Grand Haven High School Choirs 17001 Ferris Street Grand Haven, MI 49417 850-6131

September 2016 Dear Choir Parent: Welcome to the high school choir program! Your child has made a commitment to choir which will help prepare them for a wonderful life. Life skills such as creative problem solving and critical thinking, working together in a diverse group, setting and achieving short and long term goals, taking risks in a supportive environment, and producing excellence are just a few of the benefits of being in the choir. Please take time to view/download our PERFORMANCE CARD (and then put it on the refrigerator), ATTENDANCE POLICY and GRADING POLICY. We are excited about working together to continue our tradition of excellence. REMIND: One way we will be communicating with you and your students this year is Remind. This is a great technology tool to get fast reminders about up-coming events in the choir program. Please look at the included information. UNIFORMS: Thank you to our many choir parents and students who helped with uniforms. If your student missed uniform fittings during orientation, we are working hard to get them fitted in the first two weeks of school. There is a one time $10 uniform fee to cover the cost of dry cleaning and alterations. CHOIR BOOSTERS: Every choir parent is automatically a member of our Choir Boosters! We have an elected Executive Board already in place, but there are many ways you can become involved and volunteer. Please take a look at the parent signature sheet for some beginning ways to serve. You will hear more about our Boosters and opportunities to help at the Fall Concert and potluck. After you read through our performance schedule, attendance policy and grading policy please fill out the Grand Haven Choir Handbook Form at www.grandhavenchoirs.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call one of us. We want your child to succeed and will work together with you to make that happen. Thank you very much. Sincerely,

Juli Dick [email protected] 850-6131

Benjamin Rodgers [email protected] 850-6195

REMIND  Remind is a safe way for teachers to text message students and stay in touch with parents for free. Teachers can send texts to students and parents phones without ever having to share their own phone number. Students and parents also never have to share their own phone number with teachers. We are encouraging all parents and students to subscribe to this tool in order to get important reminders about choir events.  Each choir will have a unique code. This allows us to send messages specifically for that choir or a general message that applies to all the choirs.  To subscribe, find your student’s choir below, and simply text that code to 616-604-4287.  We highly encourage all students and parents to use this valuable and easy communication tool.

Women’s Chorus (2nd hour) Advanced Women’s (3rd hour) Choral Ensemble (4th hour) Chamber Choir (5th hour) Freshman Chorale (6th hour)

CODE CODE CODE CODE CODE

@ghchorusc @ghadvanced @ghensemble @ghchamberc @ghfreshman

SOCIAL MEDIA www.grandhavenchoirs.org

 All needed information regarding the Grand Haven High School Choir program can be found on our website: www.grandhavenchoirs.org.

Twitter

 Follow the GHHS Choirs on Twitter: @jdchoirteach

Facebook

 Please join our Facebook family and follow us at GH Choirs

ATTENDANCE POLICY   

All choir students are expected and required to be at all concerts, scheduled choir events and extra rehearsals. Choir is a team effort and participation of each person is vital for the success of all. The choir calendar is passed out on the first week of school. Students and parents are expected to schedule around concerts, scheduled choir events and any extra rehearsals.

EXCUSED ABSENCES    

There are occasions where it becomes necessary for a student to miss a concert, scheduled choir event or extra rehearsal. The student must fill out the Absence Request Form (see form on website) two weeks in advance of the requested absence in order for the director to determine the status of excused or unexcused. Please understand that work, vacations, birthday parties, etc are not considered excused absences. Students whose absence has been excused may make up the time missed in order to receive their performance grade.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE ABSENCE   

For emergency situations such as sudden illness, hospitalization, or death in the family, the director may excuse an absence. If you find yourself in an emergency situation which causes you to miss a choir event call 616-8506131, when possible, and leave a message. These numbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone call should be made within 24 hours of the emergency.

CHOIR AND SCHOOL SPONSORED ATHLETIC DECISION MAKING POLICY (entire document found in student handbook)   

A choir performance takes precedence over an athletic practice. An athletic game/competition takes precedence over a choir rehearsal. A choir or athletic state sponsored event takes priority.

PERFORMANCE/GAME CONFLICT  

In the event that a performance and athletic game/competition are in conflict, the student must notify the director using the Absence Request Form two weeks in advance of the conflict. This allows time for the teacher and the coach to communicate and work out an acceptable solution for both parties.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES   

Unexcused absences will result in a zero for the performance missed. Unexcused tardies will result in a lowered performance grade. Unexcused tardies/absences cannot be made up.

Why are you taking choir if you are not coming to the performances?

GRADING POLICY Participation - 20%  Posture  proper use of the voice  music, folder, pencil  score marking  attitude of attentiveness Daily Attendance - 5%  daily attendance  on time to class This grade is determined by the quality of participation on a daily basis.

WRITTEN WORK

45%

Homework - 20%  diagramming music  theory worksheets  concert critiques  writing assignments Quizzes/Tests - 25%  singing tests  sight reading tests  theory quizzes/tests This grade is determined by the quality of participation on an assigned basis.

PERFORMANCE   

30%

Fall, Winter, Spring Concerts (concert etiquette is part of each concert grade) MSVMA Events (festival, solo & ensemble, Youth Arts) Scheduled Choir Events (CCR, Inauguration) This grade is determined by the quality of participation on a performance basis.

MASTERY LEARNING POLICY  



It is our goal to ensure that everyone reaches 83% mastery level (a B grade) in every concept taught in choir. We strongly believe that all students can learn, and we wish to have every student leave our class feeling confident and literate in music and learning skills. If you receive less than 83% on a homework assignment (with reasonable effort), quiz or test, you can decide to retake the assignment, quiz or test. This should be completed one week after the quiz or test has been returned to you. There will be opportunities to work with a teacher or section leader to complete worksheets or study guides. If your retake has a lower score than your original, the first score will be used. Give it a try. You can’t lose. You can only do better. Remember, you must communicate with us if you wish to do this. We’ll work it out. Together.

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM ONLINE IF YOU ARE ABLE Grand Haven Choral Student Agreement Form 2016-2017 Please sign and return this form by Friday, Septembe

r 23rd

, 2016:

We have read the Grand Haven Choir Handbook. Our signature indicates that as members of the Grand Haven Choral Program, we agree to abide by these rules and guidelines. ______________________________

_______________________________

Parent Signature

Student Signature

Comprehensive Permission Form I hereby give my permission for my son/daughter _________________________ to attend all activities related to the Grand Haven Choral Program during the 2016-2017 school year. I understand that all school rules will be enforced at all school sponsored activities. In the event of an injury or illness to my child while under the supervision of school personnel, I know that I will be contacted for permission and directions regarding emergency treatment. If I cannot be contacted, my signature below indicates permission for any necessary treatment to be given. Name of parent/guardian_______________________________________ Home Phone:_______________________

Work Phone:________________________

Email Address:__________________________________________ Person to contact if parent cannot be reached: Name____________________________

Phone_____________________________

Relationship to Student___________________________________________________

Does your child have any medical problems we should be aware of?

Does your child take any medications regularly?

Yes___ No___

If yes, please describe________________________________________________ Does your child need assistance administering this medication?

Yes___

No___

Other Information: May we place pictures/video, related to choir, of your child on our website?

Yes___

No___

I am interested in: (check all that apply)

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Serving on the Choir Booster Board

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Volunteering for Choir events and/or Uniform needs

PARENT’S / GUARDIAN’S SIGNATURE_______________________________ DATE_____________