A few pre-trip notes from Mr. K...

Hello California Travelers,

There are a couple last minute details and reminders I want to give to you as our travel date approaches:

Arriving at School on Thursday Morning

ALL Students should plan on arriving at WHS at 3:45 AM! This is a small change.  Our goal is to be rolling out to the airport by 4 AM if possible.  Students should do the following when they arrive at school:

1. Wear blue jeans and your blue WOODBURY HIGH SCHOOL BAND t-shirt on the day of travel.  We should all look uniform for the UCLA clinic later that day! Students may wear their track jackets as well. You may want this at times in California.
2. Bring luggage to their appropriate bus (they will be labeled #1 and #2).  There will be a chaperone that will check that students have affixed a Gateway ORANGE colored luggage tag to their suitcase. This will be how we record attendance Thursday AM.
3. Go into the band room and get your FLIP FOLDER (for the USS Midway performance), their INSTRUMENT or FLAG (and everything they need to make it work, including harnesses for percussion), and any parts of their uniform that may be at school.  Instruments should be taken to the student’s bus ( Bus #1 or Bus #2). Chaperones will check in instruments for each student as well and ensure that they have an orange tag on them.
4. Students can get on the bus as soon as their luggage and instrument have been checked in by a chaperone.
5. We will take attendance by saying your NUMBER on the bus roster.  MEMORIZE THIS NUMBER NOW! It is on the attached “Traveler’s Packet” bus roster. Chaperones, memorize your number as well!
6. In the event that you miss the call time at school (oversleep, car trouble, etc…) you MUST try to get yourself to the airport by 5 AM.  It will be difficult to get you on a flight if you miss the check in.  Please set several alarms and have a friend call/text you Thursday morning.  Do not miss the bus at school!

Arriving at MSP on the bus

           

1. Students should get off the bus and MAKE SURE they claim every bag, shako box, instrument, and personal item they brought on the bus.  We will, obviously, not be using these busses the remainder of the trip.
2. We will proceed to check-in at the Southwest ticketing counter.  Each student should have their TWO checked items with them when they check in. Southwest’s full baggage policies are listed HERE. All OVERSIZED instruments will be covered by the band.  Students should check ANYTHING they do not intend to bring on the plane.  Clarinets, flutes, alto saxes, and trumpets could likely be carry-on instruments along with your Shako Box. I would suggest NOT putting any instruments in checked luggage. You would almost be better off just putting the instrument directly as its own checked item (agents will treat what is clearly an instrument with more care than a suitcase). Percussionists, we will take care of the harnesses. That DOES NOT need to be a checked bag OR carry-on for you. Your drum/cymbals IS a checked bag for you.  Please do NOT place shako boxes in checked luggage.
3. Chaperones, if you can limit yourself to ONE suitcase to check, that would allow us to distribute the plume bag, banner, and flag bag amongst us as our “second” checked bags.
4. As soon as you have checked in at the counter, get into a group of Three OR MORE and proceed to go through security.  If you have pre-check, be sure to use it!
5. You are allowed one carry-on item (16”X24”X10” or smaller) and one personal item. Check on Southwest’s CARRY-ON policy here.  ONE OF THESE ITEMS IS YOUR SHAKO (unless you are a tuba or color guard)!  No food or beverage should be stored in your shako box.  This COULD be stored in a “personal item” (string bag, small backpack, or small purse).  Tubas and Colorguard, please help anyone that needs to bring extra items on the plane and is “out of options”. Chaperones can help with this too!
6. Students are allowed to get coffee, breakfast, or snacks at MSP once they are through security, but all FLIGHT ONE students should be at the gate by 5:45 AM at the latest and FLIGHT TWO students should be at the gate by 6:00 AM at the latest.  If a student goes to get food, coffee, snacks, etc… in the airport it should ALWAYS be in groups of three or more.
7. Mr. Katzenmeyer and Mr. Shervey will be the last people from each flight group to board the plane.  The airline will give us a flight manifest that details that all students have boarded the plane. I will send out a text on the remind thread once we have confirmed this.

Claiming Bags at LAX

1. Please let a DIRECTOR know ASAP if one of your checked bags or instruments does NOT arrive with the flight.  We have had this happen on trips before and we have always been able to get the luggage back!

Packing Tips

1. Please remember to follow all guidelines in the CALIFORNIA TRAVELER’S PACKET (attached). 
2. MUSICIANS…REMEMBER YOU WILL NEED YOUR FLIPFOLDER AND LYRE FOR THE USS MIDWAY PERFORMANCE!
3. Students should bring a nice outfit for the harbor dinner cruise in San Diego.  Think of what you may wear to a school dance or something similar.
4. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK YOUR GLOVES, BLACK MARCHING SHOES, GUARD UNIFORM (if applicable), and BLACK SOCKS.  Please please PLEASE do not forget these!
5. Don’t forget money for souvenirs and FOR SURE for the three lunches that are on your own on the trip.  You will need a little money.
6. Students that will be 18 years old (or turn 18 on the trip) you will NEED a government-issued ID (Driver’s License, Passport, state ID).  Student ID’s from WHS are NOT acceptable ID for the airline.
7. Pack a swimsuit!  We will be going to the beach.
8. Don’t forget a light jacket.  Track jackets should work just fine.  The weather looks great in CA while we are there!

I will be available at conferences from 3:45-7:30 PM tonight. Please stop by if there are any last minute details that you need further clarification with.  I can’t wait for some CA sun!

Sincerely,

Mr. Katzenmeyer