Dear Athens Drive Band families,

Here’s what you need to know about current happenings in our band world:

1) Our Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will be performing locally this Saturday:  The Winter Percussion at 4:17pm at Green Hope High School and the Winter Guard at 7:06 at Middle Creek High School.

2) Our Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be performing for State Band Contest next week at Garner H.S.:  The Wind Ensemble will be performing at 7:25pm on Tuesday, March 26th and the Symphonic Band will be performing at 2:45pm on Wednesday, March 27th.

3) I have some disappointing news to share with you with regard to our plans to take the band to Busch Gardens in May.  Since our last visit (in 2014), Wake County has made several amendments to its field trip policy, namely that NO FIELD TRIPS will be permitted in May.  In addition, all medical releases would have to be in the nurse’s hands 30 days prior to the trip–or in this case, before spring break.  Mr. Mares shared with me that the fact that the overall “climate” is not right to try to push this trip through the upper echelon of WCPSS.

The “no-field-trip policy in May” is due to end-of-year testing; the medical release restriction is due to extreme liability concerns.

I am very sorry, as all of this was a surprise to me.  [I had already contacted Busch Gardens thinking that all would be fine–just like 4 years ago.]  Sometimes you just gotta know when you have to punt… and this is one of those times.  Mr. Mares always “shoots straight,” and I need to go with him with this.

So…save your pennies!  The after-glow of our Outback Trip is still burning and we’ll give you some news about next year soon.

As always, thank you for your positive attitude and support!