March-a-thon 2025 is in full swing!

Blast August 20, 2025

08-20-25

🛫 Squadron Briefings

Your weekly updates from Directors, Booster Leadership and support teams.

A Message from Mr. Ary, Director of Bands

As I'm sure you have seen by now, the March-A-Thon was a huge success! We have definitely set the bar high for all future MAT's. Thank you again to everyone for your efforts — from bringing in donations to everyone who volunteered that day to keep our students safe and healthy.

In spite of all the thunderstorms we've been experiencing, we are still progressing well through our show. We now have Parts 1 and 2 on the field. This week the winds and battery have been adding choreography to Part 1. Color Guard is continuing to clean the work they know and fill in the spots they haven't learned, yet. Part 3 drill is almost finished and we should be putting that on the field soon! Color Guard uniforms and the band's printed uniform tops arrived late last week. Our front sideline frames will be ready this week. Mr Solomon and his crew of volunteers are about to start working on getting all of our props ready to be put on the field.

The color guard needs some days where they have the field to themselves so we have adjusted the color guard's schedule by exchanging one of the full band rehearsals to a brass/woodwind/percussion only rehearsal and then adding a color guard only rehearsal. The Director's Google Calendar now reflects those rehearsals.

Next week is our first football game! The itinerary for the game day will be attached to the Google calendar later this week.

A Message from Mr. House, Color Guard Director

🗓 Color Guard Schedule: Aug 25–29

Mon (Aug 25):
Marching Band Rehearsal: 3:30–5:30 PM
Open House: 6:00–7:30 PM
Community Pep Rally: ⏰ Time TBA
Tues (Aug 26):
❌ No Color Guard Rehearsal
Wed (Aug 27):
Color Guard Only Rehearsal: 3:30–6:00 PM
Thur (Aug 28):
Marching Band Rehearsal: 3:30–6:15 PM
Fri (Aug 29):
🏈 First Football Game: 7:00 PM

🚨 New Expectations Starting Wed, Aug 20

Marks will be given for:
Leaving items (water bottles, equipment, personal belongings) in the commons or band lot
Not wearing the correct color to rehearsal
🏃‍♀️ Every 5 marks = Team runs 1 lap

📌 Ongoing Updates

As per Mr. Ary's message above: For the rest of our marching season, color guard will have rehearsal on Wednesdays without the band. If you already have a prior engagement or scheduled event on this day of the week, please do that thing. Remember to communicate with the director, Mr. House, and your student to communicate with the captain, Marina, about missing this day of rehearsal if needed.

Any further questions, please ask. Mr. House understands this news is sudden, so if you already have a scheduled appointment or event, please do that and don't worry about missing rehearsal that day. Just communicate that you will be missing with Mr. House and Your Captain, Marina.

Warm regards,

Tabithia Sonne, Color Guard Liaison

A Message from Booster President Liz Johnson

Thank you for making Marchathon a huge success! From the Texas heat to the miles walked, your support—whether cheering, volunteering, donating, or simply getting your student ready—made all the difference.

We’re incredibly proud of our students and grateful to our families, volunteers, directors, and support teams. You showed up with heart, and it showed.

Every step taken, every note played and every dollar raised strengthens our program and builds the legacy we’re so proud of.

🎺 Chaperone Expectations for Student Performance – 2025 Season

Are you ready for our first football game of the season? We sure are! Your chaperones and volunteers are excited to kick off another fantastic year with the JET Band and Color Guard. Before we head out, we want to make sure all parents and students are aligned on our expectations for behavior and performance.

To ensure the safety, success, and enjoyment of everyone involved, please take a moment to review these guidelines with your student. The Band and Color Guard play a vital role in the game day experience, and we aim to be role models both on and off the field.

✅ What We Expect from JET Band & Color Guard Members

Be Prepared- We will share reminders on Facebook and through other channels about what’s needed for Saturday’s game. These items are not optional. Section leaders will conduct uniform and gear checks, and chaperones may intervene if a student is out of uniform. Consequences may include being sent home. Required gear was REQUIRED for a reason!

