Hilliard Memorial Middle School Choral Department

Ms. Kelsey D. Burkett, Director

Welcome to the Memorial Middle School Choirs!

I am thrilled you have chosen to be a part of the MMS Choirs and I am very excited to be your director! I know I will get the

opportunity to work with so many talented students throughout the upcoming school year. Enclosed is valuable information detailing performances, events, procedures, and opportunities for music making.

Choral Handbook 2016-17 August 17, 2016

Concert Information Think of concerts as a unit test or a final exam. Every mem-ber’s contribution is a vital part of the concert experience. It is im-perative that all singers attend. Excused absences via written note will only be accepted TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE and must be approved by the di-rector. Only illness (school absence) or emergency situations (death, car accident) will excuse a student. In these cases, a note must be brought to the director the day after the concert or as soon as the student returns to school. The director is not obligated to accept late notes, and these absences will be considered unexcused. An unexcused concert ab-sence will result in the deduction of one letter grade. For missed concerts with appropriate notification, a written assignment will be given and will be due within 5 school days of the missed concert. Concert Uniform The uniform for concerts and all performance events (unless otherwise specified) consists of the following: MMS Music Polo Shirt*, black dress pants (no denim, leggings, or sweatpants), black socks, and black dress shoes (ladies, no heal), black belts for the men. Hair must be completely up and pulled back from the face. Men with longer hair will need to have it combed back or secured. Stud earrings are permitted, but no necklaces (unless of a religious nature), no watches, bracelets, or rings. Please refrain from using perfume, cologne, or scented hairspray as to not aggravate the allergies of your director or others around you. If necessary, students are asked to wear BLACK head coverings. While the uniform policy may seem strict, MMS Choirs are known for singing AND look fan-tastic! Let’s continue to maintain this tradition! *Shirts are $15 and payment is due August 26 Payment can be made on Charms or in money order or check (made payable to Hilliard Music Boosters.)

Email is the easiest way to contact

me! Please feel free to contact me

with any questions or concerns.

Email: kelsey_burkett@hboe.org

Phone: 614.921.7600

He who sings scares away his woes~ Cervantes

@JagChoirs

“Like” Hilliard Memorial Middle School Choirs

Hilliard Memorial Middle School

Choral Department

iPad APPS All required iPad APPS for Choir are FREE Required: Music Journal Music Tutor Notability Canvas Google Docs

*MONEY*

All payments must be made to

your student’s account on the

Charms website. If you are una-

ble to make payments online,

checks or money orders may be

mailed to Hilliard Music Boost-

ers P.O. Box 232 Hilliard, OH

43026. Make sure your child’s

name, grade, Student

ID, and ensemble is

Classroom

Expectations

1. Singers must come to class prepared to work, which includes having all rehearsal materials, such as music, iPad

and a pencil. You must SING! This is CHOIR!

2. No gum, candy, food, or pop-avoid choking!

1st Offense-Warning

2nd Offense-Lunch Detention

3rd Offense-Office Referral, other consequences.

1. All books/bookbags must be left by the chalkboard and behind the risers. No school items are to be on the risers.

(except iPad and Music)

2. Be in your assigned spot before the director plays the piano.

3. Please respect the room-any instruments that might be out should not be touched.

4. Please do not play the piano without the director’s permission.

5. Be an outstanding choir member and practice the following:

* Respect yourself, your peers, and your teacher. * Pay attention! * Make an effort! * Work as a team.

7. HAVE FUN AND TRY YOUR BEST EVERY DAY!

CHARMS Charms is an online accounting and data program that the Hilli-ard Music Boosters has been using at the high school levels. Beginning this school year, the middle school music programs will also be using Charms for money management and parent communication. All stu-dent uniform, trip, and supply fees will be paid through Charms. You will receive monthly statements detailing your child’s account and you may pay these fees at your own pace. Your child will already be in the Charms System. All parents need to do is log on and update the infor-mation so that you may begin receiving emails from the directors as well as manage your child’s account.

How to access parent information

BAND * ORCHESTRA * CHOIR

Log on to www.charmsoffice.com

Locate the “PARENT/STUDENT LOGIN” section of the web page.

Login to your child’s program account using the following schoolcode:

HilliardBradley

This will bring up the main parent page. This will allow you to look at your child’s program’s public calendar, event list, handouts and other files.

Clicking on an event on the calendar brings up the details for that event, such as times, attendance requirements and equipment/uniform necessities. Clicking on

“event list” puts all of the calendar information in a list form for easy printing.

When you enter your child’s STUDENT ID NUMBER another more detailed screen appears with even more options to view your student’s uniform

assignments, music assignments, financial records, forms and inventory. Enter

your child’s ID FIRST – then you may create your own, unique password by

clicking on the “keys icon”

Two areas in which you can help the director maintain his/her records: o Student information form –you may help make changes to your child’s

student information page (such as updating phone numbers and email

addresses if they change) to help the teacher communicate with you more

effectively.

o Credit card payments for fees, trips and deposits to your student’s account. You may pay for your child’s fees or trips easily with a credit

card.

