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AFM President's Report -
Support Music in PUSD! Volunteer for Concerts, Festivals, & Bandcake!
Dear AFM families,
As many of you may know, we started the new year with the shocking news that PUSD may cut Elementary Music Program and A & B Period in middle school in their efforts to deal with budget deficits.
Thank you to everyone who emailed the board with their opposition to these cuts and attended the special board meeting on January 16 to voice their concerns about these reductions.
We must still voice our opposition to these reductions. Cutting music from elementary school and limiting the option of taking music class in middle school will have a detrimental impact on our PUSD students' education. There is still time to voice your concerns - email the board, sign the petition, have your students sign up to play at the Farmers Market this Saturday! More details are in the newsletter.
Second semester is all about music festivals, concerts, and Bandcake: VOLUNTEER! We need your help!! Again, more details in separate announcements in this newsletter.
Lastly, I would like to take a moment to thank all our PUSD music directors for their dedication to all PUSD students throughout the years. From elementary school to high school, their impact in the classroom and beyond has undeniably made PUSD a better district.
Soojin Hwang
President, AFM
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CALL FOR ACTION! - PUSD Budget Proposals to Eliminate Elementary Music Program and A/B Period in Middle School
The district is proposing to (1) eliminate the Elementary Music Program and all of the district’s 6.5 full-time Elementary Music Specialists and (2) eliminate the A/B period currently available in 6th and 7th grades.
If you do NOT want the Elementary Music Program and/or middle school A/B period to be eliminated, you can still email all the PUSD Board Members (Justin Brown, Kelly Mokashi, Laurie Walker, Mary Jo Carreon, Charlie Jones), Student Board Member (Filipp Dmitriev), the Interim Superintendent (Maurice Ghysels), and the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services (Ahmad Sheikholeslami).
(1) Send one email for each topic.
(2) As the subject line of your email, write either “Do NOT eliminate Elementary Music Program” and/or “Do NOT eliminate A/B PERIOD IN MS.”
(3) Send your email to the following email addresses: board@pleasantonusd.net, mghysels@pleasantonusd.net, asheikholeslami@pleasantonusd.net, studentboardtrustee@pleasantonusd.net
Link for sample emails and more info on the proposed elimination of the ES Music Program & A/B Period in MS
Please also sign this petition, let's continue to get more signatures and support.
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Need Student Musicians/Ensembles to Perform at Farmers Market Tomorrow!
PUSD will be the entertainment for the January 25 Pleasanton Farmers Market - 9am to 12:30pm! Our goal is to highlight the talent and quality of our music programs and students!
Select the time that works best for you in this sign up sheet. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to set up and get situated.
Bring any musical equipment you need (music stands, instruments, amps)
We will provide access to power if needed, please indicate if you need electricity (please bring your own extension cords for equipment to hook up to main outlet).
Questions? Email pgannon@pleasantonusd.net or call (925) 596-9661. Thank you!
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Now Seeking Interest for AFM Officers For the 2025-26 School Year!
It is time once again for the AFM Nominating Committee to recruit candidates to hold AFM elected officer positions for next year. The goal of the nominating committee is to enlist the talents of as many Amador Valley music parents, friends, and family as possible. The nominating committee’s responsibility is to consider all persons interested in a particular elected officer position.
Please review the attached information and indicate any positions that you may be interested in filling. You may also wish to recommend someone you think would be an ideal recruit for a particular office.
Please be advised that the nominating committee must submit the officer nominations to the AFM board no later than March 2025. AFM officer elections will take place at the general membership meeting in May.
You can nominate yourself or another volunteer you think would be a great addition to the board via this form.
If you have any questions, please contact Trina Willardson at vicepresident@amadormusic.org
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Savers' Collection next Saturday Feb 1st 10am
Our spring Savers collection is coming up on Feb 1st next Sat, 10-11am. Drive through and drop off at the Amador main parking lot.
We collect soft goods, clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, backpacks, sheets, towels, linens. Please put them in white or black trash bags ONLY.
No stuff animals, NO toys, NO books, NO housewares, NO furniture. Thanks!
We have ONLY 3 time slot this round:
Feb 1st 10am
Feb 22nd 10am
Mar 15th 10am
For question, please contact fundraising@amadormusic.org
We are also looking for parents and students volunteers for donation collection. If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4FADAA2AAB9-54634155-saver
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Campana Jazz Festival Need Volunteers!
AFM is hosting the 49th Campana Jazz Festival on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Amador Valley High School!! We need volunteers to run this amazing event, so please sign up. All volunteers will receive free admission!
Usher and clean up roles are open to non-band students for volunteer hours. All other positions are adult volunteer positions. Band students interested in volunteering should sign up on the Campana Student Volunteer sheet sent out by the band directors.
Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A5A72CABF94-54217263-50th#/
For schedule, visit https://campana.amadormusic.org/
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Save the date for the Chipotle fundraiser on Feb. 5th!
Mark your calendar for our Chipotle Fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 5th 4-8pm.
Join us for a delicious meal while supporting our program-more details coming soon!
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BANDCAKE BREAKFAST! Gift Cards Donation Needed
Bandcake Breakfast is Amador Band's spring fundraiser and will be on Saturday, May 10, 2025. We need items for the raffle and auction!
Have gift cards lying around? Donate them to Bandcake!! Drop them off in the Band Room - AFM box. Or for more drop off options, email Soojin Hwang, president@amadormusic.org.
BANDCAKE BREAKFAST Donation Needed - TRAVEL!
Do you have travel items that you can donate? Hotel/Resort stays, vacation home rentals, B&B/AirBnb stays... If so, contact Soojin Hwang, president@amadormusic.org
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BANDCAKE BREAKFAST COMMITTEE HELPERS NEEDED!
We need parents to volunteer to be part of the Bandcake Breakfast Committee! Bandcake Breakfast is a morning when all the bands and jazz bands perform, breakfast is served, and funds are raised for the band through raffles, online auction, and other fun activities at the event.
Our leads from last year will help but this is their last year so WE NEED NEW PARENTS to help with Bandcake. Committee job list:
Logistics
Raffle/Auction
Publicity
Online Auction site manager
Grub Team
Decorations
Volunteer Organizer
Last year, our band directors had a surprise costume. Maybe they can have another one this year! Join the Bandcake Breakfast Committee and help decide! Email Soojin Hwang, president@amadormusic.org.
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BANDCAKE BREAKFAST - AUCTION TEAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ASAP!
We need some volunteers ASAP to send emails asking for auction/raffle items for Bandcake 2025! We have last year's list. If you can help, please email Soojin Hwang, president@amadormusic.org, ASAP.
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Benefit Concert Deadline Extended!
Benefit Concert's deadline extended to January 31st, 2025!
Inviting students to participate in AFM annual benefit concert!
Please sign up before January 31st 2025.
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TENTATIVE DATES for MARCHING BAND 2025!
Happy New Year - which also means we are planning for the 2025 Marching Band season!! For those planning for the summer and beyond, please note the dates below. When dates are finalized, they will be published ASAP.
As always, please refer to the Band Google Calendar which is linked to amadormusic.org as it is kept current.
July 28 - August 2, 2025: Marching Band Camp (tentative)
November 1 - 2, 2025: Marching Band Bands of America Competition, SoCal (tentative)
November 22-23, 2025: Marching Band WBA Championships, Clovis (tentative)
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