WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

July 14 - 18, 2025

Student Information for This Week

PERCUSSION: July 16th, 17th, and 18th from 5:00 - 7:30 pm for ALL current and incoming students 

COLOR GUARD: July 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th from 1:00 - 5:00 pm for all current and incoming students

Uniform Sizing: Be sure to size for our Class A uniform. Wear athletic shorts or leggings (no jeans), a t-shirt (no crop tops), and socks with athletic shoes. No sleeveless shirts. If you have not been sized yet, be sure to attend this date. If you are out of town, then we will do all final sizing during Band Camp. 

Conditioning Days: July 16th and 18th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Join Sapphire Sound members by having fun and getting a little exercise together at Breen Community Park. If you are in town then come by the park. It's a great way to meet one another and get active. Students should wear comfortable clothes such as shorts and t-shirts, along with athletic shoes. Always bring water! Parent chaperones will be there as well. 

Parents and Guardians! If you are interested in chaperoning a conditioning day, email Kristen Elgo at president@mmimb.org. These camps are not only a great way for your students to meet one another, but they are also an amazing opportunity to meet other parents!

On the Calendar

2025 - 2026 Band & Color Guard Students - If you haven't already filled out this form, please take a moment to fill out the REGISTRATION FORM for us to plan for the fall marching season. 

The Google Calendar on our website has all updated information for parents, families, and students. Bookmark our website as one of your favorites. Click here for the BAND WEBSITE. 

Fall Camp is 2 weeks away!

FALL CAMP is an essential and important start for the Band and Color Guard each year. Similar to any sports team, the Band program prepares for the fall marching season which has performances and competitions for a 12-week marching season. Fall Camp allows us to work together as a program and begin the work of music and marching fundamentals for all students. Fall Camp is 2:00 - 9:00 pm (M-F).

Fall Camp Dates: JULY 28 - AUGUST 1 & AUGUST 4 - 8 at Mira Mesa HS (Bldg. 800) from 2:00 - 9:00 pm. 

What do students wear? BAND - Athletic shoes, blue shorts or athletic leggings, and black t-shirts (logos are fine). COLOR GUARD - Athletic shoes, black shorts or black leggings, a white t-shirt (logos are fine). 

Things to know about Fall Camp: 

1. The two weeks of camp are held at Mira Mesa HS in the 800 bldg. and on the field. It is important for all current and incoming BAND & COLOR GUARD members to attend. 

2. We work with purpose. “The way we do anything, is the way we do everything.”

3. No one is left behind. Don't be afraid to ask for extra help.

4. Every student in the Band and Color Guard is involved with the fall marching season. 

5. Bring a water container full each day. Refilling your bottle is easy in the band room.

6. Band - Have a pencil and three-ring binder with page protectors (can be provided upon request)

7. Dinner is provided each evening. (If you are interested in helping, email Kristen through president@mmimb.org)

Volunteer Opportunities: Parents and families, this will be your first opportunity to volunteer to shop, make or serve food, help move equipment, hem uniform sleeves and pants, or just come observe the learning process any evening as we work on the field during our two-week camp. Being involved is one of the great things about our group. You will meet other parents and have a great time as well! 

Student Leaders

LEADERSHIP TRAINING - All student leaders (Executive Council, Color Guard Leadership, Band Council, and Section Leaders) will have a leadership camp on July 28th from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm.

We will meet in the band room and spend time getting to know one another as well as learn valuable skills to enhance our leadership abilities! 

Lunch will be provided

Fall Calendar

FALL CALENDAR - Be sure to save the dates listed on the Google Calendar. Just scroll through the months and you will find many dates already listed. Thursday night rehearsals, home football games, Home Field Tournament, and Concerts are all dates you will want to be sure to add to your family calendars. The marching season goes by quickly! The competitive season concludes on Saturday, November 22nd, then we are off for a quick week for Thanksgiving!

33rd Annual Mira Mesa Invitational Field Tournament: Our home tournament is Saturday, November 1, 2025. Please save this day and be ready to volunteer. We encourage all Sapphire Sound family members and friends to volunteer at our home tournament. We will have high schools in attendance from all over Southern CA in attendance and we need your help! Thank you ahead of time for helping us with the biggest event of the year! 

The Band Director's Corner

There are so many exciting opportunities coming up soon! Students, now is the time to start playing your instruments or practicing with your color guard equipment for at least 30 minutes every few days. Building up your strength and stamina now will make a huge difference when we start band camp in two weeks.

As a band family, we welcome parents and guardians to get involved as well. Keep an eye out for ways you can support the Sapphire Sound. It truly takes a team effort to run this program, and you'll get the opportunity to meet other amazing families as well as form lasting friendships, just like the students.

I'm incredibly excited to be stepping in as your new band director! I have loved meeting so many of you at the meet and greet and conditioning camps. I can not wait to meet everyone else very soon! It is an honor to join the Sapphire Sound family and I am thrilled to begin this journey with such a passionate, dedicated, and talented community!

Welcome to the 2025-2026 Sapphire Sound Family!

