Parent & Student Handbook

Band Trip

The purpose of the band trip is to provide the student with a variety of musical, once in a lifetime experiences.

The philosophy is that every student in the High School Band will participate in two trips during their four years in the band with at least one of those trips being a Florida, Walt Disney World trip.

Band trips are taken every other year. Our next trip to Florida is scheduled for the fall of 2013. The trip dates will most likely be Thursday November 21 (after school) to Wednesday November 27 (arrive home mid-afternoon), 2013. The cost of the trip will run between $600-$700. The Band Parents usually try to defer a portion of this cost; however, it is the responsibility of each band student to pay for their trip by either fundraising, cash payment(s) or a combination of both.

The reason for this sequence is two-fold: it provides the student with the maximum amount of exposure to varied forms of band festivals and travel and also reduces the need for excessive fundraising.

All band students are expected to participate in each trip. The cost of the trip is the responsibility of the individual student. Ample fundraising is provided for each and every trip. It is up the individual student and their family as to whether they fund-raise, or simply outright pay the cost of the trip. All trips require that certain amounts of the trip are paid (or earned) in advance. Usually, the schedule begins in January of the trip year with monthly increments and the balance of the trip to be in the student's account 8 to 10 weeks before the actual trip begins. The year before each trip, the Band Parent's set up an Escrow Payment Account, which the students may utilize as a savings account for their trip. We have found that many families find it easier to make smaller monthly payments in advance of the trip rather than a large payment at the last minute.

Band students will miss 3½ days of school for the trip. The school board has approved this trip and the lost school time is not held against the student, however, students are responsible for any missed work, assignments or tests. We also try to schedule a trip around a day of an in-service or off day so that the lost school time is kept to a minimum.

As with all outings with the High School Band, students will be expected to follow all of the rules set forth by the band director. The rules are designed to provide a safe and orderly experience for the students. Parents will be required to sign a permission contract for each trip and that form will acknowledge the students' and their parents' responsibility for his/her conduct. Failure to adhere to the rules will result in the immediate return of the student from the trip at the parent's expense, a failing grade in band and expulsion from the band at Ms. Humanic's discretion.

Medical information and treatment release forms will be sent home for completion before each trip. These forms are always kept in the strictest confidence and are only used in an emergency. They are always destroyed at the end of the trip.

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