Columbia Public Schools
5th Grade Honors Choir
2019-2020 SINGER’S HANDBOOK
The Columbia Public Schools 5th Grade Honors Choir is a 120-member ensemble with students from each of the 22 elementary schools in Columbia. The Honors Choir has traveled extensively and performed at the Missouri Music Educators Convention, as well as the Missouri Schools Boards’ Association Convention, both in Osage Beach, MO. Founded by educators Susan Altomari and Mary Beth Ming in 1987, the Honors Choir is proud to be starting their 33rd 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, contact Ms. Tevebaugh (Business Director) via email, phone, or in person. Thank you in advance for all of your support, both for the 5th Grade Honors Choir team and for your child, to make this a fun, exciting year of choral music!
Sincerely,
Christine Nichols
Co-Director, CPS 5th Grade Honors Choir
Elizabeth Tummons
Co-Director, CPS 5th Grade Honors Choir
Lindsey Tevebaugh
Business Director, CPS 5th Grade Honors Choir
Goals
Columbia Public Schools 5th Grade Honors Choir members will receive training in age appropriate, healthy vocal 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 Honors Choir singers. Weekly attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences could result in dismissal from the choir.
Honors Choir rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Our rehearsals are in the West Middle School Choir Room from 4:00pm-5:15pm every Tuesday. This year’s choir will have three 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 should please be marked in your family calendars immediately to avoid conflicts that may arise. There may be some additional performances that will be scheduled. Notice will be given about these potential 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 are zero exceptions 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 to which obligation you will commit. 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 (both at their home school and in Honors Choir rehearsals), 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) If school is not in session, we will not meet.
5) All of our directors are involved in Tuesday evening activities. Parents must pick up their children no later than 5:30pm. Students whose parents are chronically late will be dismissed from the choir.
6) All uniforms must meet the standards set out in the uniform section of this handbook. Cardigans and ties 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 Ms. Tevebaugh at LTevebaugh@cpsk12.org.
Directing Staff
Christine Nichols, Jefferson Middle School
Elizabeth Tummons, Locust Street Expressive Arts School
Lindsey Tevebaugh, West Boulevard Elementary School
James Melton, Columbia Public Schools Fine Arts Coordinator
General Procedures
- Honors Choir members should plan to be dropped off no earlier than 3:45pm and no later than 4:00pm. Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Tummons, and Ms. Tevebaugh will be unavailable for supervision before 3:45 because of other duties.
- Students and/or family members are not to knock on the choir room doors if they arrive prior to 3:45pm. The choir director at West Middle School has rehearsals in the space up until 3:45pm and she is not to be bothered.
- Students may choose to have a water bottle with them at rehearsals, but gum is not allowed. Snacks must be eaten outside of the choir room before rehearsal begins.
- 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 follows unless otherwise noted:
Bottoms: Black skirts with black tights or black dress pants with black socks
Shoes: Black dress shoes
Tops: All students will need a white collared shirt. Students will be provided a burgundy cardigan with a gold necktie. The white shirt does not need to have a certain arm length; it simply needs to have a collar that can hold a clip-on necktie. This would include button down dress shirts or polo shirts.
Students will be given a burgundy cardigan and a gold necktie prior to each concert. These items are the property of Columbia Public Schools and will not be kept at the end of the season.
Please contact Ms. Tevebaugh (LTevebaugh@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. We do not want this to prevent any child who has qualified from participating!
Fundraising Project
The fundraiser project will kick off on September 3 and will conclude on September 24 (this is day orders and money need to be turned in). All orders will be delivered and distributed on October 22 to be taken home by your singer after rehearsal. It is of the utmost importance that your delivery be taken home on this day, as there is nowhere for us to store extra orders.
The fundraiser helps pay for music, travel, and any cardigans that need to be replaced. If you have questions concerning the fundraiser, please contact Ms. Tevebaugh. The project is easy (especially if you send out the link to order online!) and the profit margin is very good. The CPS Honors Choir has worked with Cherrydale Farms, our fundraising company, for many years, and they are wonderful about making it simple and successful.
