Requirements / Expectations / Responsibilities

• Ask a lot of questions. If you are new to this, ask as many questions as possible. Everything we do has a purpose and thought behind it.

• Chaperones must be at least 18 years old and a band parent or former band student.

• Please dress appropriately for weather and event (outdoor/indoor: school appropriate clothing)

• Please be aware that personal items will be with you throughout the event. There is no secure storage for valuables. (Buses are locked, but not secure.)

• Please be on time for the event: usually 30 minutes before the event. (The head chaperone will contact you before the event with arrival times. Please check in with the head chaperone when you arrive.)

• Chaperones may not consume alcoholic beverages prior to or during events.

• No Smoking in front of students during the events.

• Grand Blanc Community Schools requires personal background checks on all
  chaperones. A copy of your driver’s license is required with the form. The form is attached below.

Disciplinary Action:

If disciplinary action is required, please inform the directors so they can handle it. The directors would rather handle a small situation early rather than a big problem later. Students feel they get equal treatment when it comes from one source. Inform the head chaperone and/or the directors of the problem and trust that it will be resolved.

• Profanity is NOT tolerated by students at any time. It is a poor reflection on our band, students, school, and community.

• PDAs (Public Display of Affection) are anything more than hand holding and are not to be tolerated at Band events. Note: Handholding is NOT allowed when in uniform.

• NEVER TOUCH THE STUDENTS. Even if your intentions may be innocent, some people may misread the situation. The only reason a student should be touched is to protect the student from harming themselves and others.

Buses:

• Appropriate student behavior is required on all bus trips.

• Only one warning need be given before the directors are notified.

• The bus driver is to be obeyed; it is their bus and their rules.

• The bus must be clean when students disembark. This can be enforced by either a student section leader or chaperone, depending on the event.

Consequences

• Expect and encourage the students to act like respectable ladies and gentlemen. It is not good practice to embarrass or shame them in front of others, as it just makes things worse. However, failure to adhere to guidelines will result in names being reported to the directors.

Please arrive at the band room between 5:00 and 5:30 if possible.

• Check in with the head chaperone and pick up chaperone badge.

• Take a first aid kit to the stands for after performances.

• Help with uniforms or any task that is band related.

Chaperones remain with the students in their designated stands.

• Be on hand for first aid needs.

• Serious medical situations should be referred to the EMS unit at the stadium.

• Hand out bathroom passes.

• Students may go in pairs to use the restrooms.

• Collect trash or any valuables left behind by the students at the end of the game.

• If needed, help students put uniforms away.

• Chaperones remain at the school until all students are picked up.

Competition chaperones ride the bus with students to the event.

• Sign up in Sigh-up Genius. The head chaperone will contact you the week of the event to confirm instructions.

• If you become unable to chaperone, please notify the head chaperone as early as possible before the competition.

• At least 4 chaperones are needed; 2 per bus.

• Arrive at the school at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure time.

• Check in with the head chaperone and pick up your chaperone badge.

• Head chaperone makes sure required items for the truck are loaded: trash bags, first aid kit, raincoats if needed.

Make sure the required items for the bus are ready to load. These include:

• White attendance book: Student Roster, Directions, Event Schedule

• Snack bins

• 2 Trash bags (should be in snack bin)

• Plumes (see below)

• First Aid kits/Sewing Kit/Extra uniform accessories (Bus 1)

Buses

• Students are assigned to buses by section.

• When the buses arrive, load the above items onto the bus before the students board the bus. Items should go on the seat behind the driver. Save the seats across from this for yourselves.

• Students are checked on to the bus using the roster.

• Once all students have boarded, the buses may depart. The head chaperone will notify the directors by text message at departure.

• Approximately 15 minutes before arrival at the event site, have the students get out their shakos. Chaperones add the plumes before arriving.

• Plumes for each student, plus extra are in a tote bag on each bus.

• The feathers should not be touched. Place the plumes in the shakos and then remove the cover. They are collected from the students by placing the plastic over the plume, then removing them.

• Approximately 5 minutes before arriving at the event site, the head chaperone will notify the directors by text message.

• Once the buses arrive, students MUST wait on the bus until a GB director is at the bus. He will let the students know how to disembark and where to go.

• Chaperones make sure nothing is left on the bus, and follow the students to the coatrooms (classrooms).

• When departing the event for G.B.H.S., check students onto the bus. They may grab a snack as they get on the bus.

• Plumes are collected by the other chaperone before they get on the bus.