Be Positive- "Positive anything is better than negative nothing." We’ll be recognizing students and sections who show leadership, teamwork, and set a great example. With dozens of eyes and ears on the group, let’s make sure what we see and hear reflects the pride we have in our program.

Be Accountable- Students are responsible for their own gear, behavior, and performance. This includes:

Having uniforms and equipment ready
Cleaning up after themselves
Staying with their assigned section
Watching and responding to drum majors attentively

Be Courteous & Respectful- Our chaperones and volunteers are giving their time and energy to support your students. We expect:

Polite language (please and thank you!)

Immediate compliance with volunteer instructions

No swearing in the stands—these are family-friendly events

A spirit of teamwork and collaboration

📵 Cell Phone Policy- Subject to change if needed!

Phones may be used for one or two quick photos during the game. If they’re seen out more than once, they’ll be held until we return to Taylor. We support capturing memories, but not distractions. Parents—please avoid texting your student during the game. They’ll be able to respond on the bus afterward.

This is my fifth year chaperoning the JET Band and Color Guard, and I can confidently say our best games and trips happen when we all follow these expectations. Poor behavior will not be tolerated. Please talk with your student about these guidelines so we can start the season strong.

Thank you for your continued support—and remember, when we travel, keep your phone handy in case your child or a chaperone needs to reach you.

With appreciation,

Liz Johnson, Head Chaperone and Booster President

Updates from Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator - Rachel Duerringer

MARCH-A-THON UPDATE: RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS!

We are absolutely blown away by the incredible energy and dedication pouring into this year’s March-A-Thon fundraiser. Thanks to YOU, we’ve already raised a jaw-dropping $80,429 as of 5PM Wednesday and we’re still going strong! That includes an impressive $4,123 collected in cash and Zelle on the day of the march alone. This is officially the most ever raised in March-A-Thon history!

Reminder: March-A-Thon runs through August 28th, so there’s still time to:

• Hit your individual fundraising goal

• Recruit more sponsors

Prizes will be handed out in just over a week! Check out the full prize list under March-A-Thon 101 on the navigation bar at JetBand.org. I will send an update for team prizes tomorrow!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Volunteers

To the 88 incredible volunteers who stood shoulder to shoulder with our students in the Texas heat—your dedication, energy, and generosity made this year’s March-A-Thon not just successful, but unforgettable.

What makes this even more extraordinary, every single volunteer slot was filled more than a week before the event - without a single ask. That speaks volumes about the strength of our band family. You saw the need, you showed up, and you gave your time without hesitation. I appreciate this so much as volunteer coordinator and it's a great sign for the season ahead! THANK YOU!!!

We did have to chase down a handful of people who had not completed their Raptor verification who were scheduled to volunteer at MarchAThon.

As a reminder, Katy ISD requires all volunteers whether serving on or off campus, during or outside school hours to renew/create their registration each school year through the Raptor security system. This is NOT an option.

English: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzAxOmVuLVVT
Spanish:https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzAxOmVzLVVT

NOTE: If you sign up to volunteer but do not register you will not be able to attend the event!

Link to view ALL Volunteer Opportunities: https://app.boosterhub.com/volunteer
More opportunities are added almost daily so please continue to check back!

Shout-Out to Russell Solomon - Our Loading Crew Legend!

Behind every flawless event is a team that makes the magic happen and leading that charge for March-A-Thon was none other than Russell Solomon, our incredible Loading Crew Lead.

Every photo I’ve seen of Russell from the event has that classic mischievous smirk, usually mid-spray as the kids marched by, laughing and soaking it all up. It’s the kind of energy that makes March-A-Thon unforgettable. But beyond the fun, Russell played a huge role in helping me get up to speed this year. When we co-led the fundraiser last year, he walked me through every detail with patience and precision. Thanks to his thorough guidance and generous mentorship, I was able to jump in confidently this time around and that’s a big part of why things ran so smoothly. Thank you, Russell, for your unwavering commitment to our band family.

