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RHS Women’s Chamber Choir Contract!
2018-2019!
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Classroom Expectations


The following rules and expectations are applicable to both daily classroom rehearsals, as well as to any music
event held outside of campus, regardless of time or day. Every student is representing themselves, Rolesville
High School, Ms. Davis, parents, and the community in many public arenas, and their behavior and discipline
should reflect that in a positive light.
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1. NO cell phones during rehearsal.
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• Chamber Choir is the top level choir at RHS. Ms. Davis should never seen a student’s phone out
in class without given permission. Ms. Davis will contact the student’s parent if she has to ask that
student more than once to put the cellphone away. You are expected to remain present in the
rehearsal and be an example at all times.
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2. Be respectful to self, others and property.
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• Students are to behave in a way that causes no disruption to Ms. Davis’s teaching or distracts
others from learning.
• Students must be considerate of others' needs, feelings and belongings.
• Singing is a personal art; it is rude and hurtful to make fun of other's singing and will not be
tolerated in Ms. Davis’s classroom.
• Prejudice, disrespect, apathy, or belligerence will not be tolerated.
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3. Always be on time.
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• All trips to lockers, bathrooms, and visits with friends should occur before the tardy bell rings.
• Students are expected to be in their seats, with a pencil and their music, before the tardy bell rings.
• Rehearsal will begin at the bell. Students must be silent and ready to begin rehearsal at that time.
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4. Attend daily rehearsals.
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• Choir is all about being a team, and failure to attend class regularly prevents students from being a
team player, contributing in class, and learning the material in a timely fashion.
• Students who accumulate more than 5 unexcused absences from school will be put on academic
probation in Chamber Choir. This lack of commitment to honors level course work may prohibit the
students from participating in extra opportunities (e.g. special performances, trips, etc.) or being in
Chamber Choir in the future.
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5. No food, gum, or open drink containers are allowed in the classroom.
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• Food is NOT allowed in the chorus classroom (unless specific permission has been given) and must
be eaten or thrown away before entering the room.
• Gum is never allowed during rehearsal. If a student is seen chewing gum during class, Ms. Davis will
deduct 5 points from the student’s artistic work habits grade. Only water in plastic bottles with
replaceable lids is allowed, as well as expected. There is a water fountain in the room for refills.
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6. Daily tasks
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• Students are expected to set their own chairs at the beginning of rehearsal. At the end of the
rehearsal, students must return their own chairs to their original places and put their music away in
the assigned slots. Failure to do any of the aforementioned expectations will result in a 5 point
deduction for the student’s artistic work habits grade.
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7. Active Participation
• Students are fully expected to throughly mark their scores and take notes as instructed by Ms. Davis.
• If not instructed otherwise, students must follow along with their vocal part when another section is
rehearsing. Side conversation is not allowed unless specified otherwise by Ms. Davis.
• If a student is sick, but well enough to be at school, the student is expected to sit, follow along in the
music, and take notes during class. The student may not be on her phone during rehearsal.
• Students are encouraged to sing with confidence during rehearsal. For the choir to improve and grow
as a whole, each student must be willing to sing out in rehearsal.
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Supplies/Materials
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Students may need the following materials in every class rehearsal:
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• Black, 1 inch, 3-ring binder (no plastic cover on the front).
• Loose-leaf paper
• Pencils. Pens are NOT acceptable. Choral music markings must be made in erasable pencil. Any
markings made with pen may result in a 20 point deduction for the student’s artistic work habits
grade. If a student does not bring a pencil to class, this will be a 2 point deduction from the student’s
artistic work habits grade.
• Music. All music is owned by RHS and should be treated with the utmost care.
• Water bottles filled with water are recommended and expected for choral rehearsals.
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Discipline
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Disciplinary actions will be based on school-wide conduct codes. In general, the basic following procedures
will be used in administering disciplinary consequence, (though they may not necessarily occur in the following
order, depending on the seriousness of the behavior):
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1) Verbal warning
2) Parent contact
3) Parent conference
4) Office referral – action will be assigned by administration
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Examples of inappropriate behaviors:
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• Disrespecting Ms. Davis or fellow choir members
• Sleeping or eating in class
• Doing anything besides the task at hand, (i.e. cosmetic make-up, homework for another class, talking,
using a cell phone, or any type of electronic device)
• Inappropriate language, (if a student repeatedly curses in class, Ms. Davis will contact your guardian).
• Obvious lack or unwillingness to participate
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RHS Tardy Policy
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Tardiness will not be tolerated. Students arriving after the tardy bell must have a pass to enter the classroom.
Students who do not have a pass can get a tardy pass from a Tardy Table. (All tardy tables are located in the
commons on the 1st-4th floors). Students should hand their pass to the teacher upon arrival in the classroom.
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*Trips, performance opportunities, and class incentives may be revoked depending on the quantity and severity
of such discipline infractions.*
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Late Work Policy
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The Performing Arts Department will comply with the RHS Policy for late work as stated in the handbook. The
Performing Arts Department will accept late work at a penalty of 5% off the grade earned for each school day
the assignment is late. All assignments must be turned in by the quarter dates determined by Rolesville High
School which are listed in the Handbook. Late work deadlines can be found on the RHS website.

