Columbia Public Schools
th
5 Grade Honors Choir
MEMBER’S HANDBOOK
2013-2014
The Columbia Public Schools 5th Grade Honors Choir is a 120
member ensemble with students from every of the 19 elementary schools
in Columbia and some surrounding districts as well. The Honors Choir has
traveled extensively and performed at the Missouri Music Educators
Convention in Osage Beach, MO. Founded by educators Susan Altomari and
Mary Beth Ming in 1987, the Honors Choir is proud to be starting their
27th season. Although the personnel for the ensemble changes every year,
students are always thrilled to be joining the rich history of choral music
in mid-Missouri.
In this handbook, you will find valuable information concerning our
goals, policies, concerns, and uniforms. Please read the handbook carefully
and if you have questions, feel free to contact me via email or in person.
Thanks in advance for all your support, both for me and for your child, to
make this a fun, exciting year of choral music!
Sincerely,
Mr. Robert Battle
Director, CPS Fifth Grade Honors Choir
RBattle@columbia.k12.mo.us
Goals
Columbia Public Schools Fifth Grade Honors Choir members will receive
training in appropriate & healthy voice production and experience in ensemble
singing. Participation in the choir provides an opportunity to perform music that
is often more challenging than singers may have previously experienced, and it is
also an opportunity to build social relationships that will benefit them as they
progress into advanced levels of music. Rehearsals, therefore, must be a high
priority for you. Weekly attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences could
result in dismissal from the choir.
Honors Choir will begin on Tuesday, September 3. Our rehearsals are in
the Lange Middle School Choir Room from 4:15-5:15 on Tuesdays. This year’s
choir will have two major performances. We have tried not to “overbook” your
singers with concerts, because we know that families are often involved in many
other activities. These concerts need to go on your family calendars
immediately to avoid conflicts that may arise. There may be some additional
performances that will be scheduled. I will give you notice about these
performances well in advance of the dates.
In short, our goals are hopefully your goals! We want every singer to have
the best musical experience possible. This can be realized only through
dedication, regular attendance, and hard work. Yes, choral singing takes a lot of
work, but it is also extremely rewarding!
Policies
1) Honors Choir members MUST continue to participate in their own school
choirs.
2) Three consecutive, unexcused absences will result in dismissal from the
choir. In order for the absence to be excused, the Honors Choir member will
need to bring a note from a parent to the next rehearsal attended explaining the
absence. E-mailed excuses to me also work well! Please try not to schedule
dental or other doctor appointments on Tuesday afternoons.
3) Honors Choir members are very visible representatives of our schools. Their
conduct and behavior is very important. Membership in this group can be
terminated for unacceptable behavior at rehearsals or performances. If a student
is disruptive or makes poor behavior choices during rehearsal, parents will be
contacted. Students who do not improve will be dismissed from the choir.
4) We will have rehearsals at our regularly scheduled time on Tuesdays, 4:155:15 p.m. All rehearsals will be at Lange Middle School in the choir room, unless
otherwise notified.
5) If school is not in session, we will not meet.
6) Both of our directors are involved in Tuesday evening activities. Parents must
pick up their children no later than 5:30. Students whose parents are chronically
late will be dismissed from the choir.
6) All uniforms must meet the standards set out in the uniform section of
this handbook. Cardigans are provided; other items such as shirts, skirts,
pants, socks, and shoes are provided by the family of the choir member.
Directing Staff
Director: Robert Battle, Director of Choirs, Lange Middle School
E-mail: RBattle@Columbia.k12.mo.us
Assistant Director: JoAnna Hoeppner, Music Specialist, Blue Ridge
Elementary
E-Mail: JHoeppne@Columbia.k12.mo.us
Accompanist: Anne-Marie Thompson
Concerns

Honors Choir members should plan to arrive no earlier than 4:05 and no
later than 4:15. Mr. Battle will be unavailable for supervision before 4:05
because of other duties.
 Students may choose to have a water bottle with them at rehearsals but
gum chewing is forbidden, and snacks should be finished outside the choir
room before we begin rehearsal.
 Choir members need to be picked up promptly when rehearsals are over.
Membership can be terminated if directors have to wait frequently for
a student to be picked up. We will not leave children waiting
unattended, but our own schedules do not allow us to wait for late parents.
Please be respectful of our time with our families.
Uniforms
The uniform for concerts is as follow unless otherwise noted:
Bottoms: Black skirts with hosiery, black pants with black socks
Shoes: Black dress shoes
Tops: All students will need a white button collared shirt. Students will be
provided a burgundy cardigan with a gold neck tie. The white shirt does not
need to have a certain arm length; it just simply needs to have a collar that
can hold a neck tie with a button. This would include button down dress shirts
or polo shirts.
The cardigans and neck tie are property of Columbia Public Schools.
Please contact me if purchasing a shirt and pants or a skirt is a problem
for you. We will provide you with a donated uniform or look for a source of
alternative funding. I do not want this to prevent any child who has qualified
from participating.
Fundraising Project
The fundraiser project will kick off on September 3 and will conclude on
September 24. A fundraiser information packet will come home with your
choir member on September 3 The fundraiser will also help pay for music
and any vests that need to be replaced.
If you have questions concerning the fundraiser, please contact me. The
project is easy and the profit margin is very good. The CPS Honors Choir has
worked with Cherrydale Farms, our fundraising company, for many years, and
they are wonderful about making it successful and easy for you and me!
CPS 5th Grade Honors Choir Important Rehearsal and
Performance Dates For the First Semester
These dates are firm, although more information will be coming home about some of the items as
the day draws closer. Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 4:15PM
September 3, Tuesday: first rehearsal. Mandatory parent meeting at 5:15 in
the Lange cafetorium. Fundraising packets go home
September 10, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
September 17, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
September 24, Tuesday: regular rehearsal. Turn in fundraising forms & $$$
October 1, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
October 8, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
October 15, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
October 22, Tuesday: regular rehearsal. Fundraising Delivered
October 29, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
November 5, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
November 12, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
November 19, Tuesday: regular rehearsal. Winter CD Recording Session
*This is a longer rehearsal 4:15-6:15
November 26, Tuesday: no rehearsal due to the Thanksgiving holiday break
December 3, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
December 10, Tuesday: regular rehearsal.
December 12, Thursday: Honors Ensemble Concert
Call time is 6:00 for warm up & pictures, 7:00 performance
January 7, Tuesday: resume rehearsals for Spring.
April 22—Spring Concert at Lange Middle School, 6:00 warm-up, 7:00
performance