Parent & Student Handbook

Band Camp

The purpose of Band Camp is to specifically learn and rehearse the music and marching routines for our halftime and festival shows.

Beside giving you the opportunity (for the rest of your life) to say with authority, "This one time at Band Camp," Band Camp is without a doubt, our most important and intensive training sessions.

Because of a number of considerations, mostly economic, Band Camp will be held completely at the high school.

This year camp is:

The daily schedule is 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. each day.

Attendance at Band Camp is Mandatory.

Band students should make sure that their schedules, summer school days, vacations, work schedules, doctor appointments, etc. are built around the Band Camp schedule. Because of the importance of these rehearsals, students will not be permitted to miss any part of any rehearsal session.

Special instructors are brought in to help each individual section prepare their music during the morning sessions of the first week of Camp.

The marching shows are put together and rehearsed at both weeks of band camp and the follow up rehearsals.

The morning sectional will be between 8:00 A.M. and Noon, with a 15-minute break around 10:30 A.M.

The students will have a 45 minute lunch between 12:00 to 12:45 P.M. Students should bring their lunch.

The afternoon session will be between 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M., with a 15-minute break around 2:30 P.M.

The Band Picture will be taken the first week of Band Camp on Wednesday evening July 29 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Students are required to wear their full dress uniform (minus hats). They will bring their uniform to school in the morning (leaving them in their garment bag in the auditorium) and will be given ample time to change before the group picture. There will be adult volunteers to assist the students with their uniforms and report times. Individual pictures are taken after the group picture is taken at 3:00 P.M. Students must sign-up for individual picture taking times. Upperclassmen and students who need to go to work will have their pictures taken first, before the other band members. Underclassmen who will have their individual pictures taken later in the evening are permitted to leave after the 3:00 P.M. group picture and later return to the school at their scheduled times. Band members are not required to purchase any pictures but are required to have their picture taken for the both the individual photos (which are used for the commemorative band room plaque) and the group photo at 3 P.M. (which is used for the yearbook, publicity and senior award plaques).

The award ceremony will be held after the last rehearsal session on Thursday, August 13th. This ceremony is limited to the band members, staff and chaperones ONLY!

Band Camp Rules

All regular school and band policies will be observed and enforced during Band Camp.

Students are NOT permitted to leave the high school during camp hours.

Students are NOT permitted to enter any vehicle during camp hours. Any student who enters a vehicle without permission or leaves the high school grounds without Mr. Riffle's permission will be dealt with in the most severe way.

It is the policy of The State of Pennsylvania and the South Allegheny High School Band that there will be NO hazing, harassment or other initiation activities performed by or to any member of the Band, Color Guard or Majorettes. This will be strictly enforced, and any member of the Band, Color Guard or Majorettes involved in this type of activity will be immediately dismissed from the band.

Students who do not follow all of these rules will be dismissed from the Band and receive a failing grade.

Each student is totally responsible for maintaining his or her own instrument or equipment.

It is the individual students responsibility to learn their music and/or routine.

The success of a band depends on how it rehearses. How it rehearses depends on the conduct and the cooperation of the students. Rehearsals are the place to correct mistakes. Mr. Riffle and the Band Staff will do their best to help you correct them. The fewer mistakes you make, the greater your contribution to the Band. Be patient, attentive, careful and cooperative in all rehearsals.

Band students should Care, Try, Behave, and be Courteous to all adults and each other. It is expected and it will be appreciated.

Each Band Member must remember that they are representing our school and Pride and Self-Discipline must prevail at all times.

Each member of the Band Program has an obligation to him/her-self and the other members of the Band. You must always be aware of the fact that you are an important part of a larger organization and that if you won't or don't do your personal best the organization cannot be worthwhile or good, and as a result everyone suffers.

Students will be on the "Buddy" system; no one should go anywhere without at least one other person. Anyone caught alone will be disciplined.

Let's not forget why we have Band Camp. To learn & rehearse the music and marching drills so that we may represent the South Allegheny School District with pride and dignity.

As a sign of respect, band students will refer to all adult chaperone or staff member by their title and last name (Mr., Mrs., Ms.), you will absolutely not call any adult by their first name, no matter how well you know the adult outside of the band or what relationship you have to the adult.

The student bathrooms must be maintained! If the male and female student band members do not keep their bathroom clean, then the entire male or female student band members will loose their break time for each day the bathroom is dirty!

Students who miss a practice session due to injury or illness will be required to spend their time in the band room!

Band Camp Dress Policy

Dress for the preview performance Thursday night (Aug. 13th) will be the Band's blue "Scrub Pants" and white Band T-shirt.

Comfortable tennis shoes and socks will be the only footwear that will be allowed on the practice field. It is suggested that students only wear shoes that offer a lot of support, such as actual running shoes or cross-training shoes. Flat-soled "Keds" style shoes will not support the foot well enough and problems usually will occur with fatigue or injury. We will be on our feet a lot and these shoes will ensure that we won't sacrifice our rehearsal because of foot problems.

It is essential that everyone wear sunscreen (sun block SPF 15 or higher) while at Band Camp. The sun is very powerful at this time of year and we will be outdoors most of the day! It can cause a lot of damage in a very short time. This applies not just to the first day, but every day! Each morning! Everyone!

Students will be required to pass a casual inspection each morning by the chaperones and the staff, and if clothing is deemed to be inappropriate they will be required to return to their homes and change to suitable attire, or will be given an emergency outfit to wear for the remainder of the day.

Dressing Don'ts

Mr. Riffle reserves the right to immediately and permanently dismiss any band student from the band when he feels that their conduct or actions warrant such a dismissal

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