October 30, 2008
Please disregard this if your child is not attending IMEA District Festival on Saturday, November 1st at WIU.
This is a friendly reminder that students were to take home their choir robe, black folder, and music with them yesterday after school. If anyone forgot, the choir room will be open today,(Thursday) until 7:30 pm and Friday from 8am to 12:30 pm). The HS will not be open on Saturday. Below is a copy of the memo that was sent earlier this week and was given to the students. Have a great weekend and see you on Saturday!
October 29, 2008
Dear parents,
Attached is the November snack and rehearsal calendar (Microsoft Publisher format). In case you can't open the attachment, here are the days/assignments:
Also, I am sorry that I had to cancel rehearsal due to my family's health concerns. My mother's health is still delicate, so I am sure I will have to leave on short notice again. Could I ask you to check your email on Monday am before you leave for swing choir? Email is the fastest way to reach you if I need to leave town with short notice. Now that the weather is turning, I would hate for the students to be caught in the cold if you didn't get the "no rehearsal" message.
Again thanks so much!
October 29, 2008
From Sandy Larimer:
Treats for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this evening, October 29; Thursday afternoon and evening, October 30; and Friday morning, October 31. Any parent who would like to bring in a treat (sweets, salty snacks, soft drinks/bottled water, cheese and crackers, something healthier, whatever) for the high school teachers to sustain them through all the conferences and as a thank you for all they do can bring them to the main office (marked "For the High School Teachers") to be put in the Teacher's Lounge (the Junior High PTO will send a note out for the junior high teachers' treats). If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Burdick (836-1095) or Sandy Larimer (333-2036).
Thanks!
October 28, 2008
Dear Parents,
Last week, your children received information on the Choir Booster Poinsettia Sale and the Choir Booster Mary Poppins Incentive Trip. I have attached the documents in case you didn't see them or you need more copies.
The poinsettia forms and checks (made payable to Macomb Choir Boosters) are due Tuesday, November 4th. The Mary Poppins Trip is an incentive partially sponsored by the choir boosters to participate in the sale. If students do not want to sell poinsettias, they can make a donation to the Macomb Choir Boosters.
Please don't send payments/forms for the Mary Poppins trip early as we want to make sure the students know what their discount is. Also, those payments are not due until Tuesday, December 16, and we don't want checks to be held that long.
Thanks!
October 27, 2008
Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for the prayers, cards, flowers and meals you have given me over the past four weeks. I hope you know how much it all means to me and my family. It is a pleasure to teach in this community. Thank you!
Sincerely, Melanie Butcher
October 27, 2008
Dear Parents and Students,
Below is information regarding the IMEA District Festival this Saturday, November 1, 2008, at WIU. This is for selected students only.
Have a great week!
From: Mrs. Butcher
To: Parents and Students
Re: District IV Choral Festival
When: Saturday, November 3rd – All Day
Where: WIU
Choir rehearsals will be in COFAC Recital Hall
Festival Music
* Remember that you must take your music, pencil, and a black folder with you.
Robe: You are responsible for bringing your robe. Bring dress clothes to wear underneath your robe. You will need to leave it in your car or have your parents bring it to you before the concert. If so, they should meet you at 4:00 pm outside the main entrance of Western Hall.
Attire: Nice clothes during the day and under your robe.
Top Scores: Sometime during the day, they will announce who received the top score for each vocal part (i.e., Sop 1, Sop. 2, etc). These selected people will then audition (that day) on the National Anthem and may be selected to sing at the State Basketball tournament in Peoria.
Group Picture: There will be a group picture for singers from Macomb High at 4:05 pm outside the main entrance of Western Hall.
Performance: You need to be in your seat by 4:20 pm. The performance will be at 4:30 pm at Western Hall
Admission Fee, T-Shirts, Plaques, and Recordings: There will be a small admission fee to get into the concert ($3 adults/$2 students). They usually sell commemorative T-shirts listing all participates names and commemorative plaques with the student's name and CD recordings of the concert.
| District IV Choral Festival Senior High Choir Schedule | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Lunch | Afternoon | Concert |
| Rehearsal: 8:15 am – 12:00 noon, COFAC | 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm (I would recommend leaving campus) |
Rehearsal: 1:30 pm – 3:45 pm, COFAC | 4:30 pm, Western Hall |
Remember: You are responsible for your robe, folder & music.
October 21, 2008
Dear Friends,
Many of you have asked about donating meals for Melanie Butcher. She is now rested enough and in a place where she would welcome some help with the meals. We have a wonderful choir parent, Carmen Axley, who has offered to help with the organization of the meals. They are a family of four (Melanie, Joe, Nick (4) and Andy 1½).
If you are interested, please email Carmen with a contact number and the best time to call you to arrange a date. I know that the Butchers eat early 5:00/5:30 pm and they live on 914 Bobby Avenue in Macomb.
Thanks!
Erin Stegall
October 20, 2008
Dear Parents and Students,
As you are aware, Mr. Nick Page will be here Thursday and Friday of this week (October 23-24). Mr. Page will be working with several grade levels during the day on Thursday and Friday. Additionally, MHS students will be participating in a All-Community/Family Sing on Friday evening, October 24th at 6:00 pm in Fellheimer Auditorium. This is a required event for 9-12 grade choir students. Here are a few reminders:
Thank you and have a great week!
October 20, 2008
Dear Teachers and Parents,
Attached is a memo regarding the Olympic Conference Choral Festival taking place a week from today at WIU. Parents, please note that your kids will need to be picked up at WIU as there will not be a bus back to the school. The schedule is on the memo.
