GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Garfield High School
500 Palisade Avenue
Garfield, NJ 07026
PHONE: 973-340-5010 EMAIL: mgoetz@gboe.org

6/14/2022

Dear Band Parent/Guardian,

I am so very pleased that your child has expressed interest in The Garfield High School Band Program and the GHS
Color Guard. Thank you for your support of your child’s continuing music experiences. This year looks to be quite the
challenge as we lost a large Senior Class to graduation this past year. Every student is incredibly important as we will be
smaller, younger and many members will be first-time participants in the GHS Marching Band. So, attendance at all
rehearsals will be CRITICAL to the overall success of our season!

The GHS Marching Band and Color Guard is a great activity that helps develop confidence, positive attitude, self-
esteem, cooperation, and self-discipline. It also gives members the thrill of performing in a great band in front of
thousands of enthusiastic fans. It takes a large amount of time, discipline, and dedication but the rewards are equally great.

We need your help now! It is very important that we have a firm commitment so we can begin working on writing the
competition music and drill. We need an accurate instrumentation count in order to do this. We also need to look at the
need for large and percussion instruments, how many buses will be needed, how many of our uniforms to prepare, etc.

As a member of the GHS Marching Band program, your child is expected to make a commitment to excellence. In
order to make this commitment, the band must work hard and improve during every rehearsal and performance. The most
important time of the year is the time we spend together in rehearsals before school starts. It is a chance for your child to
meet new people, hang with old friends, and create a bond that will last throughout the school year (and in some cases a
lifetime). It is also the time where they will learn an extraordinary amount of musical information.

This year’s band camp starts on August 1st PROMPTLY at 8:00AM. Please have your child arrive at GHS by
7:30AM so they can be ready to start at 8:00AM. Students should be dropped off at the entrance behind City Hall or can
enter through the football stadium side of the high school. We have very few rehearsal days before our first performance,
so it is crucial to learn as much of the show as possible, especially during band camp.

During all rehearsals, your child should wear comfortable sneakers and dress appropriately for the weather. No
sandals are permitted because it is extremely hard to march correctly in them and can cause severe injury.

It is important for your child to attend these rehearsals if they want to participate in band. Every rehearsal missed
makes it very difficult to catch up to the level of everyone else in the group. I understand conflicts do arise. Please know
that we are here to answer any and all questions that you may have. Due to the busy nature of our program, it is difficult
to contact us by phone. The best way for you to reach us is electronically through the REMIND service/App (information
included in following pages) or by email at mgoetz@gboe.org. This will allow us to respond to your query, whether you
are available by phone or not. You may also visit our website at http://garfieldhsband.weebly.com

Please see Page 3 to sign up for the REMIND message service. If you have any questions about this email me at
mgoetz@gboe.org and I will make sure that you are quickly enrolled. UNDERSTAND THAT THE REMIND APP IS
MY PRIMARY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MY SELF, MY STUDENTS AND THEIR
PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S). SIGN UP TODAY AND BE A PART OF OUR ACTIVE BAND FAMILY!

Thank you & see you in a couple of weeks!

Matthew R. Goetz, GHS BAND DIRECTOR

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 GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Garfield High School
500 Palisade Avenue
Garfield, NJ 07026
PHONE: 973-340-5010 EMAIL: mgoetz@gboe.org

Requirements for All Practices & Rehearsals

(changes due to state, local, CDC recommendations are possible)
To minimize the possibility of exposure to COVID-19 as much as possible, we will be adhering to all STATE,
LOCAL and CDC recommendations, as necessary. Here are some of the guidelines:
▪ Attendance records shall be kept
▪ Students should report to practices and rehearsals in proper attire and immediately return home to
change clothes or shower at the end of the session.
▪ During practices and rehearsals, staff must ensure appropriate social distancing (6-10 Feet), hygiene
(wash hands), and safety measures (wear masks) are implemented.
▪ All surfaces in practice and rehearsal areas must be thoroughly disinfected throughout and at the end of
each day. (If you touch it…clean it!)
▪ There can be no shared water, sunscreen, or food.
▪ Students and staff may need to self-screen every day for COVID-19 symptoms for themselves and
family members. IF YOU FEEL SICK! STAY HOME! BUT LET ME KNOW FIRST!
▪ Before and after rehearsals be mindful of the number of students and parents congregating outside
and/or mixing around the practice areas and parking areas. All students will always enter through the
Outwater Lane entry. Exit will be in a similar fashion
▪ Any equipment must be thoroughly disinfected before and after each use. If a student uses a piece of
equipment, that equipment must be thoroughly disinfected before another student uses it. Schools should
limit the use of equipment to further reduce the risk of spreading the virus. IF IT’S NOT YOURS,
DON’T TOUCH IT!

