CHAPERONE DUTIES
GOVERNOR MIFFLIN MARCHING BAND
The following is a list of duties and responsibilities for the
Chaperones of the Governor Mifflin Marching Band.
 | Arrive about 15 minutes prior to the student report time (this time will be on your schedule). This will give you time to receive any last minute changes and organize yourself on the bus. |
| As students board the buses, stand on or outside of your bus to be "visible." Be alert for any potential rule violations. (See student rule sheet attached) Encourage students to take as little as possible with them. This is a good time to get to know the students on a more personal level. Be friendly. |
| Students need to sit 2 per seat. |
| When it seems that your bus is full, have your student attendance taker take attendance. You may need to retain order while this is being done. NOTE: Students on loading crew will be the last ones to board the bus (You'll get to know who these people are. I will try to mark these names on the attendance sheet) |
| Report any absences to Mrs. Cusano. (Mr. C. Usually has the people who he knows are going to be absent already crossed off the list.) |
| After attendance is taken, ask the band members if they have all of their equipment. They should have an instrument (or know that it has been loaded on the truck), uniform, hat, gloves(?), and if they suffer from asthma, do they have their inhaler. |
| Only band personnel and chaperones are allowed on the bus. This includes band alumni. If in doubt, check with Mr. or Mrs. C. If you are chaperoning and have a younger child who attends the Governor Mifflin Schools, they may ride on YOUR bus. |
| While the buses are traveling, your job is simply to maintain relative order. We all have different tolerance levels for noise, etc., but use your own judgment concerning noise levels. |
| The band members are to remain seated at all times and they are not permitted to sit on the backs of the seats. (Usually the only time they do this is when they are putting on or taking off uniforms. The bus drivers get real testy about this.) |
| If in doubt take your cue from the bus driver. It is usually a good idea to ask the bus driver to let you know if they are getting too loud for the driver. What may be not too loud for a passenger, might be distracting to the bus driver. |
| At the performance site, you may be asked to do any of the following: |
 | Accompany groups of students to the restrooms. |
| Remind the students to dress quickly. You'll always have one or two that think they're going to a beauty pageant. |
| All students are required to wear shorts and T-shirts under their uniform. The students are not to strip down to their underwear or skin. |
| Keep students on the bus until you get the word to unload. |
| Before unloading, make sure the students close the windows. |
| Remind them to unpack equipment quickly and line up. This varies depending on the performance. We will let you know the specifics at the site. |
| After the buses are empty, double check windows to be sure they are closed. |
| Each bus will have a water jug. At football games, this jug needs to be carried out to the stadium. |
| Someone (probably Adele) will be in charge of the first aid kit, however, most injuries should be referred to the first aid personnel and Mr. or Mrs. C. |
| Provide assistance to the students when needed. |
| Distribute water when appropriate. |
| Except in specific circumstances, you should not be asked to carry student's personal items. |
AT FOOTBALL GAMES:
| Sit in the stands with the band |
| There is absolutely no eating or drinking anything (other than water that we distribute to the band) in the stands. |
| Assist in facilitating the seating of the group. |
| If you observe a problem, remind the student that their behavior is inappropriate. |
| No other students are to sit with the band members. |
| While our band is performing, make sure no one walks through the band area. |
| During the 3rd quarter, some chaperones should remain in the stands to watch the equipment. |
| The remaining chaperones should accompany the band to the restrooms and the concession area. |
| When 2 minutes remain on the 3rd quarter clock, assist in reminding the students that they need to be back in the stands. |
| Following the game, assist in moving the band to the buses, encourage them to get their equipment put away quickly. |
| Have your attendance taker take attendance before departure. |
| Occasionally, a student will not ride home from a game on the bus. Mr. or Mrs. C. will let you know who these students are. |
AT COMPETITIONS:
| After the band is under the supervision of the staff, you may go into the stadium to watch the competition. |
| Following the performance, report to the buses to supervise the loading and changing of clothing (sometimes the students are allowed to change into street clothes), get jackets or raincoats, etc. |
| Assist in moving the band back into the stadium to watch the remainder of the. show. |
| Maintain order in the stands as the staff is usually busy reviewing the judges' tapes. |
| Mrs. C. is the teacher in charge. |
| Remind the students not to talk or comment loudly while another band is performing. |
| After the awards, assist in moving the students to the buses. |
| Have your attendance taker take attendance before departure. |
| Occasionally, a student will not ride home from a competition on the bus. Mr. or Mrs. C. will let you know who these students are. |
| Be aware that each competition is different and last minute changes are common. Be flexible. |
| Note: Departure from the competition site is usually delayed
due to a staff meeting with the judges. This is a good time to
make sure no one has to make a last minute trip to the restrooms
and is also a good time to distribute water to those who are
thirsty. |
| Upon arrival at the school, remind students to clean up their area (you'll have a trash bag for them to deposit trash into), close windows and take everything with them. |
| When the bus is empty, double check windows, floors, and seats for trash or items left behind. |
A WORD ABOUT DISCIPLINE . . .
