Grisham Choir Handbook

GRISHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR

HANDBOOK

Welcome to the Choir Program at Grisham Middle School.  This handbook will serve to inform students and parents of the choir program here at Grisham and to address questions and concerns that may arise throughout the school year.  Please take the time to read the handbook thoroughly and keep it for a reference.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please return the handbook form that acknowledges that both the student and the parent have read and reviewed the information in the handbook, especially the attendance policy.

Please return this form by Monday, September 24^th.

I am very excited to be here at Grisham working with your children, and I am looking forward to a great year!

Chad Garrels

512-428-2669                            Choir Office

CLASSROOM GUIDELINES

To provide for a positive learning environment for all Grisham Choir students, the following guidelines will be observed:

1.      Respect your director, fellow students, and property.

2.      Please keep gum, food or drink out of the choir room and practice rooms.  Water in a clear plastic bottle is allowed.

3.      Students should be in their assigned place with their supplies (choir folder, sharpened pencil, and necessary worksheets/music) when the bell rings.

4.      Pianos, keyboards, and stereo equipment are to be used ONLY with the permission of the choir director.  Please respect all books, folders, chairs, stands, and music.

5.      Sing to the best of your ability at all times. 

6.      Stay focused during rehearsals.  If your section is not singing, study your part quietly and listen and learn from your fellow singers.

CONSEQUENCES

        1^st offense – verbal warning

        2^nd offense – loss of participation points

        3^rd offense – student/teacher conference

        4^th offense – parent/teacher conference

        5th offense – Administrative referral

GRADING POLICY

PARTICIPATION – 40%

Students will begin each week with 100 points.  10 points will be taken off of the weekly points for any offenses (lack of participation, poor posture, gum/food/drink, talking or distracting others, no pencil, etc.)

SINGING/WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS – 20 %

This grade includes worksheets, periodic sight-singing tests, and periodic singing test of current choir music repertoire.

PERFORMANCE – 40 %

Concert Attendance:  The Round Rock ISD School Board has determined that because choir is a performing art, performances are extensions of class time.  Scheduled public performances are the ultimate goal of our class rehearsals, and therefore students MUST be present!  Concerts for the year are already on the school calendar and included in this handbook; therefore, necessary arrangements should be made to insure attendance.  Students cannot be excused from a concert because of a lack of transportation.  An absence from a concert may be excused for an illness (documented with a doctor’s note) or extreme emergency (verified by the guardian):  the student will then be expected to do a written assignment for up to 80% of the concert grade.  An absence for any other reason will result in a grade of zero, and therefore a failing grade for the 6-weeks.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

Choir students are responsible for maintaining high academic standards.  Eligibility rules for participation are as follows – these UIL rules can be very confusing.  It is strongly recommended that students stay in communication with teachers if a student is in danger of becoming ineligible.

          Eligibility Process:

1.        All students are eligible the first six weeks of school.

2.        At the end of the first six weeks, if the student has below a 70% in one or more subjects he/she will not be permitted to participate in extra-curricular activities for the next three weeks.

3.        An ineligible student may regain eligibility at the end of the next three-week grading period.  If the student is about 70% in ALL subjects, he/she will be eligible to participate in activities following a one-week grade period.  If he/she is below 70% in any class then the student will continue to be ineligible for the remainder of the grading period.

4.        Students regain eligibility by earning 70% or above in ALL classes on the next six weeks report card

Exceptions:  The following choir activites are considered co-curricular.  ALL students, eligible and ineligible, are required to attend.

1.        Fall Concert

2.        Winter Concert

3.        Spring Concert

Any student receiving an incomplete (I) on his/her report card is considered “ineligible” UNTIL the incomplete is cleared.

Students are encouraged to notify their director as soon as possible if they suspect that a grade is less than acceptable.  It is sometimes possible to offer suggestions and/or locate tutors from within the choir program.

