Weekly Update

All emails sent from Mr. Wanamaker/The Choral Boosters are housed here for the 2025-2026 School Year

OCTOBER 7th, 2025

Good Afternoon!

Our AFHS Chorus Booster Meeting is tonight from 6:30-7:45pm in the Chorus Room. This is a great intro to boosters and how you can volunteer as a parent! Can't wait to see some new faces tonight! 

Park in the staff lot, near the basketball court, door entrance across from courts and next to the shipping container! Someone will be at the door to let people in around 6:20pm. 

See you then!

Sam Wanamaker

SEPTEMBER 29th, 2025

Happy Monday! 

Continuing the journey of hard work and remembering that "success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out". So proud of our students and their efforts to be better! Some updates: 

1. Butter Braids: Our fundraiser is due THURSDAY! HERE is the link to the storefront, and HERE is the link to the website with info.
   
   

2. Cut Time: All charges are starting to show up in Cut Time. If you are having issues with our system or payment, please reach out to afhschoralboosters@gmail.com 

   1. Uniforms will be ordered at the end of the week when payments are due. After that point, uniforms that are not paid for will not be ordered, and students may be responsible for ordering uniforms on their own. 

3. Trips: All students in 1st and 3rd period trips have been added to Cut Time. Deposits are due October 8th. For 1st period students that are NOT attending the trip, please email afhschoralboosters@gmail.com. Once this email happens, we can remove the charge from your account. 

4. Booster Meeting: Our next booster meeting is Tuesday, October 7th at 6:30pm in the Chorus Room. Can't wait to see some new faces there. Park in the staff lot, near the basketball court, door entrance across from courts and next to the shipping container!

TIME TO CELEBRATE: We received the results from 2025 NC Honors Chorus this morning, and we had a record 13 students accepted! The state record for high school was 12 students in 2018 from a neighboring school. Of the 1300+ students who auditioned, they pick 20 students per voice part. We are so proud of ALL who auditioned. Our students really do work hard and give their all. The graphic includes all of our chosen students. Congrats, Pats! I am a Proud Patriot Papa!

Have a great rest of the week,

Mr. Wanamaker

SEPTEMBER 17th, 2025

Good Afternoon!

Maybe I need to call this the bi-weekly update... Happy Wednesday! I can't believe we are already wrapping up week 4 of school. Thankful to have made some connections with families on Monday at the Informance. Our updates are as follows: 

1. Informance: HERE is a link to the slides from the Informance for families who would like to review the information. Questions? Email me or afhschoralboosters@gmail.com and we are happy to help!
   
   

2. Butter Braids: Our fundraiser has started! HERE is the link to the storefront, and HERE is the link to the website with info.
   
   

3. Uniform Fittings: Tuxedo fittings have occurred, Dress fittings are happening tomorrow during class!
   
   

4. Cut Time: All charges are starting to show up in Cut Time. If you are having issues with our system or payment, please reach out to afhschoralboosters@gmail.com
   
   

5. Grades: All grades will be updated Friday after school. If there are concerns, let me know!
   
   

6. Booster Meeting: Our next booster meeting is Tuesday, October 7th at 6:30pm in the Chorus Room. Can't wait to see some new faces there.

Harmonics Families: reminder of our rehearsal on the workday next Tuesday, September 23rd . Students need to bring their uniform and black shoes as we are doing program photos for ACDA at this event! 

NC Honors Chorus: Students/Families auditioning for the NC Honors Chorus will receive an individual email from me tomorrow with details for next Thursday. 

Have a great rest of the week!

SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2025

Team... WHAT A WEEK! 

Wow, I am so excited for this year. I had the best time with all of you and/or your students! Truly jumping up and down about the music we are making at this point in the year. Some updates for you: 

ALL: 

1. Pink Sheets: Make sure that all pink sheets are turned in ASAP. This was due Friday. Infinite Campus reflects if I have received them or not and are labeled "Missing" with comments for what is needed. 

2. Informance: Our first required night for students is Monday, September 15th, at 6:30pm. This is our Choral Informance (Informal Performance). At this event, students perform, parents learn about the program, uniforms are chosen, and families have a chance to meet with our Booster Board for any information on Fundraising, Trips, etc. One parent should attend as this meeting sets up the entire year for success. Students should wear jeans and an AFHS Shirt. If you do not have one, a red, white, or blue shirt works. If you do not have anything that fits that- email me and I will help! 

3. Sites: Our Facebook Group is a great resource for parents when you are new to the department. Be sure to join the group and lean on current members when navigating the beginnings of this program! Don't forget the website as well.

3rd Period: Our first rehearsal with Apex for ACDA is 9/23/26, the Teacher Workday. BRING YOUR UNIFORM! We are taking group photos for the programs! 

Have a great week, 

Mr. Wanamaker

AUGUST 22nd, 2025

Team... We are BACK! I am so excited for the '25-'26 school year. It is time to make some music! 

If we have not met, my name is Sam Wanamaker. I am the Choral Director here at Apex Friendship, and I am thrilled that you all have joined/continued with the chorus family. On Monday, you will all receive a good amount of paperwork and information on AFHS Chorus. Please take the week to digest this and return the Pink Forms signed by Friday. This will be students' first assignment in Infinite Campus (previously used PowerSchool).

A few helpful tools and things to know: 

1. Our chorus website is up-to-date and has plenty of resources for families. Please visit the website to get a head start on uniforms, trips, fundraising opportunities, etc. The weekly updates tab will house all emails sent to chorus families so you can peruse them easily. 

2. Our first required night for students is Monday, September 15th, at 6:30pm. This is our Choral Informance (Informal Performance). At this event, students perform, parents learn about the program, uniforms are chosen, and families have a chance to meet with our Booster Board for any information on Fundraising, Trips, etc. One parent should attend as this meeting sets up the entire year for success. 

3. Our Facebook Group is a great resource for parents when you are new to the department. Be sure to join the group and lean on current members when navigating the beginnings of this program! 

4. Pink Forms are due Friday the 29th. 

I cannot wait to connect with you all. Any questions before school starts? Feel free to reach out. It is going to be a great year!

Best, 

Sam Wanamaker