Quaker Valley High School Marching Band Masking and Travel Information
Last Updated: October 16, 2020. Information no longer current. Will be updated if/when needed.
Dear QVHS Marching Band Students and Families,
In-person activities of the Quaker Valley High School Marching Band have been underway since August 3, 2020. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, please know that our administration, teachers and staff are committed to doing the very best we can to provide a safe and worthwhile educational environment for our students during this challenging time.
There are several precautionary measures that we are asking each student to continue to adhere to out of respect for their fellow students, teachers and staff. The information below supplements and reiterates two of the most important points from the Quaker Valley High School Marching Band Resocialization Plan 2020-21 document, shared separately.
- Masks are Mandatory in All Public Spaces
Governor Tom Wolf announced on July 1, 2020 an expanded mask-wearing order was to be implemented in the state of Pennsylvania. With this order, signed under Dr. Rachel Levine’s authority under the Disease Prevention and Control Act, masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home. Link to signed order: : https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200701-SOH-Universal-Face-Coverings-Order.pdf
Does this order apply to marching band?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the answer is yes. Everyone must wear a mask unless they fall under an exception listed in Section 3 of the July 1 order. Further, according to the most recent research from the University of Colorado Boulder regarding aerosols produced by wind instruments, marching band participants must go beyond what is currently being required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Health in order to participate in band safely. See the Quaker Valley High School Marching Band Resocialization Plan 2020-21 document for specific details and requirements on mask usage in marching band.
- Student Recommendations on Traveling
Even though the school year is underway, there will of course still be times when students and their families travel out of state. Under guidelines issued by the Allegheny County Health Director, anyone who travels out of state to a “high risk location” is strongly advised to:
- Have two COVID-19 tests with negative readings at least 48 hours apart before attending a planned function for Marching Band -OR-
- Self-quarantine for 14 days before attending a planned function for Marching Band.
Please be aware that the designations of “high risk locations” is subject to change.
As of October 16, 2020, the “high risk locations” have been identified as:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Link to “high risk locations” as identified by the PA Department of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Travelers.aspx
We ask that all students and parents/guardians err on the side of caution—if you have traveled to a “high risk location,” please take the precautionary measures outlined above before returning to any in-person scheduled rehearsals and/or events for the Marching Band.
Thank you in advance for adhering to these requests. We know it is difficult to keep up with the ever-changing recommendations and information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but it must be our primary goal to keep our students, staff and community safe.
Best,
Cory A. Neville,
Director of Instrumental Music,
Quaker Valley High School