Choir Handbook

1.      All school district policies will be enforced.

2.      Read the posted announcements upon entering the room.  Students are responsible for all announcements.

3.      We will enforce the district cell phone policy! Any cell phones not properly stored will be immediately taken up and delivered to the AP Office.

4.      Be in your seat ready to rehearse when the tardy bell rings.

5.      Have your chromebook, folder and pencil at your seat with you, unless otherwise instructed.  Students are expected to provide a black 1/2” 3-ring binder and a pencil.

6.      Respect others.

7.      Keep foreign objects out of your mouth.  Gum or candy is not permissible during any rehearsal or performance. 

8.      The class is dismissed by the director, not by the bell.

9.      Proper singing position is required at all times, whether sitting or standing.

10.  If you need to go to the restroom during class, you MUST sign out and take a pass before leaving, and sign back in when returning.

11.  When the director is speaking, you are to listen.

1.      Students will be permitted to use cell phones to call parents following rehearsals and performances as needed.

2.      When students are participating as audience members, cell phones shall not be used.

3.      During rehearsals and performances, students are expected to behave in a respectful and attentive manner when not on-stage (audience or backstage.)

4.      Students are expected to maintain high standards of professionalism when performing.

1.  Money raised through fundraising projects may be used to offset the cost of the Spring Trip, Choir Banquet, uniforms, t-shirts, accompanist fees, voice lessson scholarships, as well as equipment needs of the program.

2.  Turning in money: 

a.  Checks or money orders will be accepted only for big payments such as large donations. This is to avoid large fees incurred through online payment.

b.  Money should be placed in an envelope with the student’s name and amount included and placed in the Blue Music Box in the Choir Room. Please pay for each item separately. Never leave money unattended.  Checks should be made out to the FHS Choir unless otherwise instructed.  Money orders are also acceptable.

c.   All other non-trip payments will be made using the “Square” website accessible via the choir website. No account registration is required.

d.  On trip years, trip payments will be made through the Junior Tours website.

3.  Fund raising activities for the school year will include the following:  pre-game dinner, and Pop Show.

1. A student’s grade in choir will be based upon a combination of a daily grade average, test grade, and a performance grade.

   • Daily Work (25%) This consists of class participation, materials, attendance and written work.

   • Test Grade (25%) This includes required after-school rehearsals, Sight Reading Factory weekly assignments, and any written or singing tests given during the school day.

   • Performance Grade (50%) This includes all required concerts and performances: Fall Concert, Patriotic Halftime, pre-game PastaPalooza (participating choirs as applicable), Holiday Concert, Spring Concert and Pop Show.  (Eligibility may affect student participation; in class assessments will be given as necessary.)

2. The daily grade will be affected by not following classroom procedures; other infractions include (but are not limited to) leaving folders out, chewing gum, using bad posture, or talking during instructional time.

3. Attendance is expected at all required rehearsals and performances.

4. Any time a student is expected to miss a performance or rehearsal for an excused absence, a note from the parent must be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than 2 days prior. In the case of illness, a parent note should be submitted no later than 2 days after the missed event.  E-mail notification is preferred.

5. A student with an excused absence (see below) from a rehearsal or performance will have one week to complete make-up work.  An alternate assignment may be given for any school related absence.

6. Unexcused absences will result in the grade of a zero. Alternate assignments will not be given for these absences.

7. Choir calendars are given to students at the beginning of the school year so that conflicts can be avoided.  All dates can also be found on the choir web page.

8. Students who are ineligible for the first time may be placed on probation.  A second ineligibility occurrence within a semester may result in a change in the student’s class assignment at the semester, and could affect their choir placement the following year.

9. Membership in Bel Canto, Schola Cantorum and Kantorei will be based upon student auditions and includes both a singing and sight-reading component.  Attendance and classroom behavior will also be taken into consideration.

10. To be considered for a solo for Pop Show, a student must have been eligible to participate in that year’s UIL Concert and Sightreading contest. 

Excused Absences Include

Activities with other FHS groups

• Must be approved in advance by the director

Family events (immediate family)

• Weddings

• Funerals

• Graduations

Religious  obligations

Illness

Academic Ineligibility

Unexcused Absences Include

Performances with groups outside of FHS

• Club sports

• Outside theater, instrumental, or singing groups

Jobs / Work Related

Family Events

• Reunions

• Vacations

Lack of transportation 

1.  Each student is responsible for financing his or her own choir uniform.  The cost is kept to the lowest possible amount, but will involve some expense. This expense is included as part of the first year fee, which will provide:

a.  Girls will wear a formal black dress (purchased and distributed by the choir directors.)

b.  Boys will wear tuxedo coat and pants, tuxedo shirt, tie and cummerbund.

                                                  i.      The Choir Booster Club will purchase and provide the tuxedo coat.

2.  Students will need to purchase black dress shoes to wear with the uniform. Boys will also need black socks.

3.  Members must wear all parts of the performance uniform while in public.

4.  The casual uniform is also provided by each student.  It consists of blue jeans and a choir t-shirt. The choir t-shirt is also included as part of the first year fee.

