Beyond the Rhythms on the Page

March 10 Meeting Follow-Up

Thank you very much for your attendance at this evening's meeting, and for your kind attention to the presentation. Based on several questions we fielded at the end of the evening, we wanted to share the following:

* We neglected to return to the topic of host families and WHEN students will find out who they are staying with. Our friends in Bietigheim have the student information cards now, and are currently working to secure host families. We suspect (this is only our best guess) that those placements will be completed in late April or very early May. At that time we will be sent a roster of all student placements which we will forward on to you. This roster will include the name of the host family, their phone number, and their email address. You will know exactly where your student will be staying prior to our departure.

* Due to the short rehearsal schedule prior to our departure, and the fact that many students will immediately attend camps upon our return, there will not be a public concert here in Downers Grove by the Honors Band. Fortunately, Don Wilson's participation on the tour will allow our concerts to be taped while in Germany, and DGTV will air these locally later in the summer.

TRAVEL WAIVER / MEDICAL FORMS:

If you did not turn in your packet of forms this evening, please add a copy of you medical insurance card, and return the packet to your band director at school PRIOR TO SPRING BREAK. If you turned in the packet, but without the medical insurance card copy, please bring a copy of that card to your band director PRIOR TO SPRING BREAK.

MONEY MANAGEMENT:

In the next several weeks we will share with you more detailed information about money management options you may consider. If in your own personal research you find options that you feel other families might find appealing, please feel free to forward your ideas/suggestions to me, and I will compile these in the next correspondence.


MEAL EXPENSES:

We are waiting for an updated itinerary from World Group Travel relative to the second week of the tour. As soon as we have that, we will provide to you a more concrete list of meals students will be responsible for buying, and an estimate of how much money they will need for said meals.


STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:

We will be seeking clarification from the District 99 Administrative Office relative to students be present in a social situation where alcohol may be present (i.e. at a local disco). The forms distributed this evening utilize the standard language found in every District 99 overnight travel waiver (with one exception added about dinners with host families). We will make sure that all tour participants hear a consistent message about our expectations in the weeks to come.


Thank you to Zach Wetta for preparing information to share with families this evening.

Tour Polo Shirts / Tour T-Shirts

Tour polo shirts will be worn with khakis during airline travel and for casual, outdoor performances.

You may purchase more than one polo shirt, if you choose. (Some may want to do this since we will be wearing them more than once. Keep in mind, though, that you will be staying in a home the first week and will have access to washing machines.)

As a gift for your host family, you will be leaving behind a T-shirt with the same design and a list of all tour participants on the back. If you would like one of these T-shirts as a keepsake, please indicate that below. Note: You do not need to specifically order a T-shirt size for your host family. The shirt will be "one size fits most.".

The required tour polo / host family gift combo will cost students $20.00. This money will cover the cost of both shirts. (Additional polos will be $17 each, and students may purchase their own souvenir t-shirt (optional) for $7 each.

Students will be asked to fill out a size-chart/order form at the March 10 meeting, and families will be asked to submit $20 by check or cash on Monday night. Please come prepared with your check book or cash. (Please note that all checks - regardless of your child's school - will be made out to "North High School Fine Arts."

(Note: This shirt is available in Men's 3XL, 2XL, XL, L, M, S and Ladies 2XL, XL, L, M, S)

Roommate Preferences - express on March 10

At the Monday, March 10 meeting students will be given the opportunity to share their roommate preferences for the second week of the tour. While we are in hotels (Prague and Berlin) students will be assigned primarily to TRIPLES.

If students have a roommate preference, they should work collaboratively prior to the Monday night meeting to create groups of three. They will then have the opportunity to write down those three names on a "request sheet" at the meeting. This will be the only opportunity for students to give their input relative to roommates.

Students who do not have a preference will be placed in room groups based on gender, age, instrument, and school.