MONTROSE CHRISTMAS PARADE - Saturday, December 6, 2008

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF THE PARADE ROUTE

This activity is a REQUIRED and GRADED performance for band students in 1^st period (middle school concert band) and the High School Symphonic Band class!  There is no possibility to make up this grade if your child doesn’t participate.

 Everyone is invited to the parade, so please come to hear, see and support your children in the parade!  You will need to transport your children home afterward.  We will not go back to the school campus (see note below regarding instrument transportation following the parade). 

 The band will need to practice before the parade.  Students should be at the VCS campus (band room) at 2:00 p.m. for marching practice.  We will conclude our marching practice at approx. 3:30 p.m.  Food will be provided for the band students this Saturday by me.  At 3:30 p.m., we will eat pizza and soda (or water) and change into marching band uniforms.  Between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m., we will load the VCS bus and drive to Montrose for the parade.  If you would prefer that your child eat something other than pizza and soda, please send a sack lunch with your child to the marching practice.

 The parade starts at 6:15 p.m.  I do not yet know where the VCS band will be placed in the parade order.  Montrose parade officials never disclose the order of the parade participants until their arrival to the parade staging area.  If we’re placed near the end of the parade, you can expect to wait quite some time before you see the band process by.  You may also want to have your child bring a small bottle of water and a snack, because we may have to wait a long time until we actually perform in the parade.

 Please be ready to greet your child at the end of the parade (intersection of Honolulu Avenue and Verdugo Road) as VCS bus transportation will not be provided back to the school after the parade.  A map of the parade’s location is attached.  The parade goes along Honolulu Avenue through downtown Montrose, ending between Ocean View Blvd and Verdugo Road, where parents should expect to greet and pick up their children to take them home.

 If you have any questions, conflicts, etc., please contact me.

Eric Stiles

VCS Band

Montrose Christmas Parade 2008

THIS IS A MARCHING EVENT!  WE WILL MARCH IN THE PARADE.  WE WILL BE WEARING MARCHING BAND UNIFORMS.  Most students have already been issued uniforms in band class.  Students will need to wear black shoes and black socks for the parade.  Black shoes are available from Mr. Stiles if you don’t have any.

 WHAT:                               Montrose Christmas Parade

 WHERE:                              Montrose, CA

 WHEN:                               Saturday, December 6, 2008. 

Parade starts at 6:15 p.m.. 

Marching band practice starts at 2:00 p.m. near the band room and behind the Gym.

TRANSPORTATION:            Transportation to the parade in Montrose, CA, will be provided by VCS school bus.  There will be no transportation provided back to the school following the parade.  You are responsible for your own transportation home. 

Please be at school @ 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008, with your marching band uniform.  We will change into uniforms following dinner (pizza and soda or water).  If you don’t want pizza, bring your own sack dinner.  The bus will leave from school for the parade route at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

 Below is an address (Rocky Cola Café) along the Montrose Christmas Parade route.  The address appears below, along with directions from VCS to the address.  I would suggest that you plan to meet your children at this location at the end of the parade. 

 Also, parents of students with instruments that are carried in cases (instruments such as oboes, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, etc.), I would suggest that you take the instrument case (not the instrument and music) with you in your car when you drop off your child on Saturday at school.  Do not leave the case with your student at VCS.  The reason for this is that band students will not go back to the band room following the parade, and we can't store instrument cases along the parade route.  The instrument cases should be kept in the car of the person responsible for picking up your child following the parade.

             Rocky Cola Café

            2201 Honolulu Avenue

            Montrose, CA 91020

 Directions to the Rocky Cola Café from VCS are:

 Distance

 1: Depart on Village Ave (North)

 0.1 miles

 2: Turn RIGHT (East) onto Penrose St

 0.1 miles

 3: Turn LEFT (North) onto Wildwood Ave

 0.1 miles

 4: Turn RIGHT (East) onto La Tuna Canyon Rd

 3.7 miles

 5: Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-210 [Foothill Fwy]

 3.5 miles

 6: Turn RIGHT onto Ramp

 0.4 miles

 7: Turn RIGHT (South) onto Ocean View Blvd

 0.1 miles

 8: Turn LEFT (East) onto Montrose Ave

 0.4 miles

 9: Arrive

 0.0 miles

 EVEN MORE PARADE INFORMATION:

 I believe the best place to sit for watching the band process by during the parade would be somewhere along Honolulu Avenue close to, or west of Ocean View Blvd.  By the time the band gets to Rocky Cola Café, the parade is dispersing, and there is nothing happening. 

 INFORMATION FOR PERCUSSION STUDENTS:

 I WILL BRING MY PERSONAL TRAILER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE PERCUSSION EQUIPMENT BACK TO SCHOOL.  AT THE END OF THE PARADE, FOLLOW ME TO MY TRAILER SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRANSPORT THE INSTRUMENTS TO YOUR HOME.