Thursday, March 28, 2024

GHS Choir members working toward Disneyland trip in 2025

Posted

California, here they come.

The Gatesville High School choir program's plan for a visit to the Grand Canyon and Southern California in the summer of 2025 was approved by the Gatesville Independent School District Board of Trustees on May 15.

Cherith Wells, director of the GISD choral program, said the trip, with the theme, California Dreamin', was previously proposed in 2019 before COVID-19 disrupted the plans.

Participating choir members and sponsors will travel by bus to the Los Angeles and Anaheim area, with a visit to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam along the way. There's also a potential college visit, to Northern Arizona University, as well.

The trip will feature two days at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure with a visit to the Santa Monica Pier and beach "for a real ocean experience," Wells said.

She added that to unify the theme with upcoming performances, the Showstoppers music theme for that school year would focus on a Disney element.

The trip will also include a visit to Hollywood and a tour of the Warner Brothers Studio.

"The cost is approximately $1,500 per person, which is the same as what it would have been in 2019," Wells said. "The travel agent is the same one used by the band to plan their trip to Disney World. The agent said he is more focused on the experience for the students and not making a lot of money. We priced the cost with another travel agent, and for the same trip it was $2,400."

Wells said the cost includes transportation, lodging, meals and all admission fees.

"We would take the trip in 2025, which gives students and parents two full years to fund raise," Wells said.' We would have the traditional sales such as trash bags, chocolate and show tickets. We also plan to restart the booster club. There would be low monthly payments of $75 to $100 even without fundraising."

Wells said if the district or boosters are able to pay the $19,000 cost of bus transportation, the cost for students would be even lower. She also noted that online fundraising is also an option.

The GHS band has a trip to Disney World planned for this summer, but Wells said the band is also interested in the possibility of joining the choir on its trip to California in 2025.

"They asked how I'd feel about the band going too, and I said, 'Sure, the more the merrier," Wells said.

One bus seats 56, and there are currently 135 students in choir in grades 7-10, which would potentially take the trip in 2025. She said if there is more interest, an additional bus could be added.

"Talking to kids and parents, there's a huge amount of excitement, " she said. "But when it comes to signing the paper and writing the check, it's a huge (commitment)."

The board unanimously approved the request.

"Enjoy your trip," said school board President Charles Ament.