PROSPECTOR MARCHING BAND APACHE JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL HANDBOOK FALL 2017 Jaclyn Chappel, Director
Table of Contents Welcome and Introduction.. 3 Pay-to-Play...... 4 Tax Credit Donations.. 4 Rehearsal Schedule....5 Performance Schedule.5 Attendance Policy....... 6 Grading Policy... 6 Uniforms......7/8 Performance and Rehearsal Etiquette 9 Band Camp.10 Commitment Form..11 Insurance Form.12 2
Monday, May 1, 2017 Parents and Students, Welcome to a new season of Marching Band at Apache Junction High School! This handbook attempts to address any and all pertinent information for the 2017 marching season, including pay-to play fees, tax credit information, schedules, attendance policies, grading policies, uniform information, and band camp. Band Parents are a crucial part of the program here at AJHS, which is why the Band Boosters meet regularly throughout the year. We will keep with the tradition of meeting the second Monday of every month in the Band Room at 6:00 p.m. Please make every effort to attend to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the program. Parents and students, please carefully read and discuss the information contained in this handbook so that you fully understand the commitment you are making when you choose to join the AJHS Marching Band. Please sign and return the Acknowledgement Form by May 18 th, 2017. Meet the Director I would like to take a moment introduce myself. My name is Jaclyn Chappel, and I am thrilled to announce that I am the new Band Director here at Apache Junction High School! I grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and attended college at the State University of New York at Fredonia, a small town on Lake Erie outside of Buffalo, where I majored in Music Education, with a concentration in Instrumental Conducting. Prior to graduating, I completed student teaching in New York City Public Schools in the Bronx. My primary instrument is trumpet, though I play guitar and steel drums fluently as well. In May of 2013, my sense of adventure and professional goals led me to Phoenix, where I have lived and worked for the past four years. During my time here, I have taught band, choir, and guitar in a low-income school district in South Phoenix. Although it is quite different from the East Coast, I have absolutely fallen in love with Arizona and all it has to offer. I am so delighted to make this step in my professional journey, and I believe that we will achieve amazing things together. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me prior to the start of summer programs at jaclynchappel@gmail.com. Musically, Jaclyn R. Chappel Director of Instrumental Music 3
Pay to Play Fee The Marching Band requires extensive time and effort on the part of staff, students, and families involved. Expenses related to travelling and festival registration call for us to require a fee in order to participate in Band. A Pay-to-Play Fee is required for all students wishing to participate in an extracurricular activity. Being selected for the activity and placed on the roster constitutes participation. This fee is applied to the entire Marching Band season. If the final balance is not paid by the specified date, the student cannot participate in Festival performances. The Pay-to-Play Fee options are as follows: o Full $150 for the Fall Marching Band season DUE: October 5, 2017 o Two payments of $75 each Acceptable forms of payment o Cash o Check o Tax Credit Donation Tax Credit Donations An option for payment of the Pay-to-Play Fee is by Tax Credit Donation. It is an incredibly simple process and can be done either in person at the AJHS main office or online. If you select this option to pay the required $150, please specify AJHS Band Fee when designating where you would like your donation to go. As a single parent/guardian, you are able to donate up to $200 with the Tax Credit Donation. Married couples are able to donate up to $400. If you choose to donate the full $200/$400 to the AJHS Band, $150 will be applied to the Pay-to-Play Fee per each band member, and the remainder will go towards other expenses encountered such as truck rentals, instrument repair, music, and other incidentals. This year we will also have a large campaign to raise Tax Credit Donations for the purchase of instruments, equipment, and as a form of fundraising for an out-of-state trip to happen in the future. More information about this effort will be sent home by September/October. 4
