November 23, 2020 update - Disney trip information
After a great deal of thought and discussion, Gull Lake Community Schools Administration and the Gull Lake High School Band staff have decided to cancel the 2021 Spring Break trip to Disney. When the original 2020 trip was rescheduled for 2021, it was with the hope that life would have returned to 'normal' over the next year. While closely monitoring the situation over the following months, we had remained hopeful that conditions across the United States would improve enough to allow the trip to go forward. The pandemic has instead worsened and even the reports of a spring vaccine are not enough to make this trip feasible. We cannot proceed with group travel and guarantee the safety of our travelers at this time. In the interest of protecting the financial investment of our families and obtaining the highest refund amount possible, we have begun the refund process with our tour operator and vendors.
At this time, we have not rescheduled the trip for 2022.
Refunds in an amount yet to be determined will be processed as soon as possible. If travelers have used GLBPA 'trip account' credits, the refunded amount will be returned to the student's trip account, where credits may be applied to next year's Marching Band fees (excluding apparel). If a student will graduate in 2021, their trip account credits are automatically transferred to a sibling in the GLCS Band program. Trip account credits for any graduating student who does not have a younger sibling in the program will transfer to the GLBPA Director's Scholarship fund. IRS regulations do not permit a cash payout. Please contact the GLBPA Treasurer if you have any questions regarding trip accounts, treasurer@gulllakeband.com.
We thank you for your patience during this process, and understand how disappointing this is for our students and families. More information will be provided in the weeks to come as details are finalized. If you have any questions, please email Gull Lake High School Band Director Mr. Burris at bburris@gulllakecs.org; Gull Lake High School Principal, Mr. Eastman at deastman@gulllakecs.org; or Gull Lake Community Schools Superintendent, Mr. Rittenhouse at rrittenhouse@gulllakecs.org.
Please see the letter below with full details.
Dear Gull Lake High School Band Families,
Many families have asked where plans stand for the 2021 Disney trip. Your Gull Lake High School Band staff and Gull Lake Community Schools Administration have been closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation and how it has evolved over the past several months.The Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect not only West Michigan, but the entire United States and nearly every country across the globe. We have all seen how the situation has worsened since our postponement decision in March, and all reports indicate that we may remain in the current state for some months to come. We have had to once again face the difficult decision of whether we can hold a school Band trip in 2021. In discussions with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, we focused on two things:
The focus on safety and financial investment led us to discussions that centered around two options: adopting a ‘wait and see’ response or cancelling the 2021 trip. In our present and foreseeable future environment, we cannot guarantee the safety of our students, adult chaperones and staff. As with ANY Band trip, safety is the number one priority. After much discussion and weighing of all of the pros and cons, we have decided to cancel the 2021 Disney Band trip for the safety of our travelers, and in order to secure the best possible refund for all families.
Reasons for cancelling and important details for all families:
We wanted to get this information out to families as soon as possible, knowing that many details have yet to be finalized and more information will be forthcoming. We understand that some families may wish to book their own family Spring Break vacations, and this gives them the opportunity to do so without being tied to the Band trip. We will continue to work with Explorer Tours to secure the highest refund possible for each traveler in the coming weeks.
We thank you for your patience, comments and support as we evaluated the ongoing Covid-19 situation and the best solution going forward. We have never seen a crisis like this in our lifetimes. We are in a tough, constantly evolving situation, where everyone has had to make some hard choices. Knowing that this will be a disappointment to our students and families, we believe that the decision to cancel the 2021 trip is the best way to meet our priorities of traveler safety and protecting the financial investment of our families.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Don Eastman at deastman@gulllakecs.org or Raph Rittenhouse at rrittenhouse@gulllakecs.org.
With Pride,
Branden Burris, GLHS Director of Bands
Raph Rittenhouse, GLCS Superintendent
Don Eastman, GLHS Principal
Lisa Anderson, GLCS Assistant Superintendent
Cindy Stark, GLHS Band Office Assistant
August 31 update - Disney trip information
Seniors Disney refunds have been processed and mailed to families of Seniors who graduated in 2020 and are no longer eligible to particiate in the Disney trip.
We continue to work with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, and Disney Youth Programs administration to solidify the details of our rescheduled trip. At this time, our applications for a parade and workshop slot are confirmed in the Disney system, and we hope to receive a rescheduled slot for a modified performance option once group performances are reinstated at the Disney parks. Disney Youth Programs is still working on new plans for youth performances in the Disney parks. Our hotel and transportation has been rescheduled to the new dates (March 26 - April 2, 2021). Our tour operator continues to research options for our community performance. Many questions remain, as the COVID-19 situation across the country, but especially in Florida, remains fluid. We appreciate your patience as we work through the details of safety, logistics and costs.
