Watkins Choir Handbook 2025-2026
Due by September 8th, 2025
Welcome to Watkins Bulldog Choir! This handbook is designed to inform you about the wonderful opportunities available to all choir students, as well as the rules, expectations, and policies of our choir program. All our concerts and competition dates are also included. Additionally, forms will be sent to you as reminders of upcoming events, along with an updated rehearsal schedule as needed.
The goal of the Watkins Choir program is to provide students with the opportunity to create and develop their individual artistry through vocal music. Choral students will learn vocal techniques, the solfege system of sight-reading, and how to apply these skills to a wide variety of vocal/choral repertoire. Students will have the opportunity to perform individually, in small ensembles, and as a chorus. Students will also have opportunities to learn the principles of teamwork, performance etiquette, and self-discipline, which will help to build self-confidence.
The information listed here is intended to help each student understand the expectations and responsibilities for success in the Watkins Middle School Choir program.
♫ Learn and develop good vocal production skills
♫ Develop and continually improve sight-singing skills
♫ Develop aural/listening skills
♫ Perform at all required concerts
♫ Participate in the major contests throughout the school year
♫ Maintain good school and after-school rehearsal attendance
♫ Maintain eligibility by passing all classes with a 70 or higher
♫ Display correct rehearsal, concert, and performance etiquette
♫ Increase knowledge of music history
♫ Continue growing as a program
Please take the time to read the information provided in the 2025-2026 Choir Handbook. If you have any questions regarding the Choir Handbook, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Furlan before signing the acknowledgement form. Thank you for your support and let’s have an incredible school year!
CHOIR PLACEMENTS
6th Grade Tenor Choir and Treble Choir:
All 6th graders will be placed in these choirs, regardless of experience. No prior knowledge is required to join this class. Throughout the course of the school year, students will learn how to sing choral music and sight-read with a healthy choral tone, as well as participate in various concerts and compete in the Cypress 6th Grade Choral Festival. These classes are split by gender and vocal needs. Boys will primarily be in the Tenor Choir, and girls will primarily be in the Treble Choir.
Non-Varsity Treble Choir:
The Non-Varsity Treble Choir is primarily comprised of 7th and 8th grade girls. Throughout the course of the school year, students will learn how to sing choral music and sight-read with a healthy choral tone, as well as participate in various concerts and contests throughout the school year, including Solo & Ensemble, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert & Sight-Reading, and Region Choir. This course is meant to prepare students for the Varsity Treble Choir or high school choir.
Tenor/Bass Choir:
The Tenor/Bass Choir is primarily comprised of 7th and 8th grade boys. Throughout the course of the school year, students will learn how to sing choral music and sight-read with a healthy choral tone, as well as participate in various concerts and contests throughout the school year, including Solo & Ensemble, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert & Sight-Reading, and Region Choir. This course is meant to prepare students for their continued participation in middle school choir or high school choir.
Varsity Treble Choir:
The Varsity Treble Choir is primarily comprised of 7th and 8th grade girls. Students in this class will have completed at least one year of Choir and met the level required for placement. As a Varsity level course, the class moves at a fast pace and performs at the highest level for middle school choir. Throughout the course of the school year, students will learn how to sing choral music and sight-read with a healthy choral tone, as well as participate in various concerts and contests throughout the school year, including performing a solo at Solo & Ensemble, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert & Sight-Reading, and Region Choir. This course is meant to prepare students for continuing in the Varsity Treble Choir or high school choir.
GRADING
Choir is a graded subject. Students will work to earn grades throughout the year by participation in the classroom, as well as a few required after school concerts and rehearsals. If a student works hard, participates daily in class, and attends their concerts, earning a high grade in this class will be easily obtainable. Below is a breakdown of the percentages for each part of their grade.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (40%):
Major grades account for 40% of your student’s grade per grading period. These grades include the Fall Concert, Winter Concert, required Contests, Pop Show, and any written or singing tests that might occur in the classroom. Eligibility does not factor into any graded events that count as a major grade. Please see the definitions of an absence. There will be at least three major grades for every grading period.
RELEVANT APPLICATIONS (35%):
Assessment grades account for 35% of your student’s grade per grading period. These grades include assignments that assess the application of skills/concepts and ongoing checkpoints. These grades will be reflective of the student’s understanding of the course materials. There will be at least two assessment grades for every grading period.
CHECKING FOR UNDERSTANDING (25%):
Daily grades account for 25% of your student’s grade per grading period. These grades may include class participation, daily preparedness, sight-reading, posture, and checks for understanding. There will be at least one daily grade every week.
ABSENCES
Good communication between teacher, student, and parents is key to preventing misunderstandings about absences. Students are expected to be at every event on the attached calendar that is listed as REQUIRED, but I understand that conflicts can arise. Written notice from parents is expected for all absences. A parent-written email is acceptable for this notice. Please peruse our Online Watkins Choir Calendar and let me know ASAP if there is an event your student cannot attend.
EXCUSED ABSENCE:
Students who receive excused absences from events will be able to make up the grades through an alternate assignment. The following are examples of excused absences:
♫ Known conflicts with at least one-week-prior written notice given to the directors
♫ Family emergencies and/or illness with a note as close to the date of the event as possible
♫ Conflicting school-sponsored activities such as sporting events or UIL activities with at least one-week-prior written notice
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE:
An unexcused absence is earned when a student does not meet the guidelines of an excused absence. Students who have an unexcused absence from a performance will receive a failing major grade. The only way to make this grade up will be to arrange a time to perform their concert music from memory for the choir directors. The following are examples of unexcused absences:
♫ Known conflicts without at least one-week-prior written notice given to the directors
♫ Not attending events and giving no reason
In general, if I am aware in advance that a student will not be at a performance or rehearsal, we can work out an alternate assignment so a grade can be earned. All alternate assignments will be with the same rigor and intent of the original event. This may include performing their music on their own or in a small group for a director or student audience.
ELIGIBILITY (NO PASS/NO PLAY)
For a student to be allowed to participate in certain events throughout the school year, they must be passing ALL their classes (70 or higher) at the end of the previous grading period. At times, depending on the calendar, there may be a progress report given where the student may regain their academic eligibility. To regain eligibility, the student must be passing ALL of their classes on one of the progress reports following the report card on which they failed one or more classes. Progress reports cannot remove a student’s eligibility.
Concerts are a culmination of the TEKS that have been taught and are required by the curriculum. These are graded events. Therefore, a student’s grade in any class cannot affect their participation in a concert performance.
Neither the choir department, nor Watkins Middle School, nor the district creates these eligibility requirements. The requirements are set by the University Interscholastic League. For more information about eligibility, see the UIL-TEA Side by Side, which can be viewed either through the TEA or TMEA websites.
Events that eligibility will affect:
♫ 7th & 8th Grade Solo & Ensemble Contest
♫ 7th & 8th Grade All-Region Honor Choir
♫ 6th Grade Cypress Choral Festival
♫ All off-campus field trips
Note: If a student pays for an event with an entry deadline and finds out later that they are ineligible, it may not be possible to get their money back. If the money has been spent to enter the student, it is gone and cannot be returned. Please make sure to pass all your classes!
UNIFORMS
Each choir must function as a team both at school and when representing Watkins Middle School off campus. For different events throughout the year, different attire will be required. Wearing a uniform will help make our students stand out in crowds, look like a unified team, raise the quality level of professionalism in our program, and increase students’ self-esteem when participating in competitions and concerts. 6th graders have one uniform for their performances and events. 7th and 8th graders have an informal and formal uniform. The informal uniform will be worn at less formal events/concerts, and the formal uniform will be worn at the Winter Concert and our contest in the spring. The attached Choir Calendar states what uniform should be worn at each event.
