Mrs. Ruth M. Koltookian
Last Updated Sunday, August 9, 2009
GRADING POLICIES
Grading Scale:
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 88-89
B 83-87
B- 80-82
C+ 78-79
C 73-77
C- 70-72
D+ 68-69
D 63-67
D- 60-62
F 1-59
0 0
Grading Policies
All Choirs
Concert Requirements: See page 9 and 10 of this handbook
for Concert/Performance Attendance Policies. Performances
serve as a minimum requirement for all choirs. Points will
be deducted if a student is tardy, is dressed inappropriately,
or is causing any disruption to the flow of the evening (warm
ups, performing, concert etiquette, etc...) No credit will be
given for unexcused absences. Unexcused absences may result
in a report card grade of an F. Excused absences will require
makeup work as outlined on page 10 of this handbook. Please
remember that concerts serve as a semester test in choir.
Participation Grades: Participation grades will be based on
attendance and the quality of daily participation including
consistent application of proper singing technique (good posture,
diction, opening of the mouth, breath management), responsible
membership (cooperation and teamwork), and rehearsal etiquette.
Participation grades will reflect a student’s behavior, effort, and
attitude. Being disruptive in any way during a rehearsal lowers a
student’s participation grade for the day. Choral students have to
work physically to produce a healthy tone, and it is easy to visually
assess students on their effort. Students are not graded on “talent”,
but on efforts to improve on present skill levels .
If a student is experiencing vocal problems that would
prevent him/her from full participation in a rehearsal, the director
should be notified prior to the start of rehearsal to avoid a
misunderstanding concerning the student’s lack of participation.
Students will be asked to do the best they can. Only a parental note
or doctor’s note can excuse students from the actual act of singing.
Students will still need to follow along in their music.
Singing Tests: All students will be held accountable for knowing
their part in the music rehearsed during class. Singing tests will take
place at the end of each quarter. Students will test in small groups
of three or four students.
Extra Credit:
Attending Other Concerts
Any student may earn extra credit by attending musical
events in the community or schools in which they are not performers.
To receive credit, bring in the program or ticket stub, and attach a
brief summary of the concert attended. Any event that contains a
live (not pre-recorded) musical performance of any style is eligible
for credit.
Private Lessons
Extra Credit can also be earned for taking private lessons in
voice, piano, or another instrument. You will need to fill out a form
and have your teacher sign off on lessons attended. Forms are due at
the end of each quarter. If you do not currently take private lessons
but are interested in starting, see Mrs. Koltookian for a list of area
teachers.
Performance in Outside of the Regular School Day Groups
There will be activities and events throughout the school
year that can earn the student extra points. These events include
performing in extracurricular small and large group ensembles,
variety show, and/or OPUS. The director will make announcements
related to these activities as the year proceeds. Please see page
16 in this handbook entitled “Extracurricular Ensembles” and
page 18 “Special Events/Opportunities Available”. Students will
receive extra credit for participation in before school, after
school, and/or lunch vocal groups. Students may also earn extra
points for performing in outside of school groups or ensembles
such as community groups, church choirs, etc. Write a brief
summary of the performance experience and include a verifiable
source, such as the name and phone number or email of the group
leader or director, and turn in before the end of each quarter.
***Seventh Grade Choir***
Grades are based on class participation; written
assignments (worksheets, quizzes, tests, and a notebook); a singing
test; and concert attendance.
Daily Participation = 60%
Written Work = 30%
Singing Test = 10%
Concert Performance = Minimum Requirement
Makeup Work: Aside from concert attendance (two during the
year), there will be no out of class assignments. In case of absence
from school, please check the Holmes Assignment Web Page
for makeup work obligations. There will be many times during the
year when makeup work will not be necessary because the class will
be working on singing skills in the classroom. Please refer to
“Rehearsal Attendance Policy” on page 7 of this handbook for
participation requirements and possible makeup of singing
activities.
Written work that is missed should be made up within one
week following the absence. If makeup work is not submitted in a
timely manner or there is no effort made by the student to schedule
a time and date to complete missing assignments, quizzes, or tests,
parents will be contacted and the student will be placed on a Morning
Assistance Contract.
Morning Assistance Contracts (Seventh Grade Only): Ample time
is given to students to complete written work in class. If a student
chooses not to use classroom time efficiently or fails to do makeup
work in a timely fashion, the student will be assigned to a Morning
Assistance Contract until incomplete assignments are completed.
Students who fail to report for morning assistance will be referred
to Mr. Welter or Mr. Argotsinger, and will be placed on a behavioral
contract, which could include further consequences. Parents will be
notified when a student is placed on a Morning Assistance Contract.
See page 20 of the Holmes Student Handbook for more information
regarding the Morning Assistance Contract.
Hint: Use classroom time wisely so you won’t need
to be placed on a Morning Assistance Contract!!!!
***BOCH, Eighth Grade Choir, Ninth Grade Choir***
Grades are based on class participation, singing tests given at
the end of each quarter, and concert performance.
Daily Participation = 80%
Singing Test = 20%
(Part Singing Independence)
Concert Performance = Minimum Requirement
Aside from concert attendance, there will be no out of class
assignments for these courses.
BOCH students will be singing primarily on B days.
Students will have study hall on A days. Students may begin some
sectional rehearsals on A days in October and will also sing on some of
the A days in November. Students will be given additional study
hall days following the December 1 concert to make up for loss of
study hall time on some A days prior to the concert. Students will
be given advanced notice as to when A days will be used for singing
or when B days will be used for study hall. Over the course of the
semester, there should be an equal balance of singing and study
hall days.
Ruth Koltookian
Holmes Junior High
505 Holmes Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
(319) 553-2650
