Reminder - Fannie May Candy Orders Are Due This Coming Week!

The DGN Friends of Fine Arts 2019 Fannie May Candy Fundraiser is spinning out of the turn and heading into the home stretch! Just a few days left - orders are due on THIS Wednesday, October 23rd! We are re-posting below our earlier announcement of the Candy Sale in case you missed it.

The DGN Fine Arts programs are counting on your support. Thank you for your consideration and efforts!

RE-POSTING:

October means cooler and shorter days, chillier nights, colorful falling leaves, playoff baseball (but, alas, no Chicago teams this year...), weekend gridiron action and best of all... the DGN Friends of Fine Arts 2019 Fannie May Candy Fundraiser!

The program officially kicked off last week and will run through Wednesday, October 23rd.

Fine Arts students should have already received or picked up their sales packets so if you have not seen the order forms and informational materials yet, be sure to ask them about it. Pertinent ordering information can be found here; the informational slide presentation shown to the Fine Arts students can be viewed here.

The Fannie May Candy sales program is an important fundraising revenue stream for DGN Fine Arts (along with Spirit Wear sales and the Spring Plant Sale) and it is a vital component in reaching our annual goal of $50,000 to support our Fine Arts students and programs. If every Fine Arts student at DGN sold or purchased one box of Pixies, more than $4,000 would be earned toward that targeted number.

A few helpful selling points/ideas:

• Candy makes a great Christmas/Holiday gift - a perfect way to celebrate the season or say "thank you" to someone.
• Student orders will be delivered to DGN (NOT to homes) and ready for pickup on the morning of November 16th - in time for Thanksgiving gatherings.
• Prices are the same as in store - but NO sales tax.
• Orders will be delivered by the student seller (or proxy) to the customer - no dealing with crowds and waiting in lines.
• Delicious Fannie May chocolate confections. 'Nuff said. 

As further selling encouragement/enticement, all students who sell candy will receive a candy bar treat. Students who sell $50 or more will have a chance to win one of four $25 gift cards (Starbucks, Chipotle, Panda Express or Target - you choose!) - students who sell $100 or more will be entered into the drawing twice.

(Additional links: Order forms  Fundraising 2019 Catalog)

Questions? Please contact Chairperson Ms. Kathy Nelson at tknel@att.net.

Thank you very much for your support of DGN Fine Arts. Happy Selling!

This Week's Fine Arts Events!

We've got an exciting week in DGN Fine Arts!

The Fall Choir Concert takes place on Tuesday October 15th at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at Downers Grove North - our first opportunity of the school year to hear the amazing voices of our talented DGN Choirs:

On Wednesday October 16th at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at Downers Grove North the District 99 and District 58 Orchestras will be playing with PROJECT Trio - a show that will combine Downers Grove's impressive young orchestral musicians with the internationally renowned, genre-blending group. Tickets are $15.00. From PROJECT Trio's website: 

"PROJECT TRIO IS A PASSIONATE, HIGH ENERGY CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE COMPRISED OF THREE VIRTUOSIC COMPOSER/PERFORMERS FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. BLENDING THEIR CLASSICAL TRAINING WITH AN ECLECTIC TASTE IN MUSICAL STYLES, PROJECT TRIO HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES.  BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE WITH THEIR LANDMARK VIDEOS, RIGHT OUT OF THE INTERNET GENERATION, PROJECT TRIO IS A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE DEFINING A NEW LEVEL OF ENTERTAINMENT!  PROJECT TRIO IS A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE NOT TO BE MISSED....

And on Friday October 18th The Trojan Marching Band plays their final regular season home game performance at 7:30 at Carstens Field as the varsity football Trojans take on the Lyons Township HS Lions.

Hope you can come out and enjoy some GREAT Fine Arts performances and show support for our hard-working musicians and artists (and, of course, the DGN football players, cheerleaders and Athenas)!

And just a reminder, the DGN Friends of Fine Arts are always looking for a few good volunteers - just look for the SignUp.com link on the DGN Friends of Fine Arts blog, on the Downers Grove North Fine Arts blog, or on the DGN Bands blog to sign up. Please take a look at the volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks and months and see if one or two might fit into your schedule. We thank you for your consideration!

Sounds of the Stadium! Friday Night!

It's going to be cold outside, but hot inside as the Trojan Marching Band heats up the Purple Gym with Sounds of the Stadium!

