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Mr. Will Rogers
Room: 163
Handbook
2018 – 2019
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Welcome Letter
Dear Choir Students and Parents,
Welcome back to school! I congratulate you on your decision to join one of the fine choirs we offer at
Riverside Junior High. Study in the performing arts will help to build connections between intellect and
emotion, develop aesthetic awareness, and improve the ability to solve problems and communicate
ideas. It is up to each individual to bring his or her personal best in order to further a tradition of
excellence at RJH. It will be my pleasure to lead you as your vocal music teacher for the 2018-2019
school year at Riverside Junior High. I’m looking forward to making great music with you!
This year, we will enjoy active learning and performing through critical thinking, productive rehearsals,
developing vocal technique and music literacy skills, and public performances. Concert and rehearsal
dates are listed in this packet, please take a moment to look through these as attendance for rehearsals
and performances are mandatory. I look forward to our first concert on October 9th, as well as other
various performing opportunities that we will have throughout the year!
In addition to concerts here at the school, some choirs may have the opportunity to perform at the
Indiana State School of Music Association (ISSMA) contest in March or at the HSE Jr. High Choral Festival.
There are also numerous other exciting opportunities your kids could be part of this year – Circle the
State with Song at Anderson University, Solo/Ensemble Contest, Auditions for the Jr. High Honor Choir in
Fort Wayne, performance at the Arts Garden downtown Indy, or performing the National Anthem at
Victory Field.
Please also share our website: www.RiversideChoir.weebly.com with your family and friends to follow
your students work and concert information throughout the year!
Finally, remember that choir is an ensemble that works on the development of the most widely used
however technically difficult instrument to master: your voice! Healthy development of the adolescent
voice is critically important for a musician to enjoy many years of singing. I encourage you to seek out
private lessons and to practice healthy vocal habits whenever possible! Please contact me for more
information on teachers or opportunities!
Thank you in advance for your involvement with and dedication to this growing music program. Each
and every choir member is vitally important. Through hard work, energy, creativity, and enthusiasm our
choir students and parents can continue to grow in a choral program rooted in excellence!
Musically Yours,
Mr. Will Rogers
Director of Vocal Music
Riverside Jr. High School
Phone: 317-915-4280 (ext. 6163)
www.RiversideChoir.weebly.com
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CALENDAR: Required Performances ! * Performances and Rehearsals listed below are Graded/Required and will factor
into your students grade in this class. See Grades in Choir for more information.
FOR PARENTS: Why is my student’s grade connected with public performances?
As part of your student’s enrollment in the RJH choir program, they have joined a group of students who work
every day to pursue a common goal. In service to our performance objectives, the other students working on
our team, and as well as to your child’s educational experience, I require a number of public
performances. Because the performing arts require specific and collaborative performances in order for our
goals to be realized, non-attendance does not allow me as their teacher to measure their satisfaction of this
requirement; and no amount of make-up work can replicate the unique experience I’ve planned for in service
to this requirement. Attendance exceptions will only be made in consideration of severe illness or family
hardship (death, emergency, etc.). Extra-curricular sports or other activities not connected with the student’s
commitment to their coursework or letter grade assigned in choir cannot excuse participation in our public
performances. By maintaining a strict standard for etiquette and attendance at public performances, we are
ensuring that the quality of our choir program remains high and are improving the value that the performing
arts have in the development of children… which you and I know to be VERY valuable.
Month Day Date Event Location Time September
October Monday 10/08/2018 After-School Rehearsal Hawk Hall 3:00-5:00pm
Tuesday 10/09/2018 Fall Choir Concert Hawk Hall Show 1: 6:00pm Show 2: 7:30pm
November Monday 11/12/2018 Veterans Day Performance *not all choirs will perform
Gymnasium During the school day
December Wednesday 12/05/2018 After School Rehearsal Hawk Hall 3:00 – 5:00pm
Thursday 12/06/2018 Winter Choir Concert Hawk Hall Show 1: 6:00pm Show 2: 7:30pm
January
February Friday 02/08/2019 Arts on the River *Not graded… but required
Hawk Hall 6:00pm
March Monday 03/04/2019 Festival Adjudicated Concert Hawk Hall 7:00pm
Saturday 03/09/2019 ISSMA Jr. High Choir Competition
Greenfield Jr. High
TBD
Friday 03/15/2019 Jr. High Choral Festival HSE Schools
HSE High School
TBD
April
May Monday 05/13/2019 After School Rehearsal Hawk Hall 3:00-5:00pm
Tuesday 05/14/2019 Spring “Pops” Choir Concert Hawk Hall Show 1: 6:00pm Show 2: 7:30pm
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Concert Ticket Information: for Required Performances !
