Syllabus

Dear Chorus Parent/Guardian,

Greetings from your choral director at Charles P. Murray Middle School! My name is Ms. Meghan Blackwood and I will be directing the 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Chorus classes this year. I am very excited about this school year and the fun we will have in chorus class!! The school year will be filled with wonderful music-making, engaged learning about music, and lots of opportunities for performing and fun!

Please read carefully through the syllabus as it contains important information about expectations and grading. Some of this information will be included in your Student/Guardian Contract, sent to you via Google Form. Completing that form will serve as the first graded assignment of the year for your student!

Please do not be intimidated by this syllabus - It is a formality to ensure fairness and consistency, and is always here for you to reference!

Ms. Meghan Blackwood

meghan.blackwood@nhcs.net

https://sites.google.com/nhcs.net/murray-chorus/home

August, 2023

CHORAL STUDENT EXPECTATIONS / GRADING POLICY

Grading Scale

Daily Participation: 60%

Classwork/Projects: 20%

Quizzes: 10%

Concerts: 10%

Daily Participation - 60%

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR GRADE (0ther than the semester concerts - see below).

What is expected from you as a participant of the choral classroom? These are the things you are graded on daily. Every week this will be entered into the grade book. Daily Participation is 60% of your overall grade. The following are part of your daily points (10 possible points per week): 

PROMPTNESS (2 points) 

 Sitting in your seat at the start of class. 

 Attending all chorus rehearsals during your assigned class period. 

PARTICIPATION (2 points)  

Taking part in all classroom activities, singing or otherwise, to the best of your ability.

Following the teacher's directions and being a team player. 

EFFORT (2 points) 

Attempting to sing, move and follow all directions to the best of your ability. 

RESPECT (2 points)  

Raising your hand to answer or ask questions.  

Being attentive in all choral rehearsals.  

Behaving in such a manner to support the learning environment.  

Following appropriate concert etiquette. 

RESPONSIBLE (2 points)  

Does not chew gum during class.  

Assisting the teacher and others when needed.  

Comes to class with all materials needed.

Returns music in good condition.

Instructor will contact home or send student to the office if the student shows disrespectful behavior, or if loss of daily classroom points becomes persistent.

Classwork/Projects - 20%

Occasionally, worksheets and projects will be assigned to be completed in class and/or at home. Students are expected to complete any assignments to the best of their ability and turn them in when assigned.

Late work will not be accepted for full credit. Each day an assignment is late, 2 points will be deducted from the student’s grade. If extraordinary circumstances are presented, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor.

Quizzes - 10%

Occasionally, written quizzes will be given during the school year as a tool to gauge student growth and understanding of musical concepts and musical elements.

Concerts - 10%

Concert attendance is mandatory! The concerts act as a final exam for this class. Students are expected to sing in the Winter and Spring Chorus Concerts. Students will abide by the concert dress code and will abide by concert etiquette rules.

The winter concert is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 7pm, and the spring concert is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 7pm. These dates and times are as of August 2023.

An unexcused absence at a chorus concert will result in a failing grade. 

An excused absence at a chorus concert  must be communicated to the teacher prior to the concert. An excused absence includes:

• Death of a family member or friend

• Illness - Student must have been absent from school that day and have a doctor’s note

• School related event that cannot be reconciled

In the event of an excused absence from a chorus concert, student will sing through all concert music for the instructor to make up their grade.

Concert Dress Code (subject to change):

Black dress pants or floor length skirt/dress

Black dress shirt, shoulders completely covered

Black closed-toe shoes (if wearing socks, black socks)

No distracting, sparkly, or flashy jewelry/belts

No perfumes

(Click here for photo examples)

Students will abide by the New Hanover County Schools dress code within the above wardrobe requirements

General Classroom Rules

• Be prompt, participate, show effort, be respectful, and be responsible as outlined in daily participation above!

• Respect the chorus room and all materials and instruments in it. The classroom is our shared space and our home. Do not vandalize any materials, music, or instruments.

• No gum, food, or drink in class (with the exception of water).

• Cell phone policy: Away for the day! Murray Middle School's policy states that no cell phones or personal electronic devices are to be used during instructional time unless authorized by the instructor. Instructors will confiscate electronic devices if they are used inappropriately.