Marching Band

If your child cannot attend this event, it is extremely important that Mrs. Forte receives a PARENT NOTE ASAP.  I need an accurate head count for planning purposes.  I also need to make sure that parents are aware if their child is not attending.

What to wear on Saturday morning: Check the weather report but we recommend – sneakers, jeans, a music tee-shirt, light weight coat or sweatshirt, hat, sunglasses.

1. Bagged lunch for the bus

2. Your instrument and equipment and music

3. Your uniform and shoes – pack as neatly as possible, bring layers to wear under your uniform because it will be cold at night

4. water bottle and snacks

5.  a little spending money if you want souvenirs

6.  Inhalers, any medications that you may need, please inform Mrs. Forte and the school nurse of any special circumstances that are not on your school medical information sheet.

1. do not bring valuables

2. do not bring iPods, iPads, portable games, laptops, etc.  You will only have free time on the bus ride.  The buses will NOT be locked at UMASS.  There is no place to store valuables.

9:15 a.m. Students report to BHS and pack equipment truck and buses for departure.

Buses will depart BHS

11:00 a.m. Students eat lunch on the bus

12:00 p.m. Arrive at UMASS campus

12:00 – 12:20 p.m. Assemble instruments, warm-up

12:30 p.m. UMASS rehearsal begins

Students will stay with the UMASS Band and Music Staff for most of the afternoon.  They will be outside on a practice field.  They will have some time for breaks but the will be contained to this practice field and the adjacent bathrooms.

4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students report back to buses.  BHS students will have a pizza dinner provided by BFOM at the buses.  We will provide water and pizza.  If you cannot have pizza for dinner, please bring other food items for dinner.  There are no concessions available in the parking lot.

5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Students put on Full uniforms, shakos, shoes, assemble all equipment and instruments.

5:30 p.m. BHS proceeds to stadium for game and performance

6:00 – to 9:00 p.m. estimated time of football game and performance.

10:00 p.m. estimated depature time from UMASS

12:00 a.m. estimated arrival back at BHS.  Please plan to pick up your student at this time.  After a very, very long day no student should have to wait in the parking lot for a ride home.

We have chaperones for this event that will ride the buses and help supervise students during the day.  The UMASS game and Band Day performance is OPEN to the PUBLIC. If you are interested in driving yourself to Amherst and watching the game, you need to contact the UMASS Athletic Ticket Office.  Families who purchase tickets will not be able to sit with our students – our section is reserved for bands and schools only.

Performance: This is one of the largest audiences that we will perform for this entire year.  There are many bands from high schools, middle schools, and even some amateur and professional groups.

What to wear: Full uniform but do NOT put warm layers under your uniforms – it gets very, very warm (athletic shorts and a tee-shirt would be best).  Do NOT wear jeans or pants under your uniform for this event.  Even if the weather is cool, you will be warm as you move down the parade route and your uniforms are absorbing the sun’s heat as well.  Full uniform includes: Shako, plume, sash, Black socks, marching shoes, or guard uniform.

What NOT to bring: NO Valuables, no iPods, no games, no purses.  You should only bring your instrument, inhaler/medicine, guard equipment.  You cannot carry items on the parade route and the buses will NOT be locked.  When we get dropped off at the parade, you will only bring your instrument/guard equipment with you.  If you have a pocket for your cell phone you can bring it, but it’s probably best to leave it at home.

Breakfast and Water: Students really need to EAT FOOD before they come to BHS in the morning.  There are no concessions to get food at the parade assembly area.  It is a work-out and you need calories to burn for this event.  Water will be provided by the chaperones along the parade route, but we recommended having water in the morning as well.

Parade Information: BHS is in division #5.  The parade assembly area is Walnut Hill Plaza, Woonsocket (Burlington Coat Factory parking lot).  The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. with Division #1.  The parade is televised on RI cable and several radio stations also cover the event.  This is a very large parade with thousands of spectators.  The parade ends near the police station and post office in downtown Woonsocket.  The buses will pick us up at the end of the parade and bring us back to BHS.  For more parade and AutumnFest Information go to: www.autumnfest.org