SHOW CHOIR HANDBOOK

SHOW CHOIR HANDBOOK<= /span>

www.bcvocalmusic.com

This handbook is designed t= o help inform students and parents about the happenings and expectations of studen= ts involved in show choir at Benton Community.

Index:

1. Calendar of events

2. Expectations of students / Grading

3. Parental involvement

4. Payment and Fees

5. Uniform information

6. Competitions and Trip Information

7. Good Conduct Policy

8. Touch of Class Informat= ion

1. Calendar of Eve= nts

Show Choir Dates

Sept= ember

Se= pt. 19, 20, 21 = Celebration Co. Fall Choreography Retreat &n= bsp; Times TBA &nbs= p;

Nove= mber

November 1-2 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Jubilation Retreat &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

November 11 = ; &n= bsp; Concert Choir and Mixed Choir perform at Veteran’s Day Program at high school 10:00 a.m.

= = &nb= sp; = Evening Show Choir Rehearsal,

&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = JAVA Auditions 3:30 (no other audition times allowed this year)

November 17 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

November 24 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

November 26 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; No School

November 27-29 &= nbsp; Thanksgiving

Dece= mber

December 1 = &nb= sp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

December 15 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Holiday JAVA 7:00

December 22 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal with clinician

December 24 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Winter Vacation Begins

Janu= ary

January 5 = &nb= sp; = School Resumes = ;

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

January 12 = ; &n= bsp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

January 19 = ; &n= bsp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal &n= bsp;

January 26 = ; &n= bsp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal &n= bsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Febr= uary

February 2 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; State Show Choir Contest&nbs= p; @ BC this year<= /p>

February 9 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

February 13 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; K-12 Staff Development, No School, toc<= /span> set up

February 14 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Touch of Class &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

February 16 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; No School

February 17 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

February 21 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Pella Show Choir Invitational

Feb= rurary 23 = ; &n= bsp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

February 28 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Western Dubuque Invitational

Marc= h

March 2 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Evening Show Choir Rehearsal

Ma= rch. 6,7,8 = ; &n= bsp; = ; Totino Grace (Celebration Co. only)

Ma= rch. 13 &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Il= lusions to Jefferson

Ma= rch. 14 = ; &n= bsp; Jefferson Invitational

Apri= l

April 6 = &nb= sp; = 7:00 Fill the Gym

April 14 = ; &n= bsp; = ; JAVA Auditions 3:30 (only audition time)

May<= o:p>

May 8 = &nb= sp; = Large Group Contest (Concert Choir, Mixed Choir, Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir and Concert Band)

May 14 = ; &n= bsp; = ; 7:00 JAVA

May 15 = ; &n= bsp; = ; Middle School Band and Illusions to Adventureland

2. Expectations of students/Grading

&nbs= p; Being involved in show choir at BC, either as a Band member, crew member or singe= r is a privilege. The music staff expects that students will conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner wh= ich is consistent with school expectations as laid out in the Good Conduct Policy and the bylaws of the Board of Education.

Grading:=

Jubilation Inc. receives no curricular credit for show choir. Celebration Co. does receive curri= cular credit that counts towards a student’s grade point average. The grade for students involved wi= th Celebration Co. will be determined by rehearsal participation, concert attendance, competition attendance and any other assignments given by the instructor.

It is the expectation that a student will not miss any class time due to Kirkw= ood daytime classes, meetings, or appointments. We are a team, we need to rehearse= as a team and perform as a team! <= o:p>

Regarding evening rehearsals, it is the expectation as well that a student will not m= iss for any reason. Please look a= t the calendar in this handbook for a schedule of ALL rehearsals and performances. Work now to get= those on your schedule and your conflicts resolved. If a student is absent from a rehe= arsal or retreat, and that absence has not been excused ahead of time, that stude= nt will not perform at the next scheduled event. If a student is unexcused from a performance, they will be removed from the show choir.

If a students grades or behavior cause him/her to miss more than one show choir invitational, that student will also be removed from the group. You will be earning a grade after = the last show choir competition as we move into Men’s and Women’s choir. It is required for members of Celebration Co. and strongly encouraged for members of Jubilation if they wish to continue in show choir.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Being a member of show choir is being a member o= f a team. We must work together for our team to be successful and accomplish our goals. Teamwork takes cooperation, courtesy and commitment. Everyone is important to the team and everyone has responsibilities to the team. These responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Show respect for the director, other members of the ensemble, and yourself.
Show respect for the choir room, the equipment and = the music.
Be on time to all rehearsals and performance= s.
Be prepared with music folder and in seat when it is time for class to begin.
Put forth your best effort every day with a positive attitude.

No gum or food in class (water bottles are an exception)= .

Parental involvement:

At Benton Community we have been fortunate, for many years, to have some of the best parent volunteers anywhere! W= e have many capacities in which parents can help the students at BC have the best experience possible! The music staff will do all we can for the students to have a great year, but, we are only two people and your help is greatly needed to provide the best experie= nce possible. We will need help t= his year with sewing projects, web page maintenance, photography, scrap booking, uniform organization, makeup and hair, chaperoning and our very own, Touch = of Class Invitational.

Regarding Touch of Class, it is our hope, that each and ev= ery parent will be able to commit to working one or two shifts on Saturday, February 14^th. Som= etimes that’s impossible with jobs and/or child care, an= d if that’s the case, please let us know. For more information, see the sect= ion below.

