Dana Van Slyke, Director

HERNDON HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT HANDBOOK 2017-2018 Dana Van Slyke, Director 703-810-2333 E-mail:Dhvanslyke@fcps.edu www.herndonchoir.org Welcome, all new and returning chorus students! I hope you enjoyed your summer and are ready for the 2017-2018 school year. I have planned an exciting program of concerts, musical theatre, trips, festivals, and other events for you. This year you will continue to work on musicianship, vocal technique, sight singing, and ensemble and solo performance. You also will have opportunities to audition and perform in district and state honors choirs, as well as school-wide musical events such as our Broadway Cabaret and our spring musical. We ll add movement and a little musical theatre to our repertoire for the end-of-the-year Pops Concert. In the spring, students who wish to participate will travel to New York City! I am excited to see you and start our music making! Get ready to work hard! Mrs. Van Slyke

2 Table of Contents Page 3-4 Course Syllabus Course Descriptions FCPS Grading Procedures and Grading Scale for High School Grading Policy/ Make up Policy Classroom Expectations Honor Code Page 5-6 Page 7-8 Page 9 Choir Course Fees Fee Categories Payment Policies Refunds Financial Assistance Calendar of Events and Expectations Costume Form and information Page 10 Signature Page

3 Herndon Choir Syllabus All Hornets are Capable of Success - No Exceptions! Instructor: Dana Van Slyke Room: 142 COURSE TITLES - Vocal Jazz, Concert Choir, Madrigals, Herndon Chorale, Heatwave Show Choir Course Descriptions and Objectives (928015) Vocal Jazz: This class is designed to meet specific needs and/or interests. Class meets outside of the regular school day. Content includes study of jazz literature, rehearsal, and performance techniques. Audition required - Performances and rehearsals, both in and out of school, may be required. Participation is District Assessment is mandatory. (926015) Concert Choir: 9 th -12 th grade students will participate in a chorus of mixed voices. Emphasis is placed upon correct vocal performance techniques through the singing of appropriate choral literature. Rehearsals and performances, both in and out of school, may be required. (928915) Madrigals: Students are offered advanced choral experiences for mixed voices. Emphasis is placed on the development of musicianship and proficiency in ensemble performance. Course content includes a study of choral literature, vocal techniques, and sight-singing. Based on successful completion of sequential concepts for each level, students will continue as specified in course level. Rehearsals and performances both in and out of school are required. Audition and one year of high school choir or adv. level instrumental experience required. Participation in District Assessment is mandatory. Auditioning for/ participating in District Choir is expected. (928916) Herndon Chorale: Students are offered advanced choral experiences for women's voices. Emphasis is placed on the development of musicianship and proficiency in ensemble performance. Course content includes a study of choral literature, vocal techniques, and sight-singing. Rehearsals and performances both in and out of school are required. Audition required. Participation in District Assessment is mandatory. Auditioning for/ participating in District Choir is expected. (929615) SuperNova Show Choir: Students are offered choral experiences in a variety of musical genres. Emphasis is placed on the development of musicianship and proficiency in ensemble performance. Course content includes a study of appropriate literature, vocal techniques, and choreography. Rehearsals and performances both in and out of school are required. Audition Required. GRADING: Student grades will be determined as shown. Quarter Grades Rehearsal Techniques 30% Required Concerts & 40% Auditions Content Preparation 30% Final Grade Quarter 1 25% Quarter 2 25% Quarter 3 25% Quarter 4 25% Symbols Scale Quality Points A 93-100 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 64-66 1.0 F Below 64 0.0 NTI 50% 0.0 FCPS POS http://www.fcps.edu/is/finearts/music.shtml Co-Curricular requirement statement - Regulation 3866-http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/legacycontent/867SM82A9465/$FILE/R3866.pdf HHS Course Catalogue http://www.fcps.edu/herndonhs/temppdf/hhscoursecatalog2015_16complete.pdf

4 CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS/ ATTENDANCE AND GRADING ON PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT It is important that each student arrives on time, maintains good attendance, and remains on task in order to master the course material and techniques. Tardies and unexcused absences will be handled in accordance with FCPS attendance policies. If you are unexcused absent/ absent due to illness during the school day, you may not participate in the after school concerts or rehearsals that day. If absence is due to illness you may be given a chance to do a make-up assignment. If students are participating fully and to the best of their ability, if their attendance at rehearsal is consistent and they demonstrate a full knowledge of what the group is performing musically and what their section is responsible for during the performance: that would earn an A. If they demonstrate basic knowledge but only as a follower: that would warrant a B. If they are unprepared and do not know their part well enough to perform it even in a group: that would earn a C. If their attendance is inconsistent and/or they do not participate fully in rehearsals and, therefore, do not know the performance material: that would warrant a D or failure. If they are not present at the concert they receive a failing test grade. If it is an excused absence, and communication from the parent or guardian is received, they are given the chance to type a critical review of the concert after reviewing the video and they could be asked to sing their concert music in a small mixed ensemble for the teacher to assess. If they simply fail to show up, their make up assignment will only account for 75% of the missed performance experience. This must be turned in by the end of the quarter in which the concert was performed. Students who do not submit make up work will receive an NTI which equals 50% in the gradebook. If no assignment is submitted than the 50% will stand. TAGGING on FACEBOOK, or other social media sites. Never tag other people in photos or videos of Herndon Choir concerts and events without permission. Identifying others, besides yourself, creates the potential for privacy violations, and could require us to eliminate pictures and videos at concerts. HONOR CODE Please make sure you are familiar with the honor code, as all students will be expected to abide by it. Herndon High School Honor Code As a student at Herndon High School, I am committed to behave honorably. I will not lie, cheat, steal, or plagiarize, and I will not enable others to do so.