Funds paid toward the 2020 trip will remain in each traveler's account for their 2021 trip. Final trip cost may be adjusted from 2020 rates due to Disney and Universal park price changes and the number of 2021 travelers.
New this year - students will not be required to participate in all three trimesters of Band to be eligible for the 2021 trip. All other trip parameters, such as cancellation deadlines and penalties, trip insurance, paperwork requirements, etc, remain the same as for the 2020 trip. We hope to host a virtual parent meeting this fall to discuss the Spring Break 2021 trip details - watch for updates!
2020 Trip information - will be updated for 2021 trip once new information is finalized:
A Disney trip suggested packing list will be distributed at the March 20 meeting and posted here soon!
All student uniforms and instruments will be transported to events by trailer. Students will be responsible for packing their own personal apparel in their own luggage:
What should travelers pack in their carry-on bag?
Remember that we will be traveling on a bus for close to 24 hours. Luggage packed in the compartment underneath the bus will not be accessible until we check in to the hotel late on Saturday afternoon. Anything that travelers need for the bus trip should be packed in a carry-on bag.
All luggage, including carry-on bags, will be searched by Officer Kelm and a Kalamazoo County Sherrif Department K-9 drug dog at the mandatory luggage drop on April 2 at 5:00. All luggage, including carry-on bags, will be locked in the Choir Room following the luggage search until Friday morning. Carry-on bags will be returned to travelers on Friday morning as we load the buses. Regular luggage will be placed in the storage compartments underneath the buses and will not be acessible until we check in to the hotel late on Saturday afternoon.
Travelers should wear their pink Disney trip t-shirt (will be distributed March 30) and comfortable pants such as sweats for departure.
What else to pack in their carry-on? A few suggestions:
Travelers are allowed one carry-on per person - a backpack is an excellent choice.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark by email know as soon as possible. Because we pay for each seat on the bus, there is no reduction in the package price for any student who elects to travel with their family rather than on the buses.
Important Dates for all Disney trip travelers:
CANCELLED Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents
Paperwork may be turned in at the meeting or to the Band Office; all paperwork is due Friday, March 27 at 3:00
CANCELLED Friday, March 27, 2020 by 3:00 PM - all paperwork due to Mrs. Stark
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020, 5:00 - 6:00 PM - mandatory luggage drop for all travelers
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents.
Final details and paperwork check before departure on Friday morning!
CANCELLED Friday, April 3, 2020 by 7:00 AM (call time to be confirmed)
All travelers arrive at GLHS for departure
After a great deal of thought and discussion, Gull Lake Community Schools Administration and the Gull Lake High School Band staff have decided to cancel the 2021 Spring Break trip to Disney. When the original 2020 trip was rescheduled for 2021, it was with the hope that life would have returned to 'normal' over the next year. While closely monitoring the situation over the following months, we had remained hopeful that conditions across the United States would improve enough to allow the trip to go forward. The pandemic has instead worsened and even the reports of a spring vaccine are not enough to make this trip feasible. We cannot proceed with group travel and guarantee the safety of our travelers at this time. In the interest of protecting the financial investment of our families and obtaining the highest refund amount possible, we have begun the refund process with our tour operator and vendors.
At this time, we have not rescheduled the trip for 2022.
Refunds in an amount yet to be determined will be processed as soon as possible. If travelers have used GLBPA 'trip account' credits, the refunded amount will be returned to the student's trip account, where credits may be applied to next year's Marching Band fees (excluding apparel). If a student will graduate in 2021, their trip account credits are automatically transferred to a sibling in the GLCS Band program. Trip account credits for any graduating student who does not have a younger sibling in the program will transfer to the GLBPA Director's Scholarship fund. IRS regulations do not permit a cash payout. Please contact the GLBPA Treasurer if you have any questions regarding trip accounts, treasurer@gulllakeband.com.
We thank you for your patience during this process, and understand how disappointing this is for our students and families. More information will be provided in the weeks to come as details are finalized. If you have any questions, please email Gull Lake High School Band Director Mr. Burris at bburris@gulllakecs.org; Gull Lake High School Principal, Mr. Eastman at deastman@gulllakecs.org; or Gull Lake Community Schools Superintendent, Mr. Rittenhouse at rrittenhouse@gulllakecs.org.
Please see the letter below with full details.
