Good Afternoon!

Please put a hold on contacting Mr. Harris or any other school administrator concerning remote learners participating in the marching band after school.  The Board of Education will need to discuss the policy at their next meeting.  Once we learn their decision, we will email everyone with any information and instructions we can provide.

Thank you!
Mr. Adams

Maroon Band Family and Friends--

Due to rise in COVID-19 cases across Hopkins County and the Commonwealth, all 5 Hopkins Co. band directors met with Mr. Cline, asst. superintendent, on Wed. morning to discuss guidelines and procedures moving forward this marching season and band classes during in-person school. The meeting was productive and the outcome of the meeting will be crafted into a document for review by the Hopkins Co. Health Dept. and Hopkins Co. School Board. The School Board will review and discuss the document on Mon. Aug 3. 

The Kentucky HS football season has been postponed, with the first possible game (could be home or away) occurring not earlier than Fri. Sept. 11.

Due to practice restrictions of six hours per week and number of students in a practice at a time, we have decided to wait until the first day of in person classes to meet as a band and prepare for the 2020 football/marching season. Coupled with the professional development requirements for teachers during the week of August 10, we feel that the best way to provide a continuity of quality of instruction in accordance with safety guidelines is to wait until in-person instruction begins on August 26. We have chosen some cool, fun music (waiting on copyright clearance) and our goals will be to learn the music and simple drill for Home FB games and other opportunities to perform as they might arise (think Racer Band).
 
Once in person classes begin, we plan to meet, as a full band, on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:15-5:15pm. This time will be used to learn drill, music, and choreography with the full ensemble.
 
Students who choose the “remote learning option,” but wish to participate in the Maroon Band must email adam.harris@hopkins.kyschools.us and state you are remote learning but wish to participate in after school rehearsals/performances.  These decisions will be made by administration on a case by case basis.  We hope to see all of you once in person instruction resumes.

Thanks!
Alan Emerson

Maroon Band Family,
After thoughtful conversations over several months between the directors, staff, and the booster executive board, we have made the difficult decision that we will not participate in a competitive marching band season this fall due to the many challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision is based on the following obstacles and decisions concerning marching band competitions made at the state, regional, and national levels.

• Most importantly, we believe that student and family safety is our top priority.
• On Monday, July 20, The Hopkins County Board of Education voted to allow a return to band activities. However, we are still in “Phase 2” with many restrictions in place, including how many students/teachers can participate in activities together (10) and how many practice hours are allowed per week (6). At this point we do not know when or if these restrictions will be lifted.
• We are also unsure as to what the beginning of school will look like in August, as well as how the band class will be structured, meeting the capacity and social distancing guidelines.
• We are also anticipating the possibility of travel restrictions in the future.
• The majority of bands in Kentucky and our region, as well as many bands nationally, have chosen to be non-competitive this year, due to the same obstacles we face.
• KMEA has cancelled Regional and State competitions for the 2020 season. Other state and regional competitions throughout the nation, including all Bands of America competitions (BOA), have also been cancelled.

Therefore, taking all these points into consideration, spending family and booster money and resources on a competitive marching show is not in the best interest of the Marching Maroons band program.

While we will not participate in a fall competitive marching season, it is our goal to still have a marching band at MNHHS! Our plans are to perform a halftime show, much like the Racer Band, for home football games and participate in parades and community events, as those opportunities present themselves. If you choose remote learning at the beginning of the school year you may be able to participate in the marching band after school.  We will need to submit your request to school administration for approval.

We will be in contact soon with dates and details concerning band camp so that we can begin working on this year’s field show. Our intention is to possibly begin Monday, August 3, but please keep in mind that this may change as we continue to follow state and local guidelines. The directors and staff will also need to schedule any practice dates and times around our mandatory professional development days, as they are a part of our contractual hours and are determined by the school system.

Please know that this has been a very difficult decision to make. We watched and waited with the hope that a competitive marching season would occur, but we know that this is the right decision for the Marching Maroons program, not only financially but for the health and safety of our students, families, and staff. The Maroon Band has had many obstacles to overcome the past few years, but we have persevered with resilience and integrity, and we WILL prevail through this as well.

​WHO YOU WITH???    MADVILLE!!!!
Randy Adams
Alan Emerson
Cory Mullins
Sarah Emerson
Laura Nordine

​Maroon Band students, families and supporters-

Due to the current status of COVID-19 in Kentucky and Hopkins Co. we are going to cancel our July 2020 band camp dates, scheduled for July 20-31, 2020.
We hope to have some summer "camp days,” tentatively scheduled to begin Monday Aug 3.

These August camp days are not set in stone. If we do not have the clearance of the local health dept. and school board we can not proceed.
other updates we can share-

1. Hop. Co health dept. and Hop. Co school board hope to pass a return to band guidance document the night of Mon. July 20th. Once this document passes we can share it with you.
2. KMEA marching band committee will vote on Wed July 15 to suspend or proceed with KMEA quarterfinal competition (Oct 24th) and KMEA semifinal competition (Oct 31st). Other KMEA “regular season” competitions will be allowed to proceed, but bands must be given clearance by their school systems to travel.
3. MNHHS band and color guard directors are still deliberating the pro’s and con’s of a competitive marching band season for Fall 2020.
4. MNHHS band and color guard directors are committed to providing the best band experience (exploring all options) possible while working within the guidelines of the Hopkins Co. Dept. of Health, Hopkins Co. School Board and Officials, and KMEA.

We will continue to monitor the situation and pass along any/all info and dates as we can. If you have further questions do not hesitate to reach out.
​
Randy Adams
Alan Emerson
Cory Mullins
Sarah Emerson
Laura Nordine