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This past weekend refund checks were mailed out to any family that had paid money for camp. Checks were mailed to the address in the Band Boosters file. As a reminder the $450 annual fee includes $300 for camp and $150 for marching band participation. We have refunded the camp fee to those who had put money toward camp, and the marching fee will still be used for costume/uniform/instrument expenses, music licensing, marching drill, and instruction. We still hope to have some sort of camp at THS in mid-August. As soon as details are available, we will let you know.
Thank you- Trenton Band Boosters
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The THS Marching Band will be following safety protocols as stated by the MHSAA and Trenton Public Schools for summer sports and activities. Simply stated, after following guidelines for attending a practice (survey), each student and staff member will follow these procedures: 1. Six foot social distancing rule 2. No sharing of equipment or instruments/sticks 3. No sharing of water bottles or food 4. No physical contact between persons. Being outdoors, masks will not be necessary but are always encouraged. While the guidelines we are following were written specifically for football conditioning in the summer, there are no differences between what they can do and what we can do. THE SURVEY IS QR CODE LINKED TO THE THS MARCHING BAND FORM WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED BY EVERY ATTENDING STUDENT BEFORE ATTENDING ANY BAND PRACTICE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Color guard and drumline will start summer practices on June 22. I will be there to ensure everyone understands the guidelines and to take initial temperatures as per procedures.  
Band Families-
As you may have heard, the Governor has allowed overnight camps to operate with certain restrictions. We wanted to let the band families know that this new directive does not change our position with regards to Band Camp 2020. The band will not be heading away to Skyline Camp in August, due to the fact a group of our size would not be able to meet the safety guidelines set forth by the State. The board is planning for an on-campus camp to be held in August. Details are still being worked on by the board in consultation with the Trenton HS Administration, and plans will be announced at a later date. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Trenton Band Boosters Executive Board THS Band Families-
We sincerely hope all families are safe and healthy at this time. It is with disappointment that we are announcing the cancellation of Band Camp 2020 at Skyline Camp. Due to the guidelines provided by the State of Michigan in Executive Order 2020-110, overnight camps are prohibited until further notice and this prohibition will likely extend to our camp dates in August. That has led to the executive board's decision to not go to an away camp this year. There remains the possibility of a band camp to be held on the Trenton High School campus around the same time frame in August. We will be consulting with the School Board and Trenton HS administration and will announce information on this as soon as possible. Many families have paid the $450 fee for 2020, which includes $300 for camp and $150 marching band participation fee. The executive board has decided to issue a refund of the camp fees only at this time, as we still need to use the participation fees for uniforms/costumes, music arrangement, marching drill arrangement, props and staff - should there be a marching band season in the fall of 2020. For example, if you have paid the full $450 for your student, you will be refunded $300; if only the first two installments were paid ($250), then you will receive a $100 refund. Checks will be mailed by the end of June. In the event that Marching Season 2020 is cancelled or postponed, the executive board will meet to determine the refund process of the $150 participation fee. If any family would like to discuss this cancellation further, please feel free to reply to this email or reach out to Mark Revesz, Booster President at dad@mstarproductions.com. Thank you- Trenton Band Boosters Executive Board I will continue to add features when you submit them, seniors. It's never too late. MK
Nice work, drum majors! If you are having a difficult time opening the powerpoint, here's the results in a pdf file:
I think I fixed the google form - there were issues with it. Sorry. Hopefully now you can fill out and submit
Class of 2020: Please fill out this Senior Salute form (link below) and submit to Mr K by the end of May at kurilkom@trentonschools.com We as a band organization are currently waiting to see what the situation will turn out to be before we as a band organization make any move on further cancellations of events. All of us understand the concerns of the parents both healthwise and financially but if you read the recent band booster email, it spelled out the steps we are taking and what we are doing:
1. A decision on band camp will be made by June 15. No later. This will give us two full months to formulate plans for any practice or camp possibilities. 2. There are three possibilities: a. Camp as planned. b. camp on THS or AMS campus or in fields/facilities close to THS (day camp only), c. no band camp at all. This will be determined by district and state mandates and the availability of facility use as well as our own decision on what we want to do. These are our children, our volunteer parents, and our hired band staff members that we are talking about. Band camp and practices thereof, however, are also an integral part of our music program. No decision can be made lightly or quickly which is why we are waiting until no later than June 15 (decisions could happen prior to that date as well) to see how the situation has developed. As we all hang in the balance of daily information updates, there are many factors in play that we have to adhere to. First off, if the state says camps can't happen on or off campus, that's the decision. If the camp itself is not allowed to host a band, that's the decision. If Trenton Public Schools says that groups cannot meet on campus or in the buildings, that's the decision. However, none of these things have been said by anyone yet so we are in the position of having to wait just like everyone else. If in the event all camp options are not possible, refunds of the $300 for camp will begin on June 15. The other $150 band dues will still be used for band staff, transportation (we have to pay for our own band staff and transportation), and other things that go with marching band for any given season. But like at any other time, if a parent wants to pull a student out of marching band, the $150 will be refunded at that time as well. I am not in the position to give any personal opinions of what I think is going to happen with band camp but I am glued to the news as much as anyone and understand fully your concerns. I am also aware that just about every other summer and even fall event and activity has been cancelled or drastically affected with massive changes. With that in mind, we as a band organization are preparing for worst case scenarios but feel that pulling the plug on everything from band camp, practices, our major fundraising band competition invitational to even home game performances starting in August would be prematurely done if we don't wait until June 15 at which point we'd still have two months to prepare for any contingency. The state is opening up slowly but it is opening up as time passes. Do I think it will be opened to the point where large group events like band practices and band camp can occur in August? Again, I have my guesses but that's all they are. All we can do is waiting for updates regarding changes in the situation. One of the hardest parts of this whole virus situation is having to deal with the unknown. While I understand that it's easier to plan for the future if we just cancel everything, it's truly not in the best interest of the students and the band program if we do so arbitrarily out of fear when we can wait until June 15. Hopefully by then we will know more about what the state, county, city, and school district determines to be the safest and best way to proceed with large groups, schools, and bands in particular. One thing that you can be assured of - WE WILL TAKE NO RISKS WITH THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILDREN, THE VOLUNTEER PARENTS, OR BAND STAFF. This will apply to holding practices, having camp, performing as a large group, rehearsing in closed spaces or in close order. We are in a unique situation. Not only are we as a band the largest class by all measures in Trenton, our class sessions start a month earlier than any other class at Trenton HS. While I cannot guess at how marching band will be affected at this time, I can confidently say that believe that by June 15, there will be clear mandates from the district and state as to what our direction should be. If there are no clear mandates from the authorities by June 15, the band boosters and I will be put in position to have to cancel camp and all practices out of safety and health risks. Again, we will take no risks with the health of our band family. MK https://www.trentonbandboosters.org/thsmb2020-drum-majorscaptains.html
Every auditioning drum major candidate had support from others but four students came out on top of the voting process. Captains also all had much support from peers and from band staff. Congratulations to all. |
AuthorMr. Kurilko Archives
June 2020
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