5.  Special costumes for Pop Show numbers may be required.  That information will be made available in April.

UNIFORMS ARE TO BE KEPT AT THE STUDENT’S HOME, NOT IN THE CHOIR ROOM. 

1.  The spring trip is an optional extra-curricular activity, and will involve participation in a contest, performance or workshop.

2.  Expenses for the trip are the responsibility of each individual choir member.

3.  A payment schedule will be established; students will be expected to adhere to this schedule unless prior approval has been granted; parents will need to furnish a note detailing when payments will be made for any exception to the payment schedule to be granted.

4.  If a student withdraws from a trip, a request must be made in writing in order to receive any refund (according to the refund schedule.)

5.  The Choir wil travel out-of-state during Spring Break in even-numbered years.

6.  Chaperones will be limited to parents of current choir students only. Siblings, family friends, and extended family will not be allowed. Spots for parents may be limited!

7.  Rooming assignments:

a.  Students will arrange and sign up for their own rooms. Directors will try to honor sign-ups as often as possible, but occasionally rooms must be broken up to create full rooms of four students.

b.  Transgender students will have a room by themselves, room with a sibling, or room with their parent if they attend.

c.   The school principal has overall final approval for rooming lists.

8.  Bus assignments:

As much as possible, students will be assigned to a bus with their room mates. 

CHOIR OFFICER ELECTIONS

1.                   Offices elected by a vote of all choir Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors include President (one student), Vice President (one student), Secretary (one student), and Historian (typically two students).

2.                   Offices appointed by the directors include Librarian (two or three students), and Publicity (typically two students).

3.                   The Tech Manager office is selected by Mr. Tyer. This student is chosen as a freshman and usually holds this office all four years. When the officer reaches their senior year, another freshman is chosen to train under them for the future.

4.                   Students may run for one elected office and one appointed office. They will receive only one.

President – (Elected) All applicants for this position must be an upcoming senior! They must have strong leadership qualities; assist and support the directors in all choir activities; have a positive attitude; be a role model for other choir members; be willing and eager always to give priority to Choir and choir activities. Organizes Back to School Bash, Homecoming Parade, and other social events with the directors. Hold bi-weekly officer meetings to collect a progress report on current projects and encourage officer accountability. Communication with other officers is VITAL! Must have ample time available to dedicate to the position. Finally, all presidential candidates are expected to have auditioned for, and made a Region Choir, performed a Class 1 solo at the UIL Solo & Ensemble Competition, and maintain at least a B average in all classes.

Vice President – (Appointed)  Have strong leadership qualities; assist and support the directors in all choir activities; assist the president in planning social activities; have a positive attitude. Updates “Katie’s Corner” with motivational quotes. Work with the Secretary to plan and organize social events and activities to aid in recruitment for the choir program. Must coordinate with the President and choir directors to avoid conflicts between recruitment and other social and concert events. Coordinates with the directors to assist in organizing any locally hosted competitions (Currently UIL Solo & Ensemble).

Secretary  - (Elected) Be responsible for taking attendance daily and at all extra choir activities, assist and support the directors in all choir events, have excellent school attendance, able to be organized, keep records of volunteers for all events, coordinate with class reps at concerts to deliver a consolidated list of absent singers to the directors, and keep detailed minutes at all officer meetings via Google Docs to be shared with directors. Work with the Vice-President to plan and organize social events and activities to aid in recruitment for the choir program. Must coordinate with the President and choir directors to avoid conflicts between recruitment and other social and concert events.

Historian – (Elected) Have some ability as a photographer; take pictures of choir activities; keep bulletin boards and display cases up-to-date; collect information and pictures for the annual choir slide show; and be responsible for compiling the slide show.  Also updates the birthday board. Must be prepared to participate in ALL choir events including competitions, trips, and social events (This includes choir trips if it is a trip year!). May be asked to monitor video camera during concerts. Assist and support the directors in all choir activities.

Librarian – (Appointed) Be responsible for cataloging new music, issuing to students, and collecting music following concerts.  Repair as needed and keep accurate lists of missing music.  Keep the music library in good order. Assist and support the directors in all choir activities.

Publicity – (Appointed) Be responsible for advertising and making public all choir activities including creating and distributing advertisement posters. Publicize for all concerts and performances using variety of media including social media advertisements as well as traditional media (newspapers, marquees around town, etc). Collaborates with Mrs. Smith over the summer on t-shirt designs (“optional” shirt, and Pop Show shirt). Updates the Choir Instagram account. Assist and support the directors in all choir activities.

Tech Manager - (Appointed) Assist the director with equipment needs for rehearsals and concerts, including set-up, tear-down and transportation as needed. Assist and support the directors in all choir activities. (This position is only open every two years).

By Texas State Law, a student who has failed ANY class during a grading period may not perform in any extracurricular activities.  If that student provides proof of passing all classes by the next progress report period, they become eligible to perform one week after the end of the grading period.