Come out this Friday night October 11th at 7 PM in the Purple Gym to enjoy the Sounds of the Stadium with the DGN Trojan Marching Band! This is a great opportunity to catch the band's 2019 football season repertoire  - featuring their amazing "...And Beyond!" halftime show - without the threat of inclement weather or the challenge of chilly bleachers. And while we won't have the exciting play of our Trojan football team to cheer on (WE LOVE OUR TEAM!) we will have the continuous performance of the Trojan Marching Band with no gridiron action breaks. (And this is a prime time to get some posed photo shots of your student musician(s) looking resplendent in uniform...)

Hope to see you there!

Also.... we are still in need of a few more volunteers to help with light clean-up duties and band uniforms following the performance. Just look for the SignUp.com link on the DGN Friends of Fine Arts blog, on the Downers Grove North Fine Arts blog, or on the DGN Bands blog to sign up. And take a look at other volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks and months and see if one or two might fit into your schedule. We thank you for your consideration!

A Reminder For October's FOFA Meeting

This month's Friends of Fine Arts meeting is on Tuesday October 8th at 7:00 pm in the DGN Alumni Room.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend as we review finances and fund raisers, talk Fannie May candy, address volunteer resources, hear teachers' reports and open the floor to new business. 


DGN FOFA meeting are always concise and informative and well worth your time investment - hope to see you there!

It's October and That Means It's Fannie May Time!

October means cooler and shorter days, chillier nights, colorful falling leaves, playoff baseball (but, alas, no Chicago teams this year...), weekend gridiron action and best of all... the DGN Friends of Fine Arts 2019 Fannie May Candy Fundraiser!

The program officially kicked off last week and will run through Wednesday, October 23rd.

Fine Arts students should have already received or picked up their sales packets so if you have not seen the order forms and informational materials yet, be sure to ask them about it. Pertinent ordering information can be found here; the informational slide presentation shown to the Fine Arts students can be viewed here.

The Fannie May Candy sales program is an important fundraising revenue stream for DGN Fine Arts (along with Spirit Wear sales and the Spring Plant Sale) and it is a vital component in reaching our annual goal of $50,000 to support our Fine Arts students and programs. If every Fine Arts student at DGN sold or purchased one box of Pixies, more than $4,000 would be earned toward that targeted number.

A few helpful selling points/ideas:

• Candy makes a great Christmas/Holiday gift - a perfect way to celebrate the season or say "thank you" to someone.
• Student orders will be delivered to DGN (NOT to homes) and ready for pickup on the morning of November 16th - in time for Thanksgiving gatherings.
• Prices are the same as in store - but NO sales tax.
• Orders will be delivered by the student seller (or proxy) to the customer - no dealing with crowds and waiting in lines.
• Delicious Fannie May chocolate confections. 'Nuff said. 

As further selling encouragement/enticement, all students who sell candy will receive a candy bar treat. Students who sell $50 or more will have a chance to win one of four $25 gift cards (Starbucks, Chipotle, Panda Express or Target - you choose!) - students who sell $100 or more will be entered into the drawing twice.

(Additional links: Order forms  Fundraising 2019 Catalog)

Questions? Please contact Chairperson Ms. Kathy Nelson at tknel@att.net.

Thank you very much for your support of DGN Fine Arts. Happy Selling!

It's Homecoming Week!

Hope you're planning on joining in the festivities!

On Wednesday October 2nd at 7 PM  swing by the Clarence Johnson Auditorium for the Student Variety Show, featuring performances by the Jazz Ensemble Band and the Chamber Choir. $5 at the door (it's a homecoming fundraiser) gets you in for all the student talent and fun.

On Friday October 4th the DGN Marching Band leads the Homecoming Parade, stepping off at 3:15 PM from the corner of Prince and Grant Streets (click here for the parade route). At 7:30 PM the DGN Trojan football team faces off against the Glenbard West Hilltoppers on the gridiron at Carstens Field. Come early and stay to the very end as the DGN Marching Band performs pre-game, halftime and post-game. Joining the band for the evening will be dozens of members of the DGN Alumni Band, spanning generations and the decades! Come on out and join the excitement as we cheer the Trojans on to victory!

And yes, there will be plenty of DGN Fine Arts booster swag available for purchase at the game. Proceeds support ALL DGN Fine Arts programs.

