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Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED newsletter design of the Marshall Mouthpiece!! Starting this school year, the GCM Band Parents Organization (BPO) will be moving our weekly newsletter communications to this more user-friendly platform to give you all the information you need to know for the Marching Band season in one convenient location.* So don’t miss out! Scroll through all the information to stay informed with the latest news, upcoming events, important updates, and volunteer opportunities with the Marching Statesmen season! 🎉
(*Huge shoutout to Band Parent Cooky Bysura for her time
and design talent in launching our updated newsletter format!)
| | 2026 MARCHING STATESMEN SEASON IS COMING!... | Only TWO weeks until the start of Marching Statesmen Band Camp! You can prepare now by spending some time outside each day walking, running, or exercising to begin building your stamina and strength—and be sure to take a look at the show music that Mr. Vesilind sent out at the end of June! | Below are the Marching Statesmen SUMMER Commitment Dates at-a-glance.
Please note the CHANGE in the schedule for the first few days of camp! | | |
2026 Marching Band Camp (Mandatory for all Marching Statesmen Participants!)
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August 3: LEADERSHIP DAY (upperclassmen leaders only)
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August 4–5: Half-Day Band Camp @ GCM
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8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Marching Winds (NEW Marchers & Leaders ONLY)
- 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Marching Percussion (includes front ensemble)
- 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Colorguard
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August 6–7: Half-Day Band Camp @ GCM
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8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Marching Winds (ALL–rookies and veterans)
- 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Marching Percussion (includes front ensemble)
- 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Colorguard
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August 6, 6:30 PM: OPTIONAL Student Movie Theater Social (See details below)
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August 10–14: Full Day Band Camp (All students attend from 8am-4pm)
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August 10, 7:30AM: Parent Donuts and Coffee Social
(Come join us at drop-off before work for a quick hello to meet other band families!)
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August 13 or 14: (Date TBD): OPTIONAL Evening Student BOWLING Social
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August 17–20: Full Day Band Camp (All students attend from 8am-4pm)
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August 20: (Tentative Date): OPTIONAL Evening Student Pool Party Social
| | MARCHING STATESMEN BAND CAMP STUDENT SOCIAL | |
Join us for the first Band Camp Student Social Event that has been announced by student leadership:
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Event: DCI 2026: Big, Loud, and Live!
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What: Movie theatre outing to see a big-screen viewing of the Drum Corps International live World Championship Prelims!
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Where: Regal Movie Theatre in Springfield Town Center
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When: Thursday, August 6 at 6:30 PM
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Cost: $20.69 (tax & fees included)
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Please note: Attendance at band camp socials is encouraged (for the fun!), but is completely optional, transportation is NOT provided (though section leaders are welcome to organize carpools), and cost of each event (roughly ~$10-25) is paid by individual attendee and is not covered by band camp fees.
Details for other social events planned by student leadership will be announced during band camp and typically include: BOWLING outing during week 2 (tentatively the evening of August 13 or 14), and evening POOL PARTY during week 3 (tentatively August 20), as well as a couple of smaller gatherings organized by section leaders at times TBD.
These optional events are a great way to make social connections with other band members outside of band camp practice hours before the school year starts. 😊
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For FULL DAY Band Camp days (August 10-14 and August 17-20), students can choose to bring a lunch from home OR they may “opt in” to pay for and receive a catered lunch that is brought in from a local restaurant. (We are still working on arrangements with vendors.) This year, the Band Parents’ Organization (BPO) will be providing a complimentary catered lunch from Moby Dick to ALL students and staff on the final day of band camp (August 20)!
LUNCH FORM will be sent out NEXT WEEK with details about menu, and is due back with payment of $120 by August 4th for those students ordering catered lunches.
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Returning Marchers: Please find your shoes and make sure they fit BEFORE band camp starts! We will make only ONE group order for shoes, and if you are not part of the group order, you will need to pay your own shipping for new shoes.
