Ottawa Hills Band Boosters Organization

May 2026 Newsletter

Well, the countdown is on: we've got about a month left in the school year, and oh, what a busy month it will be!

OHBBO All School Band Families Potluck

Thank you to everyone who came out to the first Band Family Potluck! It was such a great gathering full of food, fun, games, and getting-to-know one another. We look forward to more opportunities to socialize!

Jazz Band at the smART show

The 22 junior high and high school members of the Ottawa Hills Jazz band have been meeting and practicing twice a week during lunch hour throughout the second semester. That hard work paid off last Thursday at the smART show, where they delivered an impressive debut performance featuring classics like "Isn't She Lovely" and "Take Five." Fantastic job, Green Bear Jazz Band!

Volunteer Update

Band help volunteers:

We thank (in advance) everyone who has signed up to help with the May All-District concert! All our needs for that day are met at this time.

If you were hoping to volunteer for something this year but missed your chance, there will be some opportunities to surrounding the summer high school band camps (late July/early August)--keep an eye out for our summer newsletter for details!

Join the OHBBO team!

We are looking for more friendly faces to help us support our musicians! We currently have needs for:

• Social media liaisons: Love sharing student success? We are looking for 3 people to work our social media--one for elementary band, one for junior high and high school band, and one to cover general band information.

• Fundraising committee: Join the fundraising committee and help us brainstorm and execute projects to raise funds for our band needs!

• Activities committee: We are looking for both a lead and members to plan celebrations and community-building among our band family.

• Alumni outreach: The OH Band Family also includes former band students and their families. Help us connect with past graduates, and stay connected to the soon to be graduating class of 2026!

Reach out to [email protected], or reply to this message, if you are interested in any of these roles!

Business Update

WOW! Thanks to the generosity of band families and other supporters, we met our 2025-26 fundraising goal two months early! We have extended the goal to include our goal for the first half of the 2026-27 school year.

Check the real time progress towards our goal for this year

Most of your donations to OHBBO will support repairs taking place over the summer as we help the band program get caught up on some overdue instrument maintenance. Sending instruments off for repair takes coordination to ensure the work is completed before the students need the instruments in the Fall (many of these are Marching Band "color" instruments). Mr. Leeds will coordinate his repair plan based on funds available from the district, OHBBO, and any other sources. While it doesn't look like it, we are building up green checkboxes for the summer with every donation received!

Just a reminder: anyone who donates before the end of 2026 will be included on the founders plaque! 

Member Meeting

You are invited to attend the next Member Meeting
@ 7pm on May 6th in the JHHS Music Room

Agenda & Minutes March Financial Report

Directions and Parking

Student Section of the Month

The April Student Section of the Month was the Junior High School Band. Check out the slideshow on our homepage to see photos from events this year and quotes from the Junior High School band students. The May Section of the Month will be revealed at the Member Meeting on May 6th.

Save the Date

Stay tuned for details - Mr. Leeds will provide specifics later in May via Remind with all of the info next year's high school students need for a successful summer band camp and Marching Band season.

Upcoming Events

Full Calendar of Events