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Congratulations on another fantastic weekend for the Marching Statesmen Band & Colorguard, culminating in an outstanding performance and impressive 2nd-place finish out of the five bands competing in our Group 4 category at the
VMBC South County Marching Invitational!
The week ahead is a “light” week as we close out the month by marching in the
Vienna Halloween Parade on Wednesday, October 28!
Students: Please bring ALL elements of your uniform (including bags, shoes, bibbers, gloves, performance tops, hangers) back to Marshall ASAP so that you will be sure you have what you need for the parade on Wednesday!
| | THE 2026 MARCHING STATESMEN SEASON! | Make sure to check the Marshall Band website (www.marshallband.org)
for the most up-to-date calendar! | | |
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Monday, October 26
- Bring marching uniforms back to school and store them in the band dressing room! (Check to make 100% sure you have your red bag, marching shoes, bibbers, white gloves if applicable, performance tops, and hanger!)
- 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM Varsity Field Hockey Game (Concessions Helpers needed—see below!)
Tuesday, October 27
- 3:30 PM – 5:45 PM: After-school Marching Statesmen Rehearsal
Wednesday, October 28
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Vienna Halloween Parade! Exact reporting time TBA by Mr. Vesilind.
(Students who do not have their full uniform will be unable to march in parade, so please be sure you have returned your uniform to the band dressing room NO LATER THAN Wednesday morning!)
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6:45 PM – 8:30 PM: Varsity Field Hockey Game (Concessions Helpers needed—see below!)
Thursday, October 29
- 3:30 PM – 5:45 PM: After-school Marching Statesmen Rehearsal
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM: LEDO PIZZA Restaurant Night Band Fundraiser!
Friday, October 30
- Two-Hour Early Release Day (End of 1st Quarter!)
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The Marching Statesmen Band & Colorguard will march in the Vienna Halloween Parade THIS Wednesday, October 28. Students will meet at GCM at designated time (determined by Mr. Vesilind) and will board school buses to the parade staging site. They will be wearing their full traditional Marching Statesmen uniform with shakos and plumes for the parade.
We need a few helpers on the night of the parade, so please sign up below if you are able to assist.
| | Parade time begins promptly at 7:00 PM, and the Marching Statesmen are #51 out of 101 groups listed in the parade line-up! Parade route akes place along Maple Avenue between Branch Rd. and Center St. We recommend that spectators bundle up for warmth and arrive early to snag viewing positions along the route–as the spots fill up fast! (Spectator details can be found at: www.viennava.gov/Town-Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Concerts-and-Events/Halloween-Parade) | | VOLUNTEER FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY NIGHT! | | |
Friends & Family Showcase Night is Wednesday, November 4 at GCM Stadium at 7:00 PM! (Students will report to Band Room at regular practice time of 6:00 PM to dress in uniform.) We’ll open the concessions stand between 6:30 PM–6:55 PM to allow time for you to purchase some hot chocolate, coffee, and light snacks before heading into the stands. We will also sell concessions during the 10-15 minute intermission break for re-setting the show. A limited number of Treat-Grams will also be available for purchase at the concessions window.
We will need a few helpers to run concessions (you won’t miss the show!), as well as some helpers with props, pit, and uniforms! Please sign up below if you can help:
| | FRIENDS & FAMILY NIGHT TREAT GRAMS | | Celebrate your Marching Statesmen member by sending a TREAT-GRAM to them at Friends and Family Night on November 4, 2026. This fundraiser allows you to choose either a Cake-Pop, Brownie, or Rice Krispie Treat (each $5), along with a special message. All Treat-Grams will be delivered to students immediately following the performance! (Note: there is also an option to send a message without a treat, if you would like to limit your performer’s treat overload!) | | |
Purchasing Treat-Grams is a great way for long-distance grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends to send special recognition to a performer! Please share the pre-order link with your family and friends! A limited number of Treat-Grams will also be available for purchase at concessions the night of the event, but they may sell out quickly, so please pre-order Treat-Grams by October 30 to avoid disappointment!
(If you are interested in offering your baking skills to assist in preparing the homemade treat grams, please email Amy Ites at amy.m.ites@gmail.com.)
| | FINAL HOME FOOTBALL GAME / SENIOR RECOGNITION NIGHT SIGN-UP! | | |
Our last Varsity Home Football game of the season is Friday, November 6 v. Herndon HS. This is also Senior Recognition Night!
