Mercer Junior-Senior High School Marching Band (5M) Contract Purpose The purpose of the 5M Band shall be: 1) Complement and strengthen the Mercer High School music department. 2) Present to educational authorities the value of training and experience gained through the marching band as an important adjunct to modern education. 3) Develop the group as a cornerstone for building strong relations and educational ventures between the community, students, faculty and administration. 4) Instill in its members a sense of responsibility, both as a group to the community and as individuals to the group. 5) Support the Mercer High School football team. Membership Membership is open to all instrumentalists and band front candidates in grades 7-12. Students in grade 7 will be admitted as members of the group on a limited basis at the discretion of the Director of bands. Prospective instrumentalists are required to pass an audition prior to the start of their first year with the band. Band front members are required to audition prior to the start of each season. Auditions for band fronts will be held in the spring of preceding school year. Conduct and Responsibility Section 1 Code of Conduct Members of the 5M band are required to conduct themselves in a dignified and respectable manner. Any member not following the established Code of Conduct or causing a disturbance that detracts from the appearance, efficiency or synergy of the band can be benched or suspended at the discretion of the Director of Bands. 1) Marching band adheres to all rules set forth in the MHS Student Handbook. 2) Do not do anything detrimental to yourself because if it is detrimental to you, then it is detrimental to the entire organization. 3) Members are expected to arrive early to all practices and performances to ensure proper warm-up time prior to the rehearsal (unless legally excused); they should have proper attire that does not restrict movement, their music and routines should be prepared, and have all equipment and uniforms in proper working order/good appearance. 4) At all times, cooperate with members of the band staff and band chaperones, as personal displays of selfishness, pettiness, or conduct unbecoming of a young lady or gentleman will not be tolerated and is grounds for dismissal or suspension from the group. Section 2 Music/Drill/Routine Memorization 5M members are expected to memorize the music, drill and routines used for all field shows. Members may be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of music and routines to staff members and student leaders. Failure to have music, drill and routines memorized by the deadlines set may result in you not being able to perform. Benched members must accompany the group to the performance and will serve as managers. Section 3 Penalties for Section 1 and 2 Infractions Any member of the 5M band not following the rules established in the above sections is subject to the following penalties: 1 st Offense Warning and parents notified 2 nd Offense Member is benched Upon accumulation of being benched for two performances during one season, members are subject to a review by the band staff and may be dismissed from the group. Mini Band Camp The goal of these rehearsals is to prepare music and routines for the upcoming school year and to review basics of parade marching for the ensemble. Family vacations and prior obligations (provided they are indicated on the contract) are taken into consideration as acceptable absence from these rehearsals. Rehearsals are held at the high school. Unless indicated on the contract, attendance is expected at these rehearsals. 5M Band Contract Page 1 of 1
Mega Band Camp Summer band camp is required for all marching band members. The goal for this camp is to 1) apply fundamentals to and learn major concepts within the field show for the upcoming season, and 2) continue learning music and routines for the regular season. NO EXCUSES are granted for leaving camp early or missing camp (only MEDICAL EMERGENCIES will be excused during this week). Work, other appointments including doctor visits, and any item not a medical emergency are deemed unexcused. Band members participating in a fall sport are required to attend all sessions of the camp. There is a 45-minute lunch break and water breaks are given during all days of summer camp. All 5M members are required to eat lunch on-site. Lunch is not provided for the students. Summer camp is held at the high school. Rehearsals and Performances Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is MANDATORY. Any absence that is not reported on the contract by the due date will be classified as unexcused. The following are EXCUSED ABSENCES: Medical or family emergency, weddings, or other absence identified on the contract. An unexcused absence applies to the following: absence or tardiness due to negligence, work or anything that does not fall into the category of excused absence. Work is not an excused absence. Friday has been designated as the only full rehearsal that the band has each week. No excuses are granted for missing or arriving late to Friday rehearsals. Each member has made a commitment to the band and others in the ensemble it is expected that this commitment will be honored and upheld by the signatures on the contract. Uniforms, Equipment and Instruments Statement of Uniform Responsibility 5M members are issued a uniform and equipment that is the property of the Mercer Area School District. All uniforms will be returned in the condition they were distributed exclusive of depreciation of normal wear. Normal wear does not include rips, tears, food stains or grass stains. It is the responsibility of the student to take care of the uniform while in use. All instrumentalist and band front uniforms shall remain at the high school after performances. The student is responsible for properly hanging uniform (including pants folded on crease, all zippers and snaps fastened) to minimize wear, when return it to the band closet. A form for Uniform Issues is available on the back of the band closet door for the student to indicate issues such as seam coming apart, snap loose, etc. Stains and tears should be brought to the attention of Uniform Chairperson as soon as possible. At no time, for any reason, should