Dear Gull Lake High School Band Families,
Many families have asked where plans stand for the 2021 Disney trip. Your Gull Lake High School Band staff and Gull Lake Community Schools Administration have been closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation and how it has evolved over the past several months.The Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect not only West Michigan, but the entire United States and nearly every country across the globe. We have all seen how the situation has worsened since our postponement decision in March, and all reports indicate that we may remain in the current state for some months to come. We have had to once again face the difficult decision of whether we can hold a school Band trip in 2021. In discussions with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, we focused on two things:
- Traveler safety
- Protecting the financial investment of our band families
The focus on safety and financial investment led us to discussions that centered around two options: adopting a ‘wait and see’ response or cancelling the 2021 trip. In our present and foreseeable future environment, we cannot guarantee the safety of our students, adult chaperones and staff. As with ANY Band trip, safety is the number one priority. After much discussion and weighing of all of the pros and cons, we have decided to cancel the 2021 Disney Band trip for the safety of our travelers, and in order to secure the best possible refund for all families.
Reasons for cancelling and important details for all families:
- While ‘wait and see’ would give us the opportunity to assess the situation in a few months, monitoring the status of the expected vaccines, watching the numbers of cases, etc., this would also have the potential to provide a significantly lower refund to families if the trip were to be canceled at a later date.
- To keep the costs of the 2021 trip as close to the original price as possible, we would need to book the same number of travelers as the originally planned 2020 trip. We would have to replace the open traveler spots from the senior class of 2020, as well as any travelers who are not comfortable participating in this trip. If we did not replace all of the original traveler spots, the cost for current travelers would be higher. In group travel, where you pay for each seat on a bus, a smaller group = a larger price tag per person.
- Assuming current conditions, mask wearing would be mandatory at all times, on both of the 20+ hour bus rides, at the attractions, and in the shared hotel rooms. With 50+ travelers per bus and 5 students sharing a room, social distancing as recommended by medical professionals would not be possible. Spring Break at Disney is typically their busiest time of the year; we would be facing crowds of unknown sizes.
- Disney has announced that there will be one performance per school, but with parades and workshops currently suspended with no date announced to resume, we do not know what that performance would be. It may be difficult to provide a musical educational experience, as mandated by GLCS School Board policy.
- The possibility of quarantine existed if a traveler was exposed to Covid-19 or became ill. This could have been limited to one hotel room, or extended to a full bus load, or even the entire group of travelers. The expense and logistics of such a quarantine would be considerable and fall on the traveler’s families.
- We anticipate that travelers will receive a refund of 75-85% of monies paid. We recognize that while not a full refund, this covers the costs of non-refundable items and is above the average for school groups in our area that find themselves in the same situation.
- Amount paid by GLBPA ‘trip account’ funds will be returned to the student’s trip account in the same percentage as the refund amount (ie, if refunds are 80%, then 80% of the trip account amount paid will be refunded to the trip account). If a student will graduate in 2021, their trip account monies will be transferred to a younger sibling in the GLCS Band program. If there is not a younger sibling, then trip account funds revert back to the GLBPA. IRS regulations do not permit cash payouts.
- Families that purchased trip insurance should file claims with their individual insurance provider.
We wanted to get this information out to families as soon as possible, knowing that many details have yet to be finalized and more information will be forthcoming. We understand that some families may wish to book their own family Spring Break vacations, and this gives them the opportunity to do so without being tied to the Band trip. We will continue to work with Explorer Tours to secure the highest refund possible for each traveler in the coming weeks.
We thank you for your patience, comments and support as we evaluated the ongoing Covid-19 situation and the best solution going forward. We have never seen a crisis like this in our lifetimes. We are in a tough, constantly evolving situation, where everyone has had to make some hard choices. Knowing that this will be a disappointment to our students and families, we believe that the decision to cancel the 2021 trip is the best way to meet our priorities of traveler safety and protecting the financial investment of our families.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Don Eastman at deastman@gulllakecs.org or Raph Rittenhouse at rrittenhouse@gulllakecs.org.
With Pride,
Branden Burris, GLHS Director of Bands
Raph Rittenhouse, GLCS Superintendent
Don Eastman, GLHS Principal
Lisa Anderson, GLCS Assistant Superintendent
Cindy Stark, GLHS Band Office Assistant
August 31 update - Disney trip information
Seniors Disney refunds have been processed and mailed to families of Seniors who graduated in 2020 and are no longer eligible to particiate in the Disney trip.
