Parent & Student Handbook
Chaperoning
We are always looking for parents to help chaperone our Band events. We would like to have all of the parent's of Band, Majorette & Color Guard students to chaperone at least once during the marching season.
We use parent chaperones every time the band leaves the building, including: parades, Band Camp, football games (both home and away), band festivals and our Disney Trip.
The main purpose of the chaperone is to serve the student's needs by following the policies, guidelines and duties established by Mr. Riffle and the band staff. The duties usually include: keeping an eye out for the safety and protection of our band students, escorting students in groups to the restroom, helping with the band equipment/instrument truck, plumes, seat covers, color guard/majorette equipment or props, taking roll on the band busses, distributing drinks and snacks at the games and festivals and just plain making yourself visible and available for the students, if they would need any assistance. Although it is work, there is a great deal of camaraderie and satisfaction by being a part of the band organization.
To help new parents with their first chaperoning experience we have a printed guideline for chaperones. This one page guideline explains the various duties and responsibilities required of all of our chaperones. These policies have been established over the years and provide the best possible experience for everyone involved. A copy of this guideline will be provided to all band parents who express a desire to chaperone.
Because of the times we now live under, in an effort to safeguard our students, our school district requires that every adult volunteer have state criminal and child abuse clearances (Act 151 & Act 34) before they may work with one of our student groups. There are 2 forms that must be completed and mailed to each particular state agency to receive these clearances. Each form requires a $10.00 fee for processing. Once you receive these clearances in the mail please give me a photocopy of each to file and you are then cleared to chaperone. These clearances are good for the entire time your child is in the band, they do not need to be renewed each year. If you already have these clearances you do not need to resubmit the applications, just give me a copy.
The Band Parent President is in charge of managing the chaperones for each event. The President does their best to accommodate each parent's request to chaperone a particular event. Because some events seem more popular than others, obviously, every request to chaperone cannot be fulfilled.
Even if you can only chaperone one event a year, your help will be greatly appreciated. And even though your child will probably protest with great dramatics that they don't want you around, experience has shown us that your student in fact is glad you show enough concern for them to be there as a chap.