Greetings HVMB Families:
I wanted to take a moment to update everyone and address a couple things regarding the band and questions regarding COVID.
Over the past 48 hours, we have had a few students who have tested positive for COVID. The question has come up about us rehearsing and competing, so I want to address a few things:
1. The students are not getting COVID from being at band. We spent a week at band camp with students in cabins/rooms each night, 3 meals a day in the dining hall, and have completed almost half a season already with no previous issues. There was homecoming this past weekend at LHS, and I am guessing/assuming events tied to this and interactions between students together over the last weekend are a major factor.
2. We will continue to rehearse, and do everything we can to perform at shows, etc., unless new procedures are put in place for schools/activities.
3. Please remind your students they need to adhere to the mask requirements at school, on all BUS rides for school and band, and when we are indoors rehearsing (which doesn’t happen often for most of the group).
I would also encourage you to please consider that if your students are hanging out together outside of school/band, that they wear masks as much as possible when indoors together. Your students have invested a lot of time into this season, as have all of our parents too. We are a unique activity with NO 2nd string/reserve members. Everyone is critical, and every hole on the field for a competition affects our outcome negatively in some way. We want all the kids at all events, healthy and ready to perform!
Along those same lines, I have found out about most of the students through either the school email notification or through word of mouth from other kids. Parents – if your student is out of school and not feeling well, and you are having them tested/had them tested, please notify me ASAP. I need to know the status for all members as we move forward.
We had a large number of absences last night that (COVID or not) were not reported to me at all, by parents or students. If a student is going to be absent, and it isn’t on the absence report form (more than 2 weeks notification), I need an email from a PARENT explaining to me the reason for the absence. Again, we are trying to do our best to provide your students with a successful season, competitive show, and a positive experience. This is a huge undertaking for all of us, myself included. I cannot plan for the season appropriately if we have kids out and are not aware. Along those lines, it is my understanding that the MHS Honors Program is next Wednesday, October 6. To date I do not believe we have received any notifications of any student absences for that night. We are trying to start learning our last production for the show next week. I assume there will be MHS students absent for this, but have no idea who or how many. Please notify me ASAP if this is the case for your student please.
I sincerely appreciate your support on this. Thank you all. We hope to see you all on Friday and Saturday for our Middle School Event at MHS and at Lamphere.
Mr. Green