• The head chaperone texts the directors that they have left the venue, and

• another text to let them know that the buses are back at the high school.

• Please have students contact their rides about 20 minutes before arriving in Grand Blanc.

During Competition

Once students are in the coat rooms, they may use the bathrooms and get drinks of water:

• Send the students a few at a time, they must walk

• A chaperone is stationed by the bathrooms to supervise.

• Coatrooms are usually locked when the band leaves. If not, make sure someone collects phones and valuables.

The directors will collect the band students and lead them to the designated warm-up area. Chaperones go along.

• Chaperones can follow the band to the ready area before the performance, or if not needed, can go to the stands to watch GB perform.

• After the performance, meet the band where they come off the field and go with them back to the classrooms.

• Color Guard, Pit, and Drumline go to the truck to load equipment.

• The band drops off instruments and hats in the classrooms

• Students may go to the concessions if there is time before the award ceremony.

• The band will meet at a designated area to sit or stand during the award ceremony.

• Respectful behavior is expected from the students during awards.

After the ceremony, escort the band back to the coatrooms to collect coats, instruments, and personal items.

• Make sure all the rooms are clean, and that there are no items left behind.

• Walk with the band to the buses for departure. One chaperone from each bus can
  go ahead of the band to get the water, snacks, and plume bag ready.

Once everyone is back at the High School:

• Make sure the buses are empty and clean, a section leader can help with this.

• Throw away trash and put snack bins back in the booster room.

• Help with students and uniforms if necessary

• Make sure all students are picked up or have rides on their way.

• Chaperones stay at school until all students are picked up.

The State Finals is the first Saturday in November at Ford Field.

There are release forms for Students and Volunteers to sign. Performance times vary each year

• Bus protocol is the same as for regular competitions.

• Students wait for a GB band director to get them off the bus.

• Chaperones follow the students into Ford Field and monitor bathroom /water
  breaks, double check uniforms, make sure students have what they need.

• At the warm-up time, chaperones are free until after the performance.

There are t-shirts/videos/pictures/pins that may be purchased or ordered from the stadium.

• After the performance, the students may have time to take their instruments to the bus. If so, a couple of chaperones escort them there and back.

• If their performance is too near the award ceremony time, students keep their instruments and go to a designated place to sit together for the ceremony.

• Students may get snacks and drinks if there is time, and they have a fortune to spend.

Once the ceremony is over, students are lead to the buses:

• Snacks are handed out

• Plumes are collected

• The band directors is notified when departing the sight and when arriving at school.

Once back at the High School:

• Make sure the buses are empty and clean, a section leader can help with this.

• Throw away trash, put snack bins in the booster room.

• Help with students and uniforms.

• Make sure all students are picked up or have rides on their way. Chaperones stay until all students are picked up.

All 3 Day Bands participate in Band Festival.

The bands travel separately to the Festival due to different performance times.

Festival chaperones ride the bus with students to the event.

• Sign up on Charms. The head chaperone will contact you the week of the event to confirm instructions.

• If you become unable to chaperone, please notify the head chaperone as early as possible before the festival.

• 4 Chaperones are needed per band; At least 2 per bus.

• Arrive at the school at least 15 minutes before scheduled departure time.

• The lead chaperone will text the band directors at departure, and 5 minutes from the destination.

Buses

• Students are assigned to buses alphabetically.

• Students are checked onto to the bus to and from the event.

• Make sure all students are accounted for to and from the event.

• Some may make alternate arrangements or be absent.

• Ride Home Release forms are accepted.

• If students are missing, contact Mr. Tripp, Mr. Klee or the head chaperone.

• Appropriate bus behavior is expected.

• Students do not disembark from buses until a GB band director is there to instruct/escort them into the school.

Event

• Students will have time to use bathrooms and get water while in the coatrooms.

• The band directors will instruct and lead the students to warm up, the main performance, and sight reading.

• Chaperones are on hand to assist either students or band directors.

• Chaperones help with set up for the main performance if needed.

• Once back in the coat rooms, students may use the bathrooms and/or get water.

• Students gather belongings and head to where the ratings will be posted.

• Chaperones make sure nothing is left behind in the rooms.

• One the rating is posted, check the time and if needed instruct the students to
  head for the buses.

• Check students on to the buses, and make sure everyone is accounted for.

• Head chaperone contacts the directors as the buses leave.

• Make sure students have rides home, chaperones stay until all students are
  picked up.