Paym= ent and Fees:

Girls in Jubilation Inc. will be assessed a $75 rental f= ee and trip fees will be $40.

Girls in Cel Co. will be ass= essed a $125 rental fee and trip fees will be approx. $150.

Boys in Jubilation Inc will be assessed an $85 rental fee and trip fees will be $40.

Boys in Celebration Co. will be assessed a $135 rental f= ee and trip fees will be approx. $150. &= nbsp;

The $10 difference is for the purchase of black socks. Each boy will get a brand new pair= at every competition and can take them home after that competition.=

We would like the uniform rental fees to be paid by Nov. 1^st. Please contact the music off= ice if you would like to make uniform or trip payments monthly.<= /p>

Trip fees are due on the dates listed in the trips and competitions section.

5. Uniform information:

All show choir students and band members will be fitted and assigned uniforms through the school. Students will be expe= cted to furnish their own shoes and undergarments.

Girls: 2” nude colored, character s= hoes with 1 strap across the top. = This is a change from previous years, so if you are purchasing new shoes, please= get the appropriate heel height. = Bras should be purchased in a nude color, strapless and very low in the back, so= it will work with any dress style. Please order early to make sure it will work with the dress style chosen! Bloomers will be chos= en according to the dress color and the student will purchase and retain them = at the end of the school year. J= ewelry will be purchased and retained by the school at the end of the year. If you take your jewelry home afte= r a performance and lose it, you will pay whatever the replacement cost is to t= he school. Pantyhose will be pur= chased by the student and the school will be placing the order.

&= nbsp; Shoes: Dance of Iowa,= or Des Moines Theatrical Sh= op, or one of a million sites on the internet.

Celebration Co. boys and Jubilation, = Inc. boys: Please purchase a p= air of black patent leather shoes. Used shoes can be purchased through Hope’s. Uncle Stans in Marion has a pretty comfortable pair for abo= ut $30, or you can purchase them from the internet. The less money you spend, = the more uncomfortable they will be.

6. Competitions and Home Shows

&nbs= p; See above for dates and locations of competitions. You can check the web site f= or more information about each competition including directions, itinerary, etc… It is the expectation that every member of show choir will attend every competition w= ith no exceptions. When we are at= a competition it is also the expectation that you spend the majority of the d= ay watching other show choirs, being good sports and making sure you are ALWAYS being a good representative of Benton Community. Whether you are in the homeroom, in line for food, or on the competition stage you must always act with class, dignity and respect towards others in the building.

&nbs= p; At a competition please make sure that once we are in our competition uniform,= you may not leave the homeroom area for any reason (ie…watch a group, get food, etc..). Once we finish perfor= ming put everything back where it belongs (no clothes on the floor), jewelry, sh= oes, etc… and then you may go back to the competition venue. If Celebration Co. and Jubilation = travel together there will be a boy’s homeroom and a girl’s homeroom. = When Celebration Co. travels alone we will only have one homeroom and there will= be a designated time for boys to get ready and a separate time for girls to get ready. DO NOT be in the room if it’s not your turn to get ready. Girls will ALL have the same lipst= ick and nail color. Do not stray from this. You will be taught how to do your h= air and we expect it to look a certain way every time. It’s part of the whole “look” and you don’t get to decide what that is….sorry!!!

&nbs= p; EVERYONE will help unload the trailer when we get to a competition. It will go faster and you will all know where your stuff is.

&nbs= p; Home Shows: Be sure to “look” just as nice, if not better, at home events. Don’t= ask us “do I have to do my hair for this home show?&#= 8221;. Your home crowds are your BI= GGEST fans. We OWE it to them to gi= ve them all you have to give!

&nbs= p; New Policy: You may do make up in the choir ro= om, but absolutely NO ONE MAY CHANGE C= LOTHES IN THE CHOIR ROOM, MIDDLE AREA, BAND ROOM OR PRACTICE ROOMS. This applies to band members as wel= l. You need to go to the locker rooms= or a bathroom. This will avoid inappropriate situations as well as help to keep your uniforms clean and the music area looking nice during concerts.

&nbs= p; GIRLS: Always do your make up and hair before even getting your dresses out of the bag. Hairspray will ruin the dresses, a= nd they will get dirty faster.

7. Good Conduct Policy

&nbs= p; Students in vocal music are held accountable for their actions outside our building. Please be familiar = with the good conduct policy which you can find on the show choir section of our= web site. If you are reading an electronic version of this handbook, you can click HERE to be taken to that policy. If a student’s poor choices = result in good conduct, the possibility DOES exist that a student will be removed = from show choir for the rest of the year. That will be up to the director’s discretion.

8.&n= bsp; Tou= ch of Class Information

One of the largest events that the= vocal music department will take on during the course of the next year. There is a large amount of informa= tion on our web site, however there is some basic information we want to relay in this handbook. The date for t= his year’s event is Saturday, Fe= bruary 14. Set up will begin on Thursday night around 6:30 getting the sound and light equipment loaded in. Set up will continue on F= riday as early as 10:00 a.m. (there is no school that day) depending on what committee you are on. You will be given a time for set up. It is our BIG DESIRE that each stu= dent involved (band, crew, Illusions, Jubilation, and Celebr= ation ) has both of their parents somehow involved in this event. It takes around 300 volunteers to make it happen.

&nbs= p; As far as student participation, please make sure you have Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14 COMPLETELY WIDE OPEN on your personal calendar. School activities may pop up and w= e will deal with those as they arise. Older kids will get first shot at hosting schools.

Contact Information: