The Webb
Bridge Middle
School
·
James Barket, Director
·
Rebecca Williams, Principal
The WBMS Orchestra Handbook
Contents
- Purpose
- Participation
- Attendance
- Conduct
- Grades
- Absences
- Instruments
- Books
- After-School
Ensembles
- Other Opportunites
- Dress for Concerts
- Special
Information for beginning Sixth Graders
- Field Trips
- Practice
- Go back to Webb Bridge Middle School Orchestra
Purpose: The orchestra program at
Participation: All students are eligible
to participate. Membership in orchestra is from semester to semester. The
Advanced Violin Ensemble and the Guitar/Low Strings Ensemble are open to those
students who are deemed qualified by the director. Students must participate in
a regularly-scheduled music class to be eligible for after-school ensembles.
School policy dictates that a student may not withdraw without written parental
consent. Prior to withdrawal, parents are encouraged to speak with the director
so that possible adjustments to their child’s learning program may be
attempted. No student will be dropped without prior parental notification. If
withdrawal is necessary, it must be done at the conclusion of a semester. Goals
and objectives for students with Individual Education Plans will be addressed
in this course. Go to top of page
Attendance: When a child is excused from school, an
absence from orchestra will also be granted. To be excused from an after-school
orchestra rehearsal or a concert when the student is in school, the student
must bring a written note from a parent explaining the absence no later than
the day before the rehearsal or concert. Concerts count as test grades. All
concert dates are in student agendas, posted on the board, and posted on the
WBMS Orchestra Web Site. Students are expected to keep their parents informed
of all concert and rehearsal dates to avoid family conflicts. If students have
private lessons that conflict with a rehearsal or concert, the students will be
expected to reschedule the private lessons and attend the concert or rehearsal.
If a student misses a concert with an excused absence, he/she will still be
required to make up the work. During part of December and January, students
should plan on rehearsing after school on Monday or Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00
p.m. This will enable us to get ready for Large Group Performance Evaluation.
We may also rehearse after school just before in-school performances. Students
will be given a schedule of after-school rehearsals. Students arriving tardy to
class must have a pass to be excused. Unexcused tardiness will affect to the
student’s participation grade. Go
to top of page
One of the goals of the middle school is to develop
a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in students. In an effort to
promote student growth in these areas, all Webb Bridge Middle School students
are expected to behave in a positive manner conducive to learning and follow
the Webb Way! Fulton County policies and procedures will be followed in all
disciplinary cases. A school wide discipline plan will be followed
in each student’s classroom according to the steps below.
1 – 1st slip/warning Student/Teacher conference
2 – 2nd slip/warning Parent contact
3 – 3rd slip Detention 1 Using Webb Bridge
detention slip and notification to parent
4 – 4th slip Detention 2 Use Webb Bridge detention
slip and notification to parent OR Parent/Teacher/Student conference
5 – 5th slip Administrative Office Referral
Students are expected to know and abide by the conduct rules.
Students should remain seated unless given permission otherwise and speak only
after raising their hands and being acknowledged by the director. As a class,
we will speak one at a time and remain silent when anyone else is speaking.
Good respectful conduct benefits everyone! Go to top of page
GRADING
CATEGORIES AND WEIGHTS:
All middle school
course gradebooks at WBMS are set up the same:
·
50% (55% for 8th Grade) - Major: An
assignment or assessment that is cumulative in nature, measuring multiple
standards/skills, and/or when there is a significant amount of dedicated
instructional time devoted to the content being assessed. Major
assessments evaluate learning and standards mastery at the end of an
instructional unit; most likely a piece of music that we will perform but may
include an assessment of a group major skills—knowing fingerings for a
particular scale, being able to count rhythms accurately for various meters
while maintaining a strong sound, etc.
·
40% (35% for 8th Grade) - Minor: An
assignment or assessment that measures an individual standard or subset of
standards/skills within a unit and/or when there is a small amount of dedicated
instructional time devoted to the content being assessed. Minor
assessments monitors, provides feedback,
and checks in
on student learning throughout the instructional
unit; may include a selection from a piece of music to be performed but will
likely be an assessment of a particular skill—left hand position,
sight-reading, counting rhythms, etc.
·
10% - Practice: Daily
assignments, observations, and/or engagement activities given in class or for
homework given to students to build and/or remediate skills. Practice
assessments monitors, provides feedback, and checks in on student learning
throughout the instructional and will now count as a grade-these assessments
will most often be taken from our method book.
Grading
Scales:
Letter
grades will be assigned according to Fulton County’s approved grading scale,
which is as follows: A—100-90, B—89-80,
C—79-70, F—69-0.
INFINITE CAMPUS-Campus Parent and
Campus Student Portal
The
Infinite Campus portals - Campus Parent and Campus Student - provide access to
information for all enrolled students in their household. Information includes
grades, attendance, assignments, and school announcements.
