You can find a lot of your questions answered here.
Q: I'm new here, what exactly is a Booster?
A: A booster is a parent or guardian of a band student in the BISD school district. When your student signed up for band, you became a booster. There are no fees for being a Band Booster.
Q: What do Boosters do?
A: The Champion Band Booster support the band financially through fundraising and concessions, physically with chaperones and uniform fittings, and by maintaining high morale through the year.
Q: When/Where do you need my help?
A: The short answer is now and everywhere. Supporting the band is an all-year commitment by the boosters, which is why we need our parent volunteers. Whether you a volunteer all the time or only for an hour, any time you can offer is greatly appreciated and supports the band students. You can check out where we need help on the Volunteer Form.
Q: Why do we do this?
A: Supporting the Champion Band is necessary to help ensure their success. All funds raised go straight to supporting the band. Our volunteers provide a number of functions, from chaperoning the band on trips, contests and games, to morale-boosting events like cake days and ice-cream Thursdays, purchasing new instruments and equipment, and much more…
Q: Are there costs for my student to be in band?
A: There are no “pay to play” costs for students participating in the Champion Band. However, if your student needs to purchase Dinkles (marching shoes), rent an instrument, purchase the band Polo shirt, or you opt to purchase the away-game meal plan, there are some small fees.
Q: Can I have booster funds allocated directly to my student's account?
A: Unfortunately, monies cannot be donated to the boosters on an individual student basis. Donations must support the band. However, monetary donations may be stipulated that the money be used for a specific purchase that benefits the Champion Band.
Q: What is the 8 Hour Rule?
A: The 8 Hour Rule is a specific set of guidelines for rehearsals outside the regular school day. Our directors are fully aware of the rule and work well within the guidelines. Here's a link to the UIL page explaining the rule: http://www.uiltexas.org/music/marching-band/eight-hour-marching-band-rule-qa
Q: Do we REALLY need all this fundraising? Where does the money go?
A: Yes we really do!! Every year the Champion Band Boosters donates tens of thousands of dollars for things like instruments, section instructors and props for our shows. Funds are also used for things like band travel expenses, trailer upkeep and music costs. We know that fundraising isn’t everyone’s favorite thing but it truly is necessary in order for the band to maintain its continued level of excellenceHere are just a few examples of the what the Champion Band Booster funds have supported since 2015:
As you can see fundraising is a huge part of our continued support of the band. Rest assured that all money raised or donated is used to insure the bands continued success.
Q: What is a Tour Shirt?
A: The “tour shirt” is a t-shirt that is designed each year based on the selected marching show. The shirt is available for purchase through the band boosters and all profits go to supporting the band. The students who purchase the shirt may wear it to contests in the fall rather than the band polo. Students are required to wear a shirt that identifies them as a member of the Champion Band. The tour shirt is not quite as hot and more comfortable than the polo shirts. Parents and family/friends are also encouraged to purchase a tour shirt to show support for the band at games and contests.
Q: How will I be know what is going on throughout the year?
A: Register on our web site! Emails sent via the Band Boosters and our Band Directors are distributed based on email addresses registered on the Band Booster web site. We also have Facebook and Twitter accounts, a monthly newsletter, and the web site itself.
Q: What the heck are Dinkles?
A: Dinkles are the required marching shoe for students. The shoe company will do fittings sometime during summer band and shoes will be delivered to your student at school. Payment is due at the time of fitting.
Q: What is the summer uniform?
A: Summer uniforms are usually worn during the hotter months of the year and during the Labor Day and Homecoming Parades. It consists of the Champion band polo, khaki shorts and tennis shoes. Tour shirts are not considered part of the summer uniform.
Q: What is a Call Time?
A: Call time is set by Mr. Arnott and is the time students need to report to the band hall on performance days and are usually announced via email the day or two before.
Q: Where exactly do I drop off and pick up my student?