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 GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Garfield High School
500 Palisade Avenue
Garfield, NJ 07026
PHONE: 973-340-5010 EMAIL: mgoetz@gboe.org

The summer band schedule is currently as follows:

(This schedule may change or be altered according to district and state health mandates)
• August 1st – 5th – BAND CAMP (All students must attend) 8am – 5pm
• August 8th-12th – BAND CAMP (All students must attend) 8am – 5pm
• *** August 12th – PARENT SHOW 4:00pm (tentative)***
o The GHS Band will premier its 2022 show “James Bond” for parents in order to display the
work and effort put in during Band Camp. All parents, friends and family are invited to the GHS
Football Field for the demonstration.

ITEMS REQUIRED FOR BAND CAMP

ANY STUDENT NOT BRINGING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL LOSE PRIVELEGES!
o Plenty of water (WATER MAY BE PROVIDED BUT STUDENTS MUST BRING OWN WATER
BOTTLE)
o Sunscreen (MUST NOT BE SHARED)
o Face Covering (If desired)
o Hat
o Sneakers (NO SANDLES, SLIDES or FLIP FLOPS)
o Bag Lunch or Lunch money
o Instrument/Flag Music – Downloaded and printed from
www.garfieldhsband.weebly.com/music-download-area
o Pencil
o Flip folio and Lyre*** for instrument (can be purchased at local music store or AMAZON. See below)

*FLUTE STUDENTS PLEASE PURCHASE THE DEG FLUTISTS FRIEND MARCHING LYRE*

***Music & Arts Center – http://www.musicarts.com

762 Route 17 North
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 444-9800

PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND PRINT ALL MUSIC FROM

www.garfieldhsband.weebly.com/music-download-area before the start
of camp.

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 GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Garfield High School
500 Palisade Avenue
Garfield, NJ 07026
PHONE: 973-340-5010 EMAIL: mgoetz@gboe.org

Sign up for important updates for the GHS Band, Colorguard and Band Parents
Get information for Garfield High School right on your phone—not on handouts.

DOWNLOAD THE APP!!!

BAND (Wind/Percussion students only): Pick a way to receive messages
WIND/PERCUSSION STUDENTS
A) If you have a smartphone, get push notifications.
-On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/-ghsmb
-Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.
B) If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications.
-Text the message @-ghsmb- to the number 81010.
-If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @-ghsmb- to (848) 248-4265.
* Standard text message rates apply.

C) Don’t have a mobile phone?

-Go to rmd.at/-ghsmb- on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications.

COLOR GUARD (students only)– please sign up for this specific group
A) If you have a smartphone, get push notifications.
-On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at /-ghsguard-
-Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.
B) If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications.
-Text the message @-ghsguard- to the number 81010.
-If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @-ghsguard- to (848) 248-4265.
* Standard text message rates apply.

C) Don’t have a mobile phone?

-Go to rmd.at/-ghsmb- on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications.

PARENTS (only): Pick a way to receive messages for Garfield HS Marching Band:
A) If you have a smartphone, get push notifications.
-On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/
rmd.at/ghsbandmom
-Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.
B) If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications.
-Text the message @ghsbandmom to the number 81010.
-If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @ rmd.at/ghsbandmom to (848) 248-4265.
* Standard text message rates apply.

C) Don’t have a mobile phone?

-Go to rmd.at/ rmd.at/ghsbandmom on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications.