PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS

All Students are expected to practice between 30 and 60 minutes at home a week. If they get in more practice, FANTASTIC! Please help your student structure their time to get this practice time to work with your schedule. 

My kids practice first thing in the morning. It is a brisk wake up but it works for our family. Find a time of day that is best for you and try to stick to it. To practice everyday a little is better than to practice one day a lot. 

I also suggest getting students music lessons. I find the structure of a once a week individual check in really helps students motivate and helps parents to structure their practice. We do not have small group lessons at the middle high school as they do at Maple Street School. See the section about area music opportunities for more information. 

Rehearsal Expectations

• All Students will be in the room and ready to begin by the bell. Students who enter late must have a pass from their teacher stating why they were late to class. 

• All students are responsible for getting their equipment for rehearsal: instrument, sheet music, stand and whatever else is needed. Instruments are kept in lockers during the week and expected to go home on weekends. 30-60 minutes of practice should be happening over weekends.

• When you have completed set-up, warm up or review materials from previous rehearsals i.e. sing over a section you worked on or warm up your instrument on scales. Please warm up below a mf (medium loud) so everyone can warm up together.

• If you have a medical problem and cannot play or sing please see me before the rehearsal begins preferably with a doctors/nurses note.  If you have forgotten your instrument you will lose points for the day and if possible you will be provided with a school instrument to use. If you are without your instrument or are unable to play or sing (depending on the circumstances) you will be asked to follow along with your part (and  do the fingerings on a pencil if a wind player). 

• Band: If your instrument is in for repairs please see me before rehearsal to let me know.  I may be able to fix it prior to class. If your instrument needs to go in for repairs please see me after rehearsal and we will arrange for it to be sent. Ellis Music comes Tuesdays. Make sure your name, parents name and phone number are on your instrument case.

• The rehearsal will usually end about 5 minutes prior to class being over. At that time you will be responsible for putting away your music and/or instrument in its case and storing it in your locker. Percussionists label your sticks. Sheet music can be stored in lockers with your instrument. Percussionists on percussion cabinet

• Vocalists need to be good to their voices. Please refrain from screaming continuously at events as this injures your voice. 

Classroom Expectations

Respect yourself. Respect each other. Respect the music.

• Treat others as you expect to be treated. Disrespect toward people, instruments and equipment will not be tolerated.

• Always have a pencil

• WE HAVE A NEW SPACE! WE WANT TO KEEP IT NICE! 

• Please help to keep the space clean. 

• Keep track of your music. 

• Please do not touch equipment that you do not use in a class period. 

*Sectionals

As an ensemble to be the best we can there will be times we need to meet for a quick sectional. I will assign you to advisory time when appropriate.

Hopkinton School District Course Policies 

and Information for Students

Reassessment Plan

The goal of the reassessment plan is to provide students the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for proficiency while also ensuring that they appreciate and acquire the work habits required for success. The spirit of the reassessment plan is not graded enhancement; reassessment is not recommended for students who have shown competency with grades of 80% or greater.

Tier 1 - Evidence Plan

Students will turn in clear evidence of preparation and practice prior to or at the time of any summative assessment. The standards for this evidence will be specifically stated by each academic department. Given that the student has demonstrated measurable effort and care for learning, the student will be eligible to receive whatever grade is achieved through the reassessment process.

Mathematics department requirements for Tier 1 Reassessment:

Completed all or most required homework assignments on time and completely.           

Took notes in class every day. 

  Reviewed and corrected summative questions that were incorrect.  

  Practice/Review Summative was completed, and review before the summative was given.

Tier 2 - Non-Evidence Plan

Students who do not turn in clear evidence of preparation and practice prior to or at the time of any summative assessment must complete the requirements as prescribed by each academic department in order to reassess. Given that the student has not demonstrated measurable effort and care for learning prior to assessment, the student will be eligible to receive a competency grade of 70% on the reassessment.

* All reassessments must be completed within ten school days of the assessment being returned to the student.

Academic Dishonesty

First offense in a school year – Students will meet with the administration and review the Academic Dishonesty Policy. Students will be allowed to remediate the work to achieve competency (and a grade of 70). Then, the teacher will call home.

Second offense in a school year – Students will meet with the administration and be suspended from school. Students may only receive a grade of 50 for the assignment. The teacher will call home.

Third offense in a school year – Students will meet with the administration and be suspended from school. Students will not receive credit for the assignment. The teacher will call home.

***At middle school, the second offense is a Saturday Ed, not a suspension.***

Attendance Policy

Students must attend school every day to grow as learners. Any absence will have an adverse effect on their learning. Since students will, from time to time, be ill or have other unavoidable commitments, we ask that these limited absences be minimized as much as possible (see below for specifics related to absences and loss of class credit). Students who miss a class for any reason must make arrangements to complete missed work.

Unexcused Absences

At the high school level, unexcused absences may result in loss of credit. Ten unexcused absences are allowed in a yearlong course, and five unexcused absences will be allowed in a half-year long course. In order not to be marked absent, the student must be present for 60 minutes or more of the class. Exceeding these attendance limits will result in a loss of credit for the course.  Letters will be sent home when a student reaches half of the allowable number of absences and again when the student is one absence away from losing credit for a course.  Students may appeal a loss of credit decision to an administrator.

In middle school, an administrator will confer with parents after ten absences. After 20 absences, the administration will notify the superintendent, and the absence will be documented.

Excused Absences

Excused absences include officially documented medical appointments (notes from a parent/guardian are not sufficient), legal obligations that can be documented, family loss, school-related absences, pre-arranged absences for extended leave or vacation, and pre-approved college visits. Students returning to school must bring a note from the appropriate party (for example, the doctor’s office) for that absence to be excused. All other absences are considered unexcused.

Cell Phones

Students are not permitted to use cell phones/devices while in the classroom unless they receive permission from a faculty member. If a student has a cell phone out during class or any other unauthorized area, the teacher will confiscate it. The staff member will turn the cell phone over to the administration. Students will be able to use their cell phone in the cafeteria during lunches and breaks. Students who need to use a cell phone to make a call during the school day may ask a faculty member for permission for the cell phone to be used in the office -- faculty members will grant permission on a case-by-case basis.

• A student’s failure to comply with a teacher’s request to turn over the cell phone/device will receive a Saturday Education. In addition, the administration will notify the parent/guardian, the parent/guardian will be asked to pick up the cell phone/device at their earliest convenience.

Violations:

For the first offense, the student may pick up their cell phone from the office at the end of the school day. A second offense will require that a parent or guardian pick up the cell phone from the main office. For a third offense, a parent or guardian will pick up the cell phone from the main office, and the student will serve an Office Detention. Finally, on the fourth offense, a parent or guardian will pick up the cell phone from the main office, and the student will serve a Saturday Detention.