Previous Announcements

HOME SHOW!

Our home show will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 starting at 5 pm. 

Families and students there are many ways to support this event:

• Sponsor an award or trophy
• Sell ad space in the program journal  to local businesses
• Buy a booster **Parents, this is a great opportunity to commemorate the 25-26 year!!**
• Donate items: we are need of many items to make this event successful!
• Volunteer on the day of the show--we need A LOT of volunteers -- students and adults :)

​Look for the links and sign up sheets posted in Whatsapp and Band app!

We truly appreciate the support!!

CHAPERONES & PIT CREW

We are in need of chaperones and pit crew volunteers!

Chaperones: Adult volunteers who help at the football games and competitions. 

• Monitor students in the stands/practice fields
• Keep water and medical bag available
• Watch over instruments and student belongings
• Escort to the bathrooms/concession stands
• Bus Duty: Head count & monitor students

Sign up sheets for games and competitions has been posted on Whatsapp

Pit Crew: Adult volunteers who move equipment at HOME football games and competitions. 

• Load/Unload trailers
• Assemble props
• Move props/equipment on & off field (timed/judged at competitions!)
• Help unload equipment back in band room/container after competitions

*The pit crew has been assembled. If you are interested in joining, please email jpstevensband@gmail.com

JPS Jazz Festival

Friday, April 25th, is the JP Jazz Festival and we are in need of your support to make the event a success!  The event WILL be taking place at Metuchen High School since our auditorium is still not complete.

DONATIONS are needed. (Check BAND app or Whatsapp for link)

• Drinks, Boxes of Assorted Chips/Snacks, Boxes of Hot chocolate packets, Boxes of Assorted Full Size candy, Baked Ziti (Recipe posted in BAND app / Whatsapp),Meatballs (Kirkland frozen bag with tomato sauce added).
• **All donations except Baked Ziti and Meatballs in Marinara should be delivered to the band room by the end of day, Wednesday, April 23rd)**

VOLUNTEERS are needed. (Check BAND app or Whatsapp for sign up sheet)

• You have the choice of 3 shifts (3:15-6:15, 5:45-8:45 or 8:15-11:15)
• You can also volunteer to load your car/truck with supplies after school on the 24th to bring it to Metuchen High at 3:15 on Friday. (We will need several car/truck loads)
• You can also volunteer to pick up food from Jade Garden, Spice House, Bombay Blue, Shoprite items, Dunkin Donuts and deliver it to Metuchen High School for us by 4:00 pm.
• You can also volunteer to load your car/truck with supplies after the event to bring it back to JPS on Monday after school. (We will need several car/truck loads).

Parent Meeting will be held on 4/23/25. See post below for more information!

Sincerely,

JPS BAND DIRECTORS & BPA

Uniforms
New members were fitted for uniforms during band camp. Members are responsible for taking care of uniform--keep it neat and clean! 

Make sure all the returning marching band members try on their uniform and make sure that it fits!! If you have any issues with your uniform, make sure to email jpsdrummajors@gmail.com with your uniform's tag number and what size you need.

October 2024:
Participate in our upcoming Clothing Drive!
Drop off items in front of the band room on Oct. 12, 2024
Check the Band App and Whatsapp for more info. 
Any questions, email the Band Parents at: jpstevensband@gmail.com

Sept 2024: 

The 36th Annual Marching Band Festival

Our Home Show is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. 14 area Marching Bands will be performing as JP plays host to the 36th Annual Marching Band Festival. This is a great opportunity to help out--there are many volunteer opportunities! Check out the Band App for more information about way you can assist. Families---your help is always appreciated!

Volunteers Needed: 
Families--we need your help to make the home show a success! Check out the Band App and WhatsApp for full details. 
We need volunteers for various jobs such as the kitchen, snack sales, air grams, crowd control, ticket booth, parking lot and more! Please check out the sign up sheet

Donations Needed: 
Donations are needed ahead of the home show. We are need of specific sizes and brands of food, beverages, utensils, paper goods and more. Check out the full list of needed items on the Band App or WhatsApp. 

From August 2024: 

Welcome Back!

