River Valley Intermediate School Choir Department Colleen Petty, Choir Director (254) 761-5699 x. 4810 Parent/Student Handbook 2013-2014 Welcome to the choral program at River Valley Intermediate School! I am dedicated to making this program a positive experience for all of the students involved as well as an exciting time of accomplishment and success through hard work. In order for this to occur, I ask each parent and student to take an active role in helping to achieve these goals. This handbook contains a great deal of information concerning the responsibilities and privileges of being a member of the River Valley choral program. It contains everything you will need to know for the school year. Should anything change, I will inform the students and parents in writing as soon as possible. Please read the handbook carefully, complete the last page and return only the last page to Mrs. Petty no later than Friday, September 13, 2013. I am excited that you have joined us this year! I am here to help you have fun, work hard, and experience tremendous musical growth and success. I hope you re ready for a great year! Sing cerely, Colleen.petty@midwayisd.org
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN River Valley Intermediate School Choir The rules and procedures used in choir are designed to create a supportive and positive environment that encourages student learning and success. These rules also enable our choir classroom to run smoothly and effectively to maximize active musical growth. In addition to the MISD Code of Conduct, all choir students are to adhere to the following: Choir Room Rules: 1. Stay focused on the director during the lesson. 2. Have a pencil in choir EVERYDAY! 3. Be ready to sing when the bell rings. 4. Raise your hand and wait for Mrs. Petty to call on you. If You Choose to Break a Rule (CONSEQUENCES): First Time: Verbal Warning. Mark next to student s name on seating chart. Second Time: Third Time: Fourth Time: Student will be sent to Refocus Area to copy appropriate Refocus Activity. Additional mark on seating chart. Lunch detention will be issued. Parents will be notified (via email or phone call). Sent to Refocus Area to complete an Action Plan. The student will sign the action plan and parents will be called to discuss the action plan. (The students will be able to start over each progress reporting period, meaning every three weeks.) *ANY VIOLATION OF THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WILL IMMEDIATELY RESULT IN AN OFFICE REFERRAL AND/OR POSSIBLE REMOVAL FROM CHOIR. REWARDS: Praise (daily) Positive notes home (random) STAR SINGER awards (awarded to two choir students weekly one boy and one girl) Enrichment Activities (classroom games and outdoor activities) The joy of learning (each day of the school year)
TARDY POLICY: Students are considered tardy to choir if they are not in their assigned seat with the appropriate materials when the bell rings (Rule #3). Tardies will be treated with the consequences outlined above. Every fourth tardy will be reported to Mr. Hughlett. GRADES Choir Grade: A student s nine weeks grade will include, but not be limited to the following: *Evaluation: Attendance and participation in ALL required concerts/performances (in bold print on the attached calendar) 40% OF THE OVERALL GRADE *Practice: Class participation in ALL activities 30% OF THE OVERALL GRADE *Application: Periodic exams on essential musical elements, learned music, and individual sight-reading evaluations. 30% OF THE OVERALL GRADE A grade of 90%-100% (A) indicates that a student is participating consistently and performing well in most or all areas of choir. A grade lower than 90% should indicate to you that a problem exists in one or more areas of the student s performance or participation. At any time during the nine weeks period, you may contact me (email is the best way) concerning your son/daughter s grade in choir. REQUIRED SUPPLIES: Folio folder with brads and pockets (red for girls, blue for boys.) Pencil (Students will keep their folder and pencil in a designated place in the choir room.) *Choir folders must be turned in on or before Friday, September 13, 2013. OPTIONAL SUPPLIES: Students may bring a bottle of water to choir class; this will eliminate sending students to the drinking fountains during a lesson. Many other teachers do not allow water bottles to be brought into class so make sure your student is aware this is for choir ONLY!! I recommend students keep an empty water bottle in their locker and fill it up on the way to choir. (This way, water will not get spilled on textbooks while in the locker.) Each student may also bring a box of tissue to donate to the choir room.
UNIFORMS 6 th Grade Choir Members ***All 6 th grade choir members will be required to purchase the choir t-shirt as their uniform for all required concerts throughout the year. The cost of the choir t-shirt is $10 and must be turned in to Mrs. Petty no later than Friday, October 4th. The t-shirt will be worn with long khaki pants or a khaki skirt for every concert. Girls choir members may choose either pants or a dress code appropriate skirt. Please make checks payable to Midway ISD. (Cash is also accepted.) CONCERTS The students will be working each and every day on music-reading skills as well as learning a varied repertoire of music. Our daily work comes to fruition at our concerts and various performances throughout the year. The concerts highlighted in bold print on the attached calendar are considered curricular and are, therefore, required for your student to attend. Please make every effort to make sure your student attends each of the required concerts. Students may receive an excused absence for illness or family emergency. If a student has to miss a required concert, written notification BEFORE the concert is always encouraged. I want to encourage the students to attend other musical events such as choral concerts, musicals, symphony performances, opera etc. Being an informed and intelligent consumer of music is just as important as being a good performer! For this reason, students will receive extra credit daily grades for concerts attended (other than those required). They simply bring the concert program to the choir room with their name on it. (Discretion as to the types of concerts receiving credit will remain with Mrs. Petty). WEBSITE Don t forget to check the River Valley Choir website on a regular basis. If you have questions about upcoming events, you will be able to access this type of information on the website. Two ways to find the choir website: 1. Type in: www.midwayisd.org/finearts, on the side bar select Fine Arts Departments, select Choir and then click on River Valley Intermediate School. 2. Type in: www.midwayisd.org, Choose River Valley from the Select a School drop-down menu at the top of the page, Click on the Staff tab, Select Colleen Petty from the list.
Please sign and return to Mrs. Petty by September 13, 2013. NAME OF STUDENT We have read and agree to the provision regarding classroom management and consequences in choir. We understand the rules and the kind of behavior that is expected from students on a daily basis. We have read and agree to the uniform requirements for participation in the River Valley choir program. We have received a calendar stating River Valley Intermediate School choir concert dates for the 2013-2014 school year. We understand and agree to the policy regarding required participation and grading for these events. We agree to make every effort to see that this student attends all performances which are required for participation in this program. DATE PARENT SIGNATURE Opportunities to Volunteer! If you would like to help out with choir events this year, please fill in your contact email address below. I will contact you when volunteers are needed! Thank you! ~Mrs. Petty I am interested in helping with choir events. Please select one: Trip chaperone Supervising students during one concert Stage Decoration Contact email address: I will not be able to help with choir events this year.