New Marchers: You will be fitted for marching band shoes and uniform during the first week of half-day camp. If you are not in attendance during the first week, we will find you during subsequent weeks for fitting.
| | BAND CAMP PARENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | Parents: Please sign up for the many opportunities we have for you to help! | | |
BAND UNIFORM FITTING HELPERS
From August 3-8, all Marching Statesmen will be fitted for band uniforms during their half-day rehearsals, and our amazing parent volunteer uniform chairs need your help! (Friendly, on-the-job training will be provided!) Also, if you have a special skill in sewing or hemming, please sign up in that slot or contact Parent Volunteer Uniform Chairs Laura Hogan, Melissa Ni or Jennifer Gibbons Kincaid to assist with uniform alterations! THANK YOU!
BAND CAMP LUNCH SERVERS
From August 10-20, we need Band Camp Lunch Shift Volunteers to assist with set-up, serving, and clean-up. We appreciate ALL our volunteers for any amount of time you are able to donate!
BAND CAMP TREAT DONATIONS AND DISTRIBUTORS
These days are hot, rehearsals are long, and this group works HARD…so we like to provide the students and staff with some fun and motivational treats along the way!
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The Success of our Marching Statesmen season is made possible by our many parent volunteers! We ask that ALL parents commit to signing up for at least 8 shifts/tasks during marching band season to support our band program. Please be on the lookout in the coming weeks for the following Sign-Ups:
- FIELD HOCKEY CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS
- FRESHMAN/JV FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS
- MARCHING COMPETITIONS & PARADE VOLUNTEERS
- VARSITY HOME FOOTBALL GAMES VOLUNTEERS
(This year, we will have a separate sign-up for each game)
- GOOGLE FORM FOR TAG DAY FUNDRAISER PARENT DRIVERS
- TAG DAY FUNDRAISER BREAKFAST & ICE CREAM SOCIAL
- FALL BANQUET FOOD CONTRIBUTION & DECORATING
| | MARCHING STATESMEN PARENT SOCIALS | |
Parents: Please mark your calendars and join us for these upcoming events, where you can get to know some fellow band parents before we kick off the new season of football games and competitions!
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Monday, August 10: Band Parent Donuts and Coffee
At drop-off on the first FULL day of Band Camp on August 10, please join us between 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM at the stadium entrance behind GCM High School (near the concession stand) for donuts, coffee, and conversation! We LOVE our new & returning band parents!!!
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Wednesday, August 26: Tag Day Envelope Stuffing & Social!
While the Marching Statesmen are attending Wednesday evening rehearsal, you are invited to make your way to the home of Samantha Rayburn (8603 Antioch Cir. Vienna, VA 22180), where we will mix and mingle and stuff envelopes with fundraising marketing materials in preparation for our annual Tag Day fundraiser! No sign-up required…just show up and pitch in!
| | CALL FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS LEADERSHIP! | |
We continue to have an impressive response for Band Parent Leadership Volunteers…and want to give a special shoutout of appreciation to Nicole Camara this week for agreeing to serve as Middle School Band Night Coordinator!
We still have few more vacancies to fill! Please reach out to Michelle at president@marshallband.org if you are interested in serving in one of these vacant roles below:
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Senior Recognition Night Chair (non-Senior parent preferred)
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Marching Show Props & Materials Crew Committee
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Concessions Coordinator Co-Lead for NON-Varsity-Football Events
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CONCERT Band Uniform Assistant
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Fall Band Banquet Organizer (handles decorations and paper goods purchasing)
Your help is welcome, valued, and NEEDED for our upcoming Marching Band season! (No experience necessary. We gratefully accept all donations of your time and talent!)
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Monday, August 24
Wednesday, August 26
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6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (during band practice):
Band Parent Social and Tag Day Envelope-Stuffing Event at the home of Samantha Rayburn (8603 Antioch Circle)
Friday, August 25
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7:00 PM – First VARSITY HOME FOOTBALL GAME
Marching Statesmen students report to band room at call time provided by Mr. Vesilind and section leaders…usually 5:30/5:45PM. First game does not include field performance, but students will perform music in the stands wearing their band t-shirts and will stay for the duration of the game!
Saturday, August 26
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8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – TAG DAY FUNDRAISER!!!
This is an all-day fundraiser for ALL band students (concert band & marching band) and raises a massive amount of money for our band program! We will need many parent drivers and volunteers to assist with this key fundraiser, so please make plans to participate! Details will soon follow…
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