Performance Venue: Riverside Jr. High - Hawk Hall
Address: 10910 Eller Road, Fishers, IN 46038
Seating Capacity: 430
Ticket Pricing: FREE
Why Tickets?
The problem:
- 170 singers and 430 chairs = 2-3 adults per child
- Not enough seating
The solution:
- Two shows with tickets
- Limit four (4) tickets per child for any show of parents choosing so all families can
reserve seating
- Make all remaining seats available one-week prior to the show for families to reserve
remaining tickets
To ensure that each performance is equally excellent, all students are required to perform at
both concert times during the evening. We perform the same show at each start time to make
sure that all friends and family are able to see the same, excellent concert regardless of which
performance they attend!
*Ticket information will be sent to families prior to concerts via skyward e-mail
or can be found through this link:
www.riversidechoir.weebly.com/concert-tickets
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CALENDAR: EXTRA Events & Opportunities ! *No grade assigned to performances/events below
Month Day Date Event Location Time August Wednesday 08/22/2018 Musical Call-out Meeting Choir Room 3:00-3:45pm
Tuesday 08/28/2018 Show Choir Auditions Choir Room 7:00-9:00pm
Wed. & Th. 8/29 & 8/30 Musical Auditions Choir Room 7:00-9:00pm
September Tuesday 09/04/2018 Musical Rehearsal Begins Choir Room
Monday 09/24/2018 Fall Choir Get-together: Sky Zone! ($20)
Sky Zone Fishers 5:30-7:30pm
October Tuesday 10/02/2018 Talent Show Auditions Choir Room
Wednesday 10/10/2018 Deadline to submit auditions for Indiana Jr. High Honor Choir
- AUDITION ONLY - Overnight event - $173 (all-inclusive)
IN CLASS
Wednesday 10/24/2018 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal Hawk Hall TBD
Thursday 10/25/2018 Talent Show Hawk Hall 7:00pm
November Friday 11/16/2018 Musical Performance - Tickets: $5
Hawk Hall Show 1: 3:00pm Show 2: 7:00pm
Wednesday 11/28/2018 Solo/Ensemble Money Due to Directors
- $15 for solo - $7 per member for
ensemble
IN CLASS
December Wednesday 12/05/2018 Deadline to Register for Circle the State with Song
IN CLASS
TBD TBD Christmas at the Zoo *Golden Harmony to attend
Indianapolis Zoo TBD
TBD TBD Winter Choir Get-together: Movie Night!
RJH TBD
January Thursday & Friday
01/17/2019 01/18/2019
Indiana Jr. High Honor Choir Performance
Embassy Theater Ft. Wayne, IN
All day
Saturday 01/26/2019 ISSMA Solo/Ensemble for Voice and Piano
TBD TBD
February Saturday 02/16/2019 ISSMA State Solo/Ensemble for Voice and Piano
Perry Meridian High School -
Indpls.
TBD
Saturday 02/23/2019 Circle the State with Song Festival
Anderson University
All Day
March Saturday 03/02/2019 MIC Choral Competition Hosted by North Central High School *Golden Harmony to attend
North Central High School
All Day
Monday 03/18/2019 Fundraiser Kick-off RJH Periods 1-6
April TBD TBD Spring Choir Get-Together: Sky Zone! ($20)
TBD TBD National Anthem at Indians Game
Victory Field – Indianapolis
TBD
May Saturday 05/04/2019 Performing Arts Department Trip
Kings Island 7:00am-10:30pm
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About our choirs .:
Choirs at Riverside are comprised of both inexperienced and experienced young women and men
Students in learn advanced vocal technique through developing healthy singing habits as well as learning
how to manage the adolescent voice. Students also develop advanced techniques in harmony singing as
well as practice their proficiency reading notes and rhythms through daily music exercises. Choir meets
every day as a class for the entire year. Students will sing unison, two-part, three-part, and even four-part
literature in a wide variety of musical styles including Broadway, classical, folk, gospel, jazz, madrigal, and
pop selections. There are both auditioned and non-audition groups available.
- Golden Crescendos: 7th Grade Girls
o Non-auditioned
o Meets MTWThF
o Class and performances subject to
grade
- Golden Sound: 8th Grade Girls
o Non-auditioned
o Meets MTWThF
o Class and performances subject to
grade
- Golden Voices: 7th/8th Grade Boys
o Non-auditioned
o Meets MTWThF
o Class and performances subject to
grade
- Golden Sensation: 7th/8th Honors Girls
o Audition only
o Meets MTWThF
o Class & performances subject to grade
- Golden Harmony: 7th/8th Honors Mixed
o Audition only
o Meets Tuesday and Thursday Mornings
@ 6:45am
o Featured performances at school
travels to perform other events
Required Classroom Materials .
