Complete this evaluation during class on Thursday Feb 17 and Friday Feb 18.

Hello band families!  
 
I hope everyone has had a fantastic summer!  It always goes too quickly, but I have to remind myself that there are so many really exciting things coming up that happen during the school year and I’m so very excited to have a normaler and funner school year!  (no I don’t normally speak with bad grammar) 
 
This is exactly what I sent in an email, and the camp letter was attached to that as well, so if you already know what's up, no need to read further!  
 
Day 1 – students should come to the back of the high school near the football field and check in at their section table which will be set up on Court C in the high school gym.  There you will be picking up flip folders, music, school instruments, shoes and other important camp survival tools.  It’s best if you start arriving around 8:30 so that we can get everyone checked in and start camp at 9.  After check in, students can hang out on our marching field, which is the one with the super cool band tower, it’s right by the math science wing in the high school.  School policy for covid right now is that anyone who goes inside who isn’t vaccinated needs a mask, which is why we’re doing almost everything outside so just be prepared for a quick stop inside for these things and have your mask ready when you go in for your uniform sizing.  (Please keep your playing mask in your case, and take your bell cover off but leave it in the case as well.  We don’t know for sure what we’ll need once we’re inside and I don’t want to have to purchase new ones so don’t throw anything away yet)  We’ll keep instruments and belongings in Court C overnight until the last day of camp, where we’ll transfer everything to it’s place in the band room/theater.  At 11, 12 and 1 we will break into 3 separate activities including sectionals, uniform distribution and lunch.  Uniform distribution will take place in the band room and theater, sectionals will be outside around the campus in shady spots, and lunch on the first day is on your own.  Students can pack lunch and stay at school, or walk or drive to wherever they want to eat.  In order to alleviate congestion in the uniform spaces, not everyone will be eating at the same time.  If there is a sibling who drives the younger sibling to lunch and their schedules don’t match up, you can switch your lunch and uniform time, but everybody needs to go to their sectionals at the time assigned and stick to the schedule as much as possible so that we don’t have a long line waiting for uniforms. 
I’ve listed below the sections and after that which order they’ll go to which event.  (11, 12 and 1)  I hope this makes sense and I hope it works.  This should be efficient and allow for us to get uniforms distributed without having to miss any of the marching or playing portions of camp. 
Flutes – sectionals, uniforms, lunch
Clarinets – sectionals, uniforms, lunch
Saxophones – uniforms, lunch, sectionals
Trumpets – Sectionals, lunch, uniforms
Mellophones – Uniforms, lunch, sectionals
Trombones – Uniforms, lunch, sectionals
Baritones/Tubas – Sectionals, lunch, uniforms
Drumline – (you’re special) sectionals twice, uniforms and lunch whenever you can.
Flags – lunch at 11, sectionals twice, and you don’t go to uniforms. 
 
The ice cream truck is coming on Monday after camp , students can bring their own money for that.
 
Day 2 – everyone has lunch at 12, it’s provided by the music boosters, we’re going to eat outside and play yard games during the lunch hour.  We’ll still do uniforms at 11 or 1 if anyone didn’t get through it on Monday.  Tuesday at the end of camp is the water fight.  Bring water guns, buckets, and a towel.   Everyone leaves dripping, and this is one of the best parts of our camp! 
 
Day 3 – we’ll take our group band photo in uniform for the sports program, yearbook and newspaper, and seniors will take individual shots for the program as well.  At the end of camp you’ll take your uniforms home, instruments and music should go home to work on our new music for a little bit, shoes should stay at school because we will use them every day during band class.  We have a performance shortly after school starts so we’ll be playing and marching right away so make a plan to have your instrument at school on the first day you have band class.  (A or B)
 
Other reminders -  bring sunscreen, hats, and socks.  Returning members make sure you look at home if your shoes are there.  New members, your shoes will be waiting for you when you get here.  You don’t have to pay for them right now, it will be on the beginning of year order form that you’ll get when school starts.
If you play the baritone or tuba, school instruments will be provided, you do not need to bring your instrument.  Same for drumline and flags.
Returning members – you all took your instruments and your flip folders and music at home, find them, bring them.  =) 
New members will pick that all up on the first day. 
 
A few changes to the letter – we’ll start the popcorn sale once school starts, but the Florida trip is on for June 5-10. 
 