All In, Always. 

Musically Yours,

Mr. Lockie

"Band is not just music - it's family, it's discipline, it's pride."

Exciting News – Welcome Our New Band Director!

We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Brendan Lockie has been selected as the next Director of Bands at Mira Mesa High School! Mr. Lockie brings exceptional talent, passion, and dedication to music education. We are excited for the future of the Mira Mesa Band Program under his leadership.

To celebrate and officially welcome Mr. Lockie, we invite all students, parents, alumni, and families to a “Meet-n-Greet” on:

📅 Monday, July 7th

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Mira Mesa HS Band Room

Let's give Mr. Lockie a warm Sapphire Sound welcome and kick off an exciting new chapter for our Band program! 

All in, always. 💙💛

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Color Guard & Percussion Camps

Color Guard Camps are for all 2025 - 2026 Sapphire Sound students in the Color Guard: June 17 - 20 & July 15 - 18 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm each day. Wear athletic shorts, t-shirts, and athletic shoes each day.

Percussion Camp Days: June 18 - 20 & July 16 - 18 for new & returning members from 5:00 - 7:30 pm each day.

Band Uniform Sizing in June

Band Uniform Sizing: June 17 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm & June 18 - 19 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  

To size for our formal band uniform, students need to wear athletic shorts or leggings, a t-shirt, socks and sneakers. Bring a hair tie if hair is long. 

Sapphire Sound Fall Band Camp

Sapphire Sound Fall Band Camp: 

WHEN: July 28 - August 1 & August 4 - 8 from 2:00 - 9:00 PM

WHERE: MMHS in the Band room (801) and in the Stadium

WHO NEEDS TO ATTEND: All new and returning students in the Marching Band and Color Guard are to attend these two weeks. There are two blocks of rehearsal. Block #1 is Music, followed by dinner each evening. Block #2 focuses on marching.

WHAT TO WEAR & BRING: Students should have blue athletic shorts or leggings, a black t-shirt (print or design on it is fine), athletic shoes, instrument (school instruments will be checked out during the summer and during camp based on availability), 3-ring binder, pencil, and a water container with them each day. 

Information & Registration for Band & Color Guard: Fill out by Wednesday

Please complete this INFORMATION & REGISTRATION FORM for the fall semester. All current and incoming Band and Color Guard members need to complete this form. 

On this form, instrument needs are also listed, so we will begin to check out instruments at school during June and July based on availability.

Fundraisers

CURRENT AND ONGOING FUNDRAISERS:

SPAM MUSUBI: Monday is the last day for spam musubi in the school year! Thank you to Kris Tokunaga and the entire set of volunteers from this school year for the dedication to our program for this wonderful fundraiser each week for the Sapphire Sound. You are welcome to contact Kris at: kristok4@gmail.com to help volunteer for August when we start the new school year. 

GIFT CARDS (Virtual): Rather shop online? Shop anytime online with RaiseRight. This is an easy way to help support our program. RaiseRight is the same as gift cards, but virtual and easy to use. Go to the website, sign up, and select, “Join a Program”, then put in our group code: 9ED4DA7733861. 

Do you have a business or place of work that would like to help support us this coming school year? Contact any board member with information on how you or your place of work can help support the Sapphire Sound. To make a donation, use this link to pay online: https://mira-mesa-instrumental-music-boosters.square.site/

In the Director's Corner 

As the school year comes to a close this week, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the past 31 years—a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary. This message is not only a thank you for another successful year, but also my final weekly update message to you as I step into retirement. The next message will be to come to the band room to meet the new band director in a few weeks. 

It has been the honor of my life to serve as the Director of Bands of Mira Mesa High School. Over the decades, we’ve shared unforgettable moments—from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, to performances in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Colorado, Hawaii, and many other stages across the country. No matter how far we traveled, the heartbeat of our program has always been the Mira Mesa community—a true reflection of diversity, strength, and unity.

To the students: You are the reason I have been “all in” every single day. Your passion, resilience, and commitment have inspired me time and time again. Never forget to “never give up”. The lessons learned through music, discipline, and teamwork will carry you far beyond any field or concert stage.

To the parents, alumni, and families: Your support, trust, and unwavering belief in our mission have been the foundation of everything we’ve accomplished. Whether you were sewing uniforms, fundraising, building and moving equipment, cheering from the stands, or simply encouraging your student to keep practicing, you made this program what it is and I know you will continue to do so.

To the incredible Sapphire Sound band and color guard staff: Your dedication, creativity, and countless hours of hard work have been instrumental in shaping the success and excellence of this program. Thank you for standing beside me, guiding our students, and helping build the legacy we are so proud of today.

I retire with a full heart, proud of the legacy we've built together. Though I may no longer be on the podium, I will always be your biggest fan. Wherever the Mira Mesa Band goes, be it a concert hall, a national parade, or a Friday night football game, I’ll be cheering you on with pride.

Thank you for 31 incredible years.

With love, gratitude, music…All In, always. 

💙💛,

Mrs. C