Francis Howell High School
Choral Department
Mrs. Karey Fitzpatrick, Director
636-851-4735
karey.fitzpatrick@fhsdschools.org
Conference Hour: 1:30 – 2:20
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
Ø Be on time to class. Tardies will be documented.
Ø No food, drinks, or gum in class(except for water in a container with a lid)
Ø Be prepared! Have appropriate materials in class(HAVE
PENCIL AND MUSIC!!)
Ø In order to have an excused sick day, students should alert the director BEFORE
class starts. An excused
sick day means you are not singing, but are following along in the music, participating in non-verbal activities. The student
will also turn in a sheet of paper with the strengths and areas of improvement for the ensemble in rehearsal that day in order
to receive points. A maximum of 2 sick days a semester will be allowed.
Ø Demonstrate proper care of music, furniture, and equipment in classroom,
auditorium,
and any other performance venue. STUDENTS
ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING LOST MUSIC, ROBES/UNIFORMS, AND FOLDERS!!
Ø All teachers, parents, and guests will be treated with respect.
Ø Students will behave appropriately in concert settings, and will show respect
for peers who are performing.
Ø Students will adhere to the FHHS Dress Code while on all trips.
Failure to comply with expectations will result in:
1. Lower participation grade by 50% for that day/performance
2. Complete loss of participation points for day/performance
3. Parent notification and detentions assigned
4. Student will be dropped from ensemble at semester
GRADING PROCEDURES:
Grades will be calculated each semester as follows:
40% = first/third quarter participation, extra rehearsal attendance, assignments, written and vocal tests, required
performances
40% = second/fourth quarter participation, extra rehearsal attendance, assignments, written and vocal tests, required
performances
20% = Semester final: half of semester final is written; half is a performance
assessment. (PLEASE NOTE: the semester
grade can be lowered by a letter grade if a score of 60 % or below is earned on the semester final.)
PARTICIPATION:
Daily class participation = 10 points
After-School Rehearsals = 150 points
Written
tests = 100 points
Written assignments = 20 – 100 points
Vocal Tests = 50 points
Students are encouraged to maintain good attendance
to participate successfully; missed rehearsal time cannot be replaced with the ensemble, and unexcused absences cannot be
made up at all. An excused absence will be worth 8/10 points for the first three
of the semester; 7/10 points for further absences. If a student would like to make up the points missed from an excused absence,
there are materials posted in the classroom. These materials must be turned in within 3 days of the absence for the points
to count toward the absent grade.
Part-singing grades will be taken with one or
two voices per part on music which has been rehearsed in class. Sight reading
will be graded individually and in groups after extensive practice.
HOMEWORK POLICY:
There will be several written assignments and
worksheets to reinforce concepts we are learning, and these are to be completed on time! The student must notify the director
if an assignment will not be turned in on time. An extension is granted only when the student needs more time than allotted
in class or in the case of an absence. The assignment will be due during the next day’s class period for the student
to receive full credit. The assignment may be turned in after that for partial credit.
PERFORMANCES:
Concerts = 200 points
Dress Rehearsals = 150 points Extra Performances = 150 points
This is a performance-based class. All performances and dress rehearsals are required! Students will be notified in writing of performances, and are expected to make arrangements with parents,
coaches, employers, etc., well in advance of these dates.
Should a student be absent from a performance
due to serious illness or emergency, the absence must fall under the FHSD policy for excused absences. In addition, the student or parent must notify the director via voicemail or email no later than 2:15 the
day of the performance. If excused, the student has 10 school days to provide
a make-up assignment designed by the director. This will be a five-page typed
research paper on a composer or style of music the choir is performing, or a “jury” performance of their portion
of the concert.
Show time for performances is non-negotiable. If a student is not in attendance when attendance is taken before the concert, 50
points will be deducted from their performance score. Concert disruptions caused
by students and inappropriate concert attire will also result in a reduction of concert performance points.
CONCERT ATTIRE: CONCERT CHOIR, TREBLE CHOIR AND CHORUS
(MANDATORY – infractions
will result in partial loss of performance points):
MEN: black dress pants (no jeans!), black socks, black dress shoes (no tennis shoes), white dress shirt and tie; a natural hair color, no visible
body piercings except ears
WOMEN: dress or skirt outfit that does not extend above or below the choir robe, flesh-
colored stockings, black dress shoes (no boots, no
tennis shoes), a natural hair
color, no
obvious jewelry, no colored headbands, no visible body piercings except ears
CONCERT ATTIRE: CHAMBER
MEN:
required to pay $30 for rental of tuxedo for the year and $20 for dress shirt(men
will keep their dress shirt) it is required that the student renting the tuxedo return it at the end of the year with a dry cleaning receipt
WOMEN:
required to pay $40 to rent dress for the year or may buy their dress for $80, it
is required that the student renting the dress return it at the end of the year with a dry cleaning receipt
CHOIR AWARDS REQUIREMENTS(Letter, Outstanding Musician, Behind the Scenes):
*Meet MSHSAA standards
*Participation in ensemble the entire year
*Grade of B or higher each quarter
*No unexcused absences from performances or dress
rehearsals
*No more than one excused absence from performances
*No suspension resulting from choir performance
or activity
*Attend one pre-approved outside choral concert
per semester
CHOIR FEE:
Chamber, Concert, and Treble
Choir students are required to aid the choral program with paying for certain fees that are not included in our school budget.
These include: festival registration, robe and uniform cleaning, t-shirt, transportation for field trips, robe and uniform
purchases, piano accompanist, etc. The fee is $50 for the school year and is due by
the end of September (Date will be supplied each year). This can be paid either out-of-pocket or by money earned through
fundraising.
Mixed Chorus members who
will be participating in a festival or ordering a t-shirt will be billed individually.
