September 23, 2016
Dear Choral Parents,
By way of introduction, my name is Ernest M. Pontiere, and I am the North Allegheny Senior High School Choral Director. Mrs. Lisa A. Pontiere is the choral director at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, conducting all 9th and 10th grade ensembles. The issues discussed in this e-mail will pertain to all choral students grades 9 through 12.
Our layout for the school year 2016-2017 is as follows:
Ninth Grade Choir: 72 singers Mrs. Pontiere
Tenth Grade Choir: 92 singers Mrs. Pontiere
Choral Ensemble: 44 singers (NAI) Mrs. Pontiere
Senior High Concert Choir (Female): 56 singers Mr. Pontiere
Senior High Concert Choir (Male): 36 singers Mr. Pontiere
Choral Ensemble: 26 singers (NASH) Mr. Pontiere
Honors Chamber Choir: 51 singers Mr. Pontiere
Grading Policy:
All students are graded daily and can earn a maximum of 10 points per week at NASH and 25 points per week at NAI with good class participation and mature behavior. If their behavior, singing ability, and maturity has not progressed, your child can and will be cut from the choral program in order to make room for another student. In addition, all students will be individually voice tested two times per year for their grade and to determine whether or not they can move on to the next choir in the choral program. Voice testing will include tone quality, music proficiency, and the singing of correct intervals (Solfege).
Grading System:
Our grading system is as follows:
90-100: A; 80-89: B; 70-79: C; 60-69: D; 59 or below: F
In order to receive an “A” grade, your child must have their music memorized for the concert, have good tone quality and music proficiency, sing and know all intervals (Solfege) and, above all, conduct themselves with mature, appropriate behavior in class. With classes this large, we will not tolerate inappropriate behavior in class, and your child will be dismissed from the choral program immediately with an “F”.
Attendance:
Your child is required to attend all mandatory after-school rehearsals and performances. All mandatory rehearsals and concert dates are listed in the NASD Activities Calendar, and the Calendar of Events at the end of this e-mail.
· Please note: Due to the fact that the 9th and 10th grade Choral Ensemble and the Senior High School Choral Ensemble are now one group, they will meet from 4:00-4:30pm the day before the concerts.
· A separate contract has been made for the Honors Chamber Choir members pertaining to mandatory rehearsals and performance dates.
Guidelines, Rules, Regulations and Grounds for Dismissal from The Choral Program:
*****Families who have students involved in afterschool sports or out of school theatre groups- please read #1 very carefully.*****
1. Missing any one of the scheduled rehearsals or performances will result in your child being lowered a full letter grade for that particular nine-week period. Missing more than one rehearsal or concert will result in the immediate dismissal of your child from the choral program with a failing grade. Your child registered for a choral class, and consequently took on the responsibilities of being a member. The concerts are in essence their final exam at the end of each semester. * Please note: Missing a rehearsal or concert for an NA or any other athletic event, CLO, ACT I, etc. is not and will not be considered excused absences. Choir is a curricular graded class in which the grade is included with the student’s overall GPA. Athletic events and outside performing groups are not in the curriculum; they are afterschool, ungraded activities. If your child is unable or unwilling to accept the responsibility of his/her choral class, please change your schedule or find another elective immediately to avoid an unpleasant circumstance. No exceptions will be made.
2. Cutting or skipping a choral class during school hours with the choral director or a substitute teacher will result in immediate dismissal from the choral program.
3. Being caught with or found using any alcoholic beverages, drugs, tobacco, or electronic cigarette at any choral function in or away from school will result in immediate dismissal from the choral program. This is a violation of the school conduct code and all cases will be dealt with individually by administration.
4. Any inappropriate or immature behavior in class, with the choral director or substitute teacher, at any choral function in or away from school will result in immediate dismissal from the choral program.
5. Any student with food or beverages in the choral room will be issued a detention. Bottled water is permitted.
6. Any student caught doing homework, or using a cell phone during chorus class will receive daily detentions. This will ultimately result in dismissal from the class. Homework is for home or in study halls!! Cell phones need to disappear during class!!
