Chaperones
Chaperones are needed for band competitions, football games, and band trips. The chaperones travel on the bus with the band and with the students at the events. A minimum of 2 chaperones are needed for the away football games and 4 (one chaperone for each section of the band) for the competitions. Ideally, there should be at least 1 chaperone per bus. Chaperones responsibilities include keeping the kids hydrated, and assisting with buttons, snaps, “plumes”, and anything else that may arise.
Preparation before event:
Backpacks: Grab the green chaperone backpacks that available with essential supplies. If you use up any of the supplies you may replenish the items, please keep your receipt and hand it to the treasurer to be reimbursed.
Water: There are green Morris Knolls tote bags in the closet in the band room where we keep the water and snacks. They should be marked: “Guard”, “Winds”, Drumline”, and “Pit”. If the tags are lost, please replace them. Once you know how many kids are in each section a list can be hung on the inside of the cabinet door with those numbers so the chaperones know how much water to bring with them to the competitions. As a rule, 2 small water bottles should be brought to each competition per student. Therefore, each bag should contain twice the amount of students per section. Also be sure to put a plastic garbage bag in each of the bags with the water for the empties!
There is now a chaperone folding water cart available to help move the water. If it is not available, ask a student or staff member to place the water case \ bags on the bus.
For the football games usually just grab a case(s) of water from the closet and bring it as well as garbage bags. There were 67 students in the band in 2019, but get a count from the boosters or band director at the start of each season.
IMPORTANT: Take the plume bag anytime the band will be in uniform.
On the Bus
Ideally, there should be at least 1 chaperone per bus. On the bus, your primary job is to make sure the students’ behavior is safe and in compliance with the band handbook and school rules. If you see any safety issues (heads and/or arms reaching out the windows, standing up for more than a couple seconds, leaning across rows, etc.) correct it immediately. If you see behavior issues, you should notify a student section leader and let them handle the situation. If it is not resolved quickly, handle it yourself and report to the band director. The primary behavior issues will deal with public displays of affection, which are not allowed – no holding hands, no lap sitting, no blanket sharing. Bad language is also an issue sometimes and is not tolerated. Report any disciplinary situations to the band director.
Plumes:
Football Games: If you haven’t already handed out the plumes, your last chance is when the band leaves the stands during the second quarter to warm up for the halftime show. Take the plume bag to the warm up area. As soon as the kids line up and put their hats on the ground, start inserting the plumes. Avoid handling them by the feathers. Try to handle them just by the wire and the metal base. After the show, as the kids come off the field, remove the plumes from their hats. They should know not to do this themselves. Return the plumes to the tubes and bag.
Competitions: Hand out plumes as students exit the bus. After the show, and before the students go back to the stands, you may collect the plumes and return them to the bag.
During Events:
There must be at least one chaperone available to accompany students to the concession stand or restrooms (especially after a competition when they need to go and change out of their costumes). This is especially important if it is out of line of site from the stands.
No student is allowed to be alone at anytime. Best if students travel in packs of 4.
However they may travel in a minimum group of 2 students. If there are only 2 students it must be (Boy, Boy) or (Girl, Girl). Two students may not leave unattended as (Boy, Girl).If a student must leave to use the restroom they need to choose a partner to walk with. If they cannot choose, you may choose one for them. Follow the pairing rules above.
At away football games: one of the chaperones will need to stay behind in the stands with the instruments and other personal belongings while the other chaperone(s) accompanies the kids for refreshments with the host band during half-time.
At competitions: when the band arrives at a competition, they split up into their sections and may go in 4 different directions. A chaperone will need to accompany each section with water. (If there are only 3 chaperones at a competition, the pit can do without a chaperone as they usually stay close to the truck where the members of the pit crew will be.) There should be at least 1 essentials backpack per bus. The backpacks should also be taken to the areas where the students practice and into the stands after the competition.
Trash: At the start of the 4th quarter, or before awards are announced at competitions, start collecting soda cans and trash from the students in the stands. Trash bags are available from the band room. Make sure to include trash bags in the backpacks and water bottle bags, so that you have enough for both the water bottles they will drink during practice and the trash that will be created while they are in the stands.
Chaperone General Advice:
The following is advice that will help with all chaperoning situations:
Teenagers don’t always think clearly and responsibly, so help them stay safe.
Don’t ignore inappropriate behavior. (Beware of couples) No PDA!!
Respect students and their privacy, but enforce the school’s code of conduct as applicable.
School Administrators and the Band Directors handle all disciplinary concerns.
You may not hold, carry or distribute any medication for students, unless you are an authorized individual. See Nurse Jenn (or whichever nurse is accompanying the band) if a student needs medical assistance.
Rules and schedules may need to be adjusted, be flexible! Join the Volunteer REMIND channel to stay informed during events.
At each event share your contact information with the other chaperones. Exchange cell phone numbers.
If you are unsure how to handle a situation, ask!
If you see inappropriate behavior, remind the band member of their responsibility to behave properly (a request for cooperation generally works better than a demand).
Remember that discipline responsibilities belong to the Band Director and Assistant Directors.
Never allow a band member to leave the group unescorted.
Do not allow, encourage, or ignore exceptions to rules.
Do not consume alcohol or use tobacco products while you are serving as a band chaperone.
Treat your own child the same way you treat other band students.
The best practice is to let other chaperones supervise your own child when possible.