We’re excited for the 2024-2025 Marching Hawks Band season to begin!

Band Camp will be held at John P. Stevens H.S. 

Monday - Thursday, August 19th – 22nd, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Monday - Thursday, August 26th – 29th, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

(Wednesday Evening, Aug 28th 5pm-9pm ONLY)

We’re starting the countdown for Marching Band Camp. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure to sign up for the Band App and the WhatsApp group to stay informed of all events and announcements.

For parents and students.  Please join the Band App: Link to Join the Band App

For Parents:  Please join the WhatsApp group for your specific students' grade OR color guard. Email jpstevensband@gmail.com for invite link to our WhatsApp Group OR check the Band App for the join codes.

Calendar
Check our Google Calendar. You can add the JPS Band calendar to your personal account so any changes will automatically be seen!

Camp Checklist

During camp, students should come prepared to work outside several hours a day. 

All students must:

• Eat a good, healthy breakfast prior to coming!
• Bring a water bottle with their name on it. It’s probably going to be hot!
• Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. 
• Wear comfortable clothing for warm weather, and bring layers for cooler temperatures in the evening.
• Don’t forget the water.
• Wear sunblock and bring extra to reapply during the day.
• Bring sunglasses and maybe a hat. There are times when students will be rehearsing facing the sun.
• A binder with plastic sheets for your music.
• Their instrument (please make sure it works ahead of time)
• A pencil or two 
• A drawstring bag
• Bring lunch they can either bring one or have one dropped one off at lunchtime) ~ lunch is tentatively 11:30 - 12:00 so make sure to get it dropped around 11:30!
• A device with UDBapp on it!!! (Please don’t forget this)
• Have a plan for dinner break. Students will go off campus from 2pm-5pm during the dinner break. Parents must make arrangements ahead of time as food is not provided.
• Did we mention water? Seriously, students should bring plenty of water and refill their thermos as needed. 

Please make sure students arrive at least 15 minutes early to each session! (Early is on time and On Time is late!) This allows us to start promptly and not waste any time (Attendance will be taken). For the morning session arrive by 7:45am, for the evening session 4:45pm and make sure to pick up promptly as well, since the leaders and staff have to stay until everyone leaves.  

Volunteers Needed during Band Camp!
We need parents to come help us during marching band camp to hang out and sit with any students that need to sit out for a while, grab bandages or ice-packs if needed, and supervise the lunch break to make sure students clean up and stay in the approved areas.  We also need a few volunteers to sort through the two hundred uniforms.  We fit all students to their uniforms, clean up our inventory, do repairs, and set each student up with all they need for the new competition season. 

For dates and times please email: jpstevensband@gmail.com or check the Band App.

Also, don’t forget to send your volunteer form back with your child on the first day of camp or fill out the online version if you misplaced it!  Please remember we will not be successful without YOUR help!

Link to online Volunteer form  

Uniforms

New members will be fitted for uniforms during band camp. Members are responsible for taking care of uniform--keep it neat and clean! 

Make sure all the returning marching band members try on their uniform and make sure that it fits!! If you have any issues with your uniform, make sure to email jpsdrummajors@gmail.com with your uniform's tag number and what size you need.

Volunteers Needed: Chaperones and Pit!
Please consider volunteering some of your time either as a chaperone (attend football games or competitions to accompany students) or as a part of pit crew (help move/load/set up equipment). 
If you'd like to learn more: join us on Friday, Sept. 6--sign up on the Band App for more details. 

Questions?
Reach out to us!

BPA Board Members - (jpstevensband@gmail.com)

Alison Paolello - President

Pallavi Shetty - Co-Vice President

Manoj Syal - Co-Vice President, 

Gina Alcaide - Recording Secretary

Roshni Shah - Corresponding Secretary, and 

Stephanie Mohammed- Treasurer

Drum Majors -  jpsdrummajors@gmail.com

John Zazzali, Band Director (john.zazzali@edison.k12.nj.us)

Raymond Henricksen, Associate Band Director (raymond.henricksen@edison.k12.nj.us)

Pamela Ferrali, Percussion Director (pamela.ferrali@edison.k12.nj.us)

GO MARCHING HAWKS!