7. Parents of Honors Chamber Choir members must also be aware that if your child misses (one) performance or after school rehearsal, they will be immediately dismissed from the choir and receive a failing grade. On trip years, the choral trip/adjudication is also mandatory for all chamber choir members. This is a policy that the students were made aware of before they auditioned this past February. NO exceptions will be made! The trip/adjudication is not mandatory for students in Concert Choir or Choral Ensemble. Please note, only students in 11th and 12th grade choirs along with the handful of 9th and 10th graders in Honors Chamber Choir are permitted to travel. 9th and 10th grade choirs at NAI DO NOT travel.
NACPA:
As you may be aware, we have a group called the North Allegheny Choral Patrons Association (NACPA). The NACPA is an organization primarily made up of parents with children in grades 9-12. The job of a choral patron is to simply assist the director and students with such things as concerts, choral banquets and by acting as chaperones on any trips that we may take during the school year. Our meetings will always take place in the NASH Choral Room and are typically on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Our meetings usually last 1 hour or less. Please see your activities calendar or the events calendar at the end of this email for correct meeting dates. Our officers and chairpersons are also listed at the end of this e-mail along with their telephone numbers, should you need to contact any of them. Because of the constant growth of our choral program, I urge you as parents to join this worthwhile organization and support your child’s musical experiences and education throughout their high school years. If we wish to increase the educational value and quality of singing, not to mention the level of enjoyment on choral trips, parental assistance is necessary. We need the help and support of the parents of the 9th and 10th graders as well as the 11th and 12th grade singers. We encourage all of you to join us. Our next meeting is Tuesday November 29th, 2016 in the NASH Choral Room at 7:00pm. Please plan to attend.
NACPA Meeting Dates: (on non-trip years, the NACPA meets every other month)
· Tuesday, September 13, 2016 7:00 NASH Choral Room.
· Tuesday, November 29, 2016 7:00 NASH Choral Room.
· No meeting in December.
· Tuesday, January 31, 2017 7:00 NASH Choral Room.
· Tuesday, March 28, 2017 7:00 NASH Choral Room.
· Monday, May 15, 2017 7:00 NASH Choral Room.
Mr. Pontiere’s email address is: .
Mrs. Pontiere’s is:
Giant Eagle Gift Card Program:
Mrs. Heather Earle is the chairperson of the Giant Eagle Gift Card Program. You or your child can purchase Giant Eagle gift cards every Wednesday at NAI between 2:20 and 3:00PM outside the cafeteria, or at NASH 6:00-7:00PM in the NASH cafeteria with cash or check. Once you purchase the gift cards, the process is fairly simple. When you do your family grocery shopping, your child will earn 4.5% of your Giant Eagle purchase every time you use the Gift Cards, and that entire amount will go directly into your child’s choral account. Please remember you still keep all the Gas Perks and you can use the Giant Eagle gift cards to buy other cards at Giant Eagle such as Best Buy, Home Depot, etc. Be smart! It’s easy money for your child! I will give more details at the November 29th meeting as well as at open house. You will also be able to purchase Giant Eagle gift cards during every NACPA meeting. Mrs. Earle will email every parent a full explanation of how it works, as well as fully explain this process at the NACPA meeting on November 29th.
PLEASE NOTE: Money earned from the Giant Eagle Gift Cards can ONLY be used for trip costs and the money can only be passed between siblings that are presently in the 9th grade or older. No other money can be transferred student to student. If a student leaves or is dismissed from the choral program, no money is refundable.
