ARNOLD MIDDLE SCHOOL

11111 TELGE RD, 281-897-4728

ARNOLD CHOIR
HANDBOOK
2015-2016

Welcome to Arnold Buccaneer Choir!

Membership in the Arnold Choir Program is open to all students, grades 6-8, who desire to learn
about and develop their voice. Performing in the choir is based on tonal memory, tone quality,
attitude, and academic eligibility. All choirs participate in Arnold Middle School and CFISD
choral activities. All students who demonstrate a mastery of skill and maintain academic
eligibility participate in U.I.L. Concert and Sight-reading Contest.
Choirs offered at Arnold:
6th Grade ChoirsChoir for students entering the 6th grade
Tenor/Bass ChoirsChoir for 7th and 8th grade boys.
Treble ChoirsChoir for 7th and 8th grade girls.

PROGRAM
The goal of the Arnold Choir Program is to provide students with the opportunity to create and
develop their individual artistry through vocal music. Choral students will learn vocal techniques
and apply their knowledge to a wide variety of vocal/choral repertoire. Students will learn the
solfege system of sight-reading. Students will have the opportunity to perform individually, in
small ensembles, and as a chorus. Students will also learn the principles of teamwork,
performance etiquette, and self-discipline, which will build self-confidence.
We believe music is not only an art, but also a means to learn and experience many valuable
lessons of life. We expect this year to be a fun, exciting, rewarding, and very successful year.
We hope that choir will be one of the highlights of each students middle school experience.
You have chosen to be a part of one of the highest quality choral programs in the Cypress
Fairbanks district.
Being a member of this organization carries many privileges and
responsibilities. This handbook is designed to inform you about the wonderful opportunities
available to all choir students as well as the rules, expectations, and policies of our choir
program. All of our concerts and competition dates along with a description of each are
included. Memos will be sent to you as reminders of upcoming events, along with a rehearsal
schedule. There will not be a problem coordinating after school rehearsals with athletic
practices.

CHOIR GOALS
There are many activities planned both in and out of class that will allow your child the
opportunity to grow musically. The students personal and group growth will depend largely on
the mastering of the disciplines of art below:
1. KnowledgeTheory and Sight Singing: the knowledge and understanding of
reading musical notation.
2. SkillsVocal development: the use of warm-ups, vocalizes, and solo/ensemble
singing to increase vocal abilities.
3. ExhibitionPerformances: the actual performing of choral music with the
knowledge, skills and expression required of the music.

ABSENCE POLICY
REHEARSALS, CONCERTS AND CONTESTS
Good communication between teacher, student and parents can prevent misunderstandings.
Please read the following rules and contact the director if you have any questions.
1. Written notice from parents is required for all absences. Email is acceptable. Verbal or
student written notices are not acceptable.
2. Advance notice is required for all prior commitments. A prior commitment is defined as a
date already committed to before the choir schedule/handbook is released in August. A
notice of such a commitment should be sent to the director as soon as the
schedule/handbook is received.
3. In the case of illness and/or family emergency, the parents should send a written notice to
the director as soon as they are aware that a situation exists. Illness that does not result in
an absence from school will be excused only at the directors discretion. If there is a family
emergency situation (i.e. something that happens 30 minutes before a concert is to begin) it
may be impossible to get in touch with anyone. Thus, please follow up with a written note as
soon as possible after the fact. This is the ONLY category where an absence will be
excused the same day, or after the event.
4. Students who have an excused absence from a performance will be given the opportunity to
take a make-up assignment. Students who have an unexcused absence from a
performance will receive a failing major grade and will be expected to sing their concert
music for memory for the choir directors at an arranged time in order to have the opportunity
to receive a passing grade.

CHOIR GRADING POLICY

Class Participation & Daily Work25% of reporting period grade
Assessments 35% of reporting period grade
Tests40% of reporting period grade

Every student will receive a weekly class participation grade. This grade
exemplifies each students participation in accomplishing class goals and objectives.
Major concert performances are the equivalent of six week testsfollowing many
hours of class rehearsals. Concerts are part of the class curriculum and therefore are
graded. Each performance receives one major test grade. Excused absences will result in
the completion of make-up work pertaining to the exhibited concepts related to a concert
performance. Performances that are major include:

Fall Concert

Holiday Concert

Pre UIL and UIL Concert & Sight-reading Contest

6TH Grade Arnold Choir Invitational

Pop Show/Choir Musical

Written/oral assignments and quizzes are counted as test grades.
Students need to make appropriate transportation arrangements to attend
various choral events when school transportation is not provided. Missing concerts
due to the lack of transportation is considered an unexcused absence and will result
in a failing grade for that performance.
Students who miss required rehearsals and are marked unexcused are
subject to losing performance privileges for concerts, contests, and field trips at the
directors discretion.
Students who maintain a choir grade of 80 or above and have shown
excellent behavior in class will be invited to attend choir fieldtrips.

ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility refers to a student being allowed to participate in certain activities throughout the year.
These activities (including contests, field trips, holiday tours, and social events) are listed in this
handbook on the page entitled Description of Calendar Events.
For a student to be eligible, he/she must be passing ALL classes with a grade of 70 or higher at
the end of the previous six weeks grading period. At times, depending on the calendar, there
may be a progress report given where students may regain their eligibility. To regain eligibility, a
student must be passing ALL classes on the progress report, and then will regain eligibility at the
end of a 7 day waiting period.
Concerts are not affected by eligibility, unless it is a concert where admission is charged (7 th &
8th grade Pop Show). These include the Fall, Winter, and Spring concerts. Concerts are a
culmination of the TEKS that have been taught for a specific period and are required by the
curriculum. These are graded events. Therefore, a students grade in any class (not including
choir) cannot affect his/her participation in a concert performance.
Eligibility requirements are not created by the choir department, Arnold Middle School or the
district. the requirements are STATE LAW and we are required to adhere to it. For more
information about eligibility see UIL-TEA Side by Side which can be viewed either through the
TEA website or the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) website.

CONDUCT
Arnold Buccaneer choir students have a high profile on campus and in the community. It is
imperative that the conduct and appearance of all choir students be exemplary and above
reproach. Choir members have the opportunity to participate in many exciting performances,
fieldtrips and activities. As representatives of CFISD and Arnold Middle School, our young
people must reflect an image of positive leadership, character, responsibility, and great
competitive spirit. These classroom rules have been established to create a successful and
positive learning environment.
Rules
1. Be in your assigned seat with you folder when the bell rings.
2. Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before you speak.
3. Follow instructions the first time they are given.
4. Be courteous, positive, and supportive of your fellow choir members, guests teachers, and
administrators.
Procedures
1. Place books, backpacks, purses, etc. on the shelves/folder cabinets.
2. Get your folder and sharpen your pencil.
3. Be in assigned seat before the bell rings.
4. Look at the board to place music in order and begin your warm-up.
Disciplinary Procedures
Students will receive a warning prior to any disciplinary action. If the student continues to not
comply, they will receive a write-up (long form or short form depending on the severity of their
action). Students will also receive a phone call home after the second disciplinary issue and a
PM DHall after the third disciplinary issue.

CHOIR SUPPLIES

Choir Folder3 ring 1/2 black binder (supplied by the choral department)
One pencil (should be kept in the choir folder/folder slot for use during class).
Twenty sheets of notebook paper
Choir Music Workbook (supplied by the choral department)

The students will need their class materials daily. We ask that the students be responsible for
the upkeep of all issued materials: choir folder, sheet music, music CD, and music books.
Any lost or damaged materials will be replaced by the student.

PERFORMANCE UNIFORMS
6th Grade Choir Members________________________________________________
Informal Uniform: Arnold Choir T-shirt, full length blue jeans (no holes or tears) and tennis shoes.
Formal Holiday Concert Attire: The girls will need to wear a nice dress or skirt and blouse or nice pant
suit, pantyhose (natural color), and low-heeled dress shoes. The boys will need to wear a nice, long
sleeved, button-down shirt, dress slacks, loafers or dress shoes. The boys may also wear a sweater
and/or tie if they like. Tennis shoes, T-shirts and jeans are not acceptable dress for this concert. We are
asking that the students try to wear clothes that are holiday or winter themed (i.e. red, green, burgundy,
black, blue, white, etc).

7th/8th Grade Boys______________________________________________________

Informal Uniform: Arnold Choir T-shirt, full length blue jeans (no holes or tears) and tennis shoes.
Formal Uniform: White tuxedo shirt and tuxedo pants (school issued), vest and tie (school issued),
black socks and black dress shoes (provided by the student)

7th/8th Grade Girls_______________________________________________________

Informal Uniform: Arnold Choir T-shirt, full length blue jeans (no holes or tears) and tennis shoes.
Formal Uniform: Formal long dress uniform (school issued), no jewelry, black colored knee-highs or
pantyhose and closed-toe, closed-heel, black dress shoes no higher than a 1 inch heel (provided by
student).
Helpful Information
7th/8th grade boys and girls will be measured for their formal uniforms at the school, thus eliminating the
need for parents to take students to a remote location for measurements. A memo will be sent out if
students are needed to come before school or stay after school for measurements.
* Deodorant should always be worn to performances
** Perfume / cologne should never be worn to performances in consideration of others reaction
to allergies.
*** Hair accessories should be black or maroon and modest in size.
**** For performances, long hair and bangs must be pulled away from the face.

CHOIR DIRECTORS
CONTACT
INFORMATION
ARNOLD MIDDLE SCHOOL MAIN NUMBER
281-897-4700
ARNOLD CHOIR OFFICE
281-897-4728

MARIE PARISOT, head director

marie.parisot@cfisd.net
LAURA MARTIN, associate director
laura.martin2@cfisd.net

ANDREW PASSMORE, associate director

andrew.passmore@cfisd.net