Advanced Choir Welcome: NEW students and parents. Handbook Overview

All goals & expectations are detailed in the: Advanced Choir Handbook Found at the GPHS Website: gphs.sharpschool.net Please note: You do not need “www” or “http”. Type as shown above.

Choir Goals Quality rehearsals and performances through self discipline & respect for one another Representing our school & community to the best of our abilities

Grades

REHEARSAL/CONCERT ATTENDANCE EXCUSED ABSENSES :  Bonafide illness  Other school-related activity  Family emergency (illness or death in immediate family) UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:  Truancy  Jobs  Car trouble  Birthdays or other celebrations  Baby sitting  Driver's Education

Excuses A “parent” note, phone call or to Mrs. Niemann is required for any type of rehearsal absence. A student will NOT receive a make-up assignment without a parent note, phone call or . A student may be excluded from participation in a concert, competition and/or field trip for an Unexcused absence to a rehearsal or concert.

Rehearsals & Sectionals Monday Night & After School Rehearsals Mandatory for all Advanced Choir members 40% of nine-weeks grade See “Advanced Choir Calendar” for exact dates Sectionals Required for District, Region and Area Required for Concerts & Choir Contest 1 Sectional - Every other week for 45 minutes

Make Up Work Monday Night & After School Rehearsals Written Assignment - (when one is available) – due 2 days after distributed Sing repertoire for one of the directors Perform spring show choreography (when absent from Spring Show rehearsal). Make-ups must be scheduled by student within 2 days of absence.

Make-Up Work Sectional Make-ups:  Sing for director to Demonstrate knowledge of repertoire Concert Make-Ups  Sing music from concert for Mrs. Niemann or other director. AND  Written exam over all information covered during the preparation for the concert

Classroom Rules SCHOOL RULES  Tardies  Phone use NIEMANN RULES  Gum, food, drinks  Participation/Materials  Restroom  Listening skills GOOD CITIZENSHIP  No profanity  No PDA

Consequences  Teacher/Student Conference  Peer conference  Detention/Written Assignments  Note or phone call to parents  Office Referral  Behavior Plan  Possible removal from Advanced Choir

Please Note: Missed Conference = Detention Missed Detention = Office referral Detention Assignment not signed/turned in = Office referral Consistent misbehavior = Loss of privileges and/or removal from the Advanced Choir. Suspended or expelled from school = no traveling with Choir

FORMAL UNIFORMS FORMAL UNIFORMS - BOYS Boys must buy/own: The School provides:  Tuxedo Jacket & Tuxedo Pants (student may use his own pants)  Tie & Cummerbund $15.00  Students must pay $15.00 dry cleaning fee/year (uniforms cleaned twice a year).  Student may alter length of pants  Students must pay for lost or damaged school property Wing Tip Tux Shirt $14.00 if purchased in choir

FORMAL UNIFORMS FORMAL UNIFORMS – GIRLS Girls Must Purchase:  School Provides Formal Dress & necklace $15.00  Students must pay $15.00 dry cleaning fee/year (uniforms cleaned twice a year).  Student may alter length of dress only (NO CUTTING THE DRESS).  Darts - not sewn completely around  Students must pay for lost or damaged school property Pearl Earings $5.00

Hair Guidelines Acceptable: Unacceptable:

Jewelry & Fingernails for CONCERTS Allowed: NOT ALLOWED:

Informal Uniforms #1 - Red T-Shirt & Blue Jeans  Please do not wear:  Capri Pants  Skinny Jeans/High Heels  Torn jeans

$12.00 for Advanced Choir

Spirit Shirts These are OPTIONAL Shirts will be on the website ASAP and orders will be made when school starts. You don’t need an order form – simply send payment with your child and indicate which shirts (either #2, #3, etc.) Make Checks Payable to “GPHS CHOIR”

Competitions - TMEA All Advanced Choir members audition for District for a grade (Sept. 26 th -All Day) Miss this audition = Sing cuts for director for a grade & repay entry fee; Membership probation Students who make District will prepare and audition for Region Choir (Nov. 7th – All Day). Students who make Region Choir will perform at the Region Clinic/Concert (Nov. 14 th –All Day). Students who make Area will prepare and audition for the All-State Choir (Jan. 9 th -All Day) All-State Choir Clinic Convention – Feb in San Antonio, TX.

Competitions - UIL Solo & Ensemble is optional, but required for letter jacket. Students must pay entry fee and a portion of pianist’s fee ($20.00 for solo & $7.00 for ensemble) Students must demonstrate readiness or director will not allow them to compete (song prepared & memorized). Entry fee will not be refunded if the student does not attend for any reason

Competition Guidelines Students must: Be academically eligible Have exemplary attendance at all after- school and Monday-night rehearsals and concerts Attend school regularly Demonstrate appropriate behavior in all classes Please see Advanced Choir Handbook for further details.

FUND RAISING Brochure Sales with Mrs. Niemann (Fall & Spring) Must have signed parent/student contract. Earn points towards trip for each item sold. Service projects like car washes– Must work a shift to earn credits for the tickets sold. Points carry over from year to year (but not between siblings or friends).

Spring Trip Fun trip for students’ hard work all year Destination selected based on musical/opera, etc. Cost will include charter bus, hotel accommodations, attraction tickets and some meals. To Participate, Students Must: Be eligible (grades). Participate at UIL Choir Contest Attend school regularly Make payments on time Have exemplary behavior

Choir Officers These students help make decisions for the choir, help director with daily, weekly & yearly duties of the choir, and help their peers as needed. Elected by students in May the previous year. Section Leaders appointed by director Candidates must be in advanced choir for at least 1 year.

CHOIR CALENDAR: Choir is a performing organization. Please keep up with rehearsal/concert/competition dates. Calendar contains MOST of the required rehearsals and concerts for the year. **PLEASE AVOID making appointments on rehearsal and/or concert dates Sectionals will be scheduled separately by each section leader. Extra rehearsals may be added by the director if necessary. They will be required and graded. Continued Advanced Choir Membership in the Spring is contingent upon Fall rehearsal attendance.

Required Forms Choir Member Agreement Card: Annual Pledge by students and parents to abide by the policies and procedures outlined in the G-P Choir Handbook. Due first day of school. Contact Information – Accuracy is key for communication Competition Entry Info – Director uses cards for Competition “entry forms”

Required Forms Permission and Medical Release Form: Official permission slip for the entire year. Can’t travel without it. Emergency Information: Crucial in case of an illness or injury. Please notify director throughout the year of any changes in phone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts, allergies, etc. Director will keep personal information secure.

Required Forms Fund Raising Contract:  It explains fund raising responsibilities:  Proper care of merchandise  Collecting money  Turning in money  Consequences for not turning in money owed to the choir  All students/parents must sign this contract to fund raise with the choir.

Letter Jackets A Student MUST: Be in G-P High School Advanced Choir for at least 2 years. Audition for TMEA District choir each year of his/her membership. Make District and Region choir the year he/she applies for a letter jacket. Audition for Solo & Ensemble each year of his/her membership Receive a “Superior” rating on a Class I or Class II solo the year he/she applies for a letter jacket. A student must be a choir member in good standing (attends all rehearsals & concerts) A student must plan to be a member of the choir for all 4 years of high school. A student must have participated at UIL Choir Contest the year he/she applies for the letter jacket (previous years reviewed as well). 4-year recipient possible if student is a choir member in good standing and has participated in Choir Contest all four years.

THE END!