2016-17 Honors Choir Members' Handbook

Columbia Public Schools

5th Grade Honors Choir

MEMBER’S HANDBOOK

2016-2017

     The Columbia Public Schools 5th Grade Honors Choir is a 130 member ensemble with students from every of the 21 elementary schools in Columbia and some surrounding districts as well. The Honors Choir has traveled extensively and performed at the Missouri Music Educators Convention in Osage Beach, MO. Founded by educators Susan Altomari and Mary Beth Ming in 1987, the Honors Choir is proud to be starting their 30th season. Although the personnel for the ensemble changes every year, students are always thrilled to be joining the rich history of choral music in mid-Missouri.

       

        In this handbook, you will find valuable information concerning our goals, policies, concerns, and uniforms.  Please read the handbook carefully and if you have questions, feel free to contact me via email or in person.  Thanks in advance for all your support, both for me and for your child, to make this a fun, exciting year of choral music!

Sincerely,

Mr. Robert Battle

Director, CPS Fifth Grade Honors Choir

JHoeppner@CPSk12.org

Goals

Columbia Public Schools Fifth Grade Honors Choir members will receive training in appropriate & healthy voice production and experience in ensemble singing.  Participation in the choir provides an opportunity to perform music that is often more challenging than singers may have previously experienced, and it is also an opportunity to build social relationships that will benefit them as they progress into advanced levels of music.  Rehearsals, therefore, must be a high priority for you.  Weekly attendance is mandatory.  Unexcused absences could result in dismissal from the choir.

Sometimes, your child may not always realize the impact of the wonderful growing pains of more advanced and rigorous learning. It is essential to the process to have your support when “it just seems too hard.”

Honors Choir will begin on Tuesday, September 6.  Our rehearsals are in the West Middle School Choir Room from 4:00-5:15 on Tuesdays.  This year’s choir will have four major performances.  We have tried not to “overbook” your singers with concerts, because we know that families are often involved in many other activities.  These concerts need to go on your family calendars immediately to avoid conflicts that may arise.  There may be some additional performances that will be scheduled.  I will give you notice about these performances well in advance of the dates.

In short, our goals are hopefully your goals!  We want every singer to have the best musical experience possible.  This can be realized only through dedication, regular attendance, and hard work.  Yes, choral singing takes a lot of work, but it is also extremely rewarding!

Policies        

1) Honors Choir members MUST continue to participate in their own school choirs. There is zero exception to this rule.

2) Three absences will result in a conference with the choir directors to discuss if your singer should continue with the ensemble. If your singer has other obligations such as sports or clubs that overlap with the honors choir, then your family will need to make a decision about what obligation you will commit to. We certainly understand when difficult decisions have to be made.

3) Honors Choir members are very visible representatives of our schools.  Their conduct and behavior is very important, and will be redirected in our group as needed. If there are major or multiple incidents, a singer’s parent will be contacted. Students who do not improve will be dismissed from the choir.

4) We will have rehearsals at our regularly scheduled time on Tuesdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m.  All rehearsals will be at West Middle School in the choir room, unless otherwise notified.

5) If school is not in session, we will not meet.

6) All of our directors are involved in Tuesday evening activities.  Parents must pick up their children no later than 5:30.  Students whose parents are chronically late will be dismissed from the choir.

7) All uniforms must meet the standards set out in the uniform section of this handbook.  Cardigans are provided; other items such as shirts, skirts, pants, socks, and shoes are provided by the family of the choir member. If a need exists, please contact JoAnna Hoeppner at jhoeppner@cpsk12.org  

Directing Staff

Robert Battle, Lange Middle School

Darla Lenz, Gentry Middle School

Christine Nichols, Jefferson Middle School

JoAnna Hoeppner, Benton Elementary

Concerns

• Honors Choir members should plan to be dropped off no earlier than 3:45PM and no later than 4:00.  Mr. Battle will be unavailable for supervision before 3:45 because of other duties.
• Students may choose to have a water bottle with them at rehearsals but gum chewing is forbidden, and snacks should be finished outside the choir room before we begin rehearsal.
• Choir members need to be picked up promptly when rehearsals are over.  Membership can be terminated if directors have to wait frequently for a student to be picked up.  We will not leave children waiting unattended, but our own schedules do not allow us to wait for late parents.  Please be respectful of our time with our families.

Uniforms

The uniform for concerts is as follow unless otherwise noted:

Bottoms: Black skirts with black tights, black pants with black socks

Shoes: Black dress shoes

Tops: All students will need a white button collared shirt. Students will be provided a burgundy cardigan with a gold neck tie. The white shirt does not need to have a certain arm length; it just simply needs to have a collar that can hold a necktie with a button. This would include button down dress shirts or polo shirts.

The cardigans and necktie are property of Columbia Public Schools.

Please contact JoAnna Hoeppner(jhoeppner@cpsk12.org) if purchasing a shirt and pants or a skirt is a problem for you.  We will provide you with a donated uniform or look for a source of alternative funding.  I do not want this to prevent any child who has qualified from participating.