RCHS Music Department friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School, with information pertaining to the upcoming Disney/Cocoa Beach trip make up meeting.

For those of you that attended the May 1st meeting, you may disregard this message. For those of you that were not able to attend, the second and last meeting for information and the items that come with the purchase of your ticket is Tuesday, May 9th at 6 PM in the Music Commons in the Music Department on the campus of Richland County High School. We will discuss the itinerary, pass out travel bags, sign up for bus seats, discuss PhotoVision, as well as answer any questions that you may have regarding the trip. I anticipate the meeting will last less than an hour.

Until then, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, at [email protected], or via Remind101. Thank you for your time.

RCHS Music Department friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School, with information pertaining to the upcoming Disney/Cocoa Beach trip, and the 2023 marching band season.

We are only a few weeks away from the 2023 RCHS Music Department trip to Disney World & Cocoa Beach! I would like to remind parents, family, and students that are participating in the trip about the informational meeting Monday, May 1st at 6 PM in the Richland County Performing Arts Center on the campus of Richland County High School. We will discuss the itinerary, pass out travel bags, sign up for bus seats, discuss PhotoVision, as well as answer any questions that you may have regarding the trip. Again, this meeting is tomorrow at 6 PM. I anticipate the meeting will last less than an hour.

Immediately following tomorrow’s Disney World & Cocoa Beach meeting is a meeting pertaining to the 2023 marching band season. That meeting is at 7 PM. It is also in the Richland County Performing Arts Center.

Until then, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, at [email protected], or via Remind101. Thank you for your time.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have unfortunate news. I was made aware that every individual was billed an additional $154 for the upcoming 2023 RCHS Music Department trip to Florida. Mr. Weitkamp and I were not aware of this change until just before the email that was sent to each of you by Bob Rogers Travel.

Why were we billed an extra $154? The reason is simple. We have to pay more for transportation. Included in your payments are three day access to the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios), hotel lodging, some meals on the Disney property, transportation between the hotel and the parks, and rides to-and-from Florida via motor coaches. The rates are determined by how many paying members are attending the trip. When everyone registered in October of 2021, we fell within the 90-99 travelers rate. Unfortunately, we lost several individuals since then, which brought us down to 85 participants. With fewer people traveling in the motor coaches, Bob Rogers Travel has to increase the cost so that our transportation cost is covered.

That's the bad news. The good news is that I was able to work with Bob Rogers Travel to lower the additional cost increase to $118.

I know money is tight. I understand that you may be allowed an extension to cover the remaining amount to Bob Rogers Travel until May 5th, if you contact the company. The phone number for the travel agency is 800-373-1423.

I know this is small consolation. I wish I could do more. Please feel free to contact me should you have any further questions. I may be reached at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, by Remind, or by email at [email protected].

RCHS Music Department friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School with details pertaining to the 2023 Disney World & Cocoa Beach trip on May 30th to June 4th, 2023.

For those that did not attend the Disney World & Cocoa Beach meeting in the Fall, please make sure to review the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be_Yz8iMh1s. You may also find the link to those that have already submitted an RSVP for the trip by clicking HERE.

ELIGIBILITY TO ATTEND THE TRIP: 

• Make payments to Bob Rodgers Travel per the schedule listed below
• Enroll in three terms of a band within the academic year of the trip. Students may enroll in the any of the following ensembles: Marching Tigers, Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, & Jazz Band.
• Enroll in four terms of choir
  
• Students that are enrolled in both band and choir may participate in both performances at Disney World, provided that they meet the criteria listed in the 2nd and 3rd bullet points listed above. 

The first payment for the trip is scheduled for April 29th, 2022.  All payments will be handled by Bob Rodgers Travel, so we ask that parents & guardians create an account on the Bob Rodgers Travel payment system by Friday, April 15th, 2022. Please visit https://bobrogerstravel.com/payment-system/ for more details. The group code is RICHLAND7540.

Payments for the trip are spread out over seven months. The payment schedule is as follows:

• April 29
• June 24
• August 19
• October 14
• December 2
• February 3
• April 7

Payments are 1/7th of the total charge, except for the last payment. The payment on April 7th will need to cover the remaining balance.

The trip prices vary depending on the package that you select (the greatest factor that influence the trip cost is the occupancy number per room). The trip packages are as follows:

• Quad (4) occupancy rooms per person = $1,165.00
• Triple (3) occupancy rooms per person = $1,225.00
• Double (2) occupancy rooms per person = $1,285.00
• Single (1) occupancy rooms per person = $1,525.00

The hotel in which we are staying is the Holiday Inn Resort on 13351 FL-535 Orlando, FL 32821. We were going to stay at the Buena Vista Suites, but their rates have been raised since our last stay in Florida.

