Issue #04

Week of September 6, 2021

Please take a few minutes to read through all of the information below each week. We make every effort to keep this information as succinct as possible, but all of it is important to the success of your child in the FCMS Band.

FCMS Band Website

We utilize our website for information on private lessons, our calendar, etc. Our website may be found at www.firstcolonyband.com.

“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” - Dan Gable

Contained in this Newsletter

  • Video of the Week

  • Band Online Donation Fundraiser

  • Symphonic & Honors Bands Sectionals - Required & Graded

  • Band Handbook (Signature Page & Medical Form are now PAST DUE!)

  • Instruments & Supplies

  • Band Calendar

  • School-Owned Instruments

  • Charms Office

  • Private Lessons

Video of the Week

Band Online Donation Fundraiser

Thank you for your support of our donation fundraiser! Thanks to the hard work of our students, we surpassed our $10,000 goal with ease!

Prizes are being purchased and will be delivered when they arrive. Mr. Berndt is looking forward to seeing Mrs. Muceus sprayed with silly string by 38 students and Mr. Matschek having 101 pies thrown at his face in January!

Symphonic & Honors Bands Sectionals - Beginning Monday, August 16, 2021

See below for the sectional schedule for Symphonic & Honors Bands that begins on Monday, August 16, 2021. Click on the image for a larger version to view.

Sectional attendance and participation will count as a grade each week, so be sure to be on time!

Band Handbook - Signature & Medical Forms - PAST DUE

The Band Handbook can be found by clicking the files below. Please take some time to read through the handbook with your child so that you understand all of the procedures and policies put in place for middle school band programs in FBISD.

The final two pages of the handbook are specific to the First Colony Middle School Band. Please be sure you read and understand those pages.

There are two forms that must be returned no later than Friday, August 20, 2021. One is the Medical Form and the other is the Handbook Signature Form. Both of these forms were passed out to students on Friday, August 13, 2021 (as a double-sided page). Please fill them both out, sign them, and return them as soon as possible to the band directors, but no later than Friday, August 20, 2021.

Instruments and Supplies

Band students have all been assigned a locker in the band facility and we are ready to get started with instruction on our instruments!

If you have not yet secured your child's instrument and accessories for Band, please do so immediately! We have begun instruction on the instruments and we don't want any students to be behind! Students need to bring their instruments and all supplies needed for band each day that they have band (four days a week due to the Tuesday/Wednesday block).

Wire music stands, practice marimbas, and practice pad stands should be left at home for use while playing there. We have those items for students use at school. All other supplies should be brought each day.

***Important: All students must retrieve their instrument and supplies from their band locker each day after school and take them home to play. This is also a precaution in case there is any reason that students are not at school the following day.***

Band Calendar

Our Band calendar is available as a Google Calendar on our website. Click the button below to view that calendar. You may also add it to your own Google Calendar for easy reference.

Additionally, we will be creating and passing out an event list for each band for students to reference that is specific to their band.

As event dates approach, we will be reminding students of upcoming commitments and providing additional details for the event.

All currently planned events are on the calendar, but some events will be added when their dates are set. We will communicate when new events are added.

School-Owned Instruments

Students with school-owned instruments will have those instruments checked out to them by the band directors as soon as possible (if they don't already have one from use over the summer).

The District will assess the $80 Instrument Use Fee and we will send information regarding that fee and the payment of it home when it is assessed.

Charms Office Assistant

We use Charms Office Assistant each day to help the band program run smoothly and efficiently. Using Charms, parents may update contact information as it changes, and check and pay their child's financial balances. We highly encourage parents to check Charms regularly to help them stay up to date. Instructions for accessing Charms are below.

2. Click the "Enter/Login" button at the top.

3. Under "Parent/Student/Members" enter the school code - fcmsband

4. Your child's password is their six-digit FBISD ID number. This will take you to the area specific to your child. If this is the first time you are logging into Charms, you will be asked to create a personalized password.

5. If you are having trouble logging in, please contact Mr. Matschek or Mr. Berndt.

From the student area, you will be able to edit your contact information, as well as check financial details and pay fees online. We are always working to utilize Charms to its fullest potential.

Private Lesson Sign-Up

Contact Us

3225 Austin Parkway

Sugar Land, TX 77479

281-634-3292