But wait, it is September 1st, this isn't the August newsletter! Don't be fooled by the date, this is the August Newsletter hitting your inbox on September 1st. Thank you for your attention to this detail.
Marching Band News
We have an exciting few week ahead with lots of opportunities to sign up to help make this season the best it's ever been! We can't wait to see our Marching Knights take the field on Friday, September 5th at Walled Lake Northern!
What to expect in the coming weeks:
Friday, September 5th: first football game. CLICK HERE to help or donate food items. Remember, a well fed kid is a happy kid!
Also on Friday, September 5th: Lotto tickets are due. More on that later in the newsletter.
Saturday, September 6th: Preview Show at Walled Lake Central.CLICK HERE to sign up to help the Pit (and get to see the show from the closest spot, the sideline!) Can't help, but want to see the show? CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets. They are cheaper ahead of time vs. at the door! Doors open at 5:30pm. Show starts at 7:00pm. Seating is tight so plan to arrive early. Students have a call time of 5pm.
Tuesday, September 9th The Marching Knights will be performing at the WLN soccer halftime! This is also Chic-Fil-A night! We hope you will come hungry to support our marchers and our soccer team! Look for a sign-up genius to help the pit get on the field that night.
Wednesday, September 10th: Better Made Chip Fundraiser forms Due. More on that later in the newsletter.
September 19th is the Homecoming Game. Mark your calendars and be ready to lend a hand or donate some food when we send out the bat call! (aka the sign-up genius).
Have you discovered the common theme for marching band? If you guessed it to be "wow, they ask for a lot of help!" You are right and your prize is signing up to volunteer!! With 194 marchers, we need all the help we can get. Coming from a mom who is about to have a senior graduate from COLLEGE...this time is fleeting. You won't get it back. Spend some of your time with the marching band. Those little moments with your kid, or just watching them be with their friends, will ALWAYS be worth it.
Need some swag? Visit our Marching Knights Apparel Shop and place your order today! There is great stuff on the site and now that it's September, it's basically time to start holiday shopping, so place your order today!
A FREE Marching Knights tote bag will be included with all orders $125 and more no promo code needed.
There are no returns/exchanges on decorated items. Please check the size charts provided and contact Cujographix if you have any questions or need additional sizing information.
BAND NEWS
This year in band, there are going to be many great concerts, events, and festivals to be part of. Mrs. Hulliberger is gearing up for a fantastic year of exciting music to thrill our eardrums. The first band concert is the fall concert scheduled for Tuesday, October 28th at 7pm at WLN. See you there!
CHOIR NEWS
Mrs. Ward has been busy getting ready for another year of showcasing her talented ensembles, and we are here for it! The fall concert is Thursday, October 30th at 7pm at WLN.
Also, Mrs. Ward has been invited to conduct the SSAA Honors Choir in January which is a tremendous honor. More details to come, but for now, congratulations to Mrs. Ward!
ORCHESTRA NEWS
Mrs. Phillips is ready to begin her second year at Northern and is excited to get more parents involved to make her dream orchestra program a reality! Orchestra will be having their fall concert on Wednesday, October 29th at 7pm at WLN. This will be a combined concert with Clifford Smart.
Pastor Judd Delancey offered the sanctuary at his Church, the Shepard of the Lakes, for a Chamber Concert on November 19th. Students in Philharmonic will arrive at 6pm and perform at 6:30. Students in Symphony will arrive at 6:30 and perform at 7pm. There will be an offering taken which will be split between the church and the orchestra. The orchestra and Mrs. Phillips are grateful for this opportunity!
HELP WANTED: The Music Boosters is looking for an orchestra representative. This person would give us the inside scoop on all things orchestra. If you know someone who might be interested, please contact Liz Vachon at lizvachon@gmail.com.
WE WANT YOU!
There are so many ways to get involved with your child's musical passion and here are some current/future needs to make our program successful:
Orchestra Representative: Attends the booster meetings monthly and reports on all things orchestra.
Uniform Chair: This position fits all band, choir, and orchestra students in their concert uniforms (NOT MARCHING BAND UNIFORMS). You do not need to be able to sew. You can do this volunteer job and still have a daytime job. You are in charge of when fittings happen. If flexibility is what you need, this is the job for you!! You will fit them at the beginning of the school year, and you will help organize the return of the return of the uniforms at the end of the year. A few more details involved, but this is the basic overview. SO FUN WITH A FRIEND!!! Want more information? Contact Nicole German at nicolegerman422@gmail.com or Jody Klarich at jodyk1814@gmail.com
Vice President: In March, we will be electing a new Vice President, our VP will be graduating this year! If you are interested in learning more about this position, please let Liz Vachon know.