I’m looking for someone to take our pictures on Wednesday at 11, our usual photographers are not available that day, if anyone is willing to do this we’d be very grateful. 
Thanks to all of our wonderful band parents who have agreed to help with uniforms, lunch, and other camp essentials.  We have a huge band and I definitely couldn’t get this all going without your help.  =)
 
STUDENT LEADERS – we will not be having a student meeting, because I couldn’t find a time that a majority of you could come, you’re busy and that’s cool!  We’re doing band camp prep in the band room and theater on Friday the 30th from 9am-12, if you can, please come for a portion of that time to get your section table ready.  And then all student leaders are asked to arrive at camp at 8am on Monday for a last minute camp leadership training.
 
One last reminder for everyone, if you haven’t already, please join the remind class - there’s a code on the attached letter for the student group and the parent group.
 
Please let me know if your son or daughter will be missing any portion of camp so we can schedule a different time for them to get their uniform and music, and plan accordingly for lunch.    (11th and 12th grade football players are excused from camp)
 
Have a nice week, see you on the 2nd. 
 
Natalie

​We made it through another week!  Every day here with the kids is a gift, and an adventure for sure.  Especially with this week’s weather.  We’ve played pretend band all week.  (which consisted of holding instruments up and pushing keys and marching in place without making any sound inside)  We were able to go outside once this week.  But the inside time was productive in many ways so I’m considering this week a win.  We’re doing our best to make forward progress under the current circumstances which are trying pretty hard to push us backwards! 
 
As was mentioned in the beginning of year letter, our first evening rehearsal is next week.  September 16 from 6-7:30pm.  We will rehearse as a full band, with all of the space and guidelines being observed.  We do have a partial halftime to show and a few other songs to play and we will be live streaming those on the band facebook page for all of the parents and friends at home to watch.  We’re calling it a live stream mini performance.  The facebook page is Byron High School Band.  I will practice live streaming something before then so that I don’t have too many technical difficulties on Wednesday night… fingers crossed.  I’m hoping for the live stream to start shortly after 7pm. 
 
We will have one more live stream performance on October 14th, which will be live streamed again except from the football stadium under the lights.  I hope to have 2 halftime shows and a few bonus features ready for performance by then. 
 
After some deliberation, we’ve decided to change the Florida trip dates to June 28-July 2, 2021.  We’re just pushing it back a few weeks so that spring sport athletes don’t have to miss a week of their sport.  Almost half of the band students are in a spring sport so this was a significant number of students worth changing the dates for.  Obviously we still have the limitations that covid might bring at that time, but that’s beyond anyone’s control so at least changing the date eliminated the spring sport conflict. 
 
The popcorn sale concludes this weekend, it takes approximately 2 minutes to set up an account and then send the link to people who might purchase.  No money collecting, no order forms, etc.  50% profit!  And if you haven’t had zebra popcorn or unicorn popcorn, you don’t know what you’re missing.  =)
 
Have a fantastic weekend!  Looking forward to Wednesday!

Band Camp 2020
August 3-5 9am-3pm (9-12 on the 5th)

Every day students will have their temperature taken and they will need to scan the QR code and fill out the form with a few questions about symptoms.  This is the same form as what they’re doing for sport practices right now.  They will also need to bring the waiver on the first day.  The temp checks and survey happen once per day, so they will do that every morning.  On the first day students will also be asked to bring the signed waiver.  If students do not have their own phone available for the survey, they can fill out a paper copy, or use a parent phone. 

There will be 2 different locations for temperature checks and students should go to those same spots each morning and then there will be designated areas for students to place their belongings outside.  Any time we’re not on the field marching, students need to wear their masks for protection while moving from one place to another.  It’s recommended that they have them around their neck or in their pocket so they can put them over their face whenever needed.

The students will be divided into 3 groups, all with fewer than 50 students.  When we’re outside, the groups will be separated by 30 feet or more at all times and every student will be spaced on the field with 7.5 feet between and around each student.  The groups will not mix with each other for the duration of camp while they are on school grounds.  When you arrive, get your temperature taken, fill out the google doc, turn in the waiver, pick up your equipment and put it in the designated area, then we will have a position on the football field for every individual.  If you’re not sitting there but you’re talking with friends, you must spread apart and you must wear the mask.