*** Choral Program Participation Fee- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY***
As many of you know, 3 years ago the NACPA unanimously voted to end ALL FUNDRAISING (selling products door to door) for choir students in grades 9-12 and replace it with a one-time (per year) $25.00 contribution. Each family (multiple children in the program requires one participation fee payment) is asked to send a check for $25, payable to NACPA. Within the next few days the NACPA will supply a choir participation fee envelope, which will be given to your child in class to take home. Please place your check for $25.00 in that envelope and give it to Mr. or Mrs. Pontiere in class. As discussed and voted upon, this one-time fee will totally take the place of any and all fundraising for all choral students in grades 9-12. With only $25 per family, the NACPA will be able to completely fund its entire operating budget for this school year. Please understand that the Giant Eagle gift cards are still available to help offset the price of the Choral Disney Trip, which is NOT part of the operating budget referred to above.
***We will need the FULL support of EVERY FAMILY with this endeavor to fund our operating expenses for a choral program with almost 400 student members. Your $25.00 check is VITAL to the success of the program.
**So again, please send a one-time check in the envelope provided for $25, payable to NACPA, to school with your child and have them deliver it to Mr. or Mrs. Pontiere during class time. All payments are due on or before October 21, 2016. Parents, please note that this is a choir participation fee and has absolutely NOTHING to do with the school district “Pay to Play” fee. Also note that there is NO District “Pay to Play” fee for any choir student!
Chorus Trip: There is no choir Disney trip scheduled for this school year.
In closing, Mrs. Pontiere and I would like to express how happy we are with all of the choirs and piano accompanists. We want you to know that we are totally devoted to your child’s musical education, well-being and overall safety. If at any time you feel the need to contact one of us, please do not hesitate to do so.
Our phone numbers are:
Mr. Pontiere (724) 934-7295 (Senior High School) Mrs. Pontiere (412) 369-5530 Ext. 2009 (Intermediate High School)
Understand that our doors are always open to you and your children.
Once again, please consider joining the N.A.C.P.A. (choral patrons). We need you!
Hope to see all of you on November 29th at 7:00pm in the NASH Choral Room.
Please Note: If you are in need of any parent information concerning the choir, please go to our website, www.nachoralpa.org.
Musically yours,
Ernest M. Pontiere Lisa A. Pontiere
North Allegheny Senior High Choral Director North Allegheny Intermediate High Choral Direct
Calendar of Events
2016-2017
Please refer to this calendar before planning vacations, college visits, etc.
2016
Sept. 13 – NACPA meeting 7:00pm in NASH Choral Room
Sept. 22 – NASH Open House 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Sept. 29 – Honors Chamber Choir performance, Chadwick, call time 5:30pm (done by 6:10) (MANDATORY for ALL Honors Chamber Choir members)
Oct. 21 – participation fee of $25.00 per family due for all choir students grades 9-12
Nov. 21 – PMEA District I Chorus Auditions, 3:00-9:00pm at NASH.
Nov. 29 – NACPA meeting 7:00pm in NASH Choral Room
Dec. - NO NACPA MEETING IN DECEMBER
Dec. 13 – MANDATORY after-school choral rehearsal, grades 9-12
2:30-4:00pm, at NASH for Winter Concert
Dec. 14 – MANDATORY Winter Chorus Concert, grades 9-12
Call time for all students grades 9-12 6:20pm
2017
Jan. 31 – NACPA meeting 7:00pm NASH Choral Room
Jan. 11, 12, 13 – PMEA District 1 Chorus Festival at Montour HS
Feb. 6 – MANDATORY NA Choral Festival Rehearsal 7:00-7:30pm at NASH auditorium
(Concert Choir and Honors Chamber Choir Members Only)
Feb. 7 – MANDATORY NA Choral Festival Concert NASH auditorium, call time 7:00pm
(Concert Choir and Honors Chamber Choir Members Only)
Feb. 22, 23, 24 – PMEA Region/State Chorus Festival at Gateway H.S.
Feb. 24 – NACPA meeting 7:00pm NASH Choral Room
Mar. 19 – MANDATORY NASH Major Works Concert 2:00-3:00pm (NASH Concert Choir members only)
Mar. 28 - NACPA meeting 7:00pm NASH Choral Room
April 5, 6, 7, 8 – PMEA All East Festival – Atlantic City, NJ
April 19, 20, 21, 22 – PMEA All State Music Festival – Erie, PA