Items Expected EVERY DAY
- iPad
o Charged for class use
o Loaded with Microsoft One Note, Canvas, Socrative, Piano HD. All Free
- Choir Binder
o Only holds choir music
o Provided by Mr. Rogers
o Does not leave classroom
- Pencil
o For taking notes in music
o Suggest leaving a pencil with the students choir binder
STRICTLY Prohibited Items:
- Chewing Gum
- Cell Phones
- Food/Drink (other than water)
- Hats/Outerwear
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Formal Concert Attire .
In order to preserve the look of a uniformed ensemble, students will make an effort to groom their
appearance in a professional and conservative manner. It is our mission to make the best impression on
our audiences and judges, therefore it is important that we look as good as we sound. Unless instructed
otherwise, students will be expected to adhere to the following concert dress code:
GIRLS o DRESS: Each girl will be sized for a custom-ordered dress.
o SHOES: Each girl will be sized for and order caramel-colored character shoes
o HOSIERY: Girls will purchase and wear nude-colored hosiery with dresses for public
performances
BOYS o SHIRT: Each boy will purchase a white-dress shirt through the school o TIE: Each boy will purchase a black tie through the school o VEST: Each boy will purchase a black vest through the school o PANTS: Each boy will purchase black pants which will arrived un-hemmed through
the school o SHOES/SOCKS: Boys must provide solid black dress shoes and solid black socks for
performances
GENERAL GUIDELINES o HAIR: should be groomed and neat with consideration to avoid excessive
decoration. Long hair will be groomed and kept away from the students faces
o JEWELRY: Students may not wear jewelry with concert attire. Small, stud earrings
are acceptable.
PAYMENT o Student Uniform cost for the 2018-2019 season is $80.00
o Checks written in blue or black ink should be made payable to Riverside Jr. High
School with the student’s name on memo line.
o Payment is due by the end of the first quarter: Friday, 08/17/18
o Need payment assistance? Deadline extensions? Please contact me!
ORDER INFORMATION o Order forms for formal concert attire will be sent home with your students during
the second week of school. These must be completed and returned to Mr. Rogers
by Friday, 08/17/18
**Students not conforming to the dress policy may be asked to sit out of the performance. If you have
trouble obtaining an appropriate wardrobe for your student, please let a director know well in advance of
the performance. Help is available!
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Grades in Choir .:
Classroom Grades: 75%
Activity Frequency Points Weekly Rehearsal Grade:
- Student behavior and rehearsal practices have a direct impact on the success of the performing group. Each week, students will receive a grade commensurate with their rehearsal contribution in class.
Weekly
7-9 Grades/Quarter
100
After School Rehearsal Grade - Extra Rehearsals prior to performance help to insure
the organization that a successful concert needs. Student attendance and participation is needed.
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 4
3x Total
200
Performance Assessments - Students will submit performance assessments
through Microsoft OneNote that will be evaluated against a specific rubric.
2-4 times/quarter 100
Written Assessments/Assignments - Students will complete written assignments or
assessments that show understanding of music literacy and history concepts used in class.
As needed 100
Grading Policy:
Late work will be accepted with a grade penalty until the end of the quarter
When late work is submitted, student must e-mail me so that I know it’s ready for grading
Late work will be entered as a zero until it is graded
Performance Grades 25%
Activity Date Points Fall Concert 10/09/2018 100
Winter Concert 12/06/2018 100
Festival Preview Concert 03/04/2019 100
ISSMA Jr. High Choir Competition 03/09/2019 100
Jr. High Choral Festival 03/15/2019 100
Spring Concert 05/14/2019 100
Concert Attendance Policy:
Student attendance and participation is required for the performance dates above
It is very important that you know and plan for all performance and rehearsal dates and times as
they are listed on the schedule!
Problems happen! Please communicate with me prior to any missed performance:
o EXCUSED ABSENCES are considered to be illness or family emergency. A make-up assignment will be arranged with Mr. Rogers. Absences will be marked as a zero until make-up work is returned.
o UNEXCUSED ABSENCES – including transportation or extra-curricular conflicts – will
result in a zero for the performance grade and cannot be made up.
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Classroom Rules .:
Specific Choir Room Rules:
1) There is no gum in the choir room 2) Students must arrive on time.
a. If the bell rings and you’re not in the room, you’re tardy 3) Student behavior must not interfere with our rehearsal objectives 4) There are no cell phones in the choir room 5) Our class time is designated for instruction or practice. Students are expected to use our
class time for these purposes. Games and other non-academic distractions are prohibited.
Consequences:
1) Verbal Warning 2) Conference with teacher outside of class 3) Teacher-issued detention 4) Office Referral
RJH Mantra:
Be Safe Be Smart Be Nice:
Classroom directives are issued for a safe and effective rehearsal. When Mr. Rogers speaks, listen and respond accordingly
Return your choir materials to their correct slot in the choir room in an orderly manner.