If you are looking to find a spot in our volunteer world, please consider Loading Crew! Such an awesome group and fun way to give back! Questions reach out to Russell at loadingcrew@jetband.org

Shout-Out to Candy McAllister - Our Jet Fuel Powerhouse!

Every great event needs fuel and thanks to Candy McAllister, our students, staff, and volunteers were energized and cared for all day long. As the lead of our incredible JET Fuel team, Candy made sure March-A-Thon was packed with snack stops, popsicles, and a well-earned lunch. Coordinating all of that is no small feat, and she pulled it off with her signature mix of hustle, heart, and humor.

Candy also went the extra mile to secure donations from multiple places, helping us keep costs low while still delivering top-notch care. Her resourcefulness is matched only by her unforgettable laugh - you will hear it before you see her, and once you do, you’ll never forget her. Thank you, Candy, for your tireless work and for leading a team that kept us going strong all day long. You made a huge impact, and we’re so grateful.

Interested in joining the JET Fuel crew or learning more? Reach out to Candy at jetfuel@jetband.org - she’d love to hear from you!

Shout-Out to Erika Arslan - Our Photographer Guru!

A huge thank-you to Erika Arslan, our incredible photography lead, for assembling a dream team to capture the spirit and energy of the day. If you’ve browsed the albums online, you’ve seen how amazing they are! Judging by the download numbers, you love them as much as we do!

Being behind the lens often means missing out on moments with your own kids, which makes this team’s dedication even more meaningful.

Special thanks to Erika Arslan, Danielle Chisler, Bing Xu, and Jennifer Neal Clayton for the time, care, and sacrifice you poured into documenting these memories for our band family!

We love to have our photography crew growing! If you are interested in learning more or have any questions surrounding photography please reach out to Erika at photography@jetband.org!

Gear Orders Update – Final Distribution Details

Shoe Resizing Completed! All students with shoe issues should have attended the fitting session after practice yesterday. Those who received shoes for the first time were asked to try them on before leaving. Thank you for your cooperation. We still have quite a bit of items not picked up yet from orders placed on time and these items have been awaiting pick up since last Thursday.

Final Shoe Shipment

The remaining marching shoes will be distributed this Friday after band practice in the Band Hall.

Garment Bags

Garment bags are expected to arrive by Tuesday next week. A distribution day will be scheduled for the small group of students still awaiting theirs. More information will be shared soon.

Future Orders Needed

Booster Hub will no longer process orders for marching shoes or garment bags. All future orders must be placed directly through the distributor at ToteUnlimited.com.

Questions?

If you're unsure what to order, please contact us at gear@jetband.org and we’ll be happy to assist.

Updates from Vice President Fundraising - Rebecca Frazier

💐 Mums Are Coming — Don’t Miss Out!

Our amazing Mum Makers are gearing up for another fabulous season, and we’re thrilled to announce that Mum sales kick offnext Monday at Noon! 🎉

They’ll also have a table set up at Open House so during the event, so swing by, place your order, and help us make your student’s game day extra special. Don’t wait until the last minute—early orders ensure we have plenty of time to craft something truly memorable.

Interested in joining the creative crew behind the magic? Reach out to Becky and become one of our legendary Mumma Mia’s! Don't forget that Mums are a fundraiser for us and our Mums are the BEST and Taylor Made for Success!

Let’s make this season sparkle!

Becky Frazier

🍽️ Marching Season Meal Selections — Action Required!

It’s time for your student to make your meal selections for the upcoming marching season! Please take a moment to fill out the Google Form provided below. This form includes a variety of food options from different restaurants we’ll be using throughout the season.

