We are very excited to start bringing back students this upcoming Monday! Listed below are the procedures and expectations for returning to learn, including the expectations for students who are remote during these classes.
Materials: When remote or in-person, all students are expected to have their instrument in working order, all accessories, music, and a pencil. (Percussion, see the note below about your material expectations.) Computers will not be needed for in-person instruction in band. Regular academic classes will require computers. The first day students are in-person, they will have Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) distributed to them, specific to band. They are expected to have this PPE at all times, when in-person. Not having required materials in class (in-person or remotely) will have a negative impact on a student’s grade.
Arrival to School: Upon arrival to school, students may drop their instrument and materials off at the band room before school begins. They will store them next to their assigned seat. Lockers will not be available.
Band Room Entrance/Exit: Traffic in and out of the band room is one way. Students will enter through the band locker room and exit through the band room double doors. Students are asked to distance themselves from others at the entrances and exits.
During Class: Students will have assigned seats they will report to. Seats are color coded by band and are distanced greater than 6ft from each other. After the class bell rings, students will have 3 minutes to be ready to start class. This gives students time to assemble instruments and put on PPE. Students will be dismissed 3 minutes prior to the end of class to disassemble instruments and leave class to help with social distancing.
Remote Learning Students: You will still login to Zoom as normal, and follow along with the class. Whichever band director is not leading the class will monitor the participation of online students.
Departure from School: The band room will be open at the end of the day for students to retrieve instruments before they go home. Out of the two days students are in-person, they may bring their instrument the first day and keep it there until they leave the second day.
PPE: We have specialized PPE for band students returning in-person. They will have specialized face masks and instrument covers distributed to them. Students are responsible for the care of these materials. These materials were expensive and are non-replaceable if lost. Students will not be able to participate without them. The face mask and instrument cover should be washed once a week: wash in cold water and lay down flat to air dry (DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DRYER). Also note: these face masks should not be used as general masks.
PERCUSSION: You will bring your own stick bag, sticks, and mallets. There will be no sharing of these materials. Put your NAME on your stick bag. You do not need to bring your drum pad to school. You will wear a general face mask, there is no specialized PPE for percussion. Students will have an assigned instrument for the day.
You will not be able to borrow sticks/mallets, so you should be at school with your required materials: concert snare sticks, yarn mallets, and plastic mallets, with a stick bag to carry them. Visit here for our recommendations on brands and models: https://www.lonestarpercussion.com/Schools/Plainfield-North-High-School/
LARGE INSTRUMENTS: You will be expected to bring your instrument to and from school. It might be best if you have your own ride, but buses will be fairly empty for instrument storage. Unfortunately, we do not have enough school-owned instruments for students to have one at school and at home.
This is a lot of information, but it is important. We are looking forward to creating music together, again.