This past weekend was Florida's marching band state championships which is run by the Florida Marching Band Coalition. While I had a great time watching my students perform on Saturday, I'm extremely disappointed in FMBC's lack of forethought and consideration for their 1/

students and the audience during retreat.

This year, the finals competition was hosted in an outdoor venue. With no warning, FMBC set off a single firework after the first band and score was announced at retreat. On the field was not only Stoneman Douglas, but JP Taravella, 2/

Coral Springs, and Coral Glades HS... All schools in the Parkland/Coral Springs area that have been affected by the MSD shooting. Immediately there were scattered screams, students looking around, ducking, crying, and experiencing panic attacks. This happened two more times 3/

until I and others brought it to the attention of our directors and the FMBC staff. While I appreciate that they made the decision to stop the fireworks, it was heart breaking to watch and try to console many of our students.

While I'm still angry at FMBC, I'm posting more 4/

to remind others that this is very real and students are strongly affected by triggers. I would by lying if I said I haven't been crying off and on replaying in my head the way my students react to something that others assume is innocent. 5/

Because of 3 fireworks, I have thought about the videos and pictures and stories that were shared from the day of the shooting. I have thought about how there were two other band members who should have been on the field with us this entire season. I have thought about how 6/

younger students who were in middle school at the time of the shooting, watched their older friends break down from their overwhelming emotions. 7/

And if all THIS is what I, someone who wasn't even on campus that day, have been thinking about, I can't even begin to imagine what has been on my students' minds.
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I'm fully aware that at some point our students will have to learn to cope with shocking/loud noises but at a retreat that already takes too long with a large amount of people on and off the field sensitive to these triggers, it was unprecedented and insensitive. 9/

At this time, FMBC has not yet issued a formal apology on their website nor social media.
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Update: Today the exec. director of FMBC has reached out to the MSD band program as well as explained her innocent thought process behind choosing to have fireworks. We are all learning how to adapt to this new environment and I trust FMBC will be more cognizant in the future