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Well as good 'ol Benjamin Franklin said... “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Then there is this famous line from the poem "To A Mouse" by Robert Burns... No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong with it We have been making plans for the 2020 Band Camp since last band camp ended in 2019. Then Covid 19 hit to throw the world into a tail spin. We held our breath and started to alter our 2020 band camp plans hoping for the best considering the current situation we find ourselves in. We have done all the research we could do, carefully read all the executive orders from Governor Whitmer and have listened to the MHSAA/MSBOA/NFHS along with studies coming out of the University of Colorado and a few other places as well. We thought it was all going to work out to continue with Plan A for our 2020 Band Camp. But today we got thrown a curveball. Of course we are a Marching Band and so when the world zigs we zag. So now we will be going to Plan B for Band Camp. Here is what I know as of tonight July 27, 2020:
Several things to be aware of that are great news:
Things we will still need:
I will give you more information as I finalize plans with our administration. Now.... One Last Thing....We have been using the Remind app for a few years now in order to stay in touch with parents and students.
This fall we are going to be changing all communication that would normally have gone through Remind and sending it out via the Band App. Go to band.us to read more about this app. You could even sign up for an account at the website. Better yet though simply use your smartphone and scan the QR code you see below. The Band App is going to give us the ability to get more information out to people in a more efficient manner. I will still be posting information to the Band website (especially the Blog Page - which is what you are reading currently) and also to the Facebook Farwell Area Bands Public Group. Only current students and parents will be allowed access to our bands information inside the Band App. General public should still check the Band Website and Facebook Group. To kick things off in the Band App I have posted our show music. Go to the app, find our Band and then download that PDF (there are three of them) then print your one page with your part on it. Or put it on your smartphone. AND you just might find some great pictures there as well! UPDATED AUGUST 4, 2020 - ALL OF THIS INFO IS OUTDATED INFORMATION
CHECK THE MORE CURRENT BAND CMAP UPDATES FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION Here is the news about Band Camp 2020: What we know so far:
So with this thoughts in mind I reached out to The Springs Camp, where we hold Band Camp, and they are currently running summer overnight camping sessions. So they have been given permissions by the state camping organization to run camps in July and August. They are ready to host Farwell again. The next step I have taken is to get the permission of our Superintendent, Mr. Scoville and the Board of Education. They all voted in favor of allowing Band Camp and the Football team to hold overnight camps in August. This of course is barring unforeseen complications and change of policy from the State Governors Office. Of course we could never hold Band Camp if it were not for our amazing Band Boosters. So this past Tuesday night they discussed the possibility of holding a Band Camp as traditional at The Springs. The conclusion from that meeting was that they do feel we can successfully run a safe Band Camp for our band. There will obviously need to be some changes in the ways that we have done certain things in the past at camp in order for this to happen though. Here are some for sure changes that would happen:
Here are a few things we are working out:
So now we are putting this into parents courts to give us feedback as to your thoughts about Band Camp this year. I have heard plenty of parents/students say they are ready to get back at it but we need the vast majority in order for this to work well. Some of you are already paid in full and some of you still need to pay. That is understandable given the circumstances this year. But now we need to make the decisions and get things paid. I DO HAVE BUCCILLI'S CARDS available if you want to sell some of those to help raise the money! I, Mr. Shimmons, will be in contact with each family soon to get your feedback and to answer any questions you may have. I also look forward to getting feedback and ideas from all of you as well! Here is an outstanding article based on facts, surveys, medical studies and research about this subject....
Read the Article Here |
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