Rehearsal Schedule Fall 2017 JUNE 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Freshmen Drills 5:00-6:00 pm Evening Rehearsals 6:00-9:00 pm 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 BAND CAMP 7:30-4:00 pm JULY 18, 20 Rehearsal 6:00-9:00 pm 25, 27 Rehearsal 6:00-9:00 pm AUGUST 8, 15, 22, 29 Tuesday Rehearsals 5:00-8:00 pm 11,18, 25 Friday Rehearsals 7:30-11:00 am SEPTEMBER 5, 12, 19, 26 Tuesday Rehearsals 5:00-8:00 pm 8, 15, 22, 29 Friday Rehearsals 7:30-11:00 am OCTOBER 3, 10 17, 24, 31 Tuesday Rehearsals 5:00-8:00 pm 6, 13, 20, 27 Friday Rehearsals 7:30-11:00 am NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21, 28 Tuesday Rehearsals 5:00-8:00 pm 3, 10, 17, 24 Friday Rehearsals 7:30-11:00 am Performance Schedule A detailed PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE will be released as soon as possible. As a general rule, please keep all weekends from the last weekend of September through the first weekend of November free for performances and competitions. This means the entire month of October will be full of performances. Please also keep Friday nights free for football games. These schedules will be released as soon as they are available. 5
Attendance Policy All rehearsals and performances are mandatory. A schedule of mandatory events has been included in this handbook to minimize scheduling conflicts. Please carefully review these dates and times and make note of them on a family calendar. Any schedule changes will be communicated with Band Members and Families as soon as possible. If a conflict arises with a scheduled rehearsal or performance, the Director must be notified at least two weeks in advance by the parent or guardian via written and signed note explaining the specific reason for the absence. Phone calls, emails, and in-person conversations are helpful, but a signed note is necessary for record keeping. A note received less than two weeks before a performance is unacceptable. In such a case, a grade reduction will occur for the missed performance. There are two types of absences: excused absences and unexcused absences. Examples of excused absences include serious illness, death in the family, a car accident on the way, and other extenuating circumstance. o The Director must be notified as soon as possible regarding an excused absence. Examples of unexcused absences include not having a ride to the performance or being scheduled to work, and any other avoidable conflicts. o Unexcused absences will result in an F for that performance and an automatic grade reduction. Tardiness o Being late to rehearsal affects everyone in the band. If you are tardy, with no pass during class time, 1 point will be deducted from your daily points. Grading Policy Rehearsals 20% Homework/Practice 20% Practice logs, written assignments, memorization Assessments 20% Playing tests, written assessments, projects Performances 40% We will operate on a 5 point system. At each rehearsal and performance, you will start with 5 points (1-On time, 1-Prepared, 1-Participating, 1-Postive Attitude, 1-Behavior). Everyone starts with 5 points, 100%. For infractions, point deductions will occur. Half points can be deducted at the discretion of the Director. Some general rules for rehearsals (more detail to follow) No gum No soda Always have a pencil to mark music Wear appropriate shoes and clothing Letter Grade Distribution 90-100%. A 80-89%...B 70-79%...C 65-69%..D <65%...F 6
Uniforms The Marching Band Uniform is a symbol of the Apache Junction Prospectors. Anyone who wears it represents the Prospector Marching Band, Apache Junction High School, and Apache Junction Unified School District. Therefore it must be worn with pride. We must uphold certain standards of care while wearing the uniform. No dyed hair for the entirety of Marching Band Season. The full uniform will be worn in its entirety from call time to the moment the band is dismissed from performances. The Director may instruct the students to remove hats or coats at appropriate times during the Season and at performance events. To uphold the highest standards in appearance, a uniform inspection and instrument inspection will take place before every game and performance. Student leaders and band staff will check all students. The Director will make all final decisions. The following will be checked during inspection: o Clean, black gloves o Clean marching shoes o Long, plain, black socks o Current band show t-shirt is the only shirt permitted under the uniform o Clean, pressed overlay with properly placed shoulder braid o Properly hemmed pants o Do not wear full length pants under your uniform pants, shorts are fine o Clean hat and plume o Polished and well-kept instruments o All hair should be kept off uniform collar at all times o All hair should be kept inside the hat when the Band is instructed to wear hats o Clean cut appearance o NO large dangling, noticeable jewelry The Band provides Marching Uniforms to all Members. 7