5 School of Music Program Finance Information and Policies For School Year 2017-2018 FCPS will not charge students a fee for any mandatory aspect of the Herndon HS Choir Program except for musical instruments and course material fees which are permitted by Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) regulations. Schools cannot require a student to pay fees for course materials in excess of the amount approved by the School Board in Notice 5922, Revenue, Tuition, and Fees Student Fees. The following is a description of Herndon HS Choir Program course material fees and FCPS-sponsored optional activity fees for participation in the music program for the upcoming season. Fee Structure Required Fees, Optional Fees Required course material fees: Course material fees cover consumable materials associated with a course and are a required element of that course. FCPS-sponsored optional activity fees are charged in connection with a particular activity and cover some or all of the actual costs of that activity. Participation in the particular activity is optional but if a student decides to participate in the activity, payment of the activity fee is required. Any fees collected that exceed actual cost of materials or activities must be refunded to the parent. Fee Categories Herndon Choir Course Materials Fee $50 per course due by _9_/ 8_/2017 This fee is similar to required fees paid for certain, other FCPS classes. It covers course materials related to the course. Examples of the materials eligible to be covered by this fee include: uniform purchases and maintenance, the drill book, music/choreography for the show, music t-shirt, instrument accessories, equipment repairs, and food during instructional activities. Herndon HS Choir Program FCPS-Sponsored Optional Activities Fees: Honors Choir, District Choir and All VA Choir audition fee Approx. $15 District Choir Participation fee- approx. $30 HHS Choir spring choir trip approx. $650 This is an FCPS-sponsored optional activity fee that students are expected to pay if they choose to participate in Herndon HS Choir Program. The FCPS-sponsored optional activity fee is determined and assessed based on the estimated cost of the trip or activity. Examples of such costs include transportation, accommodation, registration, food and other miscellaneous expenses.

6 Herndon HS Choir Accessories ( amount may vary) Certain uniform accessory items have to be purchased separately by the students as needed. Examples of these items include jewelry, shoes, gloves, and replacement t- shirts, jackets, vests, etc. Payment Policies Payments can now be made online in your Students School Store Go to www.myschoolbucks.com (this is the website you use for lunch accounts) If you do not have an account you can set one up on this website you will need your students ID number. After you have logged in you will click on School Store in the upper right bar. There you see activities your student is involved in and you can click to pay. IF your student is in multiple choirs you can click on each one and do a one time payment. OR Payments may be made cash or check as described below. All Payments should be given to Mrs. Van Slyke. If paying by check, please make the check payable as instructed for the particular payment and write the name of the student and the name of the fee being paid in the memo line of the check. If paying by cash, please put the money in an envelope and write the name of the student and the name of the fee being paid (i.e. Tom Smith, spring trip fee). The payment should be given to Mrs. Van Slyke. A receipt will be provided to you acknowledging the cash payment. Refunds Typically fees paid are non-refundable once commitments and purchases have been made. These refund policies will be communicated separately as they relate to individual activities. Financial Assistance Financial assistance is available for those in need of such assistance for required class fees only. Requests for financial assistance should be made directly to the Fine Arts teacher prior to the due date for the related fee.

7 HHS Choir Calendar 2017-2018 August September October November December January February March April Mondays 8,15 Tuesdays 9,16,23 Saturday 20 22-24 Vocal Jazz Camp 6 Back to School Night 11 1st - SheBees and Bennett St. Boys 14 Senior Honors Choir Auditions 16 Fall Sampler Choir Concert 4 District Choir Auditions 7 Broadway Cabaret Auditions 14 Cabaret Rehearsal 16-18 Senior Honors Choir Auditions 28 Musical Audition Workshop 4,5,6 Into the Woods Auditions 3-6PM 9 Madrigals At HUMC 11 Winter Choir Concert 12 Into the Woods meeting and Reh. 14 Cabaret Rehearsal SheBees and BSB Cabaret Rehearsal Cabaret Rehearsal 2 Cabaret Rehearsal 6:30-9:30PM 3 Cabaret Rehearsal 9am-2PM Mondays 5,12 SheBees and BSB 6 Cabaret Rehearsal 3-4PM 8 District Choir Event / All State Auditions 5-9PM 9,10 District Choir Event and Concert 8am-5pm approx. 16 Cabaret Rehearsal 6:30-9:30 PM 17 Cabaret Rehearsal 9 AM-2PM 19,20,21 Cabaret Dress Rehearsals 6-10 PM 22,or23 and 24 Broadway Cabaret Performances 5 Pre assessment concert with HMS 7PM 15 or 16 or 17 VA Choir Assessment TBD 22,23,24 CHOIR TRIP to NYC! 5,6,7 All- State Choir, Band and Orch. VA Beach 9,10,11,12 Into the Woods Dress rehearsals 3-10PM 13,14 Into the Woods Shows 7:30 PM 15 Into the Woods Shows- 2PM 18 Brush up rehearsal ITW

