TWHS Orchestra News Letter
September 2020
Are you ready to RAMP UP?
Ramp Up Week Information
Please see the picture below for the specific schedule of when to come by LAST NAME.
- 9th grade Philharmonic students with last names that start with A-C or K-Q will need to be at the SENIOR CAMPUS (6101 Research Forest Drive) by 7:20 AM on your assigned day (Monday or Wednesday)
- VIRTUAL STUDENTS who are choosing to do orchestra IN PERSON are welcome to attend class this week on your designated day. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND SCHOOL ALL DAY, JUST YOUR ORCHESTRA CLASS. If your designated day falls outside of when your orchestra class would happen, we will see you next week.
- ALL VIRTUAL STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING IN FOR CLASS MUST CHECK IN AT THE FRONT OFFICE. ALSO IF YOU DID NOT REGISTER FOR A PARKING SPOT, YOU MUST GET DROPPED OFF AND PICKED UP, AS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARK ON CAMPUS
- Shuttles will run every period for 9th graders.
WHAT TO BRING TO SCHOOL
REQUIRED/HIGHLY SUGGESTED
- Any supplies specified by your teacher
- PEN, PENCIL, and PAPER
- A Folder
- Your Instrument (VIolins and Violas)
- ROSIN (ALL PLAYERS ALL INSTRUMENTS- We can NOT share this year)
- Black Orchestra Binder with YOUR PURPLE SOUND INNOVATIONS METHOD BOOK
- A Device to do Online Work- Many Teachers will give you time to do online assignments
OPTIONAL
- Water Bottle- ALL WATER FOUNTAINS ARE TURNED OFF AND COVERED UP
- Music Stand- If you do not want to use a school one that may be used by others
- Personal Cello or Bass - If you do not want to use a school one that may be used by others
TWHS Orchestra COVIS-19 PROCEDURES
Masks and Distancing: ALL Students MUST wear a mask in the Orchestra Room at ALL
times. Students should maintain as much distance as possible while in the room. Students should not clump together, and should stay in their assigned spot at all times, and refrain from wandering around the room.
Instrument Lockers: Instrument Lockers will be shared by 2 students who have class on
different days (i.e. shared between 1 Red Day and 1 Green Day Student). ALL LOCKERS
MUST BE EMPTIED AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOTHING CAN BE LEFT OVERNIGHT!
All lockers will be sanitized nightly and must be empty to undergo the cleaning process. Students should only store their orchestra materials in their orchestra locker this year. Students will only have access to orchestra lockers during their class, and before/after school.
Instrument Use: Students are only to use their personal instrument, or the school owned
instrument that has been assigned to them. Violin and Viola Students MUST provide their own
instrument and will not be allowed to borrow another student’s instrument. Cello and Bass
Players can choose to bring their instruments back and forth with them, or pay the $75 district
maintenance fee and be assigned a school owned instrument to use in class. School owned
Instruments will be sanitized by the students using them at the end of every class.
Music and Music Stands: To help facilitate distancing in the classroom, no students will be
allowed to share music or music stands. School owned music stands will be sanitized by the
students using them at the end of every class. Students are invited and encouraged to bring their own personal music stand back and forth to class.
Entering the Classroom: In order to help with distancing, violin and bass players will enter the
orchestra room using the exterior door, the one from the u-drive, and access their
lockers/instruments from that side of the room. Cello and Viola Players will enter the room using the main doors and stay on the interior side of the orchestra room. If it is raining, Violin and Bass students will enter the room using the Blackbox door. Upon entering all students must use hand
sanitizer.
Access to the Orchestra Room: ONLY CURRENTLY ENROLLED ORCHESTRA STUDETNS WILL BE ADMITED TO THE ORCHESTRA ROOM THIS YEAR. Also in order to help facilitate distancing, students can only hang out in the orchestra room when they are waiting for their specific class to start. Students that need to drop off or pick up instruments before/after school should do that and then immediately exit the orchestra room. Please do not congregate in the room before or after school, do so outside. All doors will be propped open in order to help with airflow, and to avoid having people touch door handles.
Chairs: Only cellists will be allowed to use a chair during class in order to facilitate distancing.
If a non-cellist student has a medical need for a chair, one will be provided.
Food and Drink: NO food or drink will be allowed in the orchestra room this year. The only
exception is for students that have a medical need.
Student Travel and Classroom Visitors: All student travel and classroom visitors are
suspended at this time. All Region and All-State Auditions will happen remotely via an online
platform.
Orchestra Fees
Password: student id #
TWHS Orchestra Required Uniform Shirt and Spirit Items on Sale
You can have the items shipped directly to your house, or you can select to pick it up in the orchestra room. We expect to have these items in around the 1st of October.
2020-2021 Concert Schedule
CONCERTS DURING THE FALL WILL BE HAPPENING VIRTUALLY, AND DATES ARE STILL IN FLUX. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO INPERSON CONCERTS IN DEC/ THE SPRING
Fall Semester 2020
- Sep- Oct Virtual Performances
- Nov- Electrify your Strings Virtual Concert with Mark Wood
- Dec 5th 7 PM Holiday Mosaic Concert
- Dec 12th 7 PM Trans-Siberian Tribute Concert
Spring Semester 2020
- Jan 26th 6:30 PM Solo and Ensemble Recital
- Mar 27th 6:30 PM Spring Classics Concert with McC JH
- May 1th 7 PM Night at the Movies Concert
CHARMS Update
To Log into Charms, please click the button below. Then click log in.
Our School Code is: woodlandsorch, and the password is what you have set it to be.
PLease email Mr. Michaelson with any issues you have accessing CHARMS.
Join Our Remind and Stay Informed
Senior Campus Parents: twhsorchp
9th Grade Parents: orc9parent
Chamber Orchestra: 01chamber
Concert Orchestra: 02concert
Symphony Orchestra: 03Symphony
Camerata Orchestra: 04camerata
Philharmonic Orchestra: 05phil
19-20 Hand Book
Message from the Booster Club
Dear Orchestra Parents,
On behalf of the TWHS Booster Club, we hope that everyone is well and safe. The Booster Club would like to welcome all new and returning orchestra members and we look forward to the 2020-2021 school year. Although this is an unprecedented, unique school year, be assured that Mr. Michaelson, and Mrs. Gordon are dedicated to each and every orchestra student.They are tirelessly planning and preparing to give each student the best orchestral education, whether in person or online, while always keeping your student’s health the top priority.
This school year will bring many challenges, and now more than ever we will need parent support. Rehearsals and concerts will be different and challenging. Your support will give your student the best music education experience.
At the moment we might not need immediate “hands-on” help, but there is still much needed help in fundraising, donations and sponsorship. I assure you we will have other volunteer opportunities available as the school year begins and is underway.
Immediately we are in need of a TWHS Treasurer and President. Please consider volunteering if any of these positions interest you and if you need more information and description of duties, please contact Mr. Michaelson.
As part of your child’s activity fee, you are automatically a member of the booster club. That fee does not cover most of the items needed to make your child’s year in orchestra successful. Items such as sheet music, extra strings, bows, music supplies, etc, are items that can only be purchased with your help. Donations will also help fund senior scholarships. Your generosity counts.
As we proceed through 20/21’s unchartered territory, please consider donating, fundraising and/or volunteering. We are still offering patron levels of donation. This will help with much needed additional funding. Your name (or business name) will be listed on our social media sites and concert programs. If you know of a business that might be interested in sponsorship, please contact us. We are a 501c3 organization and donations are tax deductible.
We’re all in this together and with all our efforts, we can make this a great school year.
Sincerely,
TWHS Booster Club
Arleen Failde- Special Events Coordinator & Acting President
TWHS Orchestra Directors
Aaron Michaelson- TWHS Orchestra