Chorus Handbook
Your child brought home a Parent/Student Need-to-Know sheet on the first day of school that summarized the most important pieces of information to starting the year in MMS Chorus. Below is the full version of the Chorus Handbook. I strongly suggest that you and your child read the WHOLE Chorus Handbook to have a full understanding of Chorus expectations and procedures.
MMS Chorus Handbook
2019-2020
Megan Yingst, Choral Director
Mission Statement
The Mulberry Middle School Choir Department strives to create confident musicians who:
· Live to a high standard of morale, academia, and citizenship.
· Apply their skills to the world around them and in pursuit of their own curiosities.
· Are a part of a unified community that empowers each student to be the best they can be.
In accordance with our mission statement, MMS Choir Students will be expected to uphold the following:
· No disciplinary record with both Mulberry Middle School or the Polk County Police Department.
· Minimum of 2.0 GPA.
· Be a positive and productive member of our classroom.
Failure to abide by these expectations may result in disciplinary action, suspension from performing, or removal from the program.
Classroom Agreements
In the MMS Choir Classroom, both the students and the teacher will uphold the following classroom agreements:
1. We respect others, our space, and ourselves.
· This room is SAFE.
· All interactions in this classroom will be founded on respect. Bullying, harassment, and disrespect will never be tolerated here.
· The classroom should always be left cleaner than it was found.
· Individuals will respect themselves by always representing the program in the highest manner possible.
· We take care of one another and ourselves.
2. We are proactive and responsible.
· We will arrive to class, rehearsals, performances, and events early.
· We turn assignments in on time and to the best of our ability.
· We make up any work we miss.
· If there is a conflict, we communicate in advance to properly handle the problem.
3. We always try.
· We will welcome mistakes and celebrate improvement!
· If help is needed, we know this is a safe place to ask for help.
Failure to abide by these agreements may result in disciplinary action, suspension from performing, or removal from the program.
In accordance with these agreements, harassment, bullying, disrespect, and all other violations of policy will not be tolerated and will be addressed through the following discipline protocol.
Discipline
The MMS Choir classroom abides by the discipline procedures outlined by the MMS administration and will be dealt with in the following manner:
1. Verbal Warning and/or seat change.
2. Alternative writing assignment and phone call home
3. Referral, phone call home, and loss of participation in special events
4. Referral for removal from the choir program.
Classroom Procedures
· Students are to enter the room quickly and prepare for the day ahead.
o Get chorus binder, pencil, and agenda ready at your seat.
o Start bell work
o Put backpack under seat
· No Horseplay.
o No running or chasing
o Keep hands and feet to yourself
· Students should remain in their assigned seats.
o Students should use appropriate classroom signals to indicate if they need to get supplies, go to the bathroom, or get water.
· Students should be respectfully quiet while the teacher is talking or when signaled to be.
· Students keep backpacks closed and under their seat.
Areas in Our Classroom
· The Landing Strip
o Pick up any music or materials. It will be labeled by class period.
o Where you can find the hall, or clinic pass.
· Music Pad
o Pick up binder and music pencil.
o Your class bin
- Turn in work
o Graded work
o Make up work
o Miscellaneous classroom supplies
Prohibited Items
· Gum
· Food
· Phones
· Weapons of any kind
· Negative attitudes
Entering Procedures
1. The Landing Strip
· Pick up any music or materials. It will be labeled by class period.
2. Music Pad
· Pick up folder. (You will all be assigned a number.)
· Turn in any work in your class bin.
3. Take a seat and prepare materials for the day.
· All backpacks should be left closed under their seat.
· Students should have a pencil and their agenda EVERY DAY.
4. Complete bell work on the board.
Exiting Procedures
1. Wait until Ms. Yingst dismisses you.
· Make sure your area is CLEANER than you found it.
2. Put back any materials borrowed.
3. Put your Music Folder in your assigned music area.
· Turn in whatever work is due in indicated class box, if any.
