The Yellow Board

The Yellow Board
[ The Yellow Board ]

trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by trips on 4/29/2025, 8:55 am

looking for trip rules that you use...both for students and chaperones. thanks

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Richard on 5/4/2025, 10:36 pm, in reply to "trip rules do's and don'ts"

Obviously, every trip has its dprcisl rule or guideline, but I hsvr used this document for a long time snf it had slesyd worked great.

TRIP GUIDELINES
WASHINGTON D.C. SPRING TRIP

MARK EVERYTHING WITH YOUR NAME
1. MONEY FOR 8 MEALS, SNACKS AND SOUVENIRS.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE GROUP PICTURES, T-SHIRTS OR PATCHES
2. A WATCH
3. 1 LARGE SUITCASE (24X30X10) NO FOOTLOCKERS OR ANYTHING VERY LARGE
4. YOUR UNIFORM IN A UNIFORM BAG TO BE STOWED UNDER THE PLANE
5. I CARRY ON PIECE OF LUGGAGE (LIKE A BACK PACK) THAT WILL HOLD A SMALL, PERSONAL CASSETTE/CD PLAYER WITH HEADPHONES
6. CLOTHES FOR 5 DAYS (SCHOOL RULES APPLY)
7. RAIN GEAR, JACKET, COMFORTABLE SHOES FOR WALKING, SUN BLOCK. THE TEMPERATURE IS CURRENTLY BETWEEN 50-70 SO BE PREPARED
8. ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, BAND AIDS, TYLENOL, ETC.
9. CAMERA, SUN GLASSES
10. INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC!!!

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
(MARK EVERYTHING WITH YOUR NAME)

1. TRAVEL/PARTICIPATION RELEASE/MEDICAL RELEASE/PERMISSION TO SWIM
4. YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR AND COOPERATION
3. SOME FORM OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION WITH YOUR PICTURE

WHAT YOU CAN’T TAKE

1. NO LARGE RADIOS
2. NO LARGE COOLERS. YOU CANNOT SHARE 1 LARGE FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE
3. ANYTHING NOT ALLOWED AT SCHOOL EXCEPT FOR PERSONAL CD AND CASSETTE PLAYERS/GAMEBOYS

WHILE ON THE PLANE
1. STAY SEATED UNTIL WE ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE
2. FOLLOW ALL RULES REGARDING USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES (CAN’T USE DURING TAKE OFF, LANDING)
3. BE COURTEOUS TO EVERYONE
4. BE QUIET
5. LISTEN TO ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
6. KEEP AIRLINE TICKET AND BOARDING PASS. IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU CAN’T GET ON THE PLANE

REMEMBER: ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY

WHILE ON THE BUS

1. STAY SEATED AND ON THE SAME BUS
2. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE BUS UNTIL ASKED TO DO SO
3. LOAD AND UNLOAD ALL YOUR BELONGINGS, INCLUDING YOUR INSTRUMENT
4. KEEP THE BUS CLEAN
5. DON’T YELL ON THE BUS. PLEASE SPEAK IN A NORMAL, MEZZO-FORTE VOLUME
6. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE DIRECTORS, CHAPERONES AND BUS DRIVER

WHILE AT THE CONTEST

1. STAY CLOSE TO THE BUS
2. BE READY TO CHANGE INTO UNIFORM
3. LOOK FOR YOUR DIRECTOR
4. IF YOU ARE NOT PLAYING, PLEASE HELP OTHERS AND BE IN THE CONCERT TO SUPPORT THE GROUP. BE QUIET AND RESPECTFUL.
DO NOT ENTER, MOVE, TALK, OR LEAVE DURING ANYONE’S PERFORMANCE
5. LOAD AND UNLOAD YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT.
6. MOVE QUICKLY AND QUIETLY TO THE WARM UP ROOM AND PERFORMANCE AREA
7. BE ON THE BUS WHEN THE LAST GROUP FINISHES
8. THEIR SCHOOL WILL STILL BE IN SESSION, SO DO NOT PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT OR GO ANYWHERE

WHILE SIGHT SEEING

1. STAY TOGETHER WHEN WE ENTER ANYWHERE AS A GROUP.
2. TRAVEL IN GROUPS OF AT LEAST 3
3. WATCH YOUR MONEY. MAKE IT LAST.
4. MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT THE BUS AT THE APPOINTED TIME.
5. WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
REMEMBER:

YOU ARE REPRESENTING EAST CENTRAL. PLEASE DON’T CAUSE TROUBLE OR EMBARRASS YOURSELF, FAMILY, FRIENDS FELLOW BAND MEMBERS,THE SCHOOL OR BAND.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT STEALING YOU WILL BE EXPELLED
ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Chris on 4/30/2025, 4:33 pm, in reply to "trip rules do's and don'ts"

I have a good trip behavior contract for students, guidelines that I give chaperones, plus some notes on how we utilize their help. Happy to share anything that we have. Send me an email if you are interested:

christopher.loyd@rockwallisd.org

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Dwight Schrute on 4/30/2025, 9:30 am, in reply to "trip rules do's and don'ts"

“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, I do not do that thing.”

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Respectfully on 4/30/2025, 8:23 am, in reply to "trip rules do's and don'ts"

The time for planning this was months ago, before kids and parents have paid for the trip.

Unless you're planning for next year, of course.

Your best bet is to consult with campus admin and district level administration at this point, because you could be on the hook for a ton of financial liability if parents refuse to abide by a "brand new code of conduct" thrown at them at the "last minute" by you.

I strongly recommend you put travel policy in your band handbook going forward, and include verbiage about overnight trips. It happens infrequently but it may happen even for football trips.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Warhawk on 4/30/2025, 7:21 am, in reply to "trip rules do's and don'ts"

1. All school rules are in effect.

2. Don't argue with a chaperone. Do what you're instructed to do and come see me later.

3. Your bags will be searched.

4. If you are taken into custody by law enforcement, you are now your parents/guardians responsibility to get home. (approved in writing by school board).

5. If your parents/guardians wish to take you somewhere other than our scheduled events, you are now their responsibility to get the performance venues, etc.

6. Other than staff or chaperones, no adults in students rooms.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Questioner on 4/30/2025, 3:28 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

add to rule #5 - parent/guardian must sign you out. However, I'd be all for no one goes anywhere except with the band.

Add curfew times.

should be students' rooms (plural possessive - I'm a stickler for correct grammar, etc.)

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Questioner on 4/30/2025, 9:13 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

I'll add: if you are on a bus that has a built in DVD player, all DVDs must be submitted to the director prior to the trip for review.
I know of one BD who, for whatever reason, played his young children's Barney videos for part of the trip.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by highbrass23 on 4/30/2025, 12:39 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

You go through all the bags/personal belongings of students? That seems like a slippery slope.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Beagle on 5/1/2025, 12:59 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

It's also highly illegal. You're not a trained officer, nor are you an administrator. You, a teacher, don't have the right to search a kid's belongings.

You DO have the right to ask that an admin or officer do so for all students, though, as someone stated below.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Kramer on 5/1/2025, 12:42 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

Absolutely. My band moms did this for us. It took care of males not looking at female under garments and other items, and band moms know boys are gross.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by old on 5/1/2025, 10:23 am, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

My previous district required us to have district PD bring the k9 to sniff all luggage before going on a trip.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by WW Guy on 5/1/2025, 9:44 am, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

The first time a student brings beer or weed on a band trip you will start not caring about that slippery slope. Better to be covered. If you are worried about it then have female chaperones search the female's bags and male chaperones search the males bags.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by highbrass23 on 5/1/2025, 11:43 am, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

You won't find my hands in a student's bag that contains their clothing/undergarments.
If you get a SRO or other qualified admin(s) to search bags, that's one thing. I would not advise a band director to take it upon themselves to start digging through student bags, particularly as the lone adult in a room doing so.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by Road warrior on 4/30/2025, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

Directly from my Band Handbook.

General guidelines for off-campus travel

1. Regulations in the Student Code of Conduct apply during ALL band-related activities, whether on or off school property.
2. Seating on the bus may be assigned at the discretion of the band directors.
3. To ensure that the driver will get us to our destination safely, remain in your seat while the bus is in motion and refrain from yelling on the bus. Speak so that only the people around you can hear.
4. Personal music devices and gaming devices are allowed on the bus, but headphones/earbuds must be used. The school is not responsible for loss or breakage of your device.
5. Food and snacks are permitted, as long as liquids are in a non-breakable closable container (i.e. bottle of soda with a cap), and trash is disposed of properly. This is a privilege that can be revoked by the Band Director if leaving trash on the bus becomes an issue.
6. Every time we travel, you are representing yourself, your family, our school, our district and our community—ALWAYS do so in a positive way!
7. RULE OF THUMB: If there is any question in your mind as to whether you should do something or not, DON’T DO IT! There is no way we can anticipate every possible scenario, so we ask for ALL to use good judgment and common sense.

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by yes on 4/30/2025, 8:02 am, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

all good advice. Our school/community is very lacks when it comes to being on time. My main rule when taking students off campus is : Be where you are supposed to be, WHEN you are supposed to be there. My second rule is "don't make me make you sit with me, because I'll ruin your day, and it will be so much fun for me."
Works for me

Re: trip rules do's and don'ts

Posted by inv ictus on 4/30/2025, 1:23 pm, in reply to "Re: trip rules do's and don'ts"

All rules of the school district are in effect on this and all band trips.
Make no changes ton the itinerary without the consent of the director.
If you cannot follow directions from all adults then it is best for you to stay at home.
Students will be assigned chaperones and no changes may be made without the consent of the director.
If in doubt ,see the director !!!

« Back to index

[ The Yellow Board ]