Choir Updates
Dakota High School Choirs ♫ Semester II Update / February 2018
Hi, everyone! As we have now begun the second semester, here are some reminders about the rest of the school year, as well as some new information. As always, please contact me via email with any questions you may have. I am EXCITED to continue this school year with these wonderful students, and even more excited to hear the music they will make!
Alexander Walker
AWalker@cvs.k12.mi.us
Hi, everyone! As we have now begun the second semester, here are some reminders about the rest of the school year, as well as some new information. As always, please contact me via email with any questions you may have. I am EXCITED to continue this school year with these wonderful students, and even more excited to hear the music they will make!
Alexander Walker
AWalker@cvs.k12.mi.us
- Emails: If you have never received choir-related emails from our parent liaison, please send me an email (address above) saying “Add to Choir Distribution list.” This is the most effective way for me to communicate with the whole program.
- Other Communication: Please be sure you are registered to receive DHS Choir Update text messages using the Remind service. To do this, send the text message @dakotacho to 81010. Please also request to join the Facebook group: “DHS Choirs 2017-2018,” which will be another means of communicating information.
- Grading: Students’ weekly grades will now be out of 15 points per week. Students have received detailed information in class about these grades, including that the majority of their grade in choir comes from participation, focus, and effort. I will strive to have these grades in PowerSchool no later than one week after the graded week.
- Student Responsibility: To maintain the quality of this program, it is imperative, and a personal priority of mine, that the majority of classroom time is spent on learning, and active music-making. Therefore, to deal with calendar reminders, due dates, and other administrative things, I place responsibility on the students to ensure that they read all information on my whiteboard every day. With around 160 students in choir, this is a more efficient way to communicate simple reminders, as well as give advance notice about other things. It is my expectation that they are able to receive information this way, and then do whatever is necessary with that information.
- Important Dates
- Thursday, March 1st — Spring Show Choir auditions; 5:30PM (all must audition)
- Tuesday, March 6th—Pre-Festival Concert, 7:00PM (6:00PM Call Time)
- Mon./Tues. March 12th/13th—District Choral Festival (hosted by Dakota)
- Each choir will be scheduled to perform at one point during these two days. Performance times are during school, or possibly right after school.
- Since Dakota is hosting this event for high school choirs from around the SE Michigan area, we will require and appreciate the help of many student and parent volunteers! Shortly, you will have the opportunity to sign up for various volunteer positions.
- New Orleans trip: Leave Wed. 04/04/18, return Sun. 04/08/18
- Trip Info Meeting (parents, chaperones, students): Thurs. March 1st, 7:30PM; Choir room
- State Solo & Ensemble: Avondale HS, Fri./Sat. April 13/14
- State Choral Festival: Mon./Tues. April 23/24; Marysville HS; qualification is based on results of District Choral Festival.
- Spring Concert: Thursday, May 24th, 7:00PM
- ***Mandatory Dress Rehearsals*** Mon./Tues., May 21/22, 3PM-6PM
- Choir Banquet: Tuesday, June 5th; Italian-American Cultural Center, Clinton Twp.
- Banquet Committee Meeting (all welcome)—Thurs. March 8th, 7PM; Choir room or auditorium
Tuesday, 10/03/17
DHS Choir Community!
Hello! First, I would like to extend a HUGE THANK-YOU to everyone, students and parents alike, for a wonderful beginning to the school year! We are making some awesome music and having an awesome time in class, and being in the Homecoming Parade was a highlight of my year so far! I hope everyone is enjoying their time at least partially as much as I am!
With the bulk of our sponsorship fundraiser behind us, one reason I am writing is to inform everyone of some awesome news…We raised more money by collecting sponsorships this year than has ever been collected via the sponsorship fundraiser before! That is SO awesome! Please send your students some very honest congratulations from me. This makes the path to our New Orleans trip even easier. We are so lucky to have the types of resources that we do! We also are so lucky to have Lori Lenkevich heading up this fundraiser!