Have questions
regarding your Parent/Student Portal account? Help is available by calling
470-254-2700 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. or by emailing campusparent@fultonschools.org
Please click
here for more information- https://www.fultonschools.org/infinitecampus
Lost/Damaged Book Policy:
Students are financially responsible for all books issued by
Webb Bridge Middle School. Textbooks may not be left in classrooms, and
teachers are not responsible for students’ books once books have been issued to
the student. The copy issued to the student must be turned in at the end of the
course. Students will not receive credit
for turning in another student’s book, and students may not turn in replacement
books. The cost of replacement will be
assigned to any student that fails to turn in the exact book she/he was issued
and/or to any student that turns in a damaged book. Go to top of
page
Make-Up Work Policy:
Following an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to
contact his/her teachers to arrange for make-up work. The contact must be made within one school
day of returning. If the teacher is
absent, contact should be made upon the first day of the teacher’s return.
Students are given the same number of days to complete
make-up work as the absence, not including the day of return. For instance, if a student is absent two
consecutive days, he/she has two days (not including the day of return) to
complete the assignments. The teacher will establish a reasonable schedule for
completing tests, labs, etc. that cannot be done independently by the student.
The policy above applies to excused absences. Students with an excused absence
are eligible to make-up work for full credit. While students are allowed to
make up work due to unexcused absences, the make-up work for students with
unexcused absences may be penalized up to 10% of the maximum value of the
graded assignment.
Assignments made prior to the absence, including
tests/quizzes scheduled for the day of return, are generally due upon the
student’s return. Students who are
present for any portion of the school day are expected to turn in all
assignments due on that day in order to receive full
credit.
Failure to complete make-up work within the designated time frame
may result in a grade reduction for the assignment.
Assignments missed due to pre-approved absences are due upon
the student’s return unless the teacher has approved other arrangements in
advance. Go to top of page
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
In
an effort to promote accountability,
responsibility, and executive functioning growth, students are expected to
submit academic work on the due date assignment by teachers. Work
that is not turned in should be marked
as a “NHI”, until a student turns it in, which
counts as a zero in the gradebook.
WBMS
RECOVERY POLICY
Re-teaching/Reassessment/Recovery
Student grades
represent what a student knows, understands, and can do. To that end, if
students are failing, they are not learning.
·
All students will have one (1)
opportunity each nine weeks to
redo/retake one (1) major assignment/assessment, per course.
·
Eligibility for a redo/retake is for
students who receive a 79 or below on a specific major assignment/assessment.
·
Students are eligible to earn a
replacement grade on a redo/retake no higher than 79. For
clarity, grades should be input into the gradebook as “highest grade.lowest grade”
EX: 79.65
·
Student redo/retakes must be completed
before the next major assignment/assessment is given or five school days before
the end of a marking period if there is not another major assignment/assessment
given (exceptions can be made for students who have excused absences during
this five-day window).
Final Exams:
Only 8th Graders will take a final exam, but students
are expected to be at all concerts and rehearsals. Go to top of page
HONOR CODE:
To
embrace our value word integrity and to encourage good study habits, fair
competition, and positive development in the area of
academics, the Webb Bridge faculty supports a strong policy for academic
honesty. Student assignments turned in for
grading should be the sole work of that individual student. To prevent
cheating, including plagiarism, students may not collaborate with other
students or adults on their assignments unless the teacher has given explicit
permission to do so. This includes the giving
or receiving of
information in any manner, including electronically. In situations where
collaboration is allowed, the teacher will clearly define what level of
collaboration is appropriate. Under no circumstances is it acceptable
for two students to submit identical work, unless the assignment included a
group component that makes it permissible or copy and paste from a resource.
Students are encouraged to consult with their teacher regarding what level of
collaboration is acceptable prior to completing an assignment.
An environment of
academic integrity is the work of all members of the WBMS community; thus, the
duty to report any part of academic dishonesty falls on all including students.
If any community member suspects or witnesses academic dishonesty, he or she is
required to report the incident immediately (within 24 hours) to his or
her teacher or administrator. Students who knowingly make false accusations are
subject to disciplinary consequences.
Students who are found
in violation of the WBMS Honor Code Policy will receive academic and
disciplinary consequences. Students will be responsible for re-assessment up to
70 percent and disciplinary consequences will be based on the student's
responsibility cycle. Classroom teachers will handle infractions that fall in
the formative assessment category; grade level administrators will handle infractions
that fall in the summative assessment category.
Students will learn
about the school honor code and will sign an integrity commitment in Compass.
*No electronic
device may be displayed during any assessment without the explicit direction
from the teacher. Violating this requirement may result in an Honor Code
violation.