Retest Policy
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Written tests may be made up by quarter dates listed by Rolesville High School.
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Make Up Work (in accordance with the RHS Handbook)


For absences of one to three days, the student will have one day for each day absent to complete makeup work.
You must complete makeup assignments for any missed days. Ms. Davis will provided makeup assignment
options.
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For absences exceeding three days, the student will have two days for each day absent to complete makeup
work.
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Absences due to approved school trips are excused. It is the student’s responsibility to secure such assignments
before a known field trip and, in accordance with the handbook, all work will be due upon the student’s return
to school during the class period in which the work was assigned.
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Missed assignments will not be excused, unless they involve tasks that could only be completed on the
particular day an activity was assigned. In such a case, the student will be omitted from that individual
assignment, (unless an alternate assignment is assigned to take the place of the missing grade).
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Performances
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Public performance is one of the most effective means of performing arts education assessment. Because
chorus, band, orchestra, theatre and dance are considered academic classes, grades are assigned for participation
in all scheduled performances. Unexcused absences from any of these events will result in a failing
performance grade. Any additional performances outside of Encore!, Winter Concert, Small Ensemble MPA,
and Spring Concert will not be graded. HOWEVER, it is the expectation that all members attend and perform.
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*Students will be assessed on the following criteria:
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• Proper preparation: Correct outfit, on-time, present for warm ups with group
• Singing with appropriate energy/attitude
• Focus and teamwork ethic, both before and during a performance.
• Off-stage etiquette
• Performance assessment and reflection
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*The only exception to this is Small Ensemble MPA. Students will be given the same number grade that the
judge scores the choir.*
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All reasons for absences will be considered excused or unexcused at the discretion of the director. Students must
give Ms. Davis a 30 DAY NOTICE if they are unable to participate in the concert. If the student doesn’t give at
least 30 days notice, they will receive, at most, half credit on their makeup assignment. If a student is a “no
show” (i.e. gives Ms. Davis no notice) the student will receive a 0 for the concert grade and no makeup
assignment will be provided. This is completely unacceptable behavior from any chorus student.
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If a student is absent from school (due to illness) on the day of a concert, he/she is encouraged (if feeling better)
to attend the concert as an audience member. A signed note from a parent, stating that his/her child was sick is
necessary to consider this a legitimate excused absence.
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**According to WCPSS Board Policy, students in OSS, ISS or are not in school a FULL day on the day of a
concert (or other performance) are prohibited from participating in that performance. Such students will have to
make the grade up through an individually assigned activity (usually an essay) or take a 0.**
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Grading System
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• 40%-Performance Skills
• 30%-Skills and Artistic Work Habits
• 15%-Tests and Projects
• 10%-Quizzes/Journals
• 5%- Classwork/Homework
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Performance Skills: Each and every student is vital in order to have a successful choral performance. Students
are expected to arrive on time, dressed in the correct attire, prepared to warmup and sing to the best of their
ability. It is of utmost importance that each member of the choir contribute. Students will be assessed on their
etiquette, timeliness, singing energy, and musical preparation.
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Skills and Artistic Work Habits: Students will have 20 points for every class, adding to a total of 100 points in
the week. Participating in warmups, singing during rehearsal, and contributing to both class discussions and
other class activities will ensure that the student receives the full 20 points every class day.
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Tests and Projects: The majority of tests will be individual singing tests, in which students will demonstrate
their knowledge of the choral repertoire they are learning in class. Projects will be both individual and group-
based projects. Projects may be such things as: music compositions, choral music repertoire analysis, vocal
health, and vocal technique.
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Quizzes/Journals: Students will be quizzed on music terminology, musical expressive elements, music theory,
solfege, and aspects of the choral pieces learned in class. Students will also be required to write journal entries
on occasion. These journals will be written reflections on both the students’ own choral performances and on
other choral performances that the class watches together.
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Classwork/Homework: Classwork will include - but is not limited to - theory and sight-singing worksheets.
Homework will typically consist of students listening to specific sections from the choral repertoire that the
class is working on. This helps the student be fully prepared for choral rehearsal the following day.
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Grading Scale
A: 90-100 = 4.0 

B: 80-89 = 3.0 

C: 70-79 = 2.0 

D: 60-69 = 1.0 

F: < 59 = 0.0
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Outside-of-Class Rehearsals
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Occasionally, outside-of-class rehearsals will be scheduled if necessary to prepare for a performance. Ms. Davis
has the discretion to consider if an absence is excused or unexcused. It is imperative that all members are
present for after school rehearsals. For this reason, such rehearsals will be graded events. Students have 48
hours to communicate in writing with a parent signature of any conflict with the rehearsal. Outside-of-class
rehearsal dates can be found on the RHS choral website.
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Transportation
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Students are expected to find their own means of transportation for ALL choral-related events and activities
outside of school. If a student does not have a means of transportation, the student must speak with Ms. Davis
about it BEFORE the day of the scheduled event.
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Performance Attire
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• All students will wear the designated outfit for each performance. No student will perform without the proper
outfit.
• Students are expected to purchase their own choir dresses this year. The link to purchase can be found on
the RHS chorus website.
• Students must remove excess jewelry and accessories for performances. NO large hair clips/bows or
dangling earrings should be worn. However, very small stud-type earrings, a single small ring and a
single thin necklace may be worn. Such accessories can be distracting to an audience and take away from
the overall performance. Uniformity in appearance allows the audience to focus completely on the music,
rather than specific individuals.
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Contact Information
Email: kdavis14@wcpss.net
Webpage: http://rolesvillechorus.weebly.com
Twitter: @RHSchoirupdates

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Statement of Acknowledgment
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I, ________________________________________ have read and understand all the information
provided in this handbook. I have discussed both the implications and the responsibilities associated
with that information. I have taken note of all performance dates, and I agree to the policies outlined in
this handbook.
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Grade Level: _________
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Student’s signature____________________________________________ Date_____________
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I, have read and understand all the information provided in this handbook. I have discussed with my
student(s) both the implications and the responsibilities associated with that information. I have taken
note of all performance dates, and I agree to the policies outlined in this handbook.
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Parent/Guardian signature________________________________________________________
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Date_______________
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Parent/Guardian email address:
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___________________________________________________
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Parent/Guardian phone:
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___________________________________________________