I am writing also with one news item that is slightly less amazing—after consulting with quite a few members of the Dakota staff, administration, and choir community, I’ve decided it is in everyone’s best interest to cancel the Nov. 16th Cabaret concert fundraiser for this year, and to try again next year. This is an official announcement; the decision has already been made. Obviously, this was not the ideal choice, but I believe it is still the right one, considering the preparation and coordination that would have needed to go into this event. I’ve already started imagining next year’s Cabaret, and how it can be even more of a profitable fundraiser than the previous one (which was two years ago). In the meantime, we will focus our efforts even more intensely on other concerts and fundraisers! I can promise that the kids will have plenty of chances to sing fun solos throughout the rest of this year!
By the end of this week, everyone will have been fitted for concert attire. This should be coming home with the students. Please help them keep it stored nicely, and check that they have all items required (as listed in the Choir Handbook). Choir polos have been ordered and will be delivered shortly!
Here are some other things to keep in mind!
That’s it for today! Please see Collage Concert information below. Thank you!
—Mr. Walker
DHS Choir Community!
Hello! First, I would like to extend a HUGE THANK-YOU to everyone, students and parents alike, for a wonderful beginning to the school year! We are making some awesome music and having an awesome time in class, and being in the Homecoming Parade was a highlight of my year so far! I hope everyone is enjoying their time at least partially as much as I am!
With the bulk of our sponsorship fundraiser behind us, one reason I am writing is to inform everyone of some awesome news…We raised more money by collecting sponsorships this year than has ever been collected via the sponsorship fundraiser before! That is SO awesome! Please send your students some very honest congratulations from me. This makes the path to our New Orleans trip even easier. We are so lucky to have the types of resources that we do! We also are so lucky to have Lori Lenkevich heading up this fundraiser!
I am writing also with one news item that is slightly less amazing—after consulting with quite a few members of the Dakota staff, administration, and choir community, I’ve decided it is in everyone’s best interest to cancel the Nov. 16th Cabaret concert fundraiser for this year, and to try again next year. This is an official announcement; the decision has already been made. Obviously, this was not the ideal choice, but I believe it is still the right one, considering the preparation and coordination that would have needed to go into this event. I’ve already started imagining next year’s Cabaret, and how it can be even more of a profitable fundraiser than the previous one (which was two years ago). In the meantime, we will focus our efforts even more intensely on other concerts and fundraisers! I can promise that the kids will have plenty of chances to sing fun solos throughout the rest of this year!
By the end of this week, everyone will have been fitted for concert attire. This should be coming home with the students. Please help them keep it stored nicely, and check that they have all items required (as listed in the Choir Handbook). Choir polos have been ordered and will be delivered shortly!
Here are some other things to keep in mind!
- COOKIE DOUGH ORDERS: DUE Monday, October 9th, 2017! Students earn 40% of the sales total, which is awesome! Get selling this weekend!
- KROGER Plus Rewards: Please REGISTER your Kroger Card to benefit the DHS Choir Program! It in no way affects your own Kroger points. Information about this is found under the “Fundraisers” tab above.
- Kleenex--If you are able to send a box or two of tissue to school with your student, this would be so helpful, especially as the late fall and chillier weather approaches!
That’s it for today! Please see Collage Concert information below. Thank you!
—Mr. Walker
COLLAGE CONCERT:
Wed. Oct. 18th, 7:00PM and Thurs. Oct. 19th, 7:00PM
Mandatory Dress Rehearsal:
Tuesday, Oct. 17th, 2:45PM-5:15PM (Show Choir until 6PM)
Wed. Oct. 18th, 7:00PM and Thurs. Oct. 19th, 7:00PM
Mandatory Dress Rehearsal:
Tuesday, Oct. 17th, 2:45PM-5:15PM (Show Choir until 6PM)
- TICKET ORDER FORMS: Collage Concert ticket order forms were distributed to students on Monday. Those order forms are due on Wednesday, October 11th
- Curtain Act auditions: Collage Concert curtain act auditions will be Monday, October 9th, after school. A sign up sheet will be posted shortly. Prepare a two-minute audition of the same piece you would like to sing as a curtain act.