Thanks!
Ron Drummond (for Melanie Butcher)
October 16, 2008
Dear Parents of Sixth Grade students,
After planning the events for the Nick Page All Community Sing and speaking with Mr. Page, we are no longer going to REQUIRE the sixth graders to attend the concert on Friday, October 24th at 6:00 pm We will give sixth grade students extra credit if they attend, but it will not count as a concert grade. Mr. Page will also be doing as assembly on Friday at 1:30 pm at Edison School for the 6th grade students.
The seventh and eighth grade students will, however, be required to attend the concert on Friday, October 24th at 6:00 pm The concert will be an hour in length and the students may wear "school clothes".
Thanks so much! Erin Stegall
October 13, 2008
Dear Parents,
Here are some reminders and deadlines for this week (October 13–17).
Choral Music Education Day: Students who are interested in attending WIU Choral Music Education Day are reminded that they permission slips and $10.00 (checks made payable to WIU Choral Union) are due tomorrow (Tuesday, October 14th). Students are also asked to bring a prearranged absence from to their teachers for the event. (Slip attached) They will also have to bring a sack lunch on Thursday or money to eat in the union.
No after school Madrigals or Jazz Voices this week.
Thanks!
October 8, 2008
Dear Parents and Students,
Attached is information regarding WIU Choral Music Education Day. This is an optional trip for students looking into majoring in music. The cost is $10.00 per student and the money/form is due on Tuesday, October 14th.
Thanks!
Erin Stegall
on behalf of Melanie Butcher
October 8, 2008
Please read below and attached!
-----Original Message-----
From: Nathan Edwards [mailto:njedward@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 3:17 pm
To: Butcher, Melanie
Subject: 6 days until auditions: Choral Bulletin
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL CHORAL DIRECTORS IN YOUR DISTRICT. IF THEY ARE NOT THE "PRIMARY" ON THE REGISTRATION, THIS EMAIL WILL NOT GET TO THEM WITHOUT YOU FORWARDING IT TO THEM YOURSELF. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND DO THIS. (Descending from soapbox)
Choral Directors:
Only 6 days left until auditions! Please help audition day run smoothly for your students by taking note of the following items. This is the first of several emails I will send this week.
In this issue:
New File on Tremont's iDisk
Dr. Henry has just OK'd the pronunciation guide for "Esto Les Digo" It is an audio file with a native (Spain) spanish speaker speaking the text. Please make use of this as appropriate.
Use the link below to get to Tremont's idisk page.
http://public.me.com/tremontmusic
You'll be asked for a username and password.
username: public
password: district4
A screen should come up with all the files, download them by clicking on the downward-pointing arrow on the right side of the window.
Prepare your students on ALL of the repertoire. Some pieces are better candidates for auditions than others, but you never know which ones will be chosen.
The students will definitely be asked to sing 1 of the 2 All-State selections. The other piece could be the other all-state selection OR any of the district selections. I'm sorry I didn't have time to upload the remaining two songs before auditions...I'll get to them before the festival to help in preparation for it. All songs are eligible for auditions, not just ones with a rehearsal track online.
Making Additions/Changes
Additions – If your student is not registered at this point it is too late. Additions can no longer be made, please do not ask. Also, you cannot "sub-in" one student for a DNA student.
However....
If you need to make a change in an already registered student's entry the day of the auditions you will be able to do it, but it will be extremely time-consuming for you to do so. Changes will have to be done at the High School with Kim Webster only, and you'll have to wait your turn. If you need to change a voice part, the director/chaperone AND the student must come to the high school to make the change. This could be a long wait. The idea is to not take away the students chance at an audition for this kind of situation, but make it very inconvenient and time consuming to do so so it happens less in the future. This is the way it must be.
(2) There is no official check-in, however, I will have some materials for you to take home with you regarding the festival, and these will be at the table at the building entrance. Auditions close at 2:00 pm If you have bus problems or other issues that will make you arrive any later than 1:00 pm, please call my mobile at 309-472-8845 and let me know what school you are from and how many choral students are auditioning.
(3) Student Instructions after arrival at the site
First, when your students arrive at PORTA Central, they need to come in the building and immediately find their audition room and write their name on the door. There will be maps posted with audition room assignments, and large signs on the door with the part being judged inside. When their turn comes, they should cross their name off as they enter the room for their audition.
Next, they should go to the gymnasium and find out what the audition music will be for the day. THE TONAL SKILLS REQUIRED OF THEM WILL ALSO BE POSTED, with the exception of the sight-reading excersize. STUDENTS MAY USE ANY VISUAL AID THEY WISH FOR THE TONAL SKILLS ELEMENT OF THE AUDITION, AND WE OFFICIALLY RECOMMEND THE STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AS A PDF FROM THE CHORAL DIVISION PAGE OF ILMEA.ORG
Finally, the students should attempt to warm themselves up and sing a little bit IN THE GYMNASIUM. The are not allowed to sing anywhere else in the building. If it's a nice day, they may sing outside.
(4) I will be available to you (Directors) all day to answer questions, take criticsm, and ham it up. My home base will be in the teacher's lounge at PORTA Central. If I'm not there, I am subbing in for a judge that can't judge their own student or putting out a fire somewhere. I'll be back, and I would love to meet/talk with you.
Sorry for the long email, but this is important information.
Nathan
njedward@gmail.com
October 5, 2008
Dear Parents,
I have attached the information for Tuesday's concert. Your children have been remarkable and a wonderful help. Please know how proud I am of them for their professionalism and responsibility!
Thanks so much!