Please note that students may not reserve a single occupancy room. Only adults may reserve a room to themselves. Should you wish to add trip insurance (reimbursement should the trip be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances), include the following into the prices listed above:

• Enhanced insurance plan = 7.02% on top of the trip package rates listed above
• Standard insurance plan = 4.55% on top of the trip package rates listed above
• You are not required to purchase trip insurance
• https://bobrogerstravel.com/trip-assurance/

As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or by calling (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153.

The choir is scheduled to perform at the Marketplace Stage in Disney Springs on Thursday, June 1st. This event is open to the public.

The band is scheduled to participate in the Disney's "Soundtrack Session: Instrumental Workshop" on Friday, June 2nd. Unfortunately, despite both Bob Rodgers Travel and our best efforts, Disney does not permit family members to attend the event.

CORRECTION: The two motor coaches will arrive at Richland County High School (not RCMS) on both May 30th and June 4th. RCHS is located at 1200 E. Laurel St. in Olney. Please park in the north parking lot next to the football stadium.

Hello, St. Joe, RCMS, RCHS Bands friends, family, and students! My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School with information regarding upcoming Disney World Parent Q&A meeting.

The 2023 Disney World & Cocoa Beach trip for students enrolled in band or choir during the 2022-2023 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12th. At that time, we will discuss payment structure, and the trip itinerary. The meeting will take place in the Richland County Performing Arts Center at 6 pm on October 12th. No payment is needed at that time; however, we ask that everyone wears a mask for the meeting.

For further information regarding upcoming RCHS Bands events, please visit www.rchsbands.net.

As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any further questions. My email is [email protected]. My work phone number is (618) 393-2191 ext. 3157.

RCHS Music Department friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School calling regarding some last minute reminders before the 2019 Disney World & Cocoa Beach trip.

First, because the high school is undergoing asbestos abatement, we will meet at the middle school at 11 am on Thursday, May 30th. The buses depart at 12 pm. Prior to leaving luggage will be laid out on the sidewalk to be marked and to ensure that all luggage is alcohol and drug free. Each passenger is permitted one large suitcase, a carry on bag (such as the Bob Rogers drawstring bag), and a small handbag for swimwear and a towel. We are traveling in the dead of night, so I recommend bringing a small pillow and a small blanket.

If you have not already done so, please upload a picture of your insurance card into CutTime. We need a picture of the front and back. We also need any medical conditions and emergency contact information entered into CutTime in the event of a medical emergency. You may elect to bring your insurance card on the 30th for the staff to make a copy for our records.

While I am sure there won’t be an issue, I must remind everyone that drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited on school events. In the event a serious breach in school code of conduct, parents will be required to make arrangements for the student to return home early.

Lastly, the Disney Marching Band has two more required rehearsals. The next rehearsal is on Thursday, May 16th from 7-7:50 am. The last rehearsals is on Wednesday, April 29th from 8-10 am. Students that have not been able to perform the parade song from memory prior to the end of the school will rehearse an additional two hours on the 29th. I will release those students at noon.

Please be sure to review the Disney World & Cocoa Beach slides posted on https//www.rchsbands.net/2019-disney-world--cocoa-beach-trip.html one last time.

As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137.

Many of you have informed me that you have made your own reservations in Orlando, FL, are providing your own transportation, but would like to purchase tickets through the travel company.  Bob Rogers Travel has made it easy for to do just that. You may now view a quote and, should you decide to do so, you may reserve tickets. Simply visit ips.bobrogerstravel.com, create a new user trip ID & password, and make your reservations.

This option is for those that have their own transportation to Florida, and hotel reservations in Orlando, FL. Parents and students that already have a reservation with the RCHS Music Department for the 2019 summer trip already have Disney World tickets, transportation via motor coach, and hotel reservations.

Go to https://www.rchsbands.net/2019-disney-world--cocoa-beach-trip.html for more information. Details regarding IPS may be found at the bottom of the page.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137. Thank you for your time.

The fifth and final payment for the 2019 Disney World & Cocoa Beach trip is due Friday, April 5th, 2019. The trip must be paid in full on this date, as we need to pay the travel company in full. 

A statement was emailed to students and those parents that signed up on CutTime on 3/15. Invoices are in the mail and are expected to arrive on 3/18 or 3/19. Please make checks out to RCHS Bands or RCHS Music Department. Write "Disney Payment" in the memo line of the check. 

PLEASE NOTE: Recent payments and the profits from recent fundraisers have not yet been included in the music department student accounts under CutTime. That information will be entered within the next few days.

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO DETAILS PERTAINING TO THE DISNEY WORLD & COCOA BEACH TRIP

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL IN CUTTIME TO SEE STUDENT ACCOUNT BALANCES