Dear GCHS Band Parents, The GCHS Band has been invited to perform in the 2015 Macy s Day Parade in New York City, this is a very prestigious invitation and we are excited to represent Gulf Coast High School in this nationally televised parade. Please understand that this is not a mandatory trip, you may still be in the GCHS Band for the 2015/2016 school year and not travel on this trip. Please see the attached documents regarding the trip as the first payment, copy of student photo id or passport, and information sheet are due on January 20 th. Payments and reservations will only be accepted with all documents required. Please don t hesitate to contact Mr Gomez at gomezau@collierschools.com or Band Booster Vice President Cori Olayos at gchsbandparentinfo@gmail.com if you have any questions. If you have questions about your child s band account please contact Jeff Carney (Band Booster Treasurer) at j.a.carney@att.net Thank you, Austin Gomez Director of Bands Gulf Coast High School
GCHS Band Trip to The Macy s Parade in New York City Tuesday November 24 th Friday November 27 th, 2015 Payment Schedule All Payments are Non Refundable $75 Due on January 20 th, 2015 $250 Due on February 17 th, 2015 $250 Due on March 17 th, 2015 $250 Due on April 21 st, 2015 $250 Due on May 19 th, 2015 $250 Due on August 25 th, 2015 $175 Due on September 15 th, 2015 Total Cost of Trip - $1500 Payments are due on or before the above due dates Credit Cards/Checks/Cash are accepted You may pay for the entire trip at any time Make checks payable to GCHS Band Aid Club For questions about your student s band account balance email Jeff Carney at j.a.carney@att.net Payments can be put in the Bait Box in the band room or mailed to: GCHS Band Aid Club Inc. 15275 Collier Blvd., #201 Box 365 Naples, FL 34119 Chaperone Information Number of chaperones is limited to Collier County Public Schools Standards Chaperones with the most volunteer hours are given first priority There are no friend groups or tag along groups, there will only be chaperones Cost of chaperone trip is $1500 Chaperone trip payments are not due at this time, please email Cori Olayos at gchsbandparentinfo@gmail.com if you are interested in chaperoning on this trip. She will contact you with information regarding chaperoning and trip payments. ALL chaperones must have Level II clearance through CCPS
Every student/chaperone trip INCLUDES Three (3) nights lodging in a DELUXE New Jersey area hotel A visit to Rockefeller Center and 5th Avenue for shopping and sightseeing One (1) admission to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular One (1) guided tour of Manhattan including a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Two (2) breakfast at your New Jersey area hotel One (1) breakfast at Planet Hollywood One (1) lunch at Hard Rock Café One (1) dinner at Naples 45 One (1) dinner at Dallas BBQ One (1) pizza lunch at your New Jersey area hotel One (1) Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Round trip airfare Motor Coach Transportation for the entire trip. Special note to 8 th grade parents of future GCHS Band Members If you are zoned for Gulf Coast High School and plan on being in the GCHS Band Program for the 2015/2016 school year (and plan on going on this trip) you NEED to make these trip payments (even though you are still in middle school). ALL payments must be made on time for ALL students. If for some reason you do not come to Gulf Coast High School or your trip payments will be refunded as long as you request a refund by May 15 th, 2015. Students Not Going on the Macy s Trip While we would love to have all of our GCHS Band Students go on this trip it is NOT mandatory for all students to attend this trip. You may still be in the GCHS Band for the 2015/2016 school year and not attend this trip. Not going on this trip will have no bearing on your student s grade. Future Flag/Dance Students Not Currently on Team Tryouts for the GCHS Flag/Dance team will be in March. Any student who makes the flag/dance team who is not currently on the team will not make any payments until AFTER the tryouts. Once tryouts are finished any new member will be able to get caught up on the payments from January and February. Refund Information Refunds will only be issued for students who move and do not attend Gulf Coast High School. If you are currently on the danceline/flagline and do not make the team for the 2015/2016 school year and have already made payments, you will be refunded all your payments. There will be no other refunds of any kind available. Refunds for the trip MUST be submitted by May 15 th, 2015, there will be no refunds after this time. It is your responsibility to request the refund. Credit Card Payment Dates in the GCHS Band Room January 20 th 6pm to 7pm February 17 th 6pm to 7pm March 17 th 6pm to 7pm April 21 st 6pm to 7pm May 19 th 6pm to 7pm August 25 th - 6pm to 7pm September 15th - 6pm to 7pm