A: Student can be dropped off outside the band hall, which is on the back side of Champion High School. The curb running along the building is the bus lane. You may use the bus lane to drop off your student. When you pick up your student, please DO NOT park in the bus lane. It takes 8 or more buses to transport the band, and that is where they park to let the students off after the games. Please park in one of the parking spaces around the band hall. The bus lane is also used for students to board buses after school, so it is not accessible until after 4:30pm.
Q: What can I expect on game nights?
A: Report times will be different for home and away games, as will the return times. Students will meet at the Champion Band Hall regardless. Buses will transport the students to the stadium and the band performs throughout the game. The trips require parent volunteers to act as Chaperones. If you are interested in being a Chaperone, please let us know. We need and appreciate the help!
Q: How will I know when to pick up my student after games or competitions?
A: When report times are announced, the Band Directors will put an estimated time of return. Students with cell phones can communicate with their parents on the return trip. A lot of times, by that time of day, a student’s cell phone may have no charge. We have a twitter account, @CBBoosters, that you can follow. One of our chaperones will tweet status updates when the band departs and gets close to the school. Follow us on twitter and enable alerts to get accurate updates on return times.
Q: What can I expect on competition days?
A: In October, competitions occur on Saturdays. Locations and times will be announced via email. Students will meet at the band hall and buses will transport the band to the competition (again, Chaperones). Some competitions may have a preliminary and finals format, so they may be half-day or all-day events.
Q: What is the away game meal plan and does it offer options?
A: The away game meal plan is an optional purchases through the Band Boosters. For those choosing to purchase this, for each away game students participating will meet in the cafeteria after school and be fed a meal before departing. Meals will be provided by different restaurants. Due to the amount of students being fed, we cannot order specialized foods for students with specific diets, such as Gluten-Free or food allergies.
Q:What happens if my student forgets/losses a part of their uniform on game/competition day?
A: The uniform committee attends all games and competitions and will have “spares” for gauntlets, socks, and mirrors. There may be a small fee of $5.00 or less to borrow any uniform item.
Q: How do I clean and care for my uniform?
A: We have all of the instructions on this page!
Q: I'm new here, what exactly is a Booster?
A: A booster is a parent or guardian of a band student in the BISD school district. When your student signed up for band, you became a booster. There are no fees for being a Band Booster.
Q: What do Boosters do?
A: The Champion Band Booster support the band financially through fundraising and concessions, physically with chaperones and uniform fittings, and by maintaining high morale through the year.
Q: When/Where do you need my help?
A: The short answer is now and everywhere. Supporting the band is an all-year commitment by the boosters, which is why we need our parent volunteers. Whether you a volunteer all the time or only for an hour, any time you can offer is greatly appreciated and supports the band students. You can check out where we need help on the Volunteer Form.
Q: Why do we do this?
A: Supporting the Champion Band is necessary to help ensure their success. All funds raised go straight to supporting the band. Our volunteers provide a number of functions, from chaperoning the band on trips, contests and games, to morale-boosting events like cake days and ice-cream Thursdays, purchasing new instruments and equipment, and much more…
Q: Are there costs for my student to be in band?
A: There are no “pay to play” costs for students participating in the Champion Band. However, if your student needs to purchase Dinkles (marching shoes), rent an instrument, purchase the band Polo shirt, or you opt to purchase the away-game meal plan, there are some small fees.
Q: Can I have booster funds allocated directly to my student's account?
A: Unfortunately, monies cannot be donated to the boosters on an individual student basis. Donations must support the band. However, monetary donations may be stipulated that the money be used for a specific purchase that benefits the Champion Band.
Q: What is the 8 Hour Rule?
A: The 8 Hour Rule is a specific set of guidelines for rehearsals outside the regular school day. Our directors are fully aware of the rule and work well within the guidelines. Here's a link to the UIL page explaining the rule: http://www.uiltexas.org/music/marching-band/eight-hour-marching-band-rule-qa
Q: Do we REALLY need all this fundraising? Where does the money go?
