Fall 2017
Dear Orchestra Parents,
Welcome to a new school year! This letter includes a number of important items. Please read carefully and contact me with any questions. I am enclosing a Concert Calendar and the Orchestra/Concert Dress Guidelines. Orchestra is graded and I hope you encourage your student to do his or her best. Concerts are required and are an important component of this class. It is important for the students to be in class on time every day, just as in all his or her classes. Please note-our first performance is on September 7. The Orchestra has been asked to play for the BHS Fall Open House. Students will need to be here by 5:15 pm and should be done playing by about 6:00 pm. We will be wearing our Orchestra polo shirts and jeans for this performance.
Concerts: We wear all black, both blouse/shirt and skirts/pants. The color should be solid black, no patterns. The boys will not need to wear a tie. The pants should be dress pants, not jeans. We wear black dress shoes, not gym shoes. If you have any questions, please contact me.
We have been asked to start concerts at 6:30 or 7:00 to help students get home earlier. Please check the calendar carefully and to find the time of each concert.
All students are expected to be at all concerts, so please save these dates. The students should let their employers and coaches know NOW that they will not be available on these dates. If a concert date changes or if there are any other additions, I will let the students know and it will be their responsibility to let you know. We do our best to avoid conflicts with school activities, but it is impossible to avoid everything. If you know of a conflict with any activity, you must let me know at least two weeks prior to the conflict so it can be resolved. Failure to notify me may result in a lower grade.
Parent Involvement: As with all successful school groups, parental involvement is very important. I will need some help with the fundraising activities as well as concerts, publicity, and other orchestra activities during the year. I like to have about four parents present at each concert to stand at the doors and pass out programs. After the Winter Concert on February 13, the BHS Orchestra parents will host a small reception (cookies and drinks). The reception after the concert is a nice way for the students and parents to talk and get to know each other.
Grading: The orchestra grade is determined by Daily Demonstration of Skills and Knowledge, scale tests, quarterly playing assessments videotaped through Schoology, concerts, and additional projects. If a student misses a scale test, it must be made up within one week for full credit. The quarterly playing assessments can be submitted at any time throughout the quarter. If the video is late, the score will be dropped by 10%. Once the semester final exam has been completed, no tests or assignments will be accepted. We have many experienced students in the orchestra who are willing to help other students if I am not available. Please encourage your child to ask for help from me or another student!
Projects: Since music is more than just playing an instrument, throughout the year we do other learning activities. These include listening assignments, music theory, and music history. These projects are also a part of the orchestra grade. Each student will be given a binder to be used for all their orchestra assignments, projects, concert programs, etc. My goal is for each student to compile a four-year portfolio of their orchestra career. Our project for the year is Conducting!
Fundraising: Fundraisers are a way for students to earn money for trips and for us to raise funds for other orchestra needs. The Music Department’s first fundraiser is Pastry Puffins, which are frozen pastries filled with various options. Profits for these items are $5.00. In October, the Music Department will be selling the Evergreen Wreaths that we sell every year. We will have the annual Cheesecake Fundraiser in the spring.
Profits from these fundraisers will be credited toward an account for each student. The money in these accounts will be used to fund the Disney trip in November 2017 and any trips we may go on in the future. Each student will raise the money that goes into his/her account. This money stays in each student’s account throughout their high school career. When the student leaves high school, any money remaining in his/her account will go into the general orchestra fund. The money from this fund is used for orchestra activities. All fundraisers are totally optional for the students. Also, donations will always be accepted if offered by the customer (or anyone who wants to donate money to the orchestra!) I need someone to help count money for fundraisers. If you are good with accounting and would like to take over that job, please let me know. (The Evergreen and Cheesecake fundraisers are when I need the most help.)
Music Department trip: Disney November 2017!
Charms: If you are new this year, Charms is an online program that allows you to view your student’s financial account for the orchestra. Last spring, every student should have logged on and entered their address, phone numbers and email contacts for themselves and their parent/guardian. You can log into your student’s account and check your account by going to “Charms Office: Enter/Login: Parents/Students: bloomhsband (school code): student password.” Your student’s password is first initial last name. For example, Amy Jones will be ajones. If there are others with the same password, your student should know how we changed their password to be unique. I recommend to the students that they not change their password to something else! If you have a question, please let me know.
I encourage all parents to join PTO and Booster Club. In the past, the Booster Club has purchased new instruments for us and helped finance guest artists and events. The “Raider Night Out” is their annual fundraiser and will be held on Saturday, October 7. Every year the orchestra donates a Spirit Basket to be auctioned off at this event. It would be great if orchestra parents were there to push the bidding higher for our basket!
Cell Phones: Occasionally I will ask students to use their cell phone during orchestra. Please understand that phones will be used for educational purposes only! If a student is using a cell phone during class at an inappropriate time, I will take the phone and turn it in to the office.
Laptops: Laptops will be used on an as-needed basis in class. Usage will be monitored by the school, so access should be limited to classroom purposes only!
Please fill out the Volunteer Form and send it back to me with your student. If you have any questions, the best way to reach me is through email.
I encourage you to check the orchestra website for information on concerts, fundraising and activities. I will try to keep it up to date!
