Performance Procedures
All members are required to attend all performances. The band director will provide a list of all performances prior to the band season. Performances will include, but not limited to all home football games and the Labor Day Parade, as well as all field show competitions. In order to insure optimal attendance at all events, the attendance contract between the student and the band must be signed and delivered to the band director prior to enrolling in marching band.
Procedure: Competitions
Parental Support
Two chaperones per bus (currently 3 buses). Each chaperone will be equipped with a supply bag containing first aid supplies, water, etc.
Pit Crew
Parents are asked to wear blue band jackets or show shirts to performances.
Transportation/Pre-Event
Event Procedure
Procedure: Parades
Parental Support
Six to Eight Chaperones are needed to carry water, first aid supplies, etc.
Staff
Director and Assistant Director. All staff will carry cell phones.
Uniform Procedure
Transportation/Pre-Event Procedure
Parade Procedure
Procedure: Home Football Games
Uniform Procedure
Students are to be fully dressed in uniform. Instrument cases should be left in the band room; only carry instruments.
Game Procedure
BUS RULES
DRESS CODE RULES
Procedure: Competitions
Parental Support
Two chaperones per bus (currently 3 buses). Each chaperone will be equipped with a supply bag containing first aid supplies, water, etc.
Pit Crew
Parents are asked to wear blue band jackets or show shirts to performances.
Transportation/Pre-Event
- Before leaving NHS, band members should assemble by section, fully dressed in uniform at the front of school at the designated time.
- Students will load buses only at the instruction of the director or assistant director.
- Buses are assigned at the beginning of the season. Students are NOT permitted to change buses.
- Chaperones should maintain a count of the number of students on each bus and will be provided rosters. Any discrepancies in numbers and/or rosters should be reported to the director or assistant director.
- Buses are not permitted to leave any site without the director
- All students must travel to and from the events on the buses. Students may visit with parents and friends at the event after performance only. Under no circumstances may students leave the competition site without prior parental written request and subsequent director approval. Students may only leave with their parent.
- The Pit crew will load the pit vehicle prior to buses leaving NHS.
Event Procedure
- The director, assistant director, percussion instructors, pit crew manager, and color guard instructors will carry cell phones for needed communications.
- Students will remain on the bus until the band director or assistant band director determines necessary logistics at the competition site.
- Before the performance, students must remain with their sections at all times. Often, percussion, guard, and horns will be separated and designated to different areas at the warm up site.
- Chaperones will accompany the band and assist as needed. Upon arrival at the performance site, chaperones will follow the end zone of the field to the home stands for band viewing.
- The pit crew will assemble the pit and will subsequently move away from the competition field to the home stands. Upon completion of performance, the students in the pit will assist the pit crew in loading the pit truck.
- After drum major retreat, students will return to the buses where chaperones will account for attendance.
- Students must remain in full uniform for the entire duration of the competition. The staff will announce any changes or variations to this depending on weather.
Procedure: Parades
Parental Support
Six to Eight Chaperones are needed to carry water, first aid supplies, etc.
Staff
Director and Assistant Director. All staff will carry cell phones.
Uniform Procedure
- Students are to be fully dressed in uniform.
- Backpacks, Hat Boxes, Instrument Cases etc. cannot be carried by the individual throughout the parade. They should NOT be brought to the parade.
- Drum Majors will wear drum major uniform instead of costume unless otherwise specified by the director.
- Chaperones will be in charge of distribution and collection of plumes. This will be done at the parade site.
Transportation/Pre-Event Procedure
- Band members should assemble by section, fully dressed in uniform at the announced meeting place. Captains are responsible for reporting any absences to the director.
- Students will load buses only upon the director's approval.
- All students must travel to the parade site on the buses. The location of the pick-up point will be announced to students prior to the parade.
- Students must sit with their instruments on the bus.
Parade Procedure
- Students will assemble at the parade start site after getting off buses. Students should stay with their sections and listen to instructions from the staff regarding assembly of the parade block. Students must remain with the band at all times.
- Chaperones will march alongside of the band during the parade.
- At the conclusion of the parade, students will be dismissed. Students must arrange for transportation home from the parade. Buses will not be provided.
Procedure: Home Football Games
Uniform Procedure
Students are to be fully dressed in uniform. Instrument cases should be left in the band room; only carry instruments.
Game Procedure
- Students will assemble in full uniform in the band room for warm-ups and rehearsal. Students should carry flip-folders on their person.
- Students will march into the stadium and assemble in the stands.
- The director will instruct students when and where to assemble for half-time show.
- Students will have the third quarter off. Students must return to the stands ready to play before the clock reads 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.
BUS RULES
- ALL rules and regulations for riding the school bus are in place at ALL times.
- Only members of the NHS Band and Guard, chaperones and instructors will be permitted to ride the buses to and from competitions.
- On overnight trips, ALL bags will be checked before leaving school grounds.
- No one gets on or off the bus until the staff gives you permission.
- Bus rides should be fun, but not dangerous. No excessive loud noise, no profanity, stay seated when the bus is moving no limbs or heads outside windows, or throwing objects around or out of the bus.
- Small instruments and personal bags should go under seats and not in the aisle.
- Depending on conditions, we will announce our procedures for stadium entry, case storage, etc. when we arrive at the destination. Students should remain seated and quiet until given permission to unload.
- If any written information, schedules, gate passes, etc. need to be distributed, this will be done by the adult chaperone posted at the front door of the bus. The information should be given to the students as they exit the bus.
- Students should clean the bus and check for personal items before leaving the bus. When returning to NHS no one leaves the bus until it is clean. The chaperones will supervise this.
- Eating is permitted on the bus, but you must clean up after yourself.
- Emergency exits are for emergencies only. There will be no loading or unloading of students or equipment from emergency exits.
- Chaperones are the authority on the bus. Problems will be reported to the director for disciplinary action.
DRESS CODE RULES
- Uniforms are inspected before every performance. Make sure you have all the parts and accessories. If full uniform is not worn, students will not march. Windbreakers should be brought to all competitions.
- Color Guard will wear uniform and windbreaker.
- ALWAYS exhibit great pride and exemplary behavior while wearing the Nighthawk uniform. Always keep your uniform clean and wrinkle free and your shoes polished as part of that pride.
- Under the uniform, wear a band or Newtown Nighthawk tshirt, shorts or long warmup pants/long underwear, long black socks. Keep in mind that privacy for changing is almost non existent.
- After performances, band & guard members should continue to wear their uniforms (the band uniform jacket may be taken off and left in the garment bag on the bus). Windbreaker jackets should be worn depending on the weather. Members should not change into other clothing, outerwear or shoes.
- For rehearsals, students should wear clothing appropriate to the weather and to the demands of marching. Due to decreased peripheral vision, do not wear hoods. No flip flops or sandals. Shirts need to be worn at all times.