Go Trojans!

FOFA Has Flowers!

Just a friendly tip/reminder: FOFA has flowers for sale at tonight's and Saturday's "Clue" performances!

Flowers are a great way to celebrate and congratulate your DGN Fine Arts thespian and purchasing said flowers at the performance supports FOFA's mission of helping fund various projects and happenings across ALL DGN Fine Arts programs. (Plus, it eliminates the need to remember to pick up flowers beforehand, and that lousy sinking feeling you get when you show up and realize that - oh, man! - you forgot to pick up flowers...) So do yourself a favor and purchase your petals at the play.

Thanks for your consideration and support!

Well Here's Another "Clue" For You All...

It's the play this Fall!

Come out and enjoy an evening of wonderful amateur theater presented by our DGN thespians and lend your support to the Fine Arts program at the same time.

Performances are this Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th at 7 p.m., and Saturday the 28th at 5 p.m. in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium

Hope you can come out and enjoy the show!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! The First DGN FOFA Meeting of the New School Year is This Tuesday, September 10th!

Summer is in the books and we are already nearly a month deep into the new school year! Hopefully you've made a smooth shift into the Fall gears. 

This is the official announcement that the first FOFA meeting of the school year will be held on this Tuesday, September 10th at 7 PM in the DGN Alumni Room. Please join us as we discuss FOFA plans for what promises to be an exciting year in the Fine Arts Department! Meet and greet new and returning Board Directors, officers, chairpersons, volunteers and Fine Arts teachers, and find out how you can help the Friends of the Fine Arts in making the 2019-20 academic year an amazing one for our DGN Fine Arts students. 

All are welcome - we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

And please mark in your calendar all of the upcoming FOFA meeting dates:

• Tuesday September 10th
• Tuesday October 8th 
• Tuesday November 12th
• Tuesday December 17th
• Tuesday January 14th
• Tuesday February 18th
• Tuesday March 24th
• Tuesday April 21st
• Tuesday May 19th

Marching Band/Football Season Returns to DGN!

Thursday night's NFL showdown on the Chicago lakefront between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers ought to whet your appetite for the event we have all long been waiting for: the return of Friday Night Lights at Carstens Field as our Downers Grove North Trojans take on the Blazers of Addison Trail in a week 2 non-conference gridiron clash!

Bracketing the evening's football game with pomp and tradition, and featured at halftime performing their "...AND BEYOND!" musical program will be the internationally renowned DGN Trojan Marching Band! 

Come early and stay late - you don't want to miss any of the band's performance and you'll want to lend your voice and support to the Trojan football team (We love our team, we love our team, we love our team. WE LOVE OUR TEAM!) as they give it their all on the field.

For you newbie Marching Band families, here's a few tips:

• Come early to watch the Drum Line escort the team onto the field for pregame warm-ups. A cool football moment.
• Watch the band and Color Guard forming up in the field house as they prepare to march onto the track. A great photo op of your student musicians looking amazing in their uniforms.
• Catch the pre-game show, including the playing of the visiting team's school fight song. A wonderful tradition that underscores the true sense of sportsmanship between rival schools. 
• Don't miss the band's stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.
• Gather near the south end of the bleachers just before the kick-off as the band, massed on the track, plays "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (the "2001 Space Odyssey" song - you know, Duuuhhh daa daaaa! DUH DAAA!) It's a super cool lead in to the kick-off that you don't want to miss, trust me...
• Catch the half time show, natch....
• At the end of the 3rd quarter join in with the band on a "Hey! Baby" singalong. It's fun.
• Stay till after the final gun for the post game tradition of the Alma Mater song and the mutual shout-outs between the band and the football team. Quite moving, even if you never attended DGN yourself.
• Follow the band back to the field house entrance for more tradition (and photo ops)
• And when the Trojans win, catch the drum line celebrating with the team.
• Plus, as an added bonus, this week's Game Day hoopla includes Senior Night, a pre-game recognition of Football, Marching Band, Cheerleaders and Athena seniors and their parents/guardians. Be on hand to recognize and celebrate their years of hard work and DGN dedication.

And don't forget, there will be plenty of DGN FOFA-sponsored Spirit Wear available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting ALL DGN FINE ARTS PROGRAMS!

It's going to be a great season - hope to see everyone out there!

Go DGN! #WeAreDGN