35 Due
4/14 (Tue)- Senior Scholarship Application Due by 5 pm Application HERE(see details below)
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
- Students/groups prepare a short video to honor a graduating senior of their choice
- Senior Parents invited to attend
- Volunteer & Food Donations Sign-Up HERE
- 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
Senior Only Items: Scholarship, Yearbook Sr. Page
**Senior Band, Strings, & Guard scholarship** Due 4/14
Each year the Boosters Award one $1000 scholarship to a Senior Musician or Colorguard applicant. Application HERE are due by 5pm, Tue., April 14 to president@foothillmusic.org. Use subject line: Senior Scholarship**. The Award Winner will be announced at the End of Year Banquet on Fri., 4/24. **
**Graduating Senior Pages for our Band Yearbook** Due 4/1
Senior families, please put together a one page photo collage PDF featuring your student and any congratulatory message you would like to write for your child. Here are some example pages from a prior year in a PDF. 2023 senior page examples HERE
You can use any desktop publishing tool as long as it can output a PDF file. The PDF needs to be standard letter size (8.5” x 11”) with at least 300 dpi resolution. Some free software packages include Canva (https://www.canva.com/ ), Figma (https://www.figma.com/ ) and Adobe Express (https://www.adobe.com/express/ ). The Google suite creates a fine PDF page as well.
Please email the PDF file to president@foothillmusic.org no later than April 1. Use subject line: Senior YB Page- Student’s First Name Last Name**; EXAMPLE: Senior YB Page- Sofia Liu**
🥁 Winter Percussion
Winter Percussion Performances are NOW in season!
Rehearsals: Tue & Thu 5:30-9:00pm (*2/12 rehearsal time different)
Competition Dates are:
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 28th @ James Logan High School in Union City
March 31st – Friends and Family Performance @ Dublin HS
April 11th @ Adventist Health Arena in Stockton
**Please note: Dublin HS show is close by and we don’t currently have carpools planned. If your student needs a ride, please let Laura know and we will arrange a ride. 925-858-5169
💵 Fundraising Fanfare!
2/8-3/20 **See’s Candy Spring Fundraiser Flyer HERE! **
- Candy purchased from our event has no additional mark up!
- Our organization earns between 20-50 percent per item (*pro tip: Cheery Chick box & the four different 3 oz. big chocolate eggs give biggest % return to us)
- Items will be shipped directly to purchaser’s home; anywhere in the US
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 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
Our program DEPENDS on donation money to function. 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 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)
**Hello parents of Winter Music Programs. We have a slight problem. Our small, dedicated team can’t possibly make it to every event. We see you taking videos & photos of your teen’s performances from the audience. Please help out by sharing 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! **
**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.
🙌 Parent and Guardian Volunteering
📣 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
A few other important extended board positions that are open for fall are:
photography lead: FILLED THIS WEEK!; lead chaperone; travel coordinator; strings program liaison
📣 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 time, energy, and support in making**** Foothill Music thrive. Go Falcons!**** 🦅
Email: president@foothillmusic.org to change or add contact information to our distribution list.