PERFUME / COLOGNE SHOULD NEVER BE WORN TO PERFORMANCES.
DEODORANT SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN TO PERFORMANCES.
6TH GRADE/INFORMAL UNIFORM
♫ Choir t-shirt (current year)
♫ Blue jeans
· no holes, tears, or capri style
♫ Closed-toed shoes
FORMAL UNIFORM
7th & 8th Grade Girls
♫ Formal dress (provided)
♫ Black flats (not provided)
7th & 8th Grade Boys
♫ Tuxedo shirt (provided)
♫ Vests/Bowtie (provided)
♫ Black dress pants (provided)
♫ Black dress shoes/Black socks (not provided)
If there are questions or concerns about purchasing the items not provided by the school, please contact me via email.
COURSE FEE (DUE BY SEPTEMBER 8TH)
Throughout the year the choir program will incur costs that we need assistance covering. Because of this, each student will be asked to pay a course fee to help. A description of what is being paid for is listed below. All students with unpaid Course Fees by the deadline will be placed on the Fines and Fees list, unless a Scholarship Request is filled out and submitted by a parent/guardian. Students should not fill out the Scholarship Request form.
6TH GRADE CHOIRS: $30
♫ Required uniform t-shirt
♫ Entry fee for the 6th Grade Cypress Choral Festival
♫ Classroom supplies (folders, music, workbooks, headphones, etc.)
7TH & 8TH GRADE CHOIRS: $40
♫ Required uniform t-shirt
♫ Entry fee for Contests and Solo & Ensemble
♫ Classroom supplies (folders, music, workbooks, headphones, etc.)
♫ Formal uniform dry cleaning
Money concerns should never keep a student from participating in our program! Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need assistance.
SCHOOL CASH ONLINE
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has an online system for parents to safely pay for all school needs. Payments for all events will need to be done using this system. If there is a permission slip associated with the payment, students will need to bring that to school, or a scan can be emailed. The benefits of the online payment system are listed below.
♫ Convenient: Payments can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
♫ Safe: Your child won’t be carrying cash to and from school
♫ Timely: Payments are immediately reflected online
♫ Secure: Private and secure transmissions of payment
♫ Accessible: View purchases and payment history online any time
♫ Languages: Website is available in English and Spanish
HOW DO I SET UP MY ACCOUNT?
1. Go to https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com
2. Register by selecting the “Get Started Today” link and fill in the required fields to create your profile.
3. After you receive the confirmation email, click the school cash link and add your children to your household account.
If you need assistance regarding the online payment system, please email parenthelp@schoolcashonline.com or call 1-866-961-1803.
CLASSROOM RULES
1. Be respectful (to get respect you also need to give it)
2. Follow instructions (delayed obedience is disobedience)
3. Raise your hand before your speak (everyone deserves the chance to learn)
4. Stay seated (unless told to stand)
5. No food, gum, or drinks (water is allowed)
6. Use appropriate language (we need to keep the environment safe)
7. Be supportive (we all need to work together as a team)
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
1. Enter the room quietly (or you’ll have to try again)
*Students who are not across the threshold when the bell begins to ring will be issued a tardy
2. Place all personal items on shelves (keep it clean and organized)
*No extraneous items are allowed to be out of the student’s backpack except class materials
3. Get a pencil and your binder (and anything else you need for class)
4. Spit out any gum (or other foreign objects in their mouth)
5. Go to your seat (if you have any forms, turn them in)
6. Complete daily warm-up (warm-ups are timed, so don’t waste time)
7. Practice the sight-reading (show your hand signs and lipsync)
8. Stand when the timer goes off (be ready to begin)
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
Participation in choir is both a co-curricular and extracurricular activity. Co-curricular activities include any activity outside of the classroom that is required by the class. The main co-curricular activities that students will be required to attend are concerts and any scheduled after-school rehearsals. Students do not have to be academically eligible to participate in a co-curricular activity. All choir students are issued grades for participation in co-curricular activities.