NON-Senior Parents: It is our tradition to encourage senior parents to relax and enjoy this final game of the season with minimal need to serve in volunteer posts for this game, so if you are able to sign up to volunteer to help out, please do so below:
| Senior Parents & Siblings: Please report to the track beneath the scoreboard in the GCM stadium at 6:20 PM to escort your senior as they are announced prior the start of the football game! | | VMBC MARCHING CHAMPIONSHIPS | | Please sign up below to help out with volunteer tasks as the Marching Statesmen compete at the VMBC CHAMPIONSHIPS on Saturday, November 7 at Carter G. Woodson HS South County HS (9525 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031) | The Marching Statesmen are scheduled to take the field at 9:00 AM as the first band in Group 4 to perform. Preliminary Awards take place at 5:00 PM, at which time final bands will be announced. Band that make FINALS will perform in the evening, followed by awards to announce championship. Mr. Vesilind will send out complete schedule for competition day. | | NON-VARSITY FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS SHIFTS! | | This Thursday, October 29, marks the final home games of the season for Freshman / JV Football! Sign up if you can help! (Students are welcome and can earn service hours!) Thank you! | | Our GCM Varsity Field Hockey team just keeps on winning!...so we are not only excited for them, but we are excited to offer YOU some additional opportunities to volunteer at concessions! Woo-hoo! If you are able to help out during the game on Monday, October 26 (can be students who want service hours!) as well as Wednesday, October 28 (adults and/or 8th graders only since Marching Statesmen will be at the parade) from 6:45-8:15 PM, please sign up below: | | |
We had so many amazing helpers this week—from field hockey and flag football concessions to Friday night football and South County Competition Day...we appreciate each and every one of you and extend our heartfelt THANK YOU! 🫶🏼
Field Hockey Concessions: Veronica Bong, Lara Fabiano, Peter Thompson, Laura Hogan, and Alex Vives.
Flag Football Concessions: Arianne Huamani, Lara Fabiano, Dev Crance, Amy Karnik, and Michelle Thompson.
8th Grade Band Night Football Game Volunteers: Kevin Glasscock, Donna Dugan, Denise Taranov, Amy Ites, Cooky Bysura, Nina Roehl, Jayson Roehl, Laura Hogan, Melissa Ni, Jennifer Gibbons-Kincaid, Liz Sherer, Trish Vanstory, Vivian Hwa, Deb Sutton, Peter Thompson, David Ackerman, Steve Ni, Emily Caron, Kerry Fraatz, Lauren Pachman, Deena Parker, Michelle Thompson, Karen Growney, Liz Book, Teresa Pipia, Hankyul Kim, Sam Rayburn, Katie Dulaney, Lisa Ackerman, Shilpee Arora, Kevin Jacobs, Melinda Batman, and Angela Clague.
South County Marching Competition Volunteers: Grant Book, Sam Rayburn, Ron Wu, Liz Sherer, Michelle Thompson, Lisa Ackerman, Deena Parker, Elizabeth Jackson, Emily Caron, Andrea Keller, Gayla Baumgardt, Liz Book, Matt Parr, David Keller, Angel Yu, Kerry Fraatz, Zach Fraatz, Steve Ni, Susan Ganter, Jamie Ganter, Vivian Hwa, Kevin Jacobs, Peter Thompson, Mike Dugan, Melissa Ni, Laura Hogan, and Brian Viskupic...and to Karen Growney for setting up and launching our Group Me chat for marching band parents to share real-time, quick updates and announcements on logistics, awards, and volunteer needs as we encourage and support our hard-working performers!
Y’all know by now that it takes a giant crew to support this robust program, and the tremendous donation of time and talent by our parent volunteers makes all the difference! Thank you! 🩵❤️🩵
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Please be on the lookout NEXT WEEK for our FINAL marching season Sign-Up:
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FALL BANQUET FOOD CONTRIBUTION & DECORATING (11/10)
*All families are asked to contribute a food item to feed 8-10 people and/or paper goods contributions, so please start thinking of what you might like to bring...
| | 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. | | WATCH THE LATEST MARCHING BAND PERFORMANCES | | Have more photos taken from the Marching Band Season? Upload them to our shared Google Drive! Help us in capturing all the fun, excitement, and memories from the marching band season! | |
To view photos and video of the current Marching Statesmen season, please visit our website at www.marshallband.org/media.html.
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Monday, November 2
- NO SCHOOL: Student Holiday / Planning Day
Tuesday, November 3
- NO SCHOOL: Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
Wednesday, November 4
- Evening (Exact Time TBD): Marching Statesmen Friends & Family Performance at GCM (All are welcome! This is a full-dress performance at GCM stadium, open to friends and family and superfans! Show will be performed and videotaped 2-3 times for state assessment before spectators will be invited onto the field to take photos with performers.)
Thursday, November 5
- 3:30 PM – 5:45 PM: After-school Marching Statesmen Rehearsal
Friday, November 6
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7:00 PM: Last HOME Varsity Football Game of the season! (SENIOR Recognition Night)
Saturday, November 7
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All Day: VMBC Championship Marching Competition at Woodson HS
(Marching Statesmen competition performance time is 9:00 AM with potential for performance in FINALS round in evening. Details on logistics of this day to follow...)
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