any uniform part of accessory be lent to another student that is not involved in marching band. This uniform is to be worn for football games, band shows and parades during the regular season. Loss or damage to a uniform is the financial responsibility of the person to whom it was assigned. As of March 2015, the replacement cost for uniforms totals over $450 for instrumentalists and over $275 for band front members. Prior to each performance, there is an inspection of each member s uniform and equipment. All band members must come through inspection in full uniform, as they will be performing on the field or in a parade. Failure to have all uniform parts and accessories will result in the student not being able to perform. Upon completing inspection, members should report to the designated staging warm-up area or assigned bus. Instrumentalists must wear their summer band t-shirt under their uniform for ALL performances in which the uniform is worn. Band front members must have their warm-up jacket and pants with them at all performances. All female instrumentalists and band front members will wear their hair in a mandatory hair style that will be determined by the Director of bands and the front advisors. The band utilizes a summer uniform for designated performances that consist of the following: INSTRUMENTALISTS: All white tennis shoes (no other color but white), band t-shirt, light tan shorts, band socks BAND FRONTS: All white tennis shoes (no other color but white), band t-shirt, band shorts, white socks Travel The 5M band travels to perform at parades, football games and band shows. On all trips, each member will be required to bring their instrument (private or school-owned) and equipment (with proper identification tags) to the designated loading area by the designated time. Bus sign-ups for the football season will be held during band camp. All extra equipment should be placed in an equipment bag. While traveling, members are expected to follow instructions and reasonable requests made by staff members and chaperones. Unless there is an extreme circumstance, students will be expected to travel home with the band from all events. Students will only be released to their parents at the bus in the event of an emergency that precludes the student from riding home on the bus. 5M Band Contract Page 2 of 2
Mercer Band Booster Organization All 5M members and their parents are encouraged to attend the monthly Band Booster meetings. The boosters actively support all the extracurricular bands throughout the school by organizing fundraisers, working at the concession stand during football, basketball games and track meets and providing chaperones for trips. The band boosters meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the band room. Band Website and Communication Additional information regarding the 5M band, and the entire band program, may be accessed via the band s website www.mercerbands.wordpress.com. It is suggested that the Director of Bands be contacted through his school email jherwig@mercer.k12.pa.us. On the Wordpress website, there are instructions for signing up for group text messages sent out weekly by Mr. Herwig. Statement of Student and Parental Responsibility As a member of the 5M marching band, or parent of student, I have read and agree to comply and support all regulations for attendance, conduct, uniforms and the schedule set forth in this contract. Student s signature Date Parent s Signature Date Please review the schedule on the following pages and list any known dates below that you have a direct conflict with a band function. Events not scheduled yet are noted at the bottom of each calendar. It is understood between the director, student, and parent that attendance at all events, rehearsals, and performances with the group will receive first priority if no conflicts are submitted by May 25 th, 2018. Date of Conflict Nature of Conflict Band Function 5M Band Contract Page 3 of 3
Mercer Middle-High School Marching Band Information and Emergency Contact Sheet Contact Information Student Name: Address: Date of Birth: Age: Grade you will be in upcoming band season: Section/Line Name: Parent/Guardian Name(s): Primary Phone Number: (include name if cell number) Secondary Phone Number: (include name if cell number) Primary Email Address: (for band communications) Secondary Email Address: (optional for band communications) Emergency Contact Information Emergency Contact Name: Emergency Contact Phone: Primary Physician Name: Physician Phone Number: Preferred Hospital: Insurance Company: Insurance Company Address: Group Number: Policy Number: Emergency Procedure: Use this space to identify significant health problems, allergies or medications for the above named band member. 5M Band Contract Page 4 of 4
August 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Band Booster Meeting 7:00pm Kennywood Parade Day Report 9:00am 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Full Group (FG) Rehearsal 3:00-5:00pm 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 FG Rehearsal 3:00 26 27 28 29 30 31 4:15pm Cochranton Report at 5:15pm Northwestern Report at 5:15pm Events not scheduled yet for August 2018: - Picture Day - Meet the Mustangs 5M Band Contract Page 5 of 5
September 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Band Booster Meeting 7:00pm Eisenhower Report 5:15pm 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Home FB vs. Reynolds Report 6:00pm 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Home FB vs. Union City Report 6:00PM 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Farrell Report 5:15pm Events not scheduled yet for September 2018: - Mercer County Band Show 5M Band Contract Page 6 of 6
October 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 Band Booster Meeting 7:00pm Homecoming Parade* Report time TBA Home FB vs. Saegertown* (Homecoming) Report time TBA 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Home FB vs. West Middlesex (Senior Rec) Report 6:00pm 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Lakeview Report 5:15pm 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 * = Events open to Mercer 5M Alumni Events not scheduled yet for October 2018: - Indoor MB Show and Rehearsals 5M Band Contract Page 7 of 7