From: Roy & Tyra Smith

Greetings Pulaski Music Boosters!

As we look forward to the New Year, it is also a time to reflect briefly over the past year. 2009 has been a very challenging year for most of us, unemployment, pay cuts, furloughs, and more. We have all experienced a fair amount of uncertainty and worry during this period, but as we also look back we have had a constant source of enjoyment and pleasure, the music and performances of our children and the friendships developed over this past year in working together to support the music programs at PHS.

In a time of budget cuts at the school, we as an organization have been able to provide funds for services and equipment that the PHS that otherwise would not have been possible. A new drum set for Jazz, Toobaloos for Choir, and paying for part of the field show for marching band are just a few. Some things our kids have to look forward to in 2010, are the Wisconsin Bucks game and the upcoming Colorado trip this summer.

Our annual Chili Luncheon will be held on February 7 th, please join us for chili, sandwiches, raffles, silent auction and some great music!

The Hansen’s Pizza sales will be held March 1 – March 12, half of all the profits your student sells for this fundraiser will go directly into their students activity account, which can be used to help pay for the trip costs.

We want to thank everyone who has volunteered their time and efforts for working at the Lambeau concessions, those volunteers generated a total of $2,475 into the student accounts.

To minimize the costs to our students & parents, the PMB voted to pay for the transportation to/from the Milwaukee Bucks game.

We know that 2010 will also be a challenging year, and we are looking at additional ways to help support the Music Programs at PHS.

All the donations we have had this past year are very special, from the funds to replace the Trailer, to the new Drum Major Podiums, to the water, food, and many other items provided for the many events we assist with. We must not forget one of the greatest donations we get, which is for your time. Without your leadership, involvement and time to assist with the events, fundraisers, performances, we could not do a fraction of what we do.

I encourage all of the parents to get involved, it is very rewarding and fulfilling watching and helping your students and the programs, please come to the PMB meetings, your vote and opinion are important to the organization. It doesn’t matter if you have never played an instrument, marched or can’t carry a tune, we have needs for all types of talents and experience.

I want to thank the parents of Freshmen students for getting involved, you will become the leaders and experienced supporters, please continue to get involved.

I want to thank the parents of the Sophomore and Junior students, you have been involved, and are experienced, please continue your support so that the programs continue running smoothly.

I want to thank the parents of the Senior students, your past 3 ½ years of support and leadership has been invaluable, please help the parents of the Freshmen, Sophomore, and Juniors to transfer that knowledge and experience.

I want to thank our alumni parents who continue to be involved. Your help and dedication to the PHS program is very commendable. You know probably better than most, how important it is to have the parental involvement of the current students. Just as you where involved when your kids were in the programs, please mentor, encourage and share you wealth of knowledge to the parents of the current students, so that the current parents and children of the PHS music programs can have the same satisfaction, involvement, pride, and sense of accomplishment that you did when your students attended.

In conclusion, let us not forget, it is about the students in the PHS Music Programs. We firmly believe that these are the best programs at the school. Where else can a student get the camaraderie, team work, individual and group excellence?

We have an Internationally Recognized PHS Music program and that has come from the hard work and dedication of the students, music directors, and parents!

Thank You!

Sincerely,
Roy & Tyra Smith
Pulaski Music Boosters Co-Presidents

From: Mr. Busch

Dear Members of the Pulaski Music Boosters,

Regards,
Mr. D. Thomas Busch
PHS Director of Bands
Music Department Chair
dtbusch@pulaski.k12.wi.us
822-6828From: Mr. White:

Dear Pulaski H.S. Music Boosters and Students,

What a fast and furious fall it was! The Red Raider Marching Band had two unexpected extra performances due to the football team’s success, and now the students have happily transitioned into concert season.

Symphonic Band has selected a lovely holiday program and is busy preparing for our December 21st concert, which will be at 7:00pm in the PHS Auditorium. The dress for that concert is our marching uniforms with black shoes. We will then turn our attention to Band-O-Rama on January 31st. Lessons this quarter have been a challenge for some students, and attendance/preparation has dropped alarmingly. Please help your child to stay motivated and remember to attend his or her lessons. If a student is in need of extra credit, attending a concert and writing a review is a great way to get some extra points. The community holiday concert on Dec 23rd at 6:00pm is the perfect chance!