4. Wait by the door and maintain a respectful noise level indicated on board.
Passes to Leave the Classroom
· Restroom
o Shouldn’t go in the first or last 10 minutes of class
o Raise your hand with designated sign
o Sign out and sign back in
o Take the pass that is hung by door
o One person may leave at a time
o The student should quietly leave and enter the classroom
o Please be reasonable! Do NOT abuse these procedures or there will be more restrictions.
· Water
o Raise your hand with designated sign
o One person at a time. There should NEVER be a line at the back of the classroom for water.
o Please be reasonable! Do NOT abuse these procedures or there will be more restrictions.
· Clinic
o Raise your hand with designated sign
o Please be reasonable! Do NOT abuse these procedures.
· Other Passes
o Will be dealt with accordingly.
Money Handling
All collected funds must be sealed in an envelope and labeled with the student’s name, amount enclosed, and the purpose of the funds. Envelopes are available at school. After it is sealed and labeled, it should be deposited in the money box that is locked and mounted on the wall next to Ms. Yingst’s office. If a receipt is necessary, it will be written after the funds are accounted for and deposited in the front office.
Volunteering in Our Open Chorus Classroom
The Mulberry Middle School chorus room is open to any parent or guardian who would like to volunteer, visit, help, observe, chaperone, or become more involved in the learning process with their child. If you would like to visit or help our program in any way, you will need to become a volunteer through Polk County Public Schools. This requires an application and a $25 fee to cover the cost of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check. You can find the application and more information at the following link: https://polkschoolsfl.com/getinvolved/
If you are a registered volunteer and would like to help or visit our program in any way, please send me an email (megan.yingst@polk-fl.net) about when you would like to visit. I will inform the office of your visit so when you arrive, you will check in at the office before coming to the classroom.
Needed Materials
Students will be required to have a pencil, their chorus binder with dividers, and their agenda at their seat every day. The chorus binder with dividers will be provided in the lab donation fee.
Additionally, the school does not provide certain perishable supplies that are needed for the classroom. We kindly request that (if you are able) you consider making a monetary donation or supply donation of the following items:
· a box of tissues
· hand sanitizer
· a box of pencils
· wide ruled paper
· copy paper (of any color)
Attendance
Students are required to be in all class rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances (dates for all performances and dress rehearsals are given in the calendar provided in this packet). Students must abide by the attendance policy as specified by the Mulberry Middle School Administration. Excused absences will allow students to make up all assignments they missed that day. All unexcused absences will result in a loss of participation points for the day and make up work will not be given.
If you have a conflict for one of our required events, you must notify me as soon as possible at least two weeks before the event. Absences will be excused on a case-by-case basis. If excused, an alternative assignment will be given. Last minute exceptions would include family emergencies and extreme sickness only.
Tardy Procedures
If a student is tardy, they will be dealt with in accordance to the Mulberry Middle School Administration. Ms. Yingst does request that tardy students enter the room as quietly as possible and in accordance to regular classroom procedures.
Music Responsibility
All music that is used in the MMS Chorus Program is bought with the money earned from our fundraisers. We receive little to no school funding. Therefore, students will be taught to be respectful to our music. If a student damages music used in our classroom, they will get an immediate call home.
Financial Responsibilities
Unfortunately, music programs receive little or no funding from their administration or district, meaning that we are responsible for buying the needed materials to run a choir program. These expenses include but are not limited to sheet music, uniforms, t-shirts, travel to MPA/competitions, field trips, guest clinicians, piano tunings, risers, technology, etc. Throughout the year, we will be participating in fundraisers to help offset these costs. We ask that all students participate to the best of their capability in order to provide the best materials possible for our Choir Program.
In starting the year, we ask that each student pays a Lab donation fee and a Uniform Rental/Polo fee (total: $25). These fees are described below:
Lab Donation Fee of $10
This fee helps offset the cost of:
· Music for the year
· Solo and Ensemble registration fee, if your student chooses to participate.
