Great Performance Students!!!

Parents I appreciate all you have done this year.  It has been a great pleasure teaching your children.  I hope to see good things in all these students next year.  Good luck 8th grade students!!!  Have a great summer and keep singing!

Musically yours,

Heidi DeCou

Choir Supplies

            -$20.00 choir fee

            -1-inch black binder(not with the clear plastic in front of the black)

            -Pencils

            -Girls will need a black dress for performing.  No shorter than one inch above the

              knee.  I will talk more about black dresses for open house.

            -Boys will need black dress slacks, black dress shirt, and black tie.

            Parents you will have time to buy the dress attire.  Our first performance will be the beginning of December.  Please be sure to come to open house for more information.

At Ruston Junior High your child is able to participate in many performances.  The choir will have two concerts that will be open to the public.  Dates will be given on a later date.  Other choral events that will take place include All-State Choir, LMEA Festival, LMEA State Festival, Southern Choral Classic Festival, Solo & Ensemble Festival, and Honor Choir.  For those of you interested in trying out for All-State Choir, auditions are coming very soon.

 The following are requirements for those who are interested in auditioning for All-State Choir:

• Each student must pay a $7.00 entry fee as soon as possible. (August)
• Each student must prepare for after-school practices. 
• Each student must prepare for after-school audition September 4, 2009.
• Each student who makes All-State must pay the registration fee of $75.00.
• Each student who makes All-State must provide transportation to and from Baton Rouge.
• Each student who makes All-State must provide for a hotel room and all meals.

All-State Choral Conference:  October 29-31, 2009 (Thursday-Saturday in Baton Rouge)

It must be understood that Choir is an elective subject of the Performing Arts.  Within this realm of the arts, performance and participation are critical in the assessment of a student’s education and progress.  Therefore, the students’ grades and behavioral reports will be dramatically affected by how well they perform and participate in class and in any other choral function (e.g. Choral Festival, District Honor Choir, and all choral programs). 

Please read carefully through the student agenda (planner).  I will follow this agenda to the best of my ability, and I will expect each student to fully cooperate with its content. 

I truly appreciate your aid and support for this school year.  With the cooperation of each student and parent affiliated with the Ruston Junior High Choral Department, we will have a rewarding year with unlimited possibilities. 

Sincerely,

Heidi DeCou

Director of Choral Activities

Ruston Junior High Choral Department

Course Syllabus

Instructor:  Mrs. Heidi  DeCou

2009-2010

Goals

I plan to build the music program to its highest potential with educating and training the students through the experiences of performance, music theory, and music history.  I also plan to involve all students in the participation of all choral activities that occur, and to create a rewarding atmosphere that produces unlimited successes.  

Classroom Expectations

          1. We will be prepared and participate in the lesson.

          2. We will be seated before the tardy bell rings.

          3. We will have our agenda signed daily.

          4. We will complete our assigned homework.

Classroom Rules

1.    Be Polite-Students will be polite to both teachers and classmates.

2.    Be Positive-It is always important to keep a positive attitude in choir.  Students will succeed beyond his/her abilities with a positive attitude.

3.    Be Perfect-It is always good to strive for perfection.  Mistakes can always be found and corrected.  That is what makes us a better student.

Classroom Routine:

1.      The student will enter the classroom in an orderly fashion placing book bags and/or purses in a designated area. 

2.      The student will obtain his/her choral folder from the folder cabinet, and quickly and quietly get to his/her assigned seat. 

3.      The student will participate in the instructor’s lesson (e.g. vocalizes, sight-singing, literature work, worksheets, etc.).

4.      The student will place his/her choral folder back in the folder cabinet when instructed by the instructor.

5.      The student will leave the classroom in an orderly fashion with their book bags. 

Grading:

          The basis for grading will incorporate a percentage system of: 

            50% Daily Participation; 30% Tests & Performances; 20% Quizzes & Rehearsals

            Daily Participation (50%):

The student will appropriately participate and be graded in all verbal, vocal, and written activities as according to the instructor.  It must be understood that this grading system is on a daily basis, and will not carry over to the next day. 

            Step 1.  Warning

            Step 2.  Student-Teacher Conference 

            The student will receive a 10 point deduction from his/her Daily Participation      Grade, and a disciplinary worksheet to be completed.

            Step 3.  Parent-Team Communication

            The student will receive an additional 20 point deduction from his/her Daily        Participation Grade, and an additional disciplinary worksheet to be completed and   signed by parent/guardian.

            Step 4.  Disciplinary Report

            The student will receive a total point deduction from his/her Daily Participation            Grade.

            Tests & Performances (30%):

The student will be given choral tests to perform and written tests to complete.*  The student will be required to attend all assigned performances.  The student will receive a 10 point reduction from their percentage grade for every performance missed.  Discipline Ladder rules also apply to each performance.

Quizzes and Rehearsals (20%):

The student will be given choral quizzes to perform and written quizzes to complete.*  The student will be required to attend all assigned rehearsals.  The student will receive a 2 point reduction from their percentage grade for every rehearsal missed.