Members of the Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard spent the last two weeks of summer break at band camp, where students ranging from seventh to twelfth grade engaged in drills, teamwork, and more as they learned the show for the upcoming season.

Band camp culminated August 26 with the traditional Friday Night Under the Lights performance for friends and family at Blue & Gold Stadium at NHS.

The show this year is titled “Circles All Around Us.” Based on the children’s book of the same name, the performance instills the joy of inclusion and acceptance. The NHS Band & Guard has learned two of the three movements and will continue adding visual and musical elements to the show throughout the season.

This year the band and guard is led by director Aaron Ovsiew. The group will compete eight times in the Class 2 Open division, beginning on September 10 at Bethel High School.

Later in the season, NHS is set to host 11 other performing groups from Connecticut and beyond at the Annual Joseph P. Grasso Festival on October 15 at NHS. More details about the Joseph P. Grasso Festival will be shared ahead of the event.