Gulf Coast High School Band Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade New York Proposed Itinerary (Subject to availability of venues at actual time of booking) Day 1 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Depart for scheduled flights to New York Check into your New Jersey area hotel 3:30 pm Depart for Naples 45 East 45 th Street 4:30 pm Dinner at Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria (included) Naples 45 is an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria and Italian restaurant situated in the landmark MetLife Building at Grand Central Terminal on East 45th Street Menu Includes: APPETIZER (pre-select one) - House Salad, Caesar Salad, Caprese Salad, Fried Calamari, Lentil Soup, Eggplant Parmigana ENTRÉE (pre-select one) - Penne Pasta, Lemon Roasted Chicken, Neapolitan Meat Lasagna, Naples Margherita Pizza DESSERT (pre-select one) Chocolate Cake, Cannoli, Fresh Fruit Tart, Cheese Cake BEVERAGES - Regular Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Herbal Teas 6:00 pm Walk as a group to Radio City Music Hall 7:00 pm Radio City Christmas Spectacular (included) The Radio City Christmas Spectacular features over 140 performers, lavish sets and costumes and an original musical score. The 90 minute revue combines singing, dancing and humor with traditional scenes in spectacular stage settings. Since the first version was presented in 1933, the show has become a New York Christmas tradition seen by more than a million visitors a year. 1
9:00 pm Show ends load your buses and return to your hotel Day 2 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 7:00 am Full American breakfast at your hotel (included) 8:00 am Load you buses and depart for 5 th Avenue Your buses will drop you off at 59 th and 5 th Avenue for a walking tour (on your own in small groups) down what has historically been considered the most expensive shopping street in the world Some of 5 th Avenue s points of interest and Landmarks include Tiffany s & Co., Trump Tower, Saks Fifth Ave, Cartier, St. Patrick s Cathedral and Rockefeller Plaza, home of the famous Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink 11:15 am everyone should end their walking tour at the Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink. Gather at the flags on the 50 th street side of the Rink for roll check. Your ATC tour escort will then guide you to your bus pickup point 11:30 am Depart for Hard Rock Café 1501 Broadway 12:00 noon Lunch at Hard Rock Café (included) 1:15 pm Load the buses, meet your New York step-on-guides and enjoy a narrated 3 ½ hour tour of the city (included) 5:00 pm The city tour ends at Dallas BBQ on 42 nd Street for dinner (included) Menu Includes: Chicken and ribs combo plate served with cole slaw, french fries, cornbread, dessert and soda 6:00 pm Free time to explore Times Square (small groups) Possible group photo 7:30 pm Load your buses and depart for your hotel After arriving at your hotel, expect a short meeting for some final parade day instructions. Depending on your assigned parade rehearsal time, your wakeup call could be as early as 2:00 am 2
Day 3 Thursday, November 26, 2015 Rise and shine! Depart for your Macy s dress rehearsal in front of the lights and cameras at Herald Square Following your rehearsal for NBC load your buses and depart for a full American buffet breakfast at Planet Hollywood (included) Depart for parade staging (on 86 th street between Central Park and Columbus Ave) 9:00 am The Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off The parade starts at 77 th Street and Central Park West, and ends at Macy s on 34 th Street and 6 th Avenue After you finish the parade, load your buses and depart for your hotel Enjoy a pizza dinner at your hotel (included), then have a little free time to relax and freshen up before you head back into the city for your Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise 5:30 pm Depart for Chelsea Pier 6:30 pm Boarding begins for your dinner cruise (included) 7:00 pm As you cruise the New York Harbor, you will experience Thanksgiving dinner, dancing, entertainment and magnificent views including the Statue of Liberty 10:00 pm Cruise ends - return to your hotel Day 4 Friday, November 27, 2015 Full American breakfast at your hotel (included) Depart for scheduled flights home 3
GCHS Band Macy s Trip Information Form This form is due along with the first payment and a copy of the student's state issued photo id or passport on January 20 th. (Please write legibly in blue or black ink and provide only emails that you can check for trip information and updates.) Student Name Student Grade for 2015/2016 School Year Instrument (Write Dance of Flag if not a band member) Parent Cell Phone Number Parent s Names Parents Email Address I understand that all of my payments are non-refundable unless I move out of the Gulf Coast High School District or do not make the GCHS Flagline/Danceline for the 2015/2016 school year. If I move out of the GCHS District and do not attend Gulf Coast High School I must request a refund by May 15 th, 2015. It is my responsibility to request the refund and I understand that no refunds will be given after this time. The cost of this trip could rise up to 10% based on the price of fuel for the airlines and bus companies. Parent Signature Date