Jazz II and III rehearsals are now in full swing! Both bands are full of talented musicians, and I have been thrilled with the overwhelming interest! Beginning in January, we will be having weekly “sectionals” beginning 30 minutes prior to rehearsal (5:00pm for Jazz 2 and 6:00pm for Jazz 3). This sectional time is essential, as it gives each instrument group a chance to address specific challenges outside of our limited rehearsal time. Please make sure your child is attending both sectionals and rehearsals regularly. Please watch the calendar for upcoming performances, including Jan. 16th in Shawano (this is still in the works), Jan 30th at UW-GB, and Feb 7th at the Chili Luncheon at PHS. Solo and Ensemble is March 19th at Bayport High School.

Jazz Club hosted a wonderfully successful Dinner Dance, with 240 guests! I am so proud of your children! Thank you to all who contributed to the event’s success! The club is also hosting a guest artist concert featuring world-renowned composer, educator, and trombonist Dean Sorenson on March 26th. The spring jazz trip will be to Eau Claire Jazz Festival from Friday, April 16th-17th. Stay tuned and watch the website for details on all our upcoming jazz events for 2010!

Red Raider Jazz Band played beautifully at the Dinner Dance, despite playing more pieces than they have ever played in one performance. The band also had successful performances at the Lawrence Jazz Festival and the Pulaski Veteran’s Day Ceremony. We will be performing at the Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival in Illinois Feb 6th, followed by the Chili Luncheon on Feb 7th. This year’s calendar is so full, I can’t mention everything here, so keep an eye on the website for all jazz events!

I am pleased with progress our students have made during the first semester, and I look forward to the many upcoming musical events! Please check the website often, as it is the authority on rehearsals, performances, and Booster events, as well as our contact information and policies. Thank you, Tyra Smith, for your wonderful work on our website!

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season,

Mr. Keegan White
PHS Associate Director of Bands, Director of Jazz Studies
Email: kjwhite@pulaski.k12.wi.us
Phone: 822-6827From: Kathleen Bader

Hello Everyone!

Well, we might have been able to squeeze one more event in this past quarter, but if we had tried we would have had to give up either eating or sleeping! The choir had a VERY busy first quarter. Our joined concert with the band for the Welcome Concert went very well and was a great way for the parents, especially the new parents, to see all that was available to our students musically and to view the wonderful facilities for the students' use every day.

We had a great time sharing the stage with the Middle School for a Folksong concert in October, and the fiddlers and square dancers were a real hit! We even got our exchange student in on the fun!

We engaged Dr. Lightner, Mr. Matczak and Mrs. Woodward (again after her wild fiddlin') to dress up as popcorn, candy and soda for an intermission treat at our Red Raider Showcase. They were quite the hams! We are very grateful to them for helping us out, and very grateful to the Art Department for the help with the costumes. We also would like to thank the Combo for their assistance with the accompaniments. Next year we will most likely be moving the showcase to the spring, for as you can see, the fall was VERY full.

Recently we entertained many of the community members with our Madrigal Dinner. We received wonderful responses, and many voiced a wish for this to become an annual event to kick off the holiday season. We enjoyed having the FFA represented with their beautiful poinsettias at the event as well.

Now we are on to the final event for the semester, our Holiday and Winter Concerts on the 19th and 21st of December. We will be sharing the stage with the band again so everyone gets to enjoy each others' hard work as well as show off their own work. Having seen the program, I can vouch for the fact that you are in for quite a treat!

We will start in after the holiday break with a big push toward Solo and Ensemble. It is a favorite time of year for me. Wait until you hear the beautiful sounds your kids will make. Some of them don't even know they can do it yet!

We are again joining with the Middle school in January for a "goofy" concert. It is our intention to show a few silly pieces to the joined choirs and engage them for one brief day, learn the pieces and then perform them that afternoon. Kind of like "honors choir comes to Pulaski", but they got goofy!

I want to thank all the parents who have so selflessly donated their time and energy to us in these past months. We really could not do it without you. I also want to thank the boosters for all their help and support to the "new kid." I feel like you have opened your arms and your hearts to me, and I am very grateful.

I wish you all a Blessed, Safe and very Merry Christmas and a Terrific New Year.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Bader
Director of Choirs
Email: kabader@pulaski.k12.wi.us
Phone: 822-6826