Ms. Deidre Emry
Parkway West Middle School Bands
2011-2012
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with your children this coming school year. The events planned for this year are both challenging and exciting. I am confident that the wonderful students enrolled in the bands at West Middle this year will both meet and enjoy the challenge.
Enclosed is information intended to increase your understanding of the expectations of the band classroom, inform you regarding grading criteria, and aid you and your student in preparation for class and performances.
Please read all these materials with your child. This should increase your child’s understanding that we will be working as a team to reinforce the skills and behaviors that will help him or her to be successful in music class this year. Your child is responsible for all information contained in the attached Band Handbook, so please keep it in a place at home in which it is readily accessible. It will also be posted on the Parkway West Website.
With your involvement and encouragement, your student will begin the year fully prepared to enjoy a year of growing as a musician and an ensemble member.
Please visit my webpage on the Parkway Website. It will be under Departments/Fine Arts. I will have calendar information, assignments, permission slips, Mp3 files, and study sheets available throughout the year.
Feel free to e-mail (the best way to contact me) or call me anytime throughout the year with questions, comments or concerns. I look forward to a wonderful year with your child and hope to see you at Open House.
Sincerely,
Deidre Emry
314-415-7450
Welcome to the 2011 - 2012 Parkway West Concert Band
The information contained in this handbook is our working policy for the year. I hope you find this helpful in the advance planning of your schedule. The Concert Band enjoys a tradition of being a respected part of the school and the community. We will all benefit from working together in this worthwhile educational opportunity.
Entrance to Class
1. Arrive on time (see school wide tardy policy).
2. Check the board in front of the classroom for materials needed for the day.
3. Please enter the room quietly, get your music, and instrument and find your assigned seat.
4. Be in your assigned seat, quiet and ready for attendance when the bell rings.
5. Remain in your seat until dismissed, unless given permission by the teacher.
6. At the end of class, put your music folder, and instrument neatly away in its proper place.
Class Participation
1. Proper posture and enthusiastic participation are required during part learning and rehearsal of your section and the entire band.
2. You are encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussions as long as you raise your hand to speak.
3. Show courtesy and respect to teacher and fellow students.
Supplies
Please bring your music, method book, and a pencil to rehearsals.
Absences
If you are absent from class, you will have three days after returning to make up work or arrange to take a makeup test. Please see me before class to find out what you missed, receive any handouts or instructions and/or arrange to make up a test. Remember, it is your responsibility to let me know that you need to make up work.
Grading Criteria
Daily Participation
Each day of class is worth 10 participation points. As long as you participate willingly, show effort, come prepared, and respect the teacher or guest teacher and your classmates, you will keep these points. Tardies, gum, and lack of participation will result in a loss of points. Talking and disruptive behavior interrupts the learning and rehearsal time of everyone in the class and points will be deducted accordingly. Please let me know at the beginning of class each day if you have a reason why full participation would be difficult for you that day.
Attendance at Required Performances
Required performances are worth 100 points unless otherwise specified. Advance notice is required to excuse an absence. An alternate assignment will be given to make up the points if a concert must be missed. All points can be made up if advance notice is given (in writing by a parent/guardian, e-mail or by telephone) and the alternate assignment is completed.
Please ask me for an Alternative Assignment if you miss a performance.
Points can be deducted from a concert grade for tardiness, gum, electronic devices, lack of performance etiquette, or lack of proper concert dress - at the discretion of the director.
Grading Scale - (School Wide)
Traditional MS and HS
A 93-100 C 73-76
A- 90-92 C- 70-72
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 83-86 D 63-66
B- 80-82 D- 60-62
C+ 77-79 F 59 or Below
Citizenship Grading (School Wide)
Outstanding = Consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership Consistently demonstrates a positive attitude Consistently demonstrates all the attributes for satisfactory citizenship
Satisfactory = Shows a willingness to accept and act on teacher’s directions Uses class time constructively Demonstrates a desire to learn Is prepared for class Participates in and contributes to the choir
Improvement Needed = Tends to disrupt class Repeatedly not prepared for class Tends to display a negative attitude Interferes with the learning of others Tends to be off task Does not show respect for teachers and peers.
Unsatisfactory = Results from frequently engaging in the behaviors listed under “Improvement Needed”
Behavior
As members of a West Band, we want to present ourselves at all times in a manner that exhibits appropriate behavior, a positive and pleasant attitude and a commitment to the ensemble. If you are in doubt as to whether a behavior is acceptable or not – just don’t do it. Ask!
Consequences for Poor Behavior
1. Discussion with student I will always talk to you first in private.
2. Lunch detention with Ms. Emry
3. E-mail or telephone call to parents
4. Conference with student and parents
5. Administrative referral for possible detention or ALC
6. Dismissal from field trip, performance and/or class
Performances
A Calendar of other performances will be sent home and placed on the website as soon as it is finalized.
Please, NEVER miss a performance. You are an integral member of your ensemble. Your absence changes its sound and character.
Parents/Guardians, if you are aware of a conflict, please notify me in advance as early as possible (by e-mail, phone or written note). If you are ill or have a family emergency the day or evening of a performance, e-mail or call and leave a message as to the nature of your absence. This allows us to adjust the seating arrangement and prepare for other adjustments.
Transportation and Field Trip Policy
All transportation to festivals and performances during school hours will be provided by bus or other school approved transportation. Parental/Guardian approval for travel must be submitted on the Parkway School District Field Trip Permission Form 10 days prior to the day of the trip. The deadline on the permission slip is firm. Students cannot be transported by Parkway without a signed permission slip. For legal reasons, phone calls will not suffice.
Band offers students the opportunity to develop skills, gain confidence, form self-discipline, and display a sense of responsibility in ways that often extend beyond the expectations of the core academic classroom. I welcome all ideas, respectfully given, and will strive to allow students to participate in decision making whenever and wherever appropriate. Please remember, however, that band is a class as well as an organization, and the teacher bears the responsibility for all final determinations. Parents, I look forward to sharing music filled days with your children and I welcome you to e-mail or call anytime with questions or comments.
Again, welcome to Band!
Deidre Emry
(314) 415-7450