We continue to work with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, and Disney Youth Programs administration to solidify the details of our rescheduled trip. At this time, our applications for a parade and workshop slot are confirmed in the Disney system, and we hope to receive a rescheduled slot for a modified performance option once group performances are reinstated at the Disney parks. Disney Youth Programs is still working on new plans for youth performances in the Disney parks. Our hotel and transportation has been rescheduled to the new dates (March 26 - April 2, 2021). Our tour operator continues to research options for our community performance. Many questions remain, as the COVID-19 situation across the country, but especially in Florida, remains fluid. We appreciate your patience as we work through the details of safety, logistics and costs.
Funds paid toward the 2020 trip will remain in each traveler's account for their 2021 trip. Final trip cost may be adjusted from 2020 rates due to Disney and Universal park price changes and the number of 2021 travelers.
New this year - students will not be required to participate in all three trimesters of Band to be eligible for the 2021 trip. All other trip parameters, such as cancellation deadlines and penalties, trip insurance, paperwork requirements, etc, remain the same as for the 2020 trip. We hope to host a virtual parent meeting this fall to discuss the Spring Break 2021 trip details - watch for updates!
2020 Trip information - will be updated for 2021 trip once new information is finalized:
A Disney trip suggested packing list will be distributed at the March 20 meeting and posted here soon!
All student uniforms and instruments will be transported to events by trailer. Students will be responsible for packing their own personal apparel in their own luggage:
- secondary uniform (blue GL performance shirt and gray shorts) to wear under the full uniform for the parade
- marching shoes and black socks
- gloves
- khaki shorts to wear for the community concert
- Color Guard students will be notified which items they will need to pack in their own luggage and which items we will transport
What should travelers pack in their carry-on bag?
Remember that we will be traveling on a bus for close to 24 hours. Luggage packed in the compartment underneath the bus will not be accessible until we check in to the hotel late on Saturday afternoon. Anything that travelers need for the bus trip should be packed in a carry-on bag.
All luggage, including carry-on bags, will be searched by Officer Kelm and a Kalamazoo County Sherrif Department K-9 drug dog at the mandatory luggage drop on April 2 at 5:00. All luggage, including carry-on bags, will be locked in the Choir Room following the luggage search until Friday morning. Carry-on bags will be returned to travelers on Friday morning as we load the buses. Regular luggage will be placed in the storage compartments underneath the buses and will not be acessible until we check in to the hotel late on Saturday afternoon.
Travelers should wear their pink Disney trip t-shirt (will be distributed March 30) and comfortable pants such as sweats for departure.
What else to pack in their carry-on? A few suggestions:
- A change of clothes if you want to change into something comfy to sleep in
- A change of clothes for Saturday at the water park - the weather in Florida will be much warmer than when we leave Michigan!
- Toiletries for use at rest stops. There are not showers at the water park so you do not need shampoo/soap for the water park
- Swim suit, sunscreen, waterproof shoes, waterproof phone case, sun glasses for the water park
- Money for meals on the trip down (lunch, dinner, breakfast), lunch at the water park, and locker rental.
- Small blanket and pillow - remember - one person, one blanket!
- NUT-FREE snacks and water bottle; all beverages must have a screw-on cap. No energy drinks or dairy. Small coolers are allowed.
- Medication with proper paperwork on file
- Phone charger and earbuds - no external speakers
- Books - cards
Travelers are allowed one carry-on per person - a backpack is an excellent choice.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark by email know as soon as possible. Because we pay for each seat on the bus, there is no reduction in the package price for any student who elects to travel with their family rather than on the buses.
Important Dates for all Disney trip travelers:
CANCELLED Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents
Paperwork may be turned in at the meeting or to the Band Office; all paperwork is due Friday, March 27 at 3:00
CANCELLED Friday, March 27, 2020 by 3:00 PM - all paperwork due to Mrs. Stark
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020, 5:00 - 6:00 PM - mandatory luggage drop for all travelers
- Officer Kelm and a Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department K-9 drug dog will be searching all luggage, including carry-on bags
- Chaperones will be checking that all students have their personal uniform items for the parade and community concert packed in their luggage:
- black marching shoes
- black socks
- gloves
- secondary uniform performance shirt
- secondary uniform performance shorts
- khaki shorts and light blue GL Disney trip shirt for the community concert
- Color Guard items will be announced
- Once searched, all luggage, including carry-on bags, will be locked in the Choir Room until Friday morning
- Carry-on bags will be returned to travelers Friday morning when we load the buses
- Luggage loaded in the storage compartment beneath the buses will not be accessible until we check-in to hotel late Saturday afternoon
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents.
Final details and paperwork check before departure on Friday morning!
CANCELLED Friday, April 3, 2020 by 7:00 AM (call time to be confirmed)
All travelers arrive at GLHS for departure
