Band updates: Fundraiser, Universal Trip, Concert MPA

Updates from Mr. Dunn:

1. The "Enjoy the City" coupon book fundraiser has been extended to Monday, March 23. Students who have already finished selling their coupon books can turn in the funds any time.

2. Permission forms and $65 fee for the Universal Studios trip (Thursday, April 16) are due Monday, March 23.

3. This year's Concert MPA for the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) will take place Wednesday, April 1 at Leto High School.
2nd period and 3rd period students will participate in this event.
Bands will perform three pieces each and read sight-read music for judges.

Schedule:
12:30 p.m. -- 3rd period band
3:00 p.m. -- 2nd period band
Admission to the concerts is free and open to the public.

Spring Fundraiser Now in Full Swing: Fight the Recession with Valuable Coupon Book

The spring fundraiser, designed to help get instruments into the hands of all band students, kicked off on Monday. It continues through Monday, March 16.

Coleman Band students this week brought home "Enjoy the City" coupon books, priced at $20 each. The goal: Each student should sell at least five books. If all of our more than 240 students meet that goal, the results will be record-breaking!

What to know about the fundraiser:

* "Enjoy the City" coupon books can be a tool to fight the recession. Pay a little, and save a lot.

* The book offers 64 pages of coupons for savings at restaurants and businesses in Hillsborough County, and throughout the Tampa Bay area -- pizza restaurants, ice cream places, and donut and sandwich shops.

* Also included are coupons for entertainment/recreation providers like the Florida Aquarium, the Florida Orchestra, Grand Prix Tampa, USF Performing Arts, and various carpet golf places.

* The book pays for itself with the grocery store coupons alone. And the Albertson's coupons -- six coupons offering $5 discounts -- can also be redeemed at Publix stores.

* The band receives more than 50% of profits from sales.

------------PRIZES------------

* Get a free coupon book and entry to the pizza party. How? Sell five books.

* Get $10 cash for every 10 books sold.

------------LIST OF MERCHANTS------------
The coupon book offers coupons for the following:

Restaurants
Acropolis Greek Taverns, All Star Celebrity Cafe, Arby's, Athen's, Atlanta Bread Co., Baskin Robbins, Beef O' Brady's, Bennigans, Burger King, Caramba's, Carvel, Checkers, Cherry's, Church's, Cinema Cafe, Clubhouse, Coconuts, Consciousness-Blossoms, Dairy Queen, Domino's Dunkin Donuts, East Coast Pizza, Fuego, Gengiz Khan, Hershey's Ice Cream, Ho Ho, Jake's, Jalapeno, JJ Conch's, Ledo's Pizza, Marco's Pizza, Mr. Empanada, Nicola's Donuts, O'Brien's, Papa John's, Pita Pit, Pita Republic, Popeyes, Royal Pizza, Shish, Smokey Bones, Sonic, Sophia's, Steak Escape, Subway, Tampa Pitcher Show, TCBY, Thai Laguna Cuisine, Tia's Tex Mex

Entertainment/Recreation
688 Skatepark, Ace Golf, All About the Game, Bloomingdale Golf, Captain Bligh's Landing, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Coconuts, Dunedin Blue Jays, Florida Aquarium, Florida Orchestra, Forest Hills Golf, Fort Desoto Park, Gator's Parasail, Grand Prix Tampa, Great Explorations, Johns Pass Watersports, Pebble Creek Golf, Planet Jump!, Rocky Point Golf, Rogers Park Golf, Silverado Golf, Summerfield Crossings Golf, USF Performing Arts, Walden Lake Golf

Retail/Services
Alamo, Albertsons, Dick's, Doctor on Call, Enterprise, ETC Vacations Direct, Firestone, House of Quality Cedar Cleaners, It's Bucs & Bulls Heaven, Kidz IDZ, National, Payment Alliance, Quality Plus Cleaners, Time Magazine, USA Grocers & Gourmet Deli

Solo and Ensemble Evaluations

About 40 Coleman band students participated in Solo and Ensemble contest, Feb. 20-21 at Alonso High School.

They did a great job representing the band, and the school: Judges offered positive -- and valuable -- feedback following performances.

And many students received superior (I) and excellent (II) ratings.

More details on the results are TBA.