Commitment Form/Handbook

Pride, Tradition, and Excellence in Choral Music

Choir Handbook 2024-2025

Ms. Ming Li Goldston and Mrs. Hillary Stevens - 6th Grade Choir Co-Directors

mingli-goldston@esasd.net and hillary-stevens@esasd.net 

Mr. Justin Mengel - 7th and 8th Grade Choir and Cavalier Voices Director

justin-mengel@esasd.net

Facebook: JTL Choir Parents   Instagram: @jtlchoirs

Dear Parents and Students: 

Welcome to an exciting year of choral music at JTL. The purpose of this handbook is to inform everyone of the expectations of our vocal athletes throughout the course of the year.  It is also to make sure that students and parents have all the necessary information regarding the JTL Choir program.  Please take time to review ALL material in this handbook as well as sign the commitment form online. Once you have read through the handbook, please take a minute to complete the online form called Student and Parent Choir Commitment Form. This form needs to be filled out for your student to participate in a choir ensemble. ONLY RETURN THE DIGITAL COMMITMENT FORM.  

Information regarding performance/ rehearsal schedules, fundraisers, and important forms can be found on this website.  You may also contact us via email or phone. If you would like to receive email or text message alerts and reminders for choir, please visit the JTL Choirs webpage to sign up for “Remind 101” or text @jtlch to the number 81010. Announcements and reminders will also be posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. All contact information can be found on the front of this handbook. 

We are excited to continue the excellence in choral music tradition established here at JTL. We look forward to working with you this year.                    

About JTL Choirs:

Currently, the enrollment in choir at J.T. Lambert Intermediate is approximately 200 students in grades 6-8. The choral program contains several vocal ensembles, including Sixth Grade Choirs, Seventh and Eighth Grade Choirs, and the Cavalier Voices.   

Rehearsal Rules:

1. Participate Fully

2. Treat directors and peers with respect

3. Remain quiet during instruction and when another section is rehearsing

4. Follow rehearsal procedures including: No gum, hair pulled back and out of the face, sitting up or standing straight and tall as directed, and listening to all director instructions.  

5. Place all rehearsal materials in the proper place while exiting quickly and quietly when dismissed.

6. Keep appropriate distance between yourself and your fellow choir members.  

7. Remember to do your best and make great music!

Choir Grade: Your grade in choir is based on the following – ensemble participation, singing evaluations, attendance to rehearsals, choir performances, and other assignments. Attendance at performances is mandatory. 

Rehearsal Times: Choir meets during each grade’s WIN period.

• 6th Grade Choir: 

  • Every other day during 1st period

  • Choir meets 3 days of a 6-day cycle. Please check your schedule to determine if you are scheduled to be in a group that meets on days 1,3,5 or days 2,4,6.

• 7th and 8th Grade Choirs:

  • Every other day during 9th period

  • Choir meets 3 days of a 6-day cycle. Please check your schedule to determine if you are scheduled to be in a group that meets on days 1,3,5 or days 2,4,6.

  • 7/8 Concert Choir (78Choir) is days 1, 3, and 5.

  • 7/8 Symphonic Choir (78 Symphonic Choir) is days 2, 4, and 6.

Rehearsal Attendance: Choir is a graded class and attendance to rehearsal is mandatory.  No student is to report to any other location without first obtaining permission from the choir director.  If you have work you need to make-up, please have your teacher reach out to your choir director and a time will be scheduled to complete the make up work. No student will be allowed to miss choir class within two weeks of a scheduled performance.  If a student does not follow the proper procedure, he/she will be considered to be cutting class and a consequence will be given.

Discipline Procedure: 

• 1st Incident: Documented in-class verbal warning and phone call home

• 2nd Incident: Disciplinary referral and phone call home with appropriate consequence given

• 3rd Incident: Disciplinary referral and phone call home with appropriate consequence given

• 4th Incident: Removal from Choir

*Any major disruption or incident, including physical violence, verbal threats, or bullying, will result in an immediate office referral and possible dismissal from choir.*

Bathroom Policy: Choir members are expected to go to the restroom before choir starts. If a student is tardy 3 times, then in accordance with ESASD District Handbook, disciplinary action will be taken. Exceptions can be made in emergencies.

Outside Choir Behavior:  JTL Choir students are expected to behave at ALL times both in and out of the choir room. Multiple detentions, ISS and/or OSS may result in dismissal from the choir program.  All students are expected to behave with maturity and respect towards everyone.

Adding/Dropping Choir: Being in choir is like participating in a team sport. Your “teammates” rely on your presence and support for rehearsals and concerts, but if, for some reason, a student or parent decides that choir should be dropped from their schedule, a note from the parent/guardian is required. If you decide to drop after the first 20 days of a marking period, however, your child will still receive their choir grade on their next report card.  If you do not provide a note to a director before dropping choir, it may result in a failing grade on a progress report or report card and/or a discipline referral for skipping choir. If you wish to add choir to your schedule, contact a choir director AFTER your grade level’s latest concert (see concert dates below).

ESASD Music Statement: The East Stroudsburg Area School District Music Department is devoted to providing a comprehensive music education for our diverse population that will create a foundation for lifelong music involvement.  Our national, state, and ESASD Vocal Department music standards require us to program concerts and classroom material using “a varied repertoire representing diverse cultures, styles, genres, and historical periods.” To this end, through its classroom and concert programs, the ESASD Music Department believes that:

• Music communicates emotions, provides dual experiences of both a public and personal nature, tells stories, and connects composer, performer(s), and audience through a shared artistic event.

• Music has been composed by and is intended to be performed by men, women and children from various nations, races, cultures, beliefs and gender identities.

• Music is a reflection of the cultural, ethnic, racial, geographical, political, philosophical, religious and patriotic influences surrounding past and present historical time periods.

• Music selection is based upon the music standards, concepts, and techniques that encompass the students’ vocal music education.

NAfME Sacred Music Statement: It is the position of the National Association for Music Education that the study and performance of religious music within an educational context is a vital and appropriate part of a comprehensive music education. The omission of sacred music from the school curriculum would result in an incomplete educational experience. For more information please see: https://nafme.org/resource/sacred-music-in-schools/ 

Concert Dates*: 

*Concert dates and times are subject to change. All changes will be announced to students in class, on our social medias, and on their Google Classrooms. All future concert dates will also be made available (once announced) on our website at https://sites.google.com/esasd.net/jtlchoirs. Attendance at these concerts is mandatory, so please mark your calendars!

Excusal from a Performance: If a student is absent from school on a day that there is a performance, a performance make up evaluation will be required in order to receive a grade for the missed performance. Students who miss are responsible for seeing their choir director to set up this evaluation. These evaluations will take place during the school day.  

Music and Folders: This year students will use both choir folders and digital music on Google Classroom. Students are expected to have their chromebooks charged and ready to go at the start of class. Students should consider this their “textbook” for choir; they are expected to take care of and be responsible for their own folder and music. All music and folders will be returned at the end of the concert or school year for a grade. All music that is posted to Google Classroom should not be posted or shared anywhere else. Sharing sheet music anywhere else online is against copyright laws. 

Concert Attire: All students will be wearing purple polo shirts with the JTL Choirs logo on them.  Each shirt costs $15. These shirts will continue to be worn throughout a students’ time in JTL Choirs. You may trade in an old polo for a different size. An order form is available for students who need to purchase a polo. If you have financial difficulties and cannot afford to purchase one, speak to a director immediately in order to make alternate arrangements for payment.  

*If the proper concert attire is not worn, the student will not perform.

*If you have any difficulty obtaining the proper attire, please contact a director as soon as possible.

Field Trips/Competitions: Field trips and competitions are to be determined at a later date. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Fundraising: All students have the opportunity to fundraise in order to raise money for our JTL Choir activities, such as an end of the year trip, through the JTL Choir Parents. If you do not fundraise, you will be expected to cover the full cost of the trip if your child would like to attend. Information on fundraisers will be provided as it becomes available.

Other Choral Opportunities: 

• Private Voice Lessons are highly recommended.  There are many private teachers in the area.  See a director for recommendations or suggestions.  

• Cavalier Voices is a select ensemble that rehearses after school starting in the fall. CV focuses on sharing the joy of music with the East Stroudsburg and surrounding communities through various trips and performances, as well as strengthening individual musicians’ skills. Interested students should look for information regarding CV in the coming weeks.  

• JTL Choir Parents is an organization of parents with students in JTL Choirs.  They help support JTL Choirs financially, as chaperones, and by donating time to various projects.  Please indicate on the commitment form if you are interested in helping our organization.