Copyright 2009. Lake Jackson Intermediate Choir Program. All rights reserved.
Lake Jackson Intermediate School
Panther Choir
David Hill – Director
Wk (979) 730-7250 ext. 27223 Hm (979) 297-0113
Welcome everyone to the Lake Jackson Intermediate Panther Choir! We have an exciting challenge ahead of us this year, to maintain the high standard for those who came before us and to continue that tradition for the present and the future. We will be sure to have a lot of fun along the way, too!
Once again, welcome. I am here for you. Let me help you in any way that I can. Good luck to you all in this new year.
I will be expecting great things from all of you this year. My expectations of your performance and maturity will be high. This is in the hope that you all will feel greater pride in your accomplishments. When you feel good about yourself and what you are doing, then anything becomes possible.
Sincerely,
David Hill, Choir Director
The goal of our choir program is to develop individual potential as far as possible. The use of music, as a means of self-expression and communication, is seen as a primary ingredient in that development. We will strive to instill in our students a sense of responsibility and maturity. In order to achieve this, we will participate to the best of our abilities in all aspects of the school experience. We will give the best of ourselves individually so that we as a whole may help each other attain the highest level of performance, not only in music, but also in life.
CHOIR ROOM RULES & EXPECTATIONS
1. Follow all directions immediately and without question or comment.
2. Be in your seat with all your materials when the tardy bell rings.
3. You must bring all classroom supplies everyday.
4. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
5. Treat all people with respect and courtesy. No derogatory or rude language.
These things will be expected of every choir member every day. Those who do not meet these minimum behavior standards will be given consequences according to the choir’s discipline plan. These 6 steps start over every 6 weeks.
CONSEQUENCES
1. Verbal Warning
2. Lunch D-Hall & Written Responsibility Statement
3. Parent Contact
4. After-School D-Hall & Written Responsibility Essay
5. Parent Conference
6. Office Referral
GRADING POLICY
I. Performance and Rehearsal Attendance - 75%
Performances are a key component of the TEKS and are a primary means of evaluation of the student’s progress.
Section Rehearsals are required of every choir member. They are once a week before school. Failure to attend sectionals is recorded as a zero in the grade book. One point will be deducted for every minute a student is late. Missed sectionals can be made up after school. Make-ups must take place before the next scheduled sectional.
Extra Rehearsals may be called occasionally. Any rehearsal for which the students and parents are given at least one weeks advance written notice will be considered a required rehearsal for which a grade will be given.
II. Participation, Quizzes & Tests - 25%
Students will be given a grade based on their attitude and effort in class.
Students will also be tested over sight-reading, ear training, and music literacy, proficiency on their performance literature, and music theory.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to participate in extra-curricular events, students must earn a grade of 70 or above in all subjects. If a student receives a grade lower than a 70 in any class, he/she will not be allowed to participate in any extra-curricular events until:
1. Seven days after the progress reports are issued and the progress report verifies the student is no longer failing any classes or…
2. Seven days after the end of the current six weeks and the student has not received a grade lower than that of 70 in any classes.
Please note: progress reports were invented to allow students to regain eligibility earlier, without having to wait until the next six weeks report card. If a student passes on the six weeks report card, a failing grade on the progress report cannot make them ineligible. Please see explanation below.
Extra-curricular events, such as Solo & Ensemble, Region Auditions, Region Clinic/Concert, UIL Choral Contest, Festival Competitions, off-campus performances and field trips are all instances where a student must be academically eligible in order to participate. Students who are ineligible are expected to perform in local concerts.
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their eligibility status! The director will check eligibility of all students prior to an event. Anyone found to be ineligible at that time will not be allowed to participate.
TRANSPORTATION
By law, and per district policy, students who participate in school-sponsored trips shall be required to ride in transportation provided by the district to and from the event. This may include busses, vans and sometimes passenger cars.
If a parent wishes to have their child ride with another parent to or from an event, they need to obtain an Alternate Transportation form in the principal’s office. This form must be notarized and signed by the principal prior to the event. Students are permitted to ride only with the parents or legal guardians of another student in these instances. They may not ride with older brothers or sisters, etc.
SUPPLIES
Students should keep a pencil in their folder to mark their music. These folders may be taken home for extra study or may be left in the choir room. Students are responsible for keeping all necessary copies of music and or study sheets in their folder.
FUNDRAISERS
We will be doing some fundraising this year for a couple of important reasons. We would like to give the students an opportunity to attend a music festival in April of next year. The cost of such a trip will be determined and published at a later date. The second project is that of purchasing additional choir equipment, and additional uniforms for the future, etc. To do all of these projects will require some hard work, but it will be well worth it.
The director and/or booster club treasurer will keep a record of all money earned by each individual student. All money for students shall be collected, receipted, counted and deposited to the appropriate choir account. This money is to be used for choir activities such as trips, banquets and other such events. Monies generated by students leaving the choir program revert back to the general choir fund. It may not (by state law), be given to students for other purposes.
MONEY
All money to be turned in for any purpose (fundraisers, contest entry fees, etc.) must be given to the director in a sealed envelope. Please be sure to write the student’s name, the amount of money enclosed, the date, student’s class period and what the money is for, on the front of the envelope. A receipt will be placed in the student’s choir folder as soon as processing is complete.
Students will have issued to them a ‘concert black’ uniform. These uniforms have been purchased by the booster club over a number of years of fund-raising and should be treated with the utmost respect. Unlike almost every other choir program I know, our uniforms are each hand sewn. It is the responsibility of the student to keep up with all parts of the uniform at all times. The uniforms consist of a tux vest, tux shirt, and pants for the boys, and a full length dress along with a strand of pearls for the girls. (Pearls are issued at the event). Uniforms will be issued in a black nylon garment bag. The boys will provide black dress shoes and black socks. The girls will provide black hose (knee hi’s are acceptable), black dress shoes (closed-toed and with a low or no heel), and black bras.
We need your help in keeping these uniforms in top condition for years to come, so here are a few notes:
Please note that additional jewelry is not part of the uniform (watches, earrings, necklaces, etc.), so leave these items at home. Uniformity, when going to a contest, is a factor in the judging.
The choir t-shirt is available for sale. This is the uniform we wear when we travel and when we sing at informal concerts. This is also a great way to promote our organization, to show the pride we have here at LJI.
MONETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHOIR
This is intended to give you some advanced notice of costs that will be forthcoming this year. There may be others we don’t know about as of yet.
REQUIRED
1. Choir T-Shirt - The cost is $9.00 for Youth and Adult sizes Small to Extra Large. They are $10.00 for 2X and 3X.
2. Uniform Maintenance fee - $15.00.
3. 1” black 3-ring binder - $2.00
**Note: Replacement costs of the concert dress uniforms and garment bag = $85.00
EXTRAS
FORMS TO BE RETURNED BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010
Medical Release Form
Parent Volunteer Form
LJI Choir Order/Payment Form
Handbook Acknowledgement Form