TWO Marching Band/Band Representatives: Without these positions filled, there won't be a band camp, so please consider volunteering. This position includes managing volunteers, attending to the students well-being at camp and games, coordinate all of the marching band communications/events, organizes transportation/schedules camps. Yes, this sounds like a lot, but we have a manual for you and a ton of support. We just need two willing people who enjoy being a team player, understands the vision of the marching band, and can give their heart to an organization that almost 200 students utilize as their gateway to lifelong friendships, socialization, exercise, music enhancement, leadership opportunities, and college essay material. Imagine YOU could be the person that creates all that and more for about 200 people. The impact you will have on so many students goes beyond just getting someone to donate enough grapes for a football game. Want to learn more? Contact Liz Vachon at lizvachon@gmail.com
Student & Parent Highlights
Summer Travels Across the Pond
After a few years of attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Ella Goodley (Tuba ‘26) and Annika Gaber (Flute ‘26), and Emly Byrant (Cello, ‘27) were chosen to represent Blue Lake in their International program touring Europe with Blue Lake International Symphony Band and Blue Lake International Symphony Orchestra for 3 weeks this summer. To prepare for their performances, they spent a number of weekends at Blue Lake rehearsing around 30 pieces of music per ensemble . Additionally, they were expected to learn as much French and German as they could to communicate with their host families. They stayed with 5 separate host families in Germany and France and played in numerous venues throughout those communities often sharing the stage with local musicians. They all enjoyed adventuring through each town they visited, immersed in the vibrant cultures and cuisines of Heidelberg, Tauberbischofsheim, Conques, and Figeac. This was an incredible opportunity and an experience they will cherish heading into their school year, and beyond!
Thank you to Ella, Annika, and Emly for representing the Walled Lake Music Department with pride!
If you would like to nominate a student and/or a parent to be featured in our newsletter, please contact Liz Vachon at lizvachon@gmail.com We are looking for band, choir, and orchestra students and parents that are having fun being involved in our program.
RaiseRight
Raise Right continues offering new ways to earn money all year for your student(s) with a forth option coming soon. Learn more at https://www.raiseright.com/shop --> How it Works
Current Options:
1. Gift Cards - Earn a percentage back with purchases of e-cards and plastic cards
2. Online Shopping - Connect with Raise Right when you shop online and earn the indicated percentage back
3. Local Dining- 5% back on total paid at local restaurants when using a card linked to your account
Go to Kroger Community Rewards to register your Kroger Plus card and earn money for our music program, just by shopping for your groceries! The Music Boosters use the profits for whatever our incredible teachers need which directly benefits all of our students in band, choir and orchestra. Our Organization name is Walled Lake Northern Music Boosters and our organization number is PA319 for registration. Sign up today!
Better Made Chip Fundraiser
Get ready to chip in and support the Marching Knights with our Better Made Chips Fundraiser!
These tasty little bags are perfect for school lunches, Halloween treats, tailgate parties, and anytime you need a crunchy pick-me-up!
$25.00 per case of 50 (1 oz.) bags – perfect for snacking, sharing, or stashing!
Orders Due: Wednesday, September 10
Pick-Up: Tuesday, October 14 WLN Band Hallway – before, during, and after rehearsal
Payment Info:
Make checks payable to “WLNMB”
Full payment is due with your order
Have your student drop it in the Band Box (in the band room)
Please direct all questions to our incredible co-chairs for this fundraiser. Jackie Darnell or Leslie Szalk.
Let’s make this fundraiser a crunchy success and keep our band marching strong!
Thanks for your support!
Salute to Service
We are thrilled to announce an exciting and meaningful event, the Salute to Service Game on October 3rd, where we come together to honor the incredible sacrifices made by our military personnel, veterans, and first responders. This event is not just about the game—it’s about showing gratitude and making a lasting impact on those who serve and protect our communities.
How it Works:
For a donation of $100, you can sponsor a member of the military, a veteran, or a first responder. The honoree can be active or retired, and they will be recognized in a special way during the game. The players from both teams will wear custom jerseys featuring the last name of your sponsored hero. This is a chance to honor someone who has made a difference in your life or in the lives of others.
What Happens After the Game:
At the conclusion of the game, the honoree will receive the jersey worn by the players, as a token of appreciation for their service and sacrifice. It's a moment that not only acknowledges their contributions but also gives them something tangible to remember this special event.
Supporting a Greater Cause:
All proceeds from this event will go directly to Military Families United of Michigan, a charity dedicated to supporting Michigan’s military and first responder families. Your donation will help provide resources and assistance to those who have given so much to our community.
We invite you to take part in this meaningful tribute. Join us in honoring these heroes and show your support for those who have served and continue to serve our nation.
If you’re interested in sponsoring an individual use the QR code on the attached flyer, if you would like to learn more about how you can be involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at wlnknightsfootball@gmail.com. Together, we can make a difference.
Please feel free to share with friends, family, or social media, there are two attachments a flyer you can print and a pic you can use on social media.
Deadline is September 12, 2025! Please note: Jerseys are only worn during the Varsity game.
Don't forget to turn in your sold lotto tickets and payment to the band box by Friday, September 5th!
CAN'T SELL YOUR TICKETS? NO PROBLEM! PLEASE RETURN THE UNSOLD TICKETS TO THE BAND BOX ASAP!
There is a long list of people who want to buy those tickets, but they can't until you return them. Thank you so much for helping us sell EVERY SINGLE TICKET!!!
Coffee for a Cause at Cooper's Dish
Cooper's Dish on Union Lake Road is donating to the Marching Band half of the cost of a Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew or a Warm Apple Tea for the week of October 21st through the 25th! Just tell them you are with the Walled Lake Northern Marching Band and get yourself a delicious treat! Thank you Katrina Bergunder for making this fundraiser happen for our Marching Knights!
Join us! All are welcome!
Our next Music Booster Meeting is September 17th at 7pm in the Choir Room. There is not July meeting. Enjoy your summer!