A: Yes we really do!! Every year the Champion Band Boosters donates tens of thousands of dollars for things like instruments, section instructors and props for our shows. Funds are also used for things like band travel expenses, trailer upkeep and music costs. We know that fundraising isn’t everyone’s favorite thing but it truly is necessary in order for the band to maintain its continued level of excellenceHere are just a few examples of the what the Champion Band Booster funds have supported since 2015:
- $25,000 for purchase and outfitting of 53 foot trailer
- $14,000 for construction of a new director tower
- $5,000 for new drum line equipment
- $5,000 for section instructors
- $3,700 for copyright fees for show music
As you can see fundraising is a huge part of our continued support of the band. Rest assured that all money raised or donated is used to insure the bands continued success.
Q: What is a Tour Shirt?
A: The “tour shirt” is a t-shirt that is designed each year based on the selected marching show. The shirt is available for purchase through the band boosters and all profits go to supporting the band. The students who purchase the shirt may wear it to contests in the fall rather than the band polo. Students are required to wear a shirt that identifies them as a member of the Champion Band. The tour shirt is not quite as hot and more comfortable than the polo shirts. Parents and family/friends are also encouraged to purchase a tour shirt to show support for the band at games and contests.
Q: How will I be know what is going on throughout the year?
A: Register on our web site! Emails sent via the Band Boosters and our Band Directors are distributed based on email addresses registered on the Band Booster web site. We also have Facebook and Twitter accounts, a monthly newsletter, and the web site itself.
Q: What the heck are Dinkles?
A: Dinkles are the required marching shoe for students. The shoe company will do fittings sometime during summer band and shoes will be delivered to your student at school. Payment is due at the time of fitting.
Q: What is the summer uniform?
A: Summer uniforms are usually worn during the hotter months of the year and during the Labor Day and Homecoming Parades. It consists of the Champion band polo, khaki shorts and tennis shoes. Tour shirts are not considered part of the summer uniform.
Q: What is a Call Time?
A: Call time is set by Mr. Arnott and is the time students need to report to the band hall on performance days and are usually announced via email the day or two before.
Q: Where exactly do I drop off and pick up my student?
A: Student can be dropped off outside the band hall, which is on the back side of Champion High School. The curb running along the building is the bus lane. You may use the bus lane to drop off your student. When you pick up your student, please DO NOT park in the bus lane. It takes 8 or more buses to transport the band, and that is where they park to let the students off after the games. Please park in one of the parking spaces around the band hall. The bus lane is also used for students to board buses after school, so it is not accessible until after 4:30pm.
Q: What can I expect on game nights?
A: Report times will be different for home and away games, as will the return times. Students will meet at the Champion Band Hall regardless. Buses will transport the students to the stadium and the band performs throughout the game. The trips require parent volunteers to act as Chaperones. If you are interested in being a Chaperone, please let us know. We need and appreciate the help!
Q: How will I know when to pick up my student after games or competitions?
A: When report times are announced, the Band Directors will put an estimated time of return. Students with cell phones can communicate with their parents on the return trip. A lot of times, by that time of day, a student’s cell phone may have no charge. We have a twitter account, @CBBoosters, that you can follow. One of our chaperones will tweet status updates when the band departs and gets close to the school. Follow us on twitter and enable alerts to get accurate updates on return times.
Q: What can I expect on competition days?
A: In October, competitions occur on Saturdays. Locations and times will be announced via email. Students will meet at the band hall and buses will transport the band to the competition (again, Chaperones). Some competitions may have a preliminary and finals format, so they may be half-day or all-day events.
Q: What is the away game meal plan and does it offer options?
A: The away game meal plan is an optional purchases through the Band Boosters. For those choosing to purchase this, for each away game students participating will meet in the cafeteria after school and be fed a meal before departing. Meals will be provided by different restaurants. Due to the amount of students being fed, we cannot order specialized foods for students with specific diets, such as Gluten-Free or food allergies.
Q:What happens if my student forgets/losses a part of their uniform on game/competition day?
A: The uniform committee attends all games and competitions and will have “spares” for gauntlets, socks, and mirrors. There may be a small fee of $5.00 or less to borrow any uniform item.
Q: How do I clean and care for my uniform?
A: We have all of the instructions on this page!