🔹 Important Notes:

If you don’t submit your selections, we’ll choose for you—and you may not love what we pick.
There’s a section to list any food allergies. Please be sure to fill this out so we can avoid anything unsafe.
These selections will remain the same all season, so choose wisely.
Vegetarian options are available—just let us know!
Got a student with a bigger appetite? We offer double portions on game days ONLY for a one-time fee of $50, available in the Booster Hub store using this link: https://jetband.org/store/11134/30552

📣 Reminder: Your Booster Dues include meals for your student at every game and competition. We feed every student, so please make sure your student goes through the food line to receive their meal!

Let’s make this season delicious and smooth for everyone. Looking forward to a fantastic year!

Thanks!

Candy McAllister

STUDENTS- MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS NOW- CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM!

Band & Color Guard Dues Update

We’re halfway through the dues season—thank you to everyone who’s paid so far!

🔔 Past Due:

June: $250 (includes late fee)
July: $225 (includes late fee)
August: Due Aug 1 | Late fees begin Aug 16

➡️ Families should have paid at least $625 by now, unless a payment plan is in place. Next payments are due Sept 1st

💬 Need Help? We’re here for you. If you need more time or want to set up a plan, contact a director or email President@jetband.org.

💳 How to Pay:

Use the BoosterHub App → Store
View history under Tools → Accounting

⚠️ Reminder: Unpaid dues may limit student participation. Please reach out—we want every student fully involved!

Thanks for your continued support of the JET Band & Color Guard!

JET Band & Colorguard Spring Break Trip Reminder! Deadline to Register is September 19th!

Every four years, Katy ISD bands are allowed one major out-of-state trip—and this year, it’s our turn! After polling families and working with our travel agent, we’re thrilled to announce that JET Band & Color Guard will be heading to Washington, D.C. over Spring Break!

🗓️ Trip Dates: Depart Thursday before Spring Break, return Sunday of Spring Break—leaving plenty of time for rest and family.

📍 Why DC? It’s packed with unforgettable experiences: Smithsonian Museums, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Ford’s Theater, Holocaust Museum, National Harbor, a dinner cruise, and more.

💰 What’s Included: Airfare, charter buses, hotel, all meals, museum admissions, and guided tours—everything is covered.

👥 Optional but Memorable: This trip is optional, but historically 60–70% of students attend. It’s often one of the most cherished memories of high school—more than any contest or performance.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Chaperones Needed: We’ll need parent volunteers to help make this trip safe and fun. If you’re interested, we’d love to have you join us!

Details can be found here

Itinerary can be found here

NEW: If parents want to set up contribution pages so others can contribute to their child's trip, here is a link that will help! This trip makes a great birthday or christmas present for family and friends to contribute to help them cover the cost. Create your Contribution Page here!

🍴 Pampered Chef Fundraiser for JET Band & Color Guard

Hey JET Band and Color Guard families! We’re excited to kick off a Pampered Chef Fundraiser this month—and it’s extra special because Pampered Chef is doubling their donation percentages! Heather May has helped to organize this event so any questions, please reach out to her at heather1130@gmail.com. Check out our Facebook post for more information: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10110367508442115&set=gm.1709664663080543&idorvanity=332602014120155

💸 Here’s how it works:

20% of sales up to $650 will be donated to the JET Band & Color Guard Boosters
30% of sales over $650 will be donated—so let’s aim high!

🎉 No Facebook? No problem! A Facebook event is coming soon, but you don’t need Facebook to participate. Just share the link with friends and family who love cooking or Pampered Chef products.

🎁 Bonus Fun: Our amazing consultant, Aubrey Kraft, is hosting giveaways throughout the event. To enter, just RSVP and include your phone number.

👉 RSVP here: https://table.pamperedchef.com/party/2310452qre

Check out our Facebook post for more information: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10110367508442115&set=gm.1709664663080543&idorvanity=332602014120155

Thanks for supporting the JET Band and Color Guard—we appreciate you!

Heather May

Spirit Night Chair