8 May June 19,20 Into the Woods Shows -7:30PM 7:30PM 21 Into the Woods Show-2PM 2PM 21 After school Rehearsal- POPS 3-4:30 3-4:30 22 Choir Pops Concert 7PM 7PM 29 Senior Showcase and Awards 7PM 7PM 12 Graduation 7:30PM 7:30PM *** Please note: I have not listed all SheBees and BSB rehearsals. Mondays will be our usual day FOR BOTH GROUPS! I also will add additional Cabaret rehearsals as in the past, and the full musical rehearsal schedule will be distributed by Mr. S. after casting. Also, I do not have dates yet for GMU Jazz concert in nov. or March. TBD CHOIR COSTUME PICK-UP 2017-2018 Madrigals, Herndon Chorale, *Vocal Jazz, Concert Choir and Heatwave Show Choir Pay your $50 class fee (for each ensemble) and Pick up Your Costume in the Choir Room During your class the first week of school. EVERYONE NEEDS TO Fill out the "Costume and Activity Fee Form" on the next page and bring it with your payment to pick up your choir costume(s). Checks should be made out to Herndon High School Choir or paid on line (see payment policies) 2017-2018 Choir Costume and Activity Fee Form (Payment required to pick up costume.)

9 Student Name Choir(s) Students agree to return all costumes, or properties, in the condition in which they were received. Damage is considered to have occurred by: tearing, burning, cutting, excessive make-up, removal of buttons, medallions, badges or other kinds of trim or material or lack of cleaning. It is understood that costume pieces should be handled with care and they should be returned clean and in good condition. Additional wardrobe items may be loaned to the student during the course of the year and the same standard of care applies. Additional fees may be assessed to cover repair costs, cleaning or to replace damaged or missing items. I agree to maintain my choir costume(s) as stated above, and I will assume responsibility to pay for, repair or replace any items that I damage or lose. Student Signature Date T-shirt size (*Costume items provided by the choir department) Men Concert Choir *Full tuxedo: coat, pants, shirt, cummerbund, bow tie, (Students provide their own black dress shoes and black socks.) Vocal Jazz *Dress shirt, (Students provide black dress pants, black t-shirt, black belt, black dress shoes and black socks) Madrigals - *Concert Choir attire (see above); Students provide: Medieval costume in jewel tones, hat, shoes, black tights, jazz shoe or other approved shoe. Show Choir - *Black tuxedo pants, Shirt, vest, suspenders, tie *TBD, (student provides black socks, black jazz shoes) Women Concert Choir - *Black/white gowns, (students provide black dress shoes and flesh colored stockings.) Vocal Jazz - *Black dress, (students provide BLACK CHARACTER SHOES and flesh colored stockings.) Madrigals - *Concert choir attire (see above), Students provide: Medieval dress in jewel tones, head dress, shoes, flesh tone stockings, Time period necklace (optional). Show Choir - *Show Choir dress(es), (Student provides TAN CHARACTER SHOES, black spankies for under dresses, flesh colored stockings.) Herndon Chorale *Black gowns, *pearl necklace (replacement cost of $5.00 if lost or stolen), Students provide: Black dress shoes and flesh colored stockings. Vocal Jazz Madrigals Show Choir Herndon Chorale ($50 for each ensemble) For Choir Department use: Total Paid Date Paid Check # or cash Checks should be made out to Herndon High School Choir Please note activity fee on your check. THANK YOU! OR You may pay online in your students myschoolbucks.com account under School Store

10 Student & Parent Acknowledgement Page Student s name: Please return this signature page and the Costume Rental page by September 8, 2017 with your class fee payment made payable to Herndon HS Choir. I have read and understand the following documents, policies, and procedures. Student and parent should initial each line below: Summary of course description and policies Required rehearsal and performance calendar for the entire school year Notice of class fees. Please return payment by the due date. FCPS Consent to Share Information for Benefits for Other Programs form. I understand that if my student is eligible for the federal Free and Reduced-Price Meals program, I must sign and return the separate consent form in order for my student to receive reduced or waived fees for Choir Class. This is in addition to the application that has already been submitted to the cafeteria. The forms may be found at the following: http://www.fcps.edu/fs/food/serve/free-reduced.shtml Please print out the second pdf file labeled Consent form. Not the Application. you may share my e mail address with the Herndon Choral Booster organization. I understand that I am required to participate actively in all concerts and rehearsals, and that my attendance and compliance with the uniform code will be reflected in my grade. Student signature date Student email: I will work to the best of my ability to help my student meet the above requirements of the course. I will contact the teacher if there are any questions, problems, or concerns. Parent/guardian signature date Parent email: