Articles by the A. I. duPont High School Band Director Rich Weaver.
The band and choir will be traveling to a music festival in the Baltimore/Washington area from April 24-26, 2020. Please find information on the attached form below. I am asking that every student complete the registration page by next week to let us know if they will be traveling with the band. I will be taking a poll tomorrow in band to see how many students plan to participate in the trip.
Good Afternoon,
The marching band video from the senior night show is available online at the link below. You can change the quality (if needed) in the settings. Hard copies (discs) will be given to each senior after the break. I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends! Also, don’t forget to catch up on any missing school work when you have time available.
Good Afternoon A.I. Tiger Family!
Our annual gift wrap fundraiser at Concord Mall is underway and we need everyone’s support! Each band family is asked to volunteer for 2 shifts for band, and 1 shift for every sport in which their student participates. We are also encouraging alumni, staff, family, and friends to help support us. Call up someone you know and spend a couple of hours reminiscing while you wrap gifts for a fantastic cause! Please forward this message to anyone you think would be willing to give up a couple hours of their time for a great cause.
This fundraiser brings close to $10,000 annually! We could lose this opportunity if we do not have every shift covered. The mall has been gracious in working with us over the years to begin closer to Christmas, rather than on Black Friday. Now we could really use your help! We need volunteers (especially for shifts during the week). Please first look for shifts for which no one signed up, then shifts with only one person working. Please fill these shifts first. The gift wrap booth is located in the Concord Mall, just outside of Sears.
I cannot thank you enough for supporting all of our students and the wonderful opportunities that A.I. duPont High School provides! You cannot hide that Tiger Pride!
Rich Weaver – Director of Bands
Gift Wrap Sign-Up Link – www.tinyurl.com/aihsgw19
Good Afternoon A.I. duPont Band Family!
Below is some information regarding upcoming band events.
Monday, 11/25/19 – No Evening Marching Band practice (the band will not rehearse this week).
Wednesday, 11/27/19 – Report time is 4:00 pm for all students and chaperons traveling to Philadelphia for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. We hope to load the motorcoaches and depart by 4:30 pm, so please be prompt. Students should have their uniform in their garment bag. They should also have a small bag for any clothes they need that for the evening or to wear under their band uniforms. Do not bring video games systems. Please do not forget any medication you may need, as well as spare glasses or contacts. Be sure to eat before reporting to school. Dinner is not provided on Wednesday evening. I would recommend bringing a small amount of money as most students tend to order pizza from their rooms ($20 should be enough). Students will be instructed as to what time room check will begin, as well as lights out for the evening upon arrival in Philadelphia.
Thursday, 11/28/19 – Students will be provided with a full American breakfast at the hotel. After that, we will depart for the beginning of the parade route. The temperature on Wednesday is currently listed as a high of 48 and a low of 30. Make sure you have base layers to wear under your uniform that aren’t bulky (no hoodies, etc.). Band fronts will need both their uniforms and their warmups. The band is Unit #47 out of 148 parade elements. Step off for the parade is 8:15 am. The 6ABC broadcast is from 8:30-12:00 pm. No individual band, float, or parade unit is guaranteed to appear on TV. Based on my experience, I am estimating that A.I. duPont will march past the broadcast area in front of the art museum around 9:45 am (+/- 15 minutes). After the parade, the band will load the motorcoaches and return to AIHS. I estimate that we will be back at school around 11:00-11:15 am. Students should text their rides once the busses are headed south on I-95. *Students should take their instruments and equipment home with them after the parade because they will be needed for the Black Friday Performance inside Concord Mall.
Click Here For The Thanksgiving Day Parade Website
Friday, 11/29/19 – Black Friday Performance. As part of our gift wrap contract, the band makes two appearances at Concord Mall during the holiday season. Students are to report directly to Concord Mall at 12:00 noon. They should be dressed in full uniform and have their instrument/equipment with them. Mr. Weaver will bring the plume box. He will be at the high school from 11:00-11:30 am if anyone needs to pick up a large instrument. Students should gather in the storage room by the H&M Store (behind Santa). Beginning at 1:00 pm, the band will march around the inside perimeter of the mall. They will complete two laps, which will take approximately 30 minutes. Once completed, students are dismissed and should take their instrument/equipment home with them and bring it back to school on Monday.