| The students know what is expected of them, however,
they sometimes forget or ignore what they are told. Remind them in a
friendly manner. |
| Show them the student rule sheet if necessary. |
| Rules are often broken when teenagers do not see a purpose for the
rules. Explain the rule if necessary. |
| DON'T GET INTO A BATTLE WITH A STUDENT!! Let the school personnel
(Mr. or Mrs. C) know about any difficulties that arise. |
| Deliberate disobedience will not be tolerated. |
After the first trip, the students know what to do and need very little help other than gentle reminding to move quickly and/or keep the noise down.
Our students, for the most part, are very cooperative and responsible. We're proud of them.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE
BOARDING THE BUS
- Clipboard with attendance sheet and a copy of the bus rules.
- Water jug -- currently we only have 3 jugs, so one bus will not have one. I am hoping to purchase enough for all the buses.
- Cups
- One of the first aid kits. There will be one for each bus. One kit is a large kit, the others will have Band-Aids, Tylenol and a few other first aid items.
- Uniform Repair kit (needle and thread and safety pins) -- I will probably put this in with the first aid materials, except for the person who has the big first aid kit.
- Trash bag
- If you're helping on the field, make sure you have a jacket.
- Your own personal items.
BUS RULES
The bus ride to and from band performances is part of the excitement of being part of the band. By following a few common-sense rules, you can help make the trip a pleasurable one for all concerned. Remember, most rules are made in the interest of efficiency and safety.
THESE RULES WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR ALL BUS TRIPS:
- Be sure you are on your assigned bus. You are expected to ride the bus unless you have a note from your parents.
- The chaperones will take attendance prior to any bus departure. The buses will not move until this has been done. Please cooperate by sitting quietly until attendance has been completed.
- As a general rule, THERE WILL BE NO EATING OR DRINKING ON THE BUSES. Most departure times allow you time to eat before leaving. If this is not possible, you will be informed by Mr. C whenever food is allowed. Please remember that trash is to be place in the bags that the chaperones will have or boxes provided and not on the seats or floor.
- Walkmen or CD players WITH HEADPHONES are allowed on the bus. Absolutely NO radios, or tape/CD players without headphones. This is a safety rule. Do be aware, however, that although the buses are locked, thefts can and do occur. (If you find that any of your belongings are missing, report it immediately to the chaperones.)
- Do not bring valuables on the bus. Security cannot be guaranteed.
- Do not bring anything more than you need. Room is tight.
- We will be wearing pants/skirts and shoes on the bus for short trips. This is to eliminate the confusion of the extra clothing on the bus and to cut down on our "ready" time. On longer trips changing will be allowed provided that you have shorts and tee shirts under your uniform.
- Listen to your chaperones. They are there for your safety and are following the guidelines set up by the school and me. A request from them is a request from me. If you want to be treated with respect, you need to give respect.
- Different bus drivers have different rules. If a driver makes a request, you need to follow it, even though it may be different from another driver. They are responsible for your safety.
- When we arrive at a performance site, the words are "BE FLEXIBLE." The situation is a little different at each place, but generally when we arrive:
- Finish getting dressed
- Stay on the bus until told, except for loading crew
- When you get off the bus get your instrument and line up in parade formation and wait for directions.
- Following the performance, return to the truck and wait patiently for the loading crew to unload the cases. Put your instrument away and get on your bus promptly. The staff will attend a meeting with the judges after each competition, so wait patiently on your bus.
- If you have a question or problem, see if a chaperone or Mrs. Cusano can help you. Mr. C and the staff are usually busy getting directions from the host and organizing the entire group. Mrs. C will also have basic instrument repair items if an emergency arises.
- Following the trip, all students are responsible for closing any open windows and cleaning up trash around their seats. Make sure you take all of your belongings with you.
- In years past, the band has sung the Alma Mater as the buses enter the school campus. It would be nice to revive that tradition. It adds a nice closure to the evening. SENIORS, please take the initiative to get it started on your buses.
In unusual circumstances such as bad weather, your patience is
greatly appreciated.
