Choir

General information:

The St. Ambrose Children's Choir sings for the 9:00 am Mass on Fridays throughout the school year, at the 10:00 am Mass on the third Sunday of the month during the school year, as well as on other feast days and special occasions.

St. Ambrose uses the Royal School of Church Music's training program known as Voice for Life. Students meet in smaller groups once a week before and after school to work on requirements for this program. Ribbons and medals are awarded as each student progresses.

Membership:

Choir is open to 3rd graders and above. There is a Preparatory Choir program for the 2nd grade.

Membership in the Select Choir is by audition and is open to grades 6-8.

All choir members need a 1" black, three-ring binder with pockets and a sharpened pencil. Folders will be provided for all choir members; if they are damaged and become unusable, the choir member's family will need to purchase a replacement.

Choir members will also need to purchase a Voice for Life workbook, which the school will make available. The price of the workbooks in generally $7.60.

Schedule:

Rehearsals: Every Tuesday that school is in session, from 3:00 pm-4:15 pm. The choir will walk to the Parish Activities Building with the music teacher as a group. Members meet for a snack in the hall of the activities building from 3:00-3:15 p.m., then the rehearsals are held in the music room of the activities building. The Select Choir will normally have an additional practice from 4:15 pm-4:45 pm.

Voice for Life training: This will be held Wednesday through Friday for approximately 40 minutes before or after school. The choir will be divided into smaller groups, each group meeting once a week. The morning groups meet in the school music classroom, while the afternoon groups will be in the Parish Activities Building music room. Final times will be announced at a later date.

Friday 9 am Mass: On Fridays the choir should arrive at the school at 8:00 am to meet the music teacher. They will then go to the Parish Activities Building to warm up for Mass.

Sunday 10 am Mass: When the choir is singing on Sundays, they should arrive at the music room of the Parish Activities Building at 9:00 am. They can be picked up there at approximately 11 am.

Fall 2007 School Choir Events:

• October 21, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• November 1, Thu (All Saints Day - school in session): Arrive at 8:00 am for 9 am Mass.
• November 18, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• November 22, Thu: (Thanksgiving): Arrive at 9:30 am for 10:30 am Mass.
• December 16, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• December 24, Mon: (Christmas Eve): Arrive at 5 pm for 6 pm Mass.

Spring 2008 School Choir Events:

• January 20, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• February 17, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• March 16, Palm Sunday: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• March 23, Easter Sunday, Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• April 20, Sun: Arrive at 9 am for 10 am Mass.
• May 10, Sat: First Communion, time TBA, arrive an hour early
• May, date TBA, Choir trip to Kings Dominion Choral Festival
• June, date TBA, 8th Grade graduation, arrive an hour early

Parent Help:

Parents are needed to help with fund-raisers, choir snacks, and robe management. Parents will receibe more details on help needed during the school year.

Expectations and Guidelines:

In order for the choir to be as good as it possibly can be, there are some guidelines and expectations that members must follow.

All choir members should read and remind themselves of these on a regular basis.

1. Membership in the St. Ambrose Choir is a privilege, and, like all privileges, it must be earned on an ongoing basis by regular participation that is respectful of the Choir leaders, of the other members of the choir, and of the facilities and equipment provided for the choir's use.
   
   
2. Choir members must attend all rehearsals and events. If a member is going to be absent (unless he or she is already absent from school), a written note from a parent is required in advance of the absence.
   
   
3. Choir members must conduct themselves in a calm and respectful manner when in the Parish Activities Building: this means, specifically, no running or shouting.
   
   
4. While eating their snack before choir rehearsal, choir members should stay in their seats in the parish hall, eating at a normal pace, until they are told to move into the choir room. They must not wander about the parish activities building during this time.
   
   
5. When choir members enter the choir room they should go straight to their seats, sit down, and wait for choir rehearsal to begin in a quiet and calm manner.
   
   
6. During choir rehearsals, members should not talk unless they have put their hand up. Members should not have private conversations during choir rehearsal.
   
   
7. There is to be absolutely no chewing of gum, eating or drinking (with the exception of water) during rehearsals.
   
   
8. There is to be no outside work done (e.g., homework) during rehearsals.
   
   
9. Choir members are responsible for their own music. Music should be taken care of, and looked after. The cost of replacing music that is lost or damaged will be billed to the family of the responsible choir member.
   
   
10. Similarly, choir members are responsible for the care and cleaning of their robes.
    
    
11. When in the church, choir members are to be SILENT at all times, when not singing or otherwise engaged in the congregational responses at Mass.
    
    
12. Choir members are to remember, at all times, that they have a special role to play in enhancing the worship of God during the celebration of Mass. This role should be honored always in a spirit of humility and respect.

If choir members consistently fail to meet the expectations stated here, they will be suspended from the choir. If, after a period of suspension, participation does not improve, they will be removed permanently from membership of the choir.

Choir members who demonstrate excellent participation will be awarded "Plus Points" after each choir rehearsal. Choristers who gain between five and twenty Plus Points during a single school year will be given special awards at the end of the year. Points will recorded on a board in the choir room.

Band

Re: Garwood Whaley Music Program

Extended Day Care Program

Accelerated Reader:

• Title List
• Title List By Level

Books for Birthdays:

Lask year the library began a program called Books for Birthdays. This is an optional activity to celebrate your child's birthday by donating a book to the library in his/her honor. Your child's name will be put on a special birthday bookplate in the front of the book and he/she will be the first person to check out the book.

In order for your child to participate in picking out the book, I will post a list of books the library needs and their cost on the school's website. I will also be sending an order form home in your child's folder. You would then help your child select the book you would like to donate to the library, and on your child's birthday, send in the name of the book and the payment. I will then purchase the book (either from Borders or Follet) and present it to the library on your child's library day. Your child will be the first person to check out the book.

This is a great way to involve your child in our library and reinforce the importance of reading. It also will help build the inventory of the library with books the students love. If there is a book you would like to donate that is not on the list, just check with me first to make sure it is not already in the library.

Again, this is an optional activity. My hope is that you and your child will enjoy selecting a book that will be a part of the library for everyone to love.

• Book List

Lunch Room/Playground/Health Room Program

In order to provide our children with adequate supervision during lunch and recess, participation in the lunch room/playground program is necessary from all school families. Families are required to serve ten times during the school year, or pay a fee of $230.00 (check payable to St. Ambrose School). During this next school year, lunchroom volunteers will be assisting with the hot lunch program on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The children go to recess first, then eat lunch.

Accordingly, lunch room duty hours are 11:05 - 12:40 each day. Playground and health room duty hours are 10:55 - 12:15.

Other Activities

• Chess Club
• Track
• Scouting