Monday, 12/2/19 – No Evening Marching Band practice
Tuesday, 12/3/19 – Choice Open House Performance at A.I. duPont High School. Students should report to the band room at 5:30 pm. Students will not be wearing their uniforms. They are asked to wear A.I. duPont Spirit Wear or blue & gold clothing. They will perform at the beginning of the school presentation around 6:15 pm. They should be finished around 6:30 pm, at which point they are dismissed. It would be great if a couple of section leaders could hang out in the band room to speak with the 8th grade students who are touring the school. National Honor Society Members who will be helping give tours should wear whatever Mrs. Szaroleta asks you to wear that evening. Check in with her when you arrive, join the band just before they perform, then go back to helping with the student tours.
Friday, 12/6/19 – West Chester Christmas Parade. This event is an evening parade in downtown West Chester, PA. Students report to AIHS at 4:00 pm in full uniform. The parade steps off at 7:15 pm. We are Unit #95 out of 105 parade elements. Please remember to check the weather and dress warmly underneath your uniform. Students should text their rides when the busses depart for AIHS. I am estimating that we will return to school around 9:45 pm. Band members tend to decorate their instruments/uniforms with battery-powered holiday lights. Mr. Weaver will speak to the band members about this. Decorations cannot interfere with the ability of your instrument to function (play), and tape should never be used on an instrument!
Click Here For The West Chester Parade Website
Wednesday, 12/11/19 – Winter Concert for band and choir beginning at 7:00 pm in the school auditorium. Report to AIHS not later than 6:30 pm in concert black attire. The school provides black concert dresses and tuxedos for students. Gentlemen will need their own white, button-up dress shirt & black dress shoes with black socks. Ladies will need black dress shoes (no flip flops please). The concert should be finished around 8:15 pm. All band and choir students are asked to bring a baked good for the reception table to be enjoyed after the performance.
Saturday, 12/14/19 – Concord Mall Performance #2. Students are to report directly to Concord Mall at 12:00 noon. They should be dressed in full uniform and have their instrument/equipment with them. Mr. Weaver will bring the plume box. He will be at the high school from 11:00-11:30 am if anyone needs to pick up a large instrument. Students should gather in the storage room by the H&M Store (behind Santa). Beginning at 1:00 pm, the band will march around the inside perimeter of the mall. They will complete two laps, which will take approximately 30 minutes. Once completed, students are dismissed and should take their instrument/equipment home with them and bring it back to school on Monday.
Good Afternoon A.I. Band Family!
We have a lot going on this week! Poinsettia Fundraising Forms were handed out and are available in the band room or via my previous blog.
Payment, Permission Slips, and Release forms for the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade are due this Friday, 11/01/19. Please contact Mr. Weaver with any questions or concerns. We want as many students participating in this trip as possible. We need to have our final count turned into our hotel by the end of next week.
The football game this week is senior night. Senior band member’s will have their name called during our field show. They will form a straight line in front of the sideline, so get your cameras ready! We are also taking our marching band group photo before the game. Because of this, we need to shift the report time earlier. Below is our timeline for Friday.
3:15 pm – Report Time if you are buying Individual Pictures (student pictures in marching band uniform, with our without instrument). ORDER FORMS are available here.
3:30 pm – ALL REPORT IN UNIFORM with instrument.
4:30 pm – Photos should be finished – Everyone return to Band Room.
4:45 pm – Line up outside for football game (seniors stay in the band room).
5:15 pm – March into AIHS Tiger Stadium.
5:35 pm – Brandywine High School performs their show.
Halftime – AIHS Band performs their show. Seniors recognized by name.