Use the risers and chairs as intended and with care
Contribute well to rehearsal – we’re counting on you!
Bring a clear container with water to the choir room – singers stay hydrated!
Keep your mouth empty of gum, erasers, pencils, paper, etc.
ONLY use technology for school or academic purposes
Restroom passes will be limited to 3/student/quarter.
Have your choir materials BEFORE the bell rings!
Maintain a positive and respectful attitude towards peers and director AT. ALL. TIMES.
Assist your peers when they’re struggling
Some student performances will be great, others may need some work – applaud anyway!
Do not interrupt Mr. Rogers teaching, do not interrupt student singing, do not interrupt others speaking
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How Parents Can Help .:
Dear Choral Music Parent/Guardian,
The Riverside Junior High School Choral Music Department welcomes you and your family to the upcoming
school year! I look forward to an exciting year which will offer many opportunities for your student. I want
you to know that your support is essential to our success. As a parent there are three ways you can help
your students through your support of the choir program:
1) Role Model! You can help by imparting the values of hard work and perseverance, reinforcing how to
overcome personal failures, and encouraging your students to get more involved and explore
new opportunities in our program. Your students may choose to audition for solos, find their
place in leadership roles, or perform for judges throughout the year. When you model
support for what they do, you will have a direct effect on how much they will accomplish and
learn in this program!
2) Volunteer! You may have the availability to volunteer with choir activities. The choir will have some fun
activities to take part in throughout the year… and you and I know that organizing middle
school-aged kids takes a village! If you want to help serve cake at a concert, chaperone an
activity or extra rehearsal, or just take tickets as families arrive for a performance, I NEED
YOU and would be glad to know about your interest!
3) Give! A last area of support for any arts program may be financial. This is accomplished two ways:
through fundraising and donation. Fundraising will take place in the spring and money
brought in will assist with music purchases, hiring guest judges or clinicians, technology
acquisition and repair, payment to accompanists and choreographers, providing additional
props or costuming for concerts, or for designated use as scholarship for high-performing
students with demonstrable need of financial assistance for concert attire or performance
fees. Financial support may also be accomplished through donations and will be accepted
at any point throughout the year. Donors will be recognized in concert programs for the
2018-2019 school year.
Thank you for your support of your students and the choir program! I hope that you’ll have the opportunity
to show support for the choir program in any way that you’re able. I look forward to meeting and working
with your kids this year – we’re going to learn a lot!
Warmly,
Mr. Will Rogers
Director of Vocal Music
Riverside Jr. High School
Phone: 317-915-4280 (ext. 6163)
www.RiversideChoir.weebly.com
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Student-Parent-Teacher Agreement .:
RETURN THIS PAGE TO MR. ROGERS BY: _________
Student Name: ____________________________________________ Class Period: ___________
Parent/Guardian name(s): _________________________________________________________
We have read and understand the concert dates which are mandatory and are a graded component of our students experience in choir. In order for our student to receive a grade for these events, they must attend and perform on these dates for the 2018-2019 Season: 10/09, 12/06, 03/04, 03/09, 03/15 and 05/14.
We understand that some choir concerts are ticketed and ticket information will be sent home through skyward e-mail and can be accessed through this website: www.riversidechoir.weebly.com/concert-tickets
We have read and understood what needs to be brought to class every day for a successful choir rehearsal and that frequent unpreparedness may affect our academic standing in class.
We understand what our concert uniform obligations are and that there is a limited number of scholarships available for families who demonstrate financial need. Uniforms must be paid in full by the end of the first 9-weeks.
We understand how performance in choir will be graded and the weights of these grades. Grades are posted to skyward, missing grades will be entered as a zero until submitted, late work will not be considered past the 9-week grade period in which it was due.
We have read and understand the classroom rules for the choir room and understand that behavior and participation in the choir rehearsal affect the quality of the program and are factored into the grade.
Sometimes snacks and drinks are offered during extra rehearsals or outside events. My student has permission to consume snacks and drinks consistent with any diet restrictions.
We’re always in need of volunteers!! If you plan to sign up to volunteer, you will need to complete the
district’s required volunteer policy designed to keep our students safe!
District Volunteering Website: https://www.hseschools.org/services/other/school-safety/visiting-
and-volunteering
We’re interested in donating now and have enclosed the amount below:
$10 $20 $50 $100 Other ________
Donors and Volunteers will be thanked in concert programs.
Checks must be made out to Riverside Junior High in blue or black ink with your students name in the memo
line. Donations are voluntary. All students will be allowed to participate regardless of donation or amount.
Student Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: _____________
Parent Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _____________
