WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST ME FOR MY CHILD TO PARTICIPATE WITH BAND OR CHOIR?
Uniforms – While marching band uniforms and choir robes are provided for the students to use, each student is responsible to buy certain pieces of the uniforms. Generally these items are only purchased once unless the student loses them, out grows them, or damages them beyond use. These items include: marching shoes, band gloves, summer uniforms, tuxedos, concert gowns. These items are ordered through the Music Boosters. Sometimes, it is possible to obtain these items from students who are graduating or who are no longer in band at a reduced cost. The marching band students are also responsible for supplying their own short white socks to complete the summer uniform and long white socks for formal marching band uniform.
Optional costs – Parents will also find that there are optional costs involved with having a child in band. These costs include: admissions to competitions (for the parents), travel (for parents going to competition), gifts between band members (tradition has it that small gifts and candy are exchanged between various band members, sections, and big and little siblings).
Optional costs – Parents will also find that there are optional costs involved with having a child in band. These costs include: admissions to competitions (for the parents), travel (for parents going to competition), gifts between band members (tradition has it that small gifts and candy are exchanged between various band members, sections, and big and little siblings).
WHAT TYPE OF FUNDRAISING DO I HAVE TO DO?
On the need for fundraisers – Because the general school funding covers just a part of the total cost of providing award-winning programs, the students of Newton Bands and Choirs are expected to help with the fundraisers run by the music department. It is a desire of the music program to keep the costs to families low so that any child with the desire to be a part of band or choir has the opportunity to be involved. This is an important objective of the Newton Music Boosters– access is not denied due to finances. Several fundraisers are developed each year to ensure that the costs of the program are met. These fundraisers include traditional selling events of Butterbraids (Fall) and Poppin Off (Spring) and also time commitments such as concession stands.
Concession Stands:
The Newton Music Program serves the Newton Community and Athletic Departments by providing all concessions at Boys' JV and Varsity basketball games, and by operating the only strawberry booth at the Troy Strawberry Festival. The bulk of our fundraising comes from these win-win opportunities--our visitors and home fans have the chance to eat, snack, and drink as one would expect at a sporting event, and the funds raised are invested directly into the students' Choir or Band experience. The "manpower" needed is tremendous to staff so many events; to meet these school needs, all families are required to sign-up for 3 total shifts each academic year.
Fall: Butterbraids - This is our biggest fundraiser each year; we ask each student to set a goal of 5 items, but students are encouraged to sell more and are awarded incentives. Profits from this fundraiser are deposited with the Music Boosters and used to assist families with trip costs, uniform purchases, food, drinks, snacks, summer Gatorade, instruments, choir robes, etc.
Spring: Poppin' Off Gourmet Popcorn- We are proud to partner up with Troy's very own gourmet popcorn maker, Poppin' Off. Our supporters are able to purchase fresh, locally made gourmet popcorns to directly benefit participants with trip costs, uniform purchases, food, drinks, and snacks at student concert parties, etc. Funds from this fundraiser are used to directly support student fundraiser accounts. Student accounts can be debited to pay for band/choir related costs such as reeds & oil, neck straps, participant portion of trip fees, and uniform costs.
Concession Stands:
The Newton Music Program serves the Newton Community and Athletic Departments by providing all concessions at Boys' JV and Varsity basketball games, and by operating the only strawberry booth at the Troy Strawberry Festival. The bulk of our fundraising comes from these win-win opportunities--our visitors and home fans have the chance to eat, snack, and drink as one would expect at a sporting event, and the funds raised are invested directly into the students' Choir or Band experience. The "manpower" needed is tremendous to staff so many events; to meet these school needs, all families are required to sign-up for 3 total shifts each academic year.
Fall: Butterbraids - This is our biggest fundraiser each year; we ask each student to set a goal of 5 items, but students are encouraged to sell more and are awarded incentives. Profits from this fundraiser are deposited with the Music Boosters and used to assist families with trip costs, uniform purchases, food, drinks, snacks, summer Gatorade, instruments, choir robes, etc.
Spring: Poppin' Off Gourmet Popcorn- We are proud to partner up with Troy's very own gourmet popcorn maker, Poppin' Off. Our supporters are able to purchase fresh, locally made gourmet popcorns to directly benefit participants with trip costs, uniform purchases, food, drinks, and snacks at student concert parties, etc. Funds from this fundraiser are used to directly support student fundraiser accounts. Student accounts can be debited to pay for band/choir related costs such as reeds & oil, neck straps, participant portion of trip fees, and uniform costs.