We will not be playing our instruments while we are inside, more studies and results will be coming out throughout the rest of the summer and fall about air movement and aerosols coming from instruments.  Preliminary study results testing all instruments have stated that playing an instrument with 6 feet of space indoors with a few modifications on the wind instruments such as bell covers and masks is not any different than sitting and talking with those same modifications.  But, being outside is 20 times safer regardless of the activity, so we’ll be outside as much as possible.  When we are inside, we will be spread apart and not playing wind instruments.   

For sectionals, the groups will be broken down into smaller section groups and they will also be spaced at least 6 feet apart and playing outside only.  Percussion and flags will be playing and rehearsing inside, with masks on at all times.  

There will be no shared instruments or equipment.   

Every student will leave for lunch or bring their own lunch and eat it outside in their designated spot around the practice field, or find a shade tree to eat under.  If you leave for lunch, you may not leave in anyone’s car other than who you came to camp with.  

Any group games or competitions we have will not involve contact between any student or anything with less than 6 feet between students.
 
We will not be distributing uniforms this year during camp, in an effort to avoid a time where it’s difficult to keep personal space.  We will also not be having our end of camp lunch provided by the music boosters.

The hydration station between the two practice fields for students to refill water bottles, but not to drink from.  And when refilling water bottles if there is more than one person at the station students will need to wear their mask.  It is suggested that masks be around their necks so they’re readily available.  We will have a water event on the last day but it will not involve refilling super soakers at the hydration station. 

Bring:
Instrument and mouthpiece
Flipfolder and lyre (if it’s at home) 
Water jug filled
Marching shoes and socks
Sunscreen
Hat

​

Congratulations to Carter Conderman for being selected as our junior drum major!  

Band camp is August 3-5.  Watch for more details here and in the snail mail.  

I feel like Beethoven.  Why, you ask?  Because the endings of many of his orchestral works go like this “this is the end, almost the end, sounds like the end, could be the end, it’s the end, I’m sure it’s the end, no for real I’m not kidding this is the end, except for this part, now this is the end, the end, oh one more thing, and now it’s almost the end, and now really I promise this is the ending part.”  And as a listener you’re on the edge of your seat just waiting until you get to burst up into a rousing standing ovation.  You know what I mean?  No?  LOL.  It’s hard to explain.  My point is that this end of the year stuff seems like it’s dragging on forever and every day I think of something else I need to tell you!  I’ll be sending a letter in the mail about camp (which I am planning right now like it’s going to be normal and if plans need to change I’ll adjust) normal sounds awesome right now!!!  =)  

I want to leave you with a few important thoughts.  
#1 You’ve all expressed appreciation for being in the band room with your peers.  Don’t forget that!  It will be a glorious day when we’re all back in there together.  Being part of something successful is more valuable now than it has ever been.  We’re blessed to have this experience!
#2  Take the time to tell people you appreciate them.  And don’t forget that Sunday is Mother’s Day.  
#3  I really want you to think about this one.  When we get back to school, sports, band, life as we used to know it, some people will have regressed in their skills, some will stay the same, and some will surprise us at how much they’ve improved. I know we can’t have practices together, but nothing is stopping you from making yourself better at home. You can work on those skills for that sport, that subject, that audition, that performance, etc.  You can work on it, and you can be the one who surprises us all when we get back by how much BETTER you are at it than you were before.  Don’t be the kid that says “well I used to be the best one so I’m probably still the best one even though I didn’t do anything to work on my skills.”  Be the one who surprises everyone else on team, or in the section, or in the class about how much better you are.  Because guess what, your biggest competitor from our school or another school is working their butt off.  Don’t waste this opportunity.  

OK last thing, check skyward.  Almost everybody is done.  I’m closing the assignments because a lot of you are doing them again and you don’t have to.  If you’re in both bands, you do not have to do the assignments for the other band.  Watch for camp information coming in the mail and please don't ignore my text messages.  =)  I’ll see the section leaders today at 1, 

I haven’t had a chance to look at instrumentation yet for switching bands, I have to figure out who we need where to make sure the bands have full sections.  I’ll communicate those changes with you via text message before the end of May.    

Alright.  I miss you.  Can’t wait to see you in August!  Have a fantastic summer.  

Mrs. Haas