UNIFORMS

All choir students will need to purchase a Grisham Choir T-shirt for the school year.  We will use these as our informal uniform, along with plain long blue jeans and plain tennis shoes.  Pleas make arrangement for these items!  T-shirts are $10.00.  The T-shirt must be tucked in, and the jeans need to FIT (boy, no saggy/baggy pants).  When wearing informal uniforms, long hair and long bangs should be pulled away from the face, and jewelry should be plain and limited.  No bling!  If you absolutely must wear earrings only small, plain studs or hoops (smaller than what your pinky could fit through) are allowed.  Necklaces that are always on may be worn if tucked into the shirt.  Girls, no sparkly belts or hair accessories either!  Any “extra items” will be collected and kept in a secure location until after the event.

In addition all choir members will have a formal uniform:

·                   Girls will be assigned a black concert dress form Grisham Middle School, to be worn with black closed-toed dress shoes (no sandals or flip-flops) provided by the student.

·                   Rules for hair and jewelry are the same as with the informal uniform, but with the following changes:  no watches, bracelets, or necklaces AT ALL.  Stud earrings/tiny hoop earrings are all that are allowed.

·                   A formal uniform maintenance/cleaning fee of $15.00 per student is required for each uniform issued.

FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES

The Grisham Middle School Choir program is enhanced by many extra activities for which the Round Rock IDS or campus funds are not available.  Due to this fact, the choral department engages in fund raising activities to help students with cost of trips, awards, music, accompanists, parties, and purchase of additional materials for the choral music department.  We encourage all choral students to participate in fund raising activities to benefit each student in the choral department; however, students may elect not to participate in fund-raising and have a donation made in his/her name to the choral department to cover expenses for the year.  Under no circumstance can fundraising money be refunded to students.  NO STUDENT WILL BE DENIED PARTICIPATION IN CHOIR EVENTS DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.  Please speak to the director so that arrangements can be made for those in need of consideration.

PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS

One of the advantages of being in the Grisham Choir Program is the availability of weekly private lessons.  This is an optional enrichment opportunity for the students to study privately with a professional voice teacher.  This is a big help for students who are interested in advancing quickly within our choir program, those students that need additional reinforcement, and those students participating in Solo & Ensemble Contest or Region Choir auditions.

·                    Thirty-minute lessons are scheduled before and after school; they are $17.00 and given once a week.  Monthly payments of $68.00 are expected at the first lesson of each month and are made payable to the private instructor.

·                    Twenty-two minute lessons are scheduled during class time where possible (first-come, first-served!); they are $12.00 and also given once a week.  Monthly payments of $48.00 are expected at the first lesson of each month and are made payable to the private instructor.

·                    More information and applications for enrollment are available from the choir office.

Grisham Choir Calendar

2007-2008

This calendar lists all the dates currently scheduled for Grisham choral activities for the school year.  Some dates may change and/or be added as the year progresses.  If this occurs, students will be given updated calendars once changes have been made.

SEPTEMBER

Fri. 21^st         Westwood Homecoming Concert           RRISD Athletic Complex

OCTOBER

Tues. 23^rd      Fall Concert                                                            Grisham Cafeteria

NOVEMBER

Sat. 10^th          Solo & Ensemble Contest                            Rideview M.S.

DECEMBER

Tue. 18^th        Winter Concert                                           Grisham Cafeteria

FEBRUARY

Sat. 2^nd            All-Region Choir Auditions             Henry M.S.

Sat. 9^th            All-Region Choir Clinic/Concert                Georgetown PAC

MARCH

Sat. 29^th         Pre-UIL Concert                                         CD Fulkes MS

APRIL

Fri. 4^th           Pre-UIL Lock-in                                         Grisham Choir Room

Wed. 9^th or Thur. 10^th

            UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest              Georgetown PAC

MAY

Thur. 15^th      Spring Revue                                               TBA

Events in BOLD are required for everyone, and are 40% of the six weeks grade!!!

HANDBOOK FORM

Student:

I, _________________, acknowledge that I have received a

        (print name)

copy of the Grisham Choir Handbook and have read, understand, and agree to follow all rules, policies, and procedures stated therein.

____________________________ Date _______________

(student signature)

Parent:

I, _______________, acknowledge that I have received a

                (print name)

copy of the Grisham Choir Handbook and have read, understand, and agree to follow all rules, policies, and procedures stated therein.

___________________________ Date ________________

                                (parent signature)