WBMS
Content Help Sessions Schedule:
Mondays: Language Arts/Reading/World Language
Tuesdays: NONE
Wednesdays: Math
Thursday: Social Studies and Connections
Friday: Science
COMMUNICATION WITH
FACULTY
Absences: Upon returning to school, the student should
contact the director to request make-up work. If the absence was excused,
make-up work will be counted for full value. Go to top of page
Instruments: Students are encouraged to provide their own
instruments. Some school instruments are available, but they are reserved for
students with serious financial need. All other students (cellos and basses
excepted) should secure their own instruments. A list of Fulton County-approved
music stores that provide instruments is available on the WBMS Orchestra website.
I strongly suggest securing an instrument from a local store. These instruments
are of very high quality for the price, and the local store can service them
easily if problems arise. I discourage the purchase of instruments sight-unseen
from the internet. In the past, students have not had good experiences with
such instruments. Students using a school instrument must fill out a county
usage form and are responsible for up-keep and repair (this includes
replacement strings). A voluntary usage fee is requested. Go to top of page
Books: Students should obtain a copy of Essential Elements For Strings (beginning students: Book I; Sixth graders: Book
I and Book II; Seventh graders: Intermediate Techniques; Eighth graders:
Advanced Techniques). The instructor will provide additional materials. Go to top of page
Go
back to Webb Bridge Middle School Orchestra
The After-School Ensembles (AVE & Guitar/LSE): All orchestra students are
eligible and encouraged to audition for the after-school ensembles. They
rehearse Chamber style without conductor. The director organizes and runs the
rehearsal, but the students perform as a large chamber group. Therefore,
although all students are eligible to participate, membership is reserved for
students who demonstrate the highest professional behavior. The director
listens to the auditions and determines the membership. Both Advanced Violin
Ensemble and Guitar/Low Strings Ensemble meet after school from 4:15 to 5:00
p.m. AVE meets on Monday, and Guitar/LSE meets on Wednesday. All students must
be picked up from school by 5:15 p.m. Attendance is required for all rehearsals
and concerts. Since these groups rehearse before or after school only once a
week, please try to schedule doctors and similar appointments on non-rehearsal
days. Go to top of page
Other Opportunities: GMEA and GAASTA provide
additional opportunities for music students during the year. The main events are
the Solo Competition (November), Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluation
(November), Large Group Performance Evaluation (February), and All-State
Orchestra (March, but auditions are in October and January). We will all
participate in the Large Group Performance Evaluation, but students are also
encouraged to participate in the other events. There are also several area
honor orchestras. Among these are the the Fulton
Youth Orchestra and MYSO String Orchestra. A list of quality honor orchestras
is on the WBMS Orchestra website. To be eligible for
the Solo Competition, All-State Orchestra, or any of the honor orchestras,
students must have an Excellent conduct grade. Go to top of
page
Dress for Concerts: Boys: Black pants, white
WBMS orchestra shirt; dark shoes and socks. Girls: Black skirt or pants; white
WBMS orchestra shirt; dark shoes, flesh-colored hose (no mesh!). Students will
participate in performances only when properly dressed. Go to top of page
Special Information for Sixth Graders: Welcome to the Webb Bridge
Orchestra Program! Beginning students should choose an instrument as soon as
possible. During the first week of school, students will be introduced to all of the instruments, and they will be expected to have
their instruments by the second week of school. Parents should feel free to contact
me (e-mail mailto:Barket@fultonschools.org)
if there are any questions. Please consult the list of instrument
suppliers on the WBMS Orchestra website. In addition, I have
brochures from some of the suppliers in my office, and I would be happy to meet
with parents after school if there are any questions. Unless the student has
two or more younger siblings that are certain to play a string instrument,
parents should not purchase a 3/4 or smaller instrument. Parents should seek a
rent-to-own program and eventually purchase a full-size instrument. Go to top of page
Field Trips: Each year we have the opportunity for two or
three field trips. In past years, orchestras traveled to GSU, Roswell High
School, Chattahoochee High School, Woodruff Arts Center, and Creekview, Lake
Windward, New Prospect, Ocee, and Shakerag Elementary
Schools. To facilitate these trips, parent chaperones are needed and GREATLY
APPRECIATED! Please contact Dr. Barket if you would be interested in serving as
a chaperone on any of our field trips this year. Go to top of page
Practice: Students are expected to develop a practice
routine. Dr. Barket will assist you and offer you guidance as you develop your
routine. Here is a link to our practice verification sheet. This sheet
contains much practical information about practice. Students who take private
lessons are requested to give the name and phone number of their private
teacher to the director. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated! Again, I
welcome everyone to the Webb Bridge Middle School Orchestra Program, and I look
forward to working with all of you. James Barket (mailto:Barket@fultonschools.org)
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