Most importantly, the parent page assists both you and the teacher to communicate with each other.

You will also see links to enter Practice Logs, view Grades, and use the Recording Studio if the teacher has enabled these options.

Hilliard Memorial Middle School

Choral Department

Grades Choir members earn points by attending concerts, weekly practice logs, daily participation, folder checks, voice tests, quartet performances, extra credit, etc. Weekly Classroom Participation (50 Points, weekly) *Students will be graded weekly based on the Jag Choirs Rubric Grading System, which includes all expectations and procedures. Points will be tallied based on the Rubric System. (See attached). Practice Journal (25 Points Each, weekly) *Each student will submit weekly practice journal. Practice Journals are to be recording via the App “Music Journal.” Students are expected to practice at home a minimum of 5 days per week, for 15 minutes each practice session. Each Monday (or beginning of the school week), students are to take a screen shot of their week’s practice log and upload it into the assignment on CANVAS. Journals that exclude the date and/or the duration of time will not be counted. (see sample of an acceptable Practice Journal). Tests and/or Sight singing (Various points) *singers will have periodic score quizzes on their music, singing tests, musical terms, etc. Concerts (100 Points per 9 Weeks) *As previously stated, concerts are a key part of the choir experience. Please see first page for further details. Students should also be aware of concert etiquette. Etiquette as a choir member and audience member will be assessed as part of your concert grade. Singers are expected to conduct themselves in a mannerly fashion and control themselves at all performances. 50 Points will be for concert attendance and participation. The other 50 Points includes proper concert uniform, behavior, arriving on time, proper audi-ence etiquette, etc.

CEDAR POINT The MMS Choirs will compete in the Music in the Parks competition at Cedar Point on May 13, 2017. This trip is a PRIVELAGE and MUST be earned by all students who attend. Any discipline action in school, such us a suspension or excessive bus referrals, will result in the removal of the student from the trip, up to the day of departure. Students must also maintain an A– average or higher in choir per each nine weeks. EXTRA PERFORMANCES The MMS Choirs have a reputation for excellence, and therefore, may be invited to sing for outside opportunities. It is the expectation that all singers perform for these outside performances. Advance notice will be given. The Men’s Choral Festival in Logan, OH will be mandatory for all singers in Men’s Choir.

Memorial Middle School Choir Department 2016-17

September: Evaluation Pre-Testing (during class)*

September 20: Fall Fundraiser

October 10 :Fall Choir Concert** MMS Gym 7 PM (call time 6:30)

November 12: Men’s Choral Festival** @ Logan High School

(All day, Men Only)

November 16-21: The Lion King, Jr. Auditions

December 5: Holiday Festival** MMS Gym 7:45 (call time 7:15)

March 3-5: The Lion King, Jr.

March 14: World Music Concert** MMS Gym 7 PM (call time 6:30)

March: Evaluation Post-Testing (during class)*

April 3: OMEA Jr. High Solo & Ensemble Contest

May 13: Cedar Point Competition Trip

May 18: Choir Awards & Finale Concert** MMS Auditorium (call time 6:30)

May26: MMS Talent Show (During School) **Events are Mandatory for Choir Members

Hilliard Memorial Middle School Choral Department

Handbook Return Packet 2016-17

Please list any possible conflicts with mandatory events you may have (please be advised that club sports will

not be considered an excused absence):

HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Please return to Ms. Burkett no later than Friday, August 26, 2016

We have read and understand the policies and procedures governing the ensembles and activities of the Memorial Middle School Choral Department. We have recorded all scheduled performances and deadlines on the family calendar.

Student Name (Print)

___________________________________________

Student (Signature)

_____________________________________________

Parent Name (Print)

_____________________________________________

Parent (Signature) _____________________________________________ Parent Email Address: _____________________________________________

MMS CHOIRS 2016-17 Please note that we are transitioning to NEW shirts this year, so all choir members (new and returning)

must purchase a new shirt. Anyone who went to NYC does not need to purchase a new shirt.

Polo Shirt Order Form

Please Check ONE of the following: _______I went on the NYC trip and DO NOT need a new polo. _______I need a new polo shirt.

Name:_______________________________

Shirt Size (CIRCLE one)

Youth Sizes: S M L XL

Women’s Sizes: S M L XL 2X (Add $2)

Men’s Sizes : S M L XL 2X (Add $2) 3X (Add $3) 4X(Add $3)

_______Amount Enclosed: Please make checks payable to Hilliard Music Boosters. Please in-clude your child’s student ID number on the check.