Sincerely,
Karen Monhardt
email: [email protected]
Dear Orchestra Parents,
Welcome to a new school year! This letter includes a number of important items. Please read carefully and contact me with any questions. I am enclosing a Concert Calendar and the Orchestra/Concert Dress Guidelines. Orchestra is graded and I hope you encourage your student to do his or her best. Concerts are required and are an important component of this class. It is important for the students to be in class on time every day, just as in all his or her classes. Please note-our first performance is on September 7. The Orchestra has been asked to play for the BHS Fall Open House. Students will need to be here by 5:15 pm and should be done playing by about 6:00 pm. We will be wearing our Orchestra polo shirts and jeans for this performance.
Concerts: We wear all black, both blouse/shirt and skirts/pants. The color should be solid black, no patterns. The boys will not need to wear a tie. The pants should be dress pants, not jeans. We wear black dress shoes, not gym shoes. If you have any questions, please contact me.
We have been asked to start concerts at 6:30 or 7:00 to help students get home earlier. Please check the calendar carefully and to find the time of each concert.
All students are expected to be at all concerts, so please save these dates. The students should let their employers and coaches know NOW that they will not be available on these dates. If a concert date changes or if there are any other additions, I will let the students know and it will be their responsibility to let you know. We do our best to avoid conflicts with school activities, but it is impossible to avoid everything. If you know of a conflict with any activity, you must let me know at least two weeks prior to the conflict so it can be resolved. Failure to notify me may result in a lower grade.
Parent Involvement: As with all successful school groups, parental involvement is very important. I will need some help with the fundraising activities as well as concerts, publicity, and other orchestra activities during the year. I like to have about four parents present at each concert to stand at the doors and pass out programs. After the Winter Concert on February 13, the BHS Orchestra parents will host a small reception (cookies and drinks). The reception after the concert is a nice way for the students and parents to talk and get to know each other.
Grading: The orchestra grade is determined by Daily Demonstration of Skills and Knowledge, scale tests, quarterly playing assessments videotaped through Schoology, concerts, and additional projects. If a student misses a scale test, it must be made up within one week for full credit. The quarterly playing assessments can be submitted at any time throughout the quarter. If the video is late, the score will be dropped by 10%. Once the semester final exam has been completed, no tests or assignments will be accepted. We have many experienced students in the orchestra who are willing to help other students if I am not available. Please encourage your child to ask for help from me or another student!
Projects: Since music is more than just playing an instrument, throughout the year we do other learning activities. These include listening assignments, music theory, and music history. These projects are also a part of the orchestra grade. Each student will be given a binder to be used for all their orchestra assignments, projects, concert programs, etc. My goal is for each student to compile a four-year portfolio of their orchestra career. Our project for the year is Conducting!
Fundraising: Fundraisers are a way for students to earn money for trips and for us to raise funds for other orchestra needs. The Music Department’s first fundraiser is Pastry Puffins, which are frozen pastries filled with various options. Profits for these items are $5.00. In October, the Music Department will be selling the Evergreen Wreaths that we sell every year. We will have the annual Cheesecake Fundraiser in the spring.
Profits from these fundraisers will be credited toward an account for each student. The money in these accounts will be used to fund the Disney trip in November 2017 and any trips we may go on in the future. Each student will raise the money that goes into his/her account. This money stays in each student’s account throughout their high school career. When the student leaves high school, any money remaining in his/her account will go into the general orchestra fund. The money from this fund is used for orchestra activities. All fundraisers are totally optional for the students. Also, donations will always be accepted if offered by the customer (or anyone who wants to donate money to the orchestra!) I need someone to help count money for fundraisers. If you are good with accounting and would like to take over that job, please let me know. (The Evergreen and Cheesecake fundraisers are when I need the most help.)
Music Department trip: Disney November 2017!
Charms: If you are new this year, Charms is an online program that allows you to view your student’s financial account for the orchestra. Last spring, every student should have logged on and entered their address, phone numbers and email contacts for themselves and their parent/guardian. You can log into your student’s account and check your account by going to “Charms Office: Enter/Login: Parents/Students: bloomhsband (school code): student password.” Your student’s password is first initial last name. For example, Amy Jones will be ajones. If there are others with the same password, your student should know how we changed their password to be unique. I recommend to the students that they not change their password to something else! If you have a question, please let me know.
I encourage all parents to join PTO and Booster Club. In the past, the Booster Club has purchased new instruments for us and helped finance guest artists and events. The “Raider Night Out” is their annual fundraiser and will be held on Saturday, October 7. Every year the orchestra donates a Spirit Basket to be auctioned off at this event. It would be great if orchestra parents were there to push the bidding higher for our basket!
Cell Phones: Occasionally I will ask students to use their cell phone during orchestra. Please understand that phones will be used for educational purposes only! If a student is using a cell phone during class at an inappropriate time, I will take the phone and turn it in to the office.
Laptops: Laptops will be used on an as-needed basis in class. Usage will be monitored by the school, so access should be limited to classroom purposes only!
Please fill out the Volunteer Form and send it back to me with your student. If you have any questions, the best way to reach me is through email.
I encourage you to check the orchestra website for information on concerts, fundraising and activities. I will try to keep it up to date!
Sincerely,
Karen Monhardt
email: [email protected]