Pre-Trip REMINDERS

The following was emailed to parents and students on May 12: 

Here are some important reminders and information as we get ready for our performance at the Band Festival at the Kalahari on Thursday, May 22.  This is long but contains VERY IMPORTANT information EVERYONE is expected to be familiar with. 

Schedule for the day:

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

• 7:55 – Load Busses

• 8:10 – Depart for Kalahari

• 9:10 – Arrive at Kalahari – Move-in to Homeroom

• 9:30 – Warm-Up

• 10:00 – PERFORM!

• 10:20 - Clinic with Dr. Matt Greg, UW Platteville Band Director (percussion work separately, rejoin band afterwards)

• 10:45 – Listen to Woodworth MS Band (Fond du Lac)

• 11:30 - Pizza Lunch

• 12:00 – Clear Room/return instruments to bus/change clothes

• 12:15 – Water/Theme Park Time

• 4:30 – Depart for Home

• 5:30 – Arrive back at DMS

As we perform, we will be getting feedback while we perform from Chip DeSteffano, an amazing Middle School Music Educator from Skokie, IL.  After we perform we get to have a 30-minute clinic with  Dr. Matt Gregg, Band Director at UW-Platteville, an AMAZING music educator and former band director at Cambridge HS.  Our percussion section will get their own 30-minute workshop with Tammy Fisher, the percussion professor at UW-LaCross.

REMINDER: our performance is free and open to the public – if you find your self with some free time on Thursday, please come on up to the Dells and cheer for us!  We will be performing in rooms 1-2-7-8 - the RED area in the upper left on this Map.)

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• CLOTHING -  This year we are performing first and the playing in the park.  Students should be dressed in their “Nice” clothes for our performance to start the day at school.  This should be similar to what you would wear for a concert here at school.  We will then be able to change into “park” clothing after we perform.  If you are going to the water park, I suggest you bring a bag to put your clothes in.  We will be able to store instruments and some clothing bags in the school van after we perform.

• SWIMMING – if you signed up for the waterpark, 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.  It also tends to be a cold/cool in the waterpark at this time of year.  Also make sure that you bring anything else that you might need to swim: towels, goggles, sandals, etc.  (The outdoor water park is NOT open yet).

• 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! I also STRONGLY suggest bringing a plastic bag to place your WET STUFF in for the ride home.  You might want to consider writing your name on your towel.

• MONEY - NEW POLICY - CASH IS NOT LONGER ACCEPTED AT THE KALAHARI.  See MAIN PAGE for more information about this, or check this Kalahar page.  You can convert cash into free, prepaid plastic cards at kiosks in the lobby.   Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay and Google Pay are all accepted.  While there is no NEED to purchase anything extra on this trip, if you think your student might want some extra food or a souvenir, please discuss how you would like this to work with them.  (Reminder - if you use the kiosks at the resort, you will get a Mastercard in return.  Any money remaining on the card afterwards can be used anywhere in the world a Mastercard is used - so you do not need to spend all the money on the card.) 

• LOCKERS – are available to rent in the locker rooms and in the waterpark.  The cost $10, $15, or $20 depending on size.  4-5 kids should be able to share a $20 locker IF they don’t bring their entire bedroom with them.  I will have a “base camp” on the deck/mezzanine overlooking the park – I am happy to watch bags, etc. while I am there, but I cannot guarantee that I will be there at all times and that it will be 100% secure.  ALL students are welcome to use locker rooms and showers.  PLEASE speak to your child about where you would like them to store their bags.

• FOOD - We’re gone all day.  We have already paid for a pizza lunch when we arrive (this includes a big slice of pizza, a drink, and some veggies).  IF students want more food/drink during they day, they will need to bring extra money (SEE ABOVE!!).  There is food to purchase throughout the resort/parks. State law prohibits carry-in food/beverage into the waterpark.  Security will check all bags going into the waterpark for food/drink/weapons/etc.  Students are allowed to have snacks on the bus.  Being a resort, prices are a little higher than “normal.”  

• PERCUSSIONISTS -  you will have your own special 30-minute clinic with a Percussion Master!  You will need to bring your own pair of drum sticks (in your stick bag) for this AMAZING WORKSHOP.

• BEHAVIOR - This should be common sense, but we are guests at the Kalahari - both of the resort and of the festival.  We need to be quiet in the hallways, no running, listen to directors, chaperones, and staff at all times and the first time; follow rules of the parks - no running, inappropriate or dangerous activity, budding in line, etc.

• A copy of the original information that was sent home can be found here: 

https://sites.google.com/deerfield.k12.wi.us/2025dmskalahariinfo/home

I’m looking forward to this great performance and learning opportunity for our band!  If you have any questions about anything, please contact me.

Ryan Petersen

DMS Band Director