BUSCH GARDENS SPRING TRIP

Please see below for all information about the annual Spring Music Department Masterclass Experience and Trip to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg occuring on Friday, May 29th.

Each year, the SCMS Music Department provides the students with such an educationally valuable and enriching experience.  

Each student will be a part of a Professional Masterclass Clinic Series at SCMS before we take our full-day trip to Busch Gardens Theme Park in Williamsburg, VA.  All students will have the opportunity to learn and grow musically from professionals in our area who are experts in the field of music.  The Masterclass Clinic for each discipline (Band, Chorus, and Orchestra) will occur at different times throughout the month of May (either during school or after school).  The individual directors will communicate to their own students and parents/guardians the detailed plans for their clinics. 

On Friday, May 29th, all music students will report to SCMS as normal (School Buses/Kiss and Ride), meet in their individual music rooms, then board the charter buses and drive directly to Busch Gardens.  

This Masterclass Clinic experience and annual Theme Park trip is very popular amongst music students and has proven to be both educational and fun for all!

This year's Clinicians: 

BAND:

Mr. Jon Laine, Jazz Drummer 

https://jonlaine.com/about

Mustang Jazz on Wednesday, May 13th. 

Mr. Brett Dodson, Trumpet and Conductor 

https://arlingtonconcertband.org/director/

Concert Band Blue and Symphonic Band on Wednesday, May 13th. 

Staff Sergeant Alex Garde, Percussionist, US Marine Band https://www.marineband.marines.mil/About/Members/Article/3003251/staff-sgt-alexander-garde/

Percussion Ensembles on Wednesday, May 20th. 

Mr. Charlie Burts, Conductor and Clinician (Retired Band Director)

For Bio, Click HERE.

Concert Band Green on Friday, May 22nd.

ORCHESTRA:

Mrs. Diana Chou, Conductor and Clinician

https://www.tcsyo.org/artistic

Tuesday, May 19th - Concert Orchestra Masterclass 2:40-3:30

    Concert Orchestra students will report to the Orchestra room afterschool to get tuned and warmed up. The masterclass will start at 2:40. Once it's finished students can be picked up from school or go the afterschool chill zone until afterschool buses arrive. 

Thursday, May 21st - Intermezzo Orchestra Masterclass 2:40 - 3:30

   Intermezzo Orchestra students will report to the Orchestra room afterschool to get tuned and warmed up. The masterclass will start at 2:40. Once it's finished students can be picked up from school or go the afterschool chill zone until afterschool buses arrive. 

Thursday, May 21st - Symphonic Orchestra Masterclass 3:40 - 4:30

    Symphonic Orchestra students can report to the chill zone after school. At 3:15, they will report to the Orchestra room to get tuned and warmed up. The masterclass will begin at 3:40. Once it's finished, students can be picked up from school or ride the afterschool buses home. 

STUDENT PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

As it states in our Band Handbook each year, in order to attend this year’s trip, students must:

1.) Be active and contributing members of their music ensemble. This can be demonstrated by fully participating in their classes/rehearsals and ALL performances throughout the year. 

If students have any unexcused absences from any concert/performance this year, they will not be allowed to participate.  

2.) Follow the code of conduct as outlined in the FCPS SR&R document.  Discipline referrals may result in a student’s exclusion from the trip.

3.) All students MUST be present at school for the Professional Masterclass Clinic in order to attend the trip to Busch Gardens.

SPRING TRIP PACKET with COMMITMENT FORM and PERMISSION SLIP

Due by Friday, May 1st, 2026 @2:15pm to the Band Room Slots. (no exceptions)

Commitment/Permission Form PDF

Students received this on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 in class.  The band packet is Yellow. Orchestra packet is white. 

Please make sure to have your child print his/her name legibly on the forms.

PAYMENT AND COMMITMENT DEADLINES
Friday, May 1st, 2026 by 2:15pm

           This year's Music Department Masterclass experience and Trip will cost $140.  This price includes the Clinician Fee, Theme Park admission ticket, charter bus cost, and music department t-shirt.  Chaperone costs will be covered.  Please reach out to your student’s director with any financial concerns you may have.

Each family must complete the Commitment Form and Permission Slip (found above) to your child’s director, along with the trip payment by FRIDAY, MAY 1st, 2026.  (See information on below about payment procedures).  

**Refunds: Because all costs are paid prior to the trip, full refunds are not possible. Students who commit to the trip and are later unable to participate will be able to receive their t-shirt and park ticket to use on another day during the park’s season.

If you/your student have any outstanding balances on Instrument Rentals or any outstanding Band Class Fee ($46), please take care of those first before paying for the Busch Gardens Trip.  They can be paid on MySchoolBucks.

Thank you. 

MySchoolBucks Spring Trip Payment Link 

Students will also need to bring money for lunch, dinner, and souvenirs. 

Please note: Busch Gardens is a CASHLESS park.  They do not accept cash.  Only Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Debit/Credit Cards are accepted.  They do have "Cash-to-Card" machines that transfers Cash into a Visa Debit Card that can be used anywhere. 

Busch Gardens does not accept Apple Cash - ONLY Apple Pay. (Please make sure your child knows the difference.) 

AGENDA AND SUPERVISION - CHAPERONES

           Students will be directly supervised by directors and chaperones from the time they arrive at school until they are released to travel in small groups while at Busch Gardens.  Students will be responsible for staying in groups of four or more SCMS students while they are in the park but will not be directly supervised by chaperones while enjoying the park’s activities. All students are required to wear their SCMS Music Department T-shirt (included in student cost) while in the park for quick recognition by the chaperones. Adult chaperones will be stationed at a central location in park for students who may need help.

Chaperones will be contacted shortly regarding all duties and schedules. 

ITINERARY  

7:10 AM Students report to SCMS dressed in Spring Trip TShirt.

7:25 AM                Students report to SCMS Music Rooms

8:00 AM                Buses depart SCMS for Williamsburg, VA

10:15 AM              Buses arrive at Busch Gardens Theme Park and are given tickets.

Students ride rides, go to shows, eat lunch (bring $), and have lots of fun.

2:30 PM                Student check-in with chaperones at the Kinder Karussel in Germany near Land of the Dragons.

Students ride rides, go to shows, eat dinner (bring $), and have lots of fun. 

7:00 PM           Students return to the buses.

7:15 PM                Buses Leave Busch Gardens, Williamsburg.

9:30 PM                Arrive at SCMS. (Buses will use the Bus Loop so please park in the main parking lot to wait for your child and not in the Bus Loop.) 

SCMS Music Department T-Shirt Design Contest 2026!

Design the Music Department’s Spring Trip t-shirt that will be worn by everyone at Busch Gardens!    Follow the guidelines below to have your design considered. 

Submit your design by Friday, May 1, 2026 to your music teacher to their hand or by email!  (Using customink.com is a great way to design a shirt and email it to your director if you choose.)  We will then create a Google Slide with all designs and then be voted on by all music students.

T-Shirt Guidelines

·        Design should fit on an 8½” x 11” sheet of paper.

·        Should not be too intricate…it won’t translate well onto a t-shirt.

·        Design must be school appropriate.

·        Design must say “SCMS Music” somewhere on it.

·        It can incorporate a roller coaster or some sort of Amusement Park theme.

·        You can also add “Band”, “Chorus”, and “Orchestra” on your design.

·        Only 1 color should be included in your design as it will be printed in only ONE color. 

STUDENT RULES AND EXPECTATIONS:

Click HERE.

YouTube Videos of each Roller Coaster:

Click HERE.