Dear Students and Parents,

August 19, 2008

Greetings and welcome to a brand new school year! This year is going to be an exciting year in Music class! We will be singing, playing instruments, reading and writing music, learning about different artists and genres, dancing, and playing musical games.

Music Class Rules:

1. Always be polite. Always be respectful. This rule empowers you, the student, with determining how productive your class time will be. You, the student, are given the power to decide how to interact with everyone else in the classroom (i.e. The instruments do not belong to me so I probably shouldnt play them without permission because that wouldnt be respectful). As long as you, the student, are attempting to follow this basic rule, you will do fine in music class. 2. No talking unless you have been called. Chatter during class is not only disrespectful to the teacher, but it is also a distraction to the person you are talking to, the students around you, and me, the teacher, thus resulting in a disruption of the lesson. 3. Raise your hand to be recognized. Be sure not to blurt out any answers. By raising your hand and waiting to be called on, you will not only be following a simple rule, but you can also be assured that you will get credit for your answer. 4. Be prepared. Always have the required classroom materials (including any due work) with you when you get to music class (you will not be allowed to leave class to retrieve them). 5. Do your best with a positive attitude! In the music classroom you are expected to participate in whatever activity we are engaged in: singing, dancing, listening, discussion, paperwork, etc. Doing your best is not just expected, it is required! In the music classroom, you will be disciplined if you choose not to participate.

Consequences:
Each student has music class only once per week; therefore, it is imperative that students choose to follow the rules. If a student chooses to break a rule, the student also chooses to accept a consequence. The consequences for choosing to break the music classroom rules are as follows: 1st offense: Warning and participation drops one letter grade for the day (B). 2nd offense: Participation drops two letter grades (C) for the day, hand copy Music Class Rules and Expectations (to be signed by parent and returned to me the following day, not the following weeks music class), and student will serve a detention. 3rd offense: Student immediately reports to the office. Participation drops three letter grades for the day (D), hand copy Music Class Rules and Expectations twice (to be signed by parent and returned to me the following day, not the following weeks music class), the student will serve a detention, and parent will be contacted by the principal or vice principal immediately. Certain behaviors warrant an automatic discipline referral (see St. Martha School handbook).

Supplies (always come prepared for music class):

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Folder (duo-tang folder) with pockets and clasps (anything else is NOT acceptable) 2 sharpened pencils with erasers (mechanical is okay) 1 yellow hi-liter (magic markers or permanent markers are NOT acceptable) 15-20 sheets of loose-leaf paper clasped in your music folder The students signed copy of Music Class Rules and Expectations

Grading:
During the school year students will actively participate in various group or independent activities. Students will be assessed on participation, projects, quizzes, and his/her notebook. Grading is as follows: Participation: 50% Projects: 20% Quizzes/Tests: 20% Notebook: 10% Total: 100% The grading scale is as follows: 93 100 A 84 92 B 75 83 C 70 74 D Below 70 U

Late Work:
Music doesnt require much paperwork but, homework or projects are occasionally assigned. All work is required to be turned in on time on its due date. Late work is considered to be any work that is not turned in the moment it is due. School policy states that once homeroom is dismissed at the beginning of the day, students are not allowed to return to homeroom to retrieve work; therefore, if work is left in homeroom, it is considered late and will not be accepted.

Make-up work:
It is the students responsibility to get any missing assignments, complete them, and turn them in on time. According to St. Martha School policy, each student is given the number of days absent plus one days grace to turn in all makeup work from the days of absence (if a test is missed in music, a date to take it must be scheduled during this time). If a student is absent when a project is due, an AB will be recorded in my grade book. When the makeup work is turned in on time, the earned grade will replace the AB. If the makeup work is not turned in within the schools required time, a 0 will take its place.

Music Masterpiece and Extra Credit Opportunities:

Every music class begins with Music Masterpiece. Music Masterpiece is a very rewarding weekly activity that introduces students to a genre, artist, composer, form of music, instruments, etc. Listening and answering questions is part of each students participation grade. On rare occasions, if several Music Masterpiece questions are answered incorrectly and the correct answer is not given by any student, the class will be given a homework assignment consisting of reporting on the Music Masterpiece that was inactively listened to or not learned properly. This one-page, hand-written (or half page typed) paper will be due the following day (not the following week in music class). If a student is interested in presenting a Music Masterpiece, he/she must provide certain information (a copy of the music, a copy of the lyrics, and a typed paper of the information to be presented) at least

a week in advance of his/her presentation. Each student who presents a Music Masterpiece will be given extra credit in the form of a homework pass or drop the lowest daily grade (students choice). My goal as a music teacher is to help children reach their highest musical potential. I challenge my students to work hard and do their very best, to seek and to achieve musical knowledge, and to rigorously pursue goals with the utmost integrity. To the best of my ability, I will use to the talents God has given me to increase playing and performing skills, to display and teach musical knowledge, and to instill in our students a love for music. Psalm 33:3 says Sing unto the Lord a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise! With great anticipation,

Kristi White kwhite@stmarthaschool.org 491-3171

"Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective." - Bill Clinton, former President of the United States of America

There is a practical reason for music education: it teaches people to think, to solve problems, to take risks, to think independently, to be an entrepreneur and innovator. The virtues of music education are the virtues of free enterprise in general and of a high tech, knowledge based society in particular: flexibility, adaptability, inventiveness, even playfulness. - William E. LaMothe, C.E.O., Xerox Company