· Any other registration fees for honor choirs, all state choirs, or MPA.
Uniform Fee $15
There is required performance attire for ALL students. The $15 covers either the purchase of a chorus polo (6th graders) or uniform rental (7th and 8th) as detailed in the uniform section.
NO CHILD WILL BE TURNED AWAY FROM THE MMS CHOIR PROGRAM IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY THESE FEES.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any problems with paying these fees. We can make alternative arrangements or payment plans. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. We will have fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help offset any costs that need to be covered.
Sponsorships
If you are financially able, you can anonymously sponsor a child in our program by providing a portion or covering the fees mentioned above. You can indicate this on the form provided in the Condensed Handbook.
Uniforms
There is required performance attire for ALL students as indicated by grade level below. All attire should be acquired BEFORE your student’s first performance. Students who are out of uniform for a concert may be docked points and may not be allowed to perform with the group.
6th Grade:
Choir Polo (This is BOUGHT and OWNED by each student; covered in $15 uniform fee)
Black Dress Pants (no leggings or jeggings allowed)
Closed Toed Black Shoes
As covered in the $15 uniform fee, all 6th graders will OWN their chorus polo and will be responsible for keeping their polo clean.
7th and 8th Grade:
Option 1
Chorus dress (RENTED from MMS included in $15 uniform fee)
Closed Toed Black Shoes
Option 2
White Tux Shirt (RENTED from MMS included in $15 uniform fee)
Black Vest (RENTED from MMS included in $15 uniform fee) Blue Tie (RENTED from MMS included in $15 uniform fee)
Closed Toed Black Shoes
As covered in the $15 uniform fee, all 7th and 8th graders will RENT their chorus uniform from the MMS chorus department. This fee covers the cost of buying new uniforms for our program and cleaning at the end of the year. During the school year, students and families will be responsible for keeping their uniform clean and safe. Parents are allowed to hem the chorus dresses or chorus dress pants as needed for your child. Students will be required to turn in their chorus uniform at the end of the year. Failure to turn in your uniform will result in a charge to your student’s account for the amount needed to replace the uniform lost.
Chorus Boosters and Volunteers
The Mulberry Middle School Chorus is looking to start a Chorus Boosters club.
What do the Chorus Boosters do?
Chorus boosters help assist our choral department in many ways such as, but not limited to:
-fitting students for uniforms
-distributing uniforms
-managing money
-helping arrange fundraising events
-altering uniforms
-volunteering when needed
-helping organize chaperones
-designing programs for concerts
-assisting the choir musically
In order to be a Choral Booster, you must be a registered Volunteer with Polk County Public Schools. Please see the Volunteering in Our Open Chorus Classroom tab for more information on the application. You can indicate whether or not you are interested in becoming a Chorus Booster by filling out the 2018-2019 Parent Information Form on our website.
You’re help and time is so appreciated and I hope that with your help we can make our program the best it can be!
Grading Procedures
The bulk of a student’s grade in Chorus is based on participation and preparation. If a student is prepared for class every day and is fully participating in class activities, they will succeed. Ability level is assessed regularly, but it will never be used as the sole method for determining a student’s class grade. The grading policy will vary slightly according to class level.
Weekly Grade: 50 points (10 points per day)
Quizzes and assignments: 20-50 points
Tests: 100-200 points
Required Performances: 200 points
Make Up Work
Make-up work will be provided in the designated area in the Music Pad. Students will have one week from the day absent to complete the work for full credit if the absence is excused. They will follow the same procedures for turning in their work.
Unexcused absences to mandatory events are UNACCEPTABLE and could cause your child's grade to be reduced drastically. If there is a conflict, this must be communicated with Ms. Yingst at least two weeks in advance and will be approved as "excused" on a case-by-case basis. In the event the absence is "excused", the student will be given a make up assignment to redeem the performance grade.
Any family emergency that prevents a child from attending a performance will be considered "excused" as long as this emergency is communicated to Ms. Yingst. The child will be given a make up assignment.