The DMS Band will be traveling once again this year to perform at the 2026 Beyond The Notes Band Festival on Thursday, May 21 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.  This is a very popular Middle School-level Band Clinic comprised of other Middle School Bands from around the Midwest. We will perform, listen to other groups, receive help from clinicians (usually college professors), and also swim and play!  This will be a great celebration of a year of hard work and wonderful music making.  On the day of the clinic, students will come to Band 1st Period and then we will pack up our supplies and head to the Dells for the rest of the day.  Students will need to be picked up from school when we return to school.

The cost of the trip is $55 per student.  This fee covers transportation, performance, clinic, park passes, and a pizza lunch.  The Deerfield Music Boosters are donating funds to pay for over half the total cost of the trip, which helps keep the cost this low.  Payments can be done with cash, check made out to “Deerfield Schools” or with money in your student’s Band Account (from fundraising).  Students may choose to pay for extra activities and/or more food out-of-pocket; there are many concession areas at the park if you wish to purchase more food/snacks/meals.  

If you are in need of financial assistance, please let us know – there are funds available to help.  Please contact Mrs. Karen Frey at school: freyk@deerfield.k12.wi.us or  (608) 764-5431.

Schedule for the day:

• 7:45 – Meet in Band room with Instruments and clothes/bags/instruments/music

• 8:20 – Load Busses

• 8:30 – Depart for Kalahari

• 9:20 – Arrive at Kalahari – Move-in to Homeroom

• 9:55 – Warm-Up

• 10:30 – PERFORM!

• 11:05 - Clinic 

• 11:40 - Pizza Lunch

• 12:15 – Listen to South Park Band (Oshkosh)

• 12:50 – Clear Room/return instruments to bus/change clothes

• 1:00 – Water/Theme Park Time

• 4:30 – Depart for Home

• 5:30 – Arrive back at DMS

T-shirts/Merch are available (optional) T-Shirts and other merchandise are completely optional, but a fun memento of our experience.  This year, all orders must be placed and paid for directly through the link below (do not send orders or money to Mr. Petersen.  

CLICK HERE TO ORDER OPTIONAL T-SHIRTS:

• https://stores.ameriprintapparel.com/beyond_the_notes_bandorchestra_/shop/home 

OTHER INFORMATION

DRESS – Students need to dress nicely for our performance, similar to what we would wear for a concert.  I will send out specific information about lockers, bags, etc. as we get closer to the trip.

SWIMMING - Please make sure that your swimwear is appropriate.  Do not bring anything that would have the word “string” in its description (or that you would tie up that would easily fall off on a slide).  When in doubt, bring a shirt to wear over top!  You will also need to bring anything else that you might need to swim: towels, goggles, sandals, etc.  

TOWELS – the waterpark no longer provides towels for guests.  ALL participants and adults who plan to use the waterpark will need to BRING THEIR OWN TOWELS THIS YEAR! 

CASH NOT ACCEPTED AT KALAHARI – NEW Policy - From Kalahari Management: In order to provide a smoother and safer transaction for our guests and associates, our resort will be 100% cashless as 2023. We accept credit and mobile payments (Apple/Google Pay). Should you arrive on property with only cash, we do have kiosks to exchange your dollars onto a Mastercard that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Guests will have the opportunity to swap cash for a Mastercard gift card at one of our kiosk locations. This card can then be used throughout the resort and anywhere Mastercard is accepted. We accept all major credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept Google Pay and Apple Pay on mobile devices. We do not accept Venmo or other cash app payments. The kiosks will accept $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. You can also let the parents know that kids can bring pre loaded Mastercard gift card with them, if they are worried their kids won't be able to use the kiosk to get their own.  More information can be found here: https://www.kalahariresorts.com/wisconsin/ways-to-pay/ 

PIZZA: Each paying participant will receive a token for a slice of pizza and a soda. If there are special dietary needs that need to be taken into consideration (please let Mr. Petersen know.  Options include Gluten, Non-Dairy, and Vegan.  

LOCKERS – Mr. Petersen will stay in an area of the Water Park where kids can leave their stuff.  This area will NOT be watched or 100% secure all of the time (Mr. Petersen will periodically leave to check on kids in both parks).  If you would like to have SECURE/LOCKED storage of your personal items, there are lovers available to rent.  Lockers are available in small, medium, and large – and prices range from $10-25.  A small -should- hold stuff for 1-2 people; medium 3-4; large 4-5-ish.

OUR PERFORMANCE:

We will be performing at 10:30 a.m. in the Kalahari Convention Center in room 1/2/7/8 (upper left on mp).  Our performance is FREE and open to the public.  Feel free to drive up in the morning to watch our performance and clinic and support us!  Our performance will also be streamed live online, so you can watch from home.  I will send out details about this and a live-stream link when we get closer to the Festival.   

CHAPERONES: I cannot make this trip work by myself, so I need a couple parents to help chaperone this trip.  Your duties would be to ride the bus with us, help supervise the kids while they were in the parks, and help be a “roadie” for our performance.  Please e-mail me if you are interested.  The Kalahari no longer offers “spectator passes” for adults to the water park.  Chaperones interested in being in the waterpark will need to purchase the $50 pass. There is no cost for adults to observe students in the Theme Park. In your e-mail, please indicate: Water Park, Theme Park Participant, or Theme Park Observer.  (Don’t send in any chaperone payments yet – I will contact you via e-mail about that).

INDOOR WATER PARK MAP

THEME PARK MAP

FRIDAY FESTIVAL MAP

What I need from you:

o   Return the permission slip with a payment for $55 (plus additional for optional t-shirts). 

o   Indicate if your child would like to do the WATER PARK or the INDOOR THEME PARK

*Students are not allowed to go between the parks. 

* Outdoor Water Park will still be closed - students will not be able to go there.

* Theme Park Admission includes” unlimited Legends of the G-Force One, XD Dark Ride, Atomic Rush, Centrifooled, Meteorace, Ferris Wheel, Kalahari Carousel, Legends of the Lost Jungle Mini Golf, Toucan High Climb, The Conquerors of Mt.Foolmore, Laser Tag, Li'l Toucan Treehouse, Sky Rangers and RevoFOOLtion.  Not Included: Volcano Lounge & Lanes Bowling, Golf Simulator, Arcade Games and Food & Beverage.” To find out what the Adventure Park has to offer, follow this link: https://www.tomfoolerysadventurepark.com/wisconsin/pricing-and-specials/day-passes/

* We will not be allowing Deerfield students to use the VIRTUAL REALITY and ESCAPE ROOMS.

 o   Contact Mr. Petersen if you would like chaperone the trip – indicating what type of pass you would like and if you would like the pizza token.

FORMS NEED TO BE RETURNED TO MR. PETERSEN BY FRIDAY, APRIL 3

Please call or e-mail if you have any questions: 764-5431 x2114 / petersenr@deerfield.k12.wi.us