Extra-curricular activities include any activity outside of the classroom for which academic eligibility is required. Extracurricular activities may include field trips, competitions, and any choral contest. Because so many of our performances can be considered extracurricular, we strictly adhere to the “Student Expectations and Standards for Conduct” as stated on page CC-4 in the Student Code of Conduct. The statement is as follows:
With the approval of the principal and Superintendent, sponsors and coaches of extracurricular activities may develop and enforce standards of behavior that are higher than the district-developed Student Code of Conduct and may condition membership or participation in the activity on adherence to those standards. Extracurricular standards of behavior may take into consideration conduct that occurs at any time, on or off school property. Extracurricular behavioral standards shall not have the effect of discriminating on the basis of gender, race, color, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
A student shall be informed of any extracurricular behavior standards at the beginning of each school year or when the student first begins participation in the activity. A student and their parent shall sign and return to the sponsor or coach a statement that they have read the extracurricular behavior standards and consent to them as a condition of participation in the activity. Standards of behavior for an extracurricular activity are independent of the Student Code of Conduct. Violations of these standards of behavior that are also violations of the Student Code of Conduct may result in independent disciplinary actions.
A student may be removed from participation in extracurricular activities or may be excluded from school honors for violation of extracurricular standards of behavior for an activity or for violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
As a member of the Watkins choir program, your student is held to a very high standard of excellence. When participating in out-of-school activities, choir members are serving as ambassadors of Watkins Middle School in our community. For this reason, participation in any extracurricular event is based on both grades and general behavior. The choir director will work with students, parents, and administrators to ensure that every student is given a fair opportunity to participate in all choral activities. Should concerns arise over the course of the year, the choir director will communicate these and work to find solutions that will benefit the individual student and the choir program.
SCHOOLOGY
We will be using Schoology to complete classwork throughout the year such as vocal recordings, class assessments, music listening, class discussions, and daily activities. Students are expected to bring their computers to class every day. They will be notified upon entering the classroom if they need their computer at their seat or not. If a student misses class on any given day, they should check Schoology for missed assignments.
Electronics Behavior Expectations
Students will bring their fully charged district-provided devices to class daily.
Students are expected to follow all district and campus conduct guidelines regarding electronics use and etiquette.
The majority of class assignments involve Google Drive or Schoology. Students need explicit permission from the teacher to be on non-assignment-related tasks.
Students will use their devices as instructed by their teacher.
Students are given ample time to complete their assignments in class. If a student does not complete their work within the time permitted, they are expected to complete the assignment on their own time.
@watkinschoir
REMIND
Remind is a program that will allow me to send text message reminders directly to parent cell phones. I will use this program throughout the school year. The texts will include things like concert, rehearsal, or paperwork reminders, and links to permission slips if needed. You do not need to do anything to be enrolled in Remind as the district will push through Remind automatically.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
I will be sending out a monthly newsletter via email to parents this school year. To ensure you receive these messages, please make sure Watkins has your correct contact information. The newsletter will include:
♫ What we are currently working on in class
♫ Upcoming events and obligations
♫ Uniform expectations
♫ Necessary permission slips for these events
PARENT/GUARDIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thank you again for taking the time to look through the 2025-2026 Watkins Choir Handbook. This year is definitely going to be amazing and I am looking forward to getting to work with your students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Below is the link to a Google Form Parent Acknowledgement of the Handbook. Students will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities without a completed Handbook Acknowledgement by a parent or guardian.
♫ PARENT/GUARDIAN HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ♫
STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
There is a brief assignment in Schoology that all students need to complete as their acknowledgement of the 2025-2026 Online Choir Handbook. This acknowledgement is for students, not parents. Parents must complete the Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement.
Ms. Furlan is looking forward to a great year for the Watkins Middle School Choir program and cannot wait to start teaching your students!