Last Minute Shuffle Reflected Poor Parade Execution
Last Minute Shuffle Reflected Poor Parade Execution
(The following letter to the Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee has been received for publication.)
Dear Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee:
The purpose of this letter is to express our dismay at your decision to move the Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard from their traditional Escort Division position to the Third Division during the October 9 parade, and to inquire as to why this decision was made.
While we, the parents of NHS students, appreciate the countless hours you as the Parade Committee donated to this endeavor, we must share how much we do not appreciate the seemingly last-minute decision to relegate our children, as they sweltered in woolen band and velour color guard uniforms, to hours of 80 degree weather in favor of another band being chosen as the first band in the lineup.
The award-winning Newtown Marching Band & Guard deserved the continued honor of ushering in the parade, and the message you sent that they are less important than a visiting band was exceedingly hurtful to these children, who spend hours upon hours each week practicing to proudly represent Newtown in competitions and football games.
We also are very unhappy with the fact there was no warning that this change in line up was going to happen, in order for the children and chaperones to appropriately prepare with more water and by not dressing in their full uniforms hours in advance. If this was a last-minute decision, then it was rather poor execution. If you knew you were going to make this change even the morning before, then it was a serious oversight and a lack of common courtesy to let the NHSMB&G parents know.
Either way, we feel these children are owed an apology, and urge you, moving forward, to continue the tradition of having the Newtown Marching Band & Guard in the Escort Division. It is our townâs parade â our townâs High School Marching Band & Guard students should be kicking it off. Ms Caldwellâs flippant comment (in this weekâs Bee) about why the NHS Marching Band & Guard was moved to the back is unacceptable.
Sincerely,
Robbin Allen
Lillian Bittman
Christine Hadgraft
Ana Paula Machado
Brenda Risko
Isabel Cummings
45 Mile Hill South, Newtown                                   October 12, 2011