GCM Band Parents Organization
BPO Activities and Committees
The GCM Band Parents Organization is the booster club support group for the George C. Marshall High School Band (both marching and concert band), and we would love for all parents/caregivers of students in the band program to join us for our monthly meetings. The meetings take place the SECOND TUESDAY of every month at 7:00 PM in the band room.
Volunteer Expectations and Opportunities
We are all volunteers, and we need your help. In order to continue to support the success of our band program, the BPO and Band Program expectation is that each family will volunteer a minimum of 6 shifts plus Tag Day throughout the marching season. Volunteer shifts will be posted below, and new dates/opportunities will be added throughout the season.
UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Please click on the links below to SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER:
Committees and Events
There are a variety of ways that we provide support to the band program. Please see below for descriptions, and be on the lookout for opportunities to jump in to lend a helping hand to any of these efforts! Signup Geniuses will be linked here when there are opportunities available. Please email the board for more info on any of these committees or events.
Uniforms: BPO Volunteers help fit the students with Marching and Concert uniforms, assist the students with uniform distribution and collection for
performances and competitions, and help organize and sort uniforms at the beginning and end of the year.
Tag Day: Tag Day is a tradition in the Marshall High School community. Every September, band students go door-to-door throughout the Marshall school
district requesting donations to support the music program. It is the biggest fundraiser for the band. Students leave a “Tag” (an information sheet asking for a mail-in or online donation) on doors if the residents are not home. BPO volunteers coordinate the event, drive the students, and provide breakfast and an ice cream social at the end of the day.
Concession Stand: In August, BPO volunteers clean up the concession stand at the football stadium and get it ready for the fall season. Parent volunteers buy food and drinks in advance of game day, make popcorn, hot chocolate, grill hot dogs, etc., and staff the stand during varsity and JV football and field hockey games. All proceeds from the concession stand sales go directly to the BPO, but in order to maintain this financial benefit, we need your help to work shifts as part of the volunteer staff. Please consider volunteering as you are able.
Hospitality/Band Lunches: Parents organize, order, and serve lunch during band camp; organize the fall and spring band banquets; and support other events throughout the year as needed.
Props: In August and September, parents often build the props used on the field during the marching show.
Communication/Publicity/Social Media: Social and traditional media coverage helps the BPO spread the word through the Marshall and Falls Church/Vienna communities about upcoming performances and events, including half-time shows at the football games, marching in the Vienna Halloween and Falls Church Memorial Day parades, and the success of the GCM Band in competitions and assessments.
Transportation: Parents rent a truck, drive the instruments to competitions and assessments, and work with students to load and unload the equipment.
Pit Crew: Parents help move the front ensemble equipment (a group of standing instruments) on and off the field during games and competitions.
Spirit Wear: Parents organize and sell clothing with the band logo. This is a service the BPO provides, not a fundraiser.
Volunteer Coordinator/Parent Engagement: The BPO uses Signup Genius to notify parents of volunteer opportunities and to coordinate volunteers. Parents create the sign up forms, monitor sign ups, and recruit volunteers.
Spring Fundraiser: We are currently looking for a volunteer to coordinate our spring fundraising effort! In the past, we have had two components to our Spring Fundraiser: Students individually sell tickets for a drawing with fabulous prizes, and they also play music in small groups in front of local businesses on Blitz Day, accepting donations and selling raffle tickets to passersby. BPO volunteers organize the raffle and provide chaperones on Blitz Day.
Please email Michelle Thompson at [email protected] to volunteer to chair this effort!
Have questions? Didn't see a SignUp Genius link for the way you want to volunteer? You can email the BPO President at [email protected] or fill out the below form:
The GCM Band Parents Organization is the booster club support group for the George C. Marshall High School Band (both marching and concert band), and we would love for all parents/caregivers of students in the band program to join us for our monthly meetings. The meetings take place the SECOND TUESDAY of every month at 7:00 PM in the band room.
