NHS Band & Guard
The Scoop: 9/23 - 30 & Fall Trip
Peek at the Week
- Mon, 09/23: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (5:45 pm arrival) - Full Band & Guard* practice
- Wed, 09/25: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (5:45 pm arrival) - Full Band & Guard* practice
- Thurs, 09/26: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (5:45 pm arrival) - Sectionals: Brass, Drum Line, Pit, & Guard*
- Fri - Sun, 9/27-29: Fall Trip to Annapolis! See below...
- Mon, 9/30: No School/Practice - Happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate!
*At the time of this publishing, we have not received updates from Color Guard as to the regular schedule; please refer to communications from Grace McKinley/Sue White for any changes.
It's Time for Our Fall Trip!
Performance, Hotel & Contact Info
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
304 Farragut Rd.
Annapolis MD 21401
Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport
Address: 1300 Concourse Drive, Linthicum, Maryland 21090
Phone : 410-850-0747
Emergency Contacts for the Trip
- Kurt Eckhardt, Director of Bands: 203-733-6017 (c)
- Chris Carley, Assistant Director: 203-417-7545 (c)
- Laura Taylor, President: 203-751-2009 (c)
- Bonnie Voegeli, Vice President: 203-470-2321 (c)
- Rashi Ray, Lead Chaperone for the Fall Trip: 203-313-1447 (c)
Are YOU joining us in Annapolis? Tell us (and each other!) by adding your name to our biggest fans roster! This way we know you're there, and we can stay in touch... :) Also, PLEASE consider helping us with Pit Crew on the road... it is even more important and more fun!
Before We Go...
Wednesday, 9/25
Field Trip Medication Authorization Forms
- If a Band & Guard member submitted forms to the School Nurse at the beginning of the year for regular medications, you are all set!
- If a Band & Guard member has started on a new medication since the last time forms have been submitted and will need to take it (or you would like him/her to carry OTC medication such as Advil, Tums, etc.) during our Fall Trip, please make sure that either this form or the one that your doctor's office provides is signed by your doctor and faxed to the School Nurse's Office at 203-270-4838 no later than Wednesday, 9/25. If you have questions about this, please direct them to Karen Powell at 203--426-7649.
Thursday, 9/26
Luggage
NOTE:
- Bags will be checked by NHS Security first thing on Friday morning; students do not need to be present for this check.
- Backpacks should NOT be placed in B140 - members will simply keep these with them when they report to the Band Room on Friday (see below) and will be checked as the students board the bus.
Uniforms
All members must drop off their full Band or Guard uniform (in garment bag clearly labeled with name and bus #) on the racks in the hallway outside the Band Room on Thursday between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
For Band Members, garment bags should include:
- full uniform - jacket, pants and sash
- black socks
- band shoes
- show shirt(s) (if you prefer, this can be in your luggage)
- gloves
- Windbreakers are also required, but should NOT be packed with the uniform (you should wear them on Friday)
For Guard Members, please refer to the packing list distributed by Grace McKinley/Sue White.
Please note that members will not have access to these garment bags until Saturday morning.
We will need some parent help with this drop-off effort -- please let Rashi Ray (cell: 203-313-1447) know if you can help!
Instruments
- When Percussion is finished practicing, all equipment should be brought out to the truck.
- Brass instruments that go in the truck should also be brought to the truck after sectional practice is over on Thursday.
- Smaller instruments that are not usually transported via truck may be left in lockers or brought to the Band Room on Friday morning.
Guard Flag Bags
- Guard Flag Bags will be loaded onto the truck after sectional practice concludes.
Props
- Props will also be loaded onto the truck after sectional practice as well.
FRI, 9/27
- Wear your windbreaker to school on Friday... DON'T FORGET IT!
- NHS students report to the Band Room at 10:00 am.
- NMS students must also report to the NHS Band Room by 10:00 am (NMS families should coordinate on their own if they are car pooling).
- Once you arrive, our chaperones will give you instructions about having your backpack and instrument checked, collecting luggage from B140, and loading the buses for departure. Please be sure to look at the Rules section below for restrictions on snacks, beverages, etc!
And We're Off!
Detailed Trip Itinerary*
Friday, September 27
- 11:00 am - Depart Newtown High School
12:30 pm - Stop for Lunch
5:00 pm - Arrive @ Hotel
6:00 pm - Dinner at Golden Corral
11:00 pm - Room Check
Saturday, September 28
- 7:30 am - Breakfast @ Hotel
- 9:00 am - Depart for Practice
- 9:30 am - Arrive @ Practice Site
- 12:30 pm - Depart for Lunch
- 1:00 pm - Lunch
- 2:00 pm - Depart for Navy Marine Corps Stadium
- 2:30 pm - Arrive @ Stadium
- 5:15 pm - Perform
- 7:45 pm - Awards
- 8:30 pm - Depart for Hotel
- 9:00 pm - Arrive @ Hotel
- 12:00 am - Room Check
Sunday, September 29
- 7:30 am - Breakfast
- 10:00 am - Depart for Baltimore Inner Harbor
- 10:30 am - Arrive @ Inner Harbor
- 12:30 pm - Depart for NHS
- 5:30 pm - Arrive @ NHS
If you would like to take your child from the group, you must provide Mr. Carley with advance written notification via email at carleyc@newtown.k12.ct.us. If you will be taking your child directly from the stadium, please make arrangements to collect your child's belongings from the hotel in the morning before we leave for the practice venue.