Students and families will be held financially responsible for damaged or lost items according to this cost list. Uniform Component Coat $70.00 Pants $65.00 Shako $45.00 Plume $8.00 Shako Box $15.00 Plume Tube $2.50 Garment Bag $16.00 Entire Uniform $221.00 Replacement Cost Uniform Care Marching shoes and socks are the only items to be taken home. Pants will be put on in the Band Room before games and festivals. Band Parents will provide coats, hats, and plumes for all performances. Strict guidelines for eating in uniform will be applied o Full uniform: water only o Jacket off: water and solid snacks (no salsa, nachos, soup, etc) o Food will be provided in the stands by Band Parents and volunteers Not Provided by the Band Black Drillmaster Marching Shoes (purchased in August) Long, plain, black socks Black Gloves (purchased in August) Flip Folder (PURCHASE BEFORE BAND CAMP at Milano s) Lyre (PURCHASE BEFORE BAND CAMP at Milano s) Band Shirt with show logo (Price TBA) 8
Rehearsal Expectations Be on Time If you re early, you re on time. If you re on time, you re late. Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled rehearsal time in order to get set up and be ready to play at the scheduled time. If you rely on someone for a ride, please make sure to communicate that you need to be at rehearsal 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Factor in travel time, possible traffic, and other possible time traps. Be Prepared Instrument, sticks, mallets, equipment Extra reeds, valve oil, slide grease Music, lyre, flip folder, drill book Pencil (NO PEN) Proper footwear (tennis shoes/sneakers, no sandals, no TOMS) WATER ABSOLUTELY NO GUM Be Respectful As a Member of the Prospector Marching Band, you represent Apache Junction High School, Apache Junction Unified School district, the Music Department, the community, and your family. We strive to be a class act wherever we go. We are all here to create music and to put on an incredible show; we have a common goal. Work together. Communicate respectfully with your peers, with Band Staff, and with any volunteers Profanity will not be tolerated. Policy regarding electronics Please keep your phones and other electronics (tablets, ipods, etc.) in your backpack. No phones are permitted on the field, even during breaks. Please let everyone know that you will not answer calls or texts during rehearsals. Performance Etiquette and Expectations Be on Time Arrive 15 minutes prior to call-time as to be set up by the scheduled time Be Prepared Instrument, sticks, mallets, equipment Extra reeds, valve oil, slide grease FULL Uniform Water Be Respectful Communicate respectfully with everyone you encounter DO NOT talk about any other band, except to congratulate them Profanity will not be tolerated Follow all directions given by Band Staff and volunteers Remember: Someone is always watching and listening. Conduct yourself with pride and integrity. NO ELECTRONICS AT PERFORMANCES. 9
Band Camp Pre-Band Camp Rehearsals June 19-23 5:00-6:00- Freshmen and Section Leaders Only 6:00-9:00- Whole band Band Camp June 26-30 7:30-4:00 *Please be ready to start at 7:30. Do not arrive at 7:30. You will be marked late. Band Camp Survival Kit BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH Dot Book for Drills LOTS of Water Sunglasses Sunblock Bug spray Athletic sneakers Smart clothing choices: t-shirt, shorts, NO JEANS or long pants MUSIC INSTRUMENT 10
2017 MARCHING PROSPECTORS COMMITMENT FORM By signing this form, I acknowledge the following statements and will do my personal best to live up to them. I will attend all performances and rehearsals, and adhere to the stated attendance policy. I will practice a minimum of 30 minutes per day to ensure my music is learned, memorized, and performance worthy. I will represent the Marching Prospectors with the utmost pride by conducting myself with poise and class at all times, and I will help my fellow band members to do the same. I have read this handbook and understand what is expected of me. I will uphold these expectations to the best of my ability. If I have questions or any issues, I will take them to the Director immediately Student Name (print) Student Signature Grade (entering) Parent Name (print) Parent Signature Phone Number (please specify if cell number) Email Address Date: 11
Field Trip Permission Form Prospector Marching Band 2017-2018 This form will be used for all scheduled band performances and trips. If there are any changes in your information, this form will be made available. My student,, has my permission to attend the scheduled performances and trips associated with the Marching Prospectors, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Guitar Ensemble. Parent Signature In the event of an emergency where I cannot be reached, nor can the family doctor, I give my consent for the above named student to be taken to the nearest hospital for treatment by the emergency room doctor. This consent shall include any x-ray, examination, medical diagnosis, anesthesia, treatment, and hospital admission. Home phone: Cell Phone: Family Doctor: Insurance: Policy Number: Parent Signature: Below, please list any medical condition your student has or any special medications being taken 12