         Clarification: Only a Report Card can make a student ineligible (not a progress report). Progress reports, however, may be used to make a student eligible. Passing grades between progress reports do not count toward eligibility. The only exception to this is that the first 6-week progress report of of the year is counted toward eligibility.

General choir concerts (Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Pre-UIL Spring Concert) are part of the student’s grade and ineligible students are allowed to participate in them (as stated in 19 TAC 76.1001, Subchapter AA (a)(2)). Because of this, students will be expected to attend all graded concerts and related rehearsals despite any eligibility issues.

Special events (competitions and any event that includes ticket sales), including Patriotic Half Time, PastaPalooza Pre-Game Dinner, UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest, and Pop Show, are considered to be extracurricular, and all ineligibility rules apply. This rule includes all performances and related rehearsals held outside of the school day. The student, not the choir program or its directors, is responsible for the student’s passing/failing. Money paid toward events missed because of eligibility will be forfeited.

F.A.Q.

When a student fails a course at the end of a grading period, is that course the only subject the student must pass to regain eligibility within three weeks?

No, the student must be passing all courses at the end of the three school week evaluation period in order to regain eligibility. (TEC 33.081[d].)

Can a student’s grade be changed for eligibility?

After a failing grade has been recorded, the situations in which a student’s grade may be changed to passing and eligibility restored are only as follows: (a) an examination of course grade issued by a classroom teacher is final and may not be changed unless the grade is arbitrary, erroneous, or not consistent with school district grading policy, as determined by the board of trustees. The board’s decision may not be appealed.

Extra credit work or work (including re-test) turned in after the grading period or evaluation has ended may not be considered when determining a student’s eligibility for extracurricular activities except in the case of an “Incomplete” grade.

Are ineligible students permitted to travel to competitive events with the school group?

No. Students must be eligible to travel to competitive events.

Definition of Extracurricular Activities

19 TAC 76.1001, Subchapter AA

(a)      An extracurricular activity is an activity sponsored by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the school district board of trustees, or an organization sanctioned by the resolution of the board of trustees. The activity is not necessarily directly related to instruction of the essential knowledge and skills but may have an indirect relation to some areas of the curriculum. Extracurricular activities include, but are not limited to, public performances, contests, demonstrations, displays, and club activities, with the exception of public performances specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

             (1)      In addition, an activity shall be subject to the provisions for an

                             extracurricular activity if any one of the following criteria apply:

(A)     the activity is competitive;

(B)     the activity is held in conjunction with another activity that is considered to be extracurricular;

(C)     the activity is held off campus, except in a case where adequate facilities do not exist on campus;

(D)    the general public is invited; or

(E)     an admission is charged.

             (2)      A student ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity, but who is enrolled in a state-approved course that requires demonstration of the mastery of the essential knowledge and skills in a public performance, may participate in the performance subject to the following requirements and limitations.

(A)    Only the criterion listed in paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection applies to the performance.

(B)    The requirement for student participation in public is stated in the essential knowledge and skills of the course.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

117.60-3 (c)(2)(C)

(2) Creative expression/performance.

             The student sings or plays an instrument, individually and in groups, performing a varied repertoire of music.

             (C) exhibit and explain appropriate small- and large-ensemble techniques for formal and informal concerts.

1)      Regardless of their UIL eligibility status, a student may not miss a class in which they have a current failing grade for any event.

2)      Students must be at school for at least four periods during the day to participate in any after-school activity that afternoon or evening. This includes social events, rehearsals, and performances.

a.       Missing class for school related events including other extracurricular activities, testing, etc will be excused.

b.       Missing class for major medical appointments will be excused with a note from a doctor or therapist.

                  i.     This does NOT include just staying home because you don’t feel well! If you aren’t well enough to be at school you should not be rehearsing or performing!

Definition

For purposes of this policy, “Social Media” is defined as websites and applications that

enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking, and

includes but is not limited to platforms such as YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter),

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord, BeReal, YikYak,

Lemon8, Reddit, Bluesky and RedNote.

Conduct Prohibited

Students who post to social media comments, videos, audio, photographs, cartoons or any

other visual or audio media that the school reasonably believes may create a substantial

disruption to the school environment are in violation of the school’s social media policy.

Examples of posts that could cause a substantial disruption are threats of violence or

harassment directed at classmates or school officials, lewd or offensive posts, posts

encouraging violence or other illegal activities, and “cyberbullying,” which includes

creating false profiles, impersonating school officials or other students, or creating fake

pages. This policy applies whether the student uses District-issued or personal equipment,

whether the posts are made during or outside of school hours, and whether the posts are

made while on or off school grounds.

Consequences of Violation

Students who violate the School’s Social Media policy will receive a two-week

suspension from [all extra-curricular activities] (excluding practices) and will be required

to attend a social media awareness program designated by the school. Students will be

enrolled in the social media awareness course and will receive the log-in information

through their school email. Proof of course completion must be submitted to and

approved by the student’s assistant principal prior to returning to the activity. A second

violation of this policy during the student’s high school career will result in automatic

dismissal from [all extra-curricular activities]. Questions regarding this policy should be

directed to the student’s assistant principal or coach/sponsor.