Financial Information

Each year, there are financial requirements in order to meet the needs of your student in Band.  

There are 3 fees for the band each year: Instrument Rental Fee, Uniform Fee, and Class Supplies Fee.

Please see below for all due dates, explanations, and MySchoolBucks payment links. 

Payments can be made by using the QR Codes, the MySchoolBucks links, checks, or cash.  Make checks out to "SCMS" and put in the Memo Line what the payment is for.  (Examples: "Instrument Rental", "Uniform", "Class Fee")

If you qualify for the Free/Reduced Lunch meal plan through FCPS Nutrition, please parents MUST complete the FCPS Consent to Share Information of Benefits for Other Programs form.  There are copies in the Band Room, in the Cafeteria, or in the Main Office.  They can also be found HERE: https://www.fcps.edu/frm.

I have made each fee due in different months to help with budgeting.  Hope this helps.

Band Course and Musical Instrument Rental

Fees Payment SUMMARY

Instrument Rental Fees – Due by Thursday, August 28th.

Fee to be paid on My School Bucks. Make sure to select the appropriate Category.

Category A: SCMS-Owned Wind Instrument Rental

Fee Amount: $110.00

Category B: SCMS-Owned Percussion Fee (Required for all Percussionists.) 

(Non-Free/Reduced Price Lunch students)
This fee covers all use of SCMS Percussion Instruments for the year for maintenance and upkeep.

Fee Amount: $60.00

Category D:

(*Free and Reduced Price Lunch Instrument Rental through FCPS)

Fee Amount: $20.00

Uniform Fee – Due by Friday, October 17th.

Fee to be paid on My School Bucks under the School Store Menu.

 Fee Amount: $50.00

Required Course Fee – Due by November 14th.

Fee to be paid on My School Bucks.

Fee Amount: $46.00

Once you make payment on MSB, all payments must be "approved" by Mr. Niehoff (as the MSB Administrator) before it will show up on your payment account.  Please be patient as he will approve all payments once class that day is over. Thank you.

SEE BELOW FOR ALL INFORMATION.

Course Fee: ($46)

Due by Friday, November 14th, 2025

The fees associated with taking band are a necessary but, at times, confusing element of every program in the county. 

There is a required $46 class fee for participation in all middle school band classes. This fee covers the purchase of items needed for the year such as student breathing tubes, program supplies, binders, sheet protectors, method books, pencils, Instrument Case Tag, emergency reeds, and required student accessories for each instrument.  (Cleaning Swabs, Tooth Guards, spray bottles, brass valve oil, Slide Cream, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brushes, stick bags, tuners, etc.)  

We get these items at a major discount from each company (because we are a school) and save each family around $20-30 by ordering and distributing them through the school instead of making families get exactly what the band student needs from the many stores we order. 

This fee may be paid using My School Bucks https://www.myschoolbucks.com. Once you make an account, the fee will show up under your student’s name.  Please click on the link to pay and follow the posted instructions.

Please pay on My School Bucks by Friday, November 14th, 2025.

If your child is on the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, this fee is waived by FCPS and the State of Virginia.

Additional Activity/Event Fees:

Throughout the year, students will be given the opportunity to participate in various activities that will require additional fees. Events include All District Band Auditions/Event, Solo and Ensemble Festival, and the Spring Music (this year to Busch Gardens). While these optional trips are not a required component of any course, most students generally choose to participate. Trip or activity fees are determined and assessed based on the estimated costs of the trip/activity.

Payment Policies

As mentioned previously, there are events throughout the year for which students will have to turn in appropriate fees. All payments may be made by cash or check as described below.

• If paying by check, please make the check payable as instructed for the particular payment and write the name of the student in the memo line of the check.

• If paying by cash, please put the money in an envelope and write the name of the student along with the name of the fee being paid (i.e. Tom Smith, spring trip fee).

• ALL payments should be given directly to Mr. Niehoff. A receipt will be provided to you upon request, acknowledging the cash payment.

Refunds

Typically, fees paid are non-refundable once commitments and purchases have been made. These refund policies will be communicated separately as they relate to individual activities.

Financial Assistance:

At SCMS, we firmly believe that no student should be unable to participate in our music program because of their financial situation. Should you require financial assistance, please contact Mr. Niehoff to discuss alternate plans as soon as possible. Students participating in the free or reduced lunch program have an alternate set of fees and additional instrument rental options. If this applies to you, please contact Mr. Niehoff so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.