1. Atlantic Festival of Music 2016 Parent Information Meeting

2. About the Festival
The beautiful campus of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada is host to the Atlantic Festival of Music, the largest band and choral festival on the East Coast. Each year, approximately 3000 musicians from Canada and the United States perform for and receive adjudication from internationally recognized adjudicators. Evening concerts, instrument specific clinics workshops and opportunities to listen to bands in an excellent performance setting are all part of the event.

3. Daily Schedule: Day  1  
Wednesday, April 27 Morning: Meet your coach and driver at Stonepark School. Load luggage and instruments and travel to the Atlantic Festival of Music in Halifax via the Confederation Bridge. Afternoon: Have lunch (own expense; some students may choose to bring a lunch) in the Bedford area and continue on to Mount Saint Vincent University to attend the Instrument Specific Clinics (1:00 pm). After the clinics listen to other groups perform before heading to your hotel to check in and change for the evening. Evening: Dinner at the MSVU Rosaria Cafeteria followed by the Evening Festival Concert at Seton Academic Centre. After the concert we will participate in a recreational activity.

4. Day  2
 Thursday,  April    28   
Morning:  Complimentary Breakfast at your hotel and then off to Mount St. Vincent University for  your  Festival Performance, adjudication and clinic.
Afternoon:  Lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant and then head downtown to Pier 21   Canada’s Museum of Immigration. After your museum tour take the Halifax ferry to Dartmouth where your coach will pick you up to head to the MicMac Mall for shopping and supper  (own  expense).
Travel home to PEI via the Confederation Bridge.

5. Detailed Itinerary
Please note that a more detailed version of the itinerary (including exact times, locations and contact numbers) will be provided on the band blog at a later date.
Chaperones for the trip will include Alison Peters (Band teacher), Norman Beck (principal), and one parent.

6. Behaviour
Students are representatives of P.E.I. , their families, Stonepark Intermediate School, and the Stonepark band program.
All school rules apply during the trip. Students and parents will be asked to read and sign an agreement regarding expectations concerning student conduct.

7. What does the price include?
 Approx. $200/student (based on 67 participants)
Round-trip transportation via motor coach(es)
One continental breakfast and one dinner
Hotel accommodations
Atlantic Festival of Music Registration
Admission to all activities as per the itinerary (includes tax and gratuities)
Private security in the hotel during the night

8. Additional expenses
The students will need to bring a lunch to eat on the bus on the first day or they may purchase lunch at a fast food restaurant when we stop in the Bedford area en route to Halifax. Students will also need to purchase their own lunch and supper on the second day.
Students may wish to bring spending money.
Chaperones cannot be responsible for cash or personal items.

9. Fundraising  
Parents who wish to organize fundraising using the Stonepark name may do so.  Please inform Mr. Beck in advance.

10. Payment Schedule
Total cost/student based on 67 participants= $200/student
This includes a $45 fundraising credit for each student ($3015) which was raised through cookie dough sales.
A deposit of $100 will be required to confirm participation. This deposit will be due by Tuesday, March 1st.
Please do not send in the full amount on March 1st as the total cost may have to be adjusted once participation is confirmed and deposits are received.

11. Sending Payments
To make the task of collecting band trip payments easier for us, please follow the following guidelines:
All payments must be in an envelope or zip-lock bag clearly labeled with the student’s name and class. All cash payments must be passed in by students to the main office. Please add the student’s name and class to the memo line on cheques. Receipts for payments will be issued. Please maintain these receipts for your records.

12. Stonepark Band Blog
I will use the band blog to communicate with parents and students and to provide updates about the trip. Please subscribe to receive notification of updates!