Volunteer Expectations and Opportunities
We are all volunteers, and we need your help. In order to continue to support the success of our band program, the BPO and Band Program expectation is that each family will volunteer a minimum of 6 shifts plus Tag Day throughout the marching season. Volunteer shifts will be posted below, and new dates/opportunities will be added throughout the season.
UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Please click on the links below to SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER:
- COMPETITIONS and PARADE (9/23, 9/28, 10/5, 10/23, 10/26) SIGN-UP GENIUS
- VARSITY HOME GAMES (9/27, 10/18, and 10/25) SIGN-UP GENIUS
- CONCESSIONS ONLY: FIELD HOCKEY (9/26 and 10/17): SIGN-UP GENIUS
- CONCESSIONS ONLY: FRESHMAN/JV FOOTBALL (9/19, 10/1, 10/9, 10/30): SIGN-UP GENIUS
Committees and Events
There are a variety of ways that we provide support to the band program. Please see below for descriptions, and be on the lookout for opportunities to jump in to lend a helping hand to any of these efforts! Signup Geniuses will be linked here when there are opportunities available. Please email the board for more info on any of these committees or events.
Uniforms: BPO Volunteers help fit the students with Marching and Concert uniforms, assist the students with uniform distribution and collection for
performances and competitions, and help organize and sort uniforms at the beginning and end of the year.
Tag Day: Tag Day is a tradition in the Marshall High School community. Every September, band students go door-to-door throughout the Marshall school
district requesting donations to support the music program. It is the biggest fundraiser for the band. Students leave a “Tag” (an information sheet asking for a mail-in or online donation) on doors if the residents are not home. BPO volunteers coordinate the event, drive the students, and provide breakfast and an ice cream social at the end of the day.
Concession Stand: In August, BPO volunteers clean up the concession stand at the football stadium and get it ready for the fall season. Parent volunteers buy food and drinks in advance of game day, make popcorn, hot chocolate, grill hot dogs, etc., and staff the stand during varsity and JV football and field hockey games. All proceeds from the concession stand sales go directly to the BPO, but in order to maintain this financial benefit, we need your help to work shifts as part of the volunteer staff. Please consider volunteering as you are able.
Hospitality/Band Lunches: Parents organize, order, and serve lunch during band camp; organize the fall and spring band banquets; and support other events throughout the year as needed.
Props: In August and September, parents often build the props used on the field during the marching show.
Communication/Publicity/Social Media: Social and traditional media coverage helps the BPO spread the word through the Marshall and Falls Church/Vienna communities about upcoming performances and events, including half-time shows at the football games, marching in the Vienna Halloween and Falls Church Memorial Day parades, and the success of the GCM Band in competitions and assessments.
Transportation: Parents rent a truck, drive the instruments to competitions and assessments, and work with students to load and unload the equipment.
Pit Crew: Parents help move the front ensemble equipment (a group of standing instruments) on and off the field during games and competitions.
Spirit Wear: Parents organize and sell clothing with the band logo. This is a service the BPO provides, not a fundraiser.
Volunteer Coordinator/Parent Engagement: The BPO uses Signup Genius to notify parents of volunteer opportunities and to coordinate volunteers. Parents create the sign up forms, monitor sign ups, and recruit volunteers.
Spring Fundraiser: We are currently looking for a volunteer to coordinate our spring fundraising effort! In the past, we have had two components to our Spring Fundraiser: Students individually sell tickets for a drawing with fabulous prizes, and they also play music in small groups in front of local businesses on Blitz Day, accepting donations and selling raffle tickets to passersby. BPO volunteers organize the raffle and provide chaperones on Blitz Day.
Please email Michelle Thompson at [email protected] to volunteer to chair this effort!
Have questions? Didn't see a SignUp Genius link for the way you want to volunteer? You can email the BPO President at [email protected] or fill out the below form: