Dear Friends, Students, and Parents:

                I am sorry this has taken so long to get to you, but things have been “up in the air”, it seems like, forever and a day.  I now can tell you, for certainty, what the situation is for band this year. 

                The SCBDA has cancelled all Upper, Lower, and State Championships this year.  Most other competitions have cancelled as well, and almost no one is competing this year.  This decision was not made lightly and many alternatives were considered.  Of course, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all our students statewide. 

                However, this does not mean that marching band cannot go on.  If fact, I have been working with my principal to make sure we can still have marching band, but keep everyone as safe as possible.  I have outlined procedures on the next pages that ALL of us need to follow so that we remain safe during this time.  The health and safety of our students is paramount. 

                Let me stress one thing: before ANY student is allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities, whether that is sports, band, etc., they must fill out an Assumption of Risk Waiver Form and turn in to either me or the office.  You can get these forms from the office at school or click here.  Please note that the form says it has to be notarized.  However, the school is taking care of that for everyone.  I repeat: do not worry about getting it notarized.

               Also, below is a tentative calendar.  Please understand that everything is fluid and ever changing right now.  Please bear with us as we all try to navigate through this time.

               I need your updated contact information.  Just below this paragraph there is a link.  Please click on it and fill out the appropriate information so I can keep in touch with everyone if anything was to change.  Even if you contact information hasn’t changed, please fill it out anyway so I have everyone together.  Even if you’re unsure or have decided not to march this year, please click on the link anyway.  It will take 5 minutes to fill out and it lets me know where everyone stands.

Contact Info

               Thank you ALL so much for your patience, grace, and understanding.  I’m going to do everything in my ability to keep our students safe as we learn through music education.  Even though we are not competing this year, we are going to have fun, play some music that is a little more on the entertaining side, and take the year to work on fundamentals that will help us stay educated for next year.

                I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.  Please stay safe!!

Musically,

Mr. Wofford

Band Director

cwofford@newberry.k12.sc.us

Returning Back to Marching Band – The High Points

• You will need to wear a mask anytime you are not actively playing a wind instrument or marching.  You may wear your own, but the school will also be providing them.
• You must fill out an Assumption of Risk Waiver Form before being allowed to participate.
• Bring your own water bottle with your name labeled on it.  No water fountains or coolers will be used. 
• Maintain a 6 foot space between all individuals present AT ALL TIMEs.
• A wellness check will be done on all individuals every rehearsal in the form of a questionnaire and possible temperature checks.
• We can work in groups of 15 or less per adult, per rehearsal space.  I will be scheduling these groups when I hear back from everyone’s contact information. 
• There will be NO sharing of food, water bottles, instruments, flag poles, sticks, etc.
• Please eat breakfast / lunch before coming to band.  We will not have lunches or snacks provided.  You may bring a snack, but only for yourself and not shared. 

COVID 19 Band Room Procedures

• Preparing for Rehearsal
  • Students will be GREATLY ENCOURAGED to put on masks and wash hands before entering band room.
  • A wellness check will be done on all individuals every rehearsal in the form of a questionnaire and possible temperature checks.
  • Students come in and follow tape path around band room.
  • Students will come in with their music; music will not be stored in band room this year.
  • Students will be allowed to store instruments in storage room during the day.
  • Only one person at a time in storage room to retrieve instrument for rehearsal.
  • Percussion will not be permitted to interact with percussion cabinet at any time.
  • All Percussion equipment should be out already, in storage room, or in PVC pipe holders.
  • Students will sit in assigned seats that will be spaced six feet apart from other students.
  • Students get prepared by having instrument, music, pencil, accessories, ready during the first four minutes after the tardy bell.
    
    
• During Rehearsal
  • Students will keep masks on until time to play; they will drop their mask below their mouth to play, and then promptly return it to the face shielding position when playing stops.
  • Students will remain in their seats, or standing in front of, at all times.
  • If transitioning from inside to outside, or vice-versa, sections will be dismissed one at a time, to follow the flow around the band room and/or to the back door so that everyone is single file and at least six feet apart.
  • When having a ‘water break’, students will have their own LABELED water bottle to drink from.  They may refill it, one at a time, and six feet apart from bottle filling station only.  Water fountains are off limits!
  • Only at the END of rehearsal is it OK to buy extra reeds, oil, etc. (With all the in-class traffic flowing ONE WAY, it will be difficult to tend to individual issues at the beginning of class.  Please see me individually if you need a reed, oil, etc. at least one class period before your rehearsal.)

• End of Rehearsal
  • Students will wipe down / sanitize their station, chair, percussion, color guard equipment.
  • Only at the END of rehearsal is it OK to buy extra reeds, oil, etc. (With all the in-class traffic flowing ONE WAY, it will be difficult to tend to individual issues at the beginning of class.  Please see me individually if you need a reed, oil, etc. at least one class period before your rehearsal.)
  • Students will be given three minutes to pack up instrument in case, put music in backpack, etc. AT THEIR SEAT.
  • Students will then be given a chance to store their instrument in the storage room by being dismissed one at a time, to follow the flow around the band room so that everyone is single file and at least six feet apart.
  • At the bell, each section will be dismissed one at a time, to follow the flow around the band room so that everyone is single file and at least six feet apart.

WCS Royal Regiment Calendar, 2020

Revised 8/6/2020

July

August

September

October

KEY

Winds = Woodwinds and Brass

Perc = Percussion

CG = Color Guard

If I left your name off of Group 1 AND Group 2, send me an email, text, etc. and let me know ASAP!

If you have a sibling in band that is in a different section (winds/perc/CG), and can only bring you sibling to band during your/their time, let me know so we can make sure we stay to the 15 student limit.  (ex. Ethan (winds) is bringing Hunter (percussion) to winds rehearsal during the week of “Band Camp” because percussion meets right after winds.)

All football games/exhibitions/performances/etc. will involve the entire band.  All are required to come to those.

Group 1

Angel Baker

Ashton Baker

Alana Bostic

Bryant Clark

Caitlyn Rish

Mak Lominick

Emma Moore

Senny Gehlken

Jacob Felker

Isaac Williams

Jaden Price

Amber Lingefelt

Karleigh Biddle

Lauren Biddle

Group 2

Keirra Jeter

Alyssa Santis

Hannah Crase

Kristen Siriophong

Luke Nagy

Ethan Simpson

Hunter Simpson

Austin Satterwhite

Fallon Higgins

Kason Evans

Jonah Patterson

Cody Wilson

Shaqon White

If you know of anyone who who like to try color guard, talk to them and let me know. 

Also, The first ten band students who would like to learn a little guard technique in addition to their instrument can let me know and I will add them to the rehearsal rosters for ‘CG’ days.