*As with any trip, times are subject to change, but we will make every attempt to keep this smore updated! :)
Meals & Money
- Gratuity at the hotel (typically a couple of dollars for each member for the room)
- Friday Lunch (en route to Hotel)
- Saturday Lunch (en route to Navy Marine Stadium)
- Saturday Dinner (at Navy Marine Stadium)
- Sunday Lunch (at Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
Approximating $15 per meal plus an extra $15 for snacks and drinks on the road, we recommend $75 for out-of-pocket food and drink costs.
In addition, there will be numerous opportunities for Band & Guard members to spend money during our Sunday visit to the Inner Harbor... Many of its featured attractions open at 10:00 am, and these have admission costs ranging from The Top of the World Observation Level at just $6 per person to the National Aquarium at $39.95 per person. Please have a conversation with your child and plan for spending money accordingly! :)
Trip Rules & Expectations for Student Behavior
- Your bags will be searched by NHS Security before boarding the bus. You can’t go into your bags once they are checked. Once your carry-on bag is checked, it will be put near your bus so you can pick it up during final loading.
- No homemade food or drinks can be brought on the trip. Only sealed water bottles or drinks are allowed on the bus on the way to the hotel. EMPTY Refillable sports bottles may be brought in your luggage and carry on but must be empty for the ride down. Once at the hotel you may fill it and bring it with you for the rest of the trip.
- ALL luggage MUST be labeled with the member’s name and bus number (please do this for your bus carry-on also).
- No alcohol, illegal drugs, or weapons of any kind (including pocket knives) are allowed on the trip. If you are found with this type of item, your parents will be called and NHS administration will be notified.
- You must always be with a buddy. You must have another person with you any time you are outside of your hotel room; no walking around hotel, the performance venue, or anywhere else without another person; even if you are going to the hotel vending machine or to get ice, you must have another person with you.
- No walking around the hotel barefoot -- You must wear some form of shoe, flip flop, or slipper whenever you are outside of your hotel room.
- No banging on hotel room doors or letting doors slam in the hotel. When in hotel, if you want to keep your door open so other students can enter, you must put a towel around the top door lock so the door does not bang each time it closes.
- Before curfew, girls and boys may only be in the same hotel room if there are 3 people in the room and the door must be partially open (towel on the lock). NO couples or any boy and girl are allowed to be alone in the hotel rooms. Chaperones will be randomly checking rooms before curfew.
- At evening room check, chaperones must see all those staying in the room. If someone is in the shower or bathroom, chaperones will come back to make sure all students are in their room.
- After curfew, if you need a chaperone you are not to leave your room – call them. Each room will be given a list of chaperones and their cell phone numbers.
- A security guard has been hired to walk the halls overnight to ensure everyone stays in their room and to make sure all are safe.
- All medications must be carried by a teacher or chaperone. Not even Tylenol, Advil, Tums, etc. may be carried by a student unless authorized by the school nurse. Inhalers and Epi-pens may be carried by a student.
- Keep PDA to holding hands during the entire trip.
- Report to breakfast at the time on the itinerary.
- If going to the pool there must be one chaperone in the pool area. You must have a bathing suit to go into the pool; t-shirts may be worn but it must be over a bathing suit.
- Listen to the staff and chaperones and be polite to them.
We are Newtown -- as always, be polite and respectful to all you meet, and thankful for those who do things for you!
Heads Up, Calendars Out...
- 9/30: No School/No Practice
- 10/1: Full Band & Guard Practice at unusual date/time...
- 10/5: The Grasso Festival (our home show) - Mark your calendars now, as we will definitely need your help!
- 10/10: Full Band & Guard Practice at unusual date/time...
- 10/12: USBands @ Norwalk HS, Norwalk, CT
- 10/16: Band Parents Meeting @ 7:30 pm in NHS Library Media Center
- 10/18: Junk in the Trunk
- 10/19: 100-Family Tag Sale; USBands @ Southington HS, Southington, CT
- 10/25: Newtown Football v. Danbury
- 10/26: NE States Championships @ Veterans Memorial Stadium, New Britain, CT
- 10/30: Trunk or Treat @ NHS Parking Lot
- 11/01: Newtown Football v. Stratford
- 11/02: USBands @ Danbury, CT
- 11/08: Newtown Football v. Bunnell
- 11/09: USBands National Championships @ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 11/11: NHS Band & Guard Banquet
Really like to plan ahead? Our NHS Winter Extravaganza (Winter Home Show) is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 22!
Have a Question?
There's always an answer... Feel free to contact staff, your parent buddy or any NHSBPC board member below:
- Kurt Eckhardt, Director of Bands: 203-733-6017 (c)
- Chris Carley, Assistant Director: 203-417-7545 (c)
- Laura Taylor, President: 203-751-2009 (c)
- Bonnie Voegeli, Vice President: 203-470-2321 (c)
- D.J. Ledina, Treasurer: 203-240-6966 (c)
- Dan Krauss, Recording Secretary: 203-364-6022 (c)
- Pia Ledina, Corresponding Secretary: 203-313-4361 (c)
Email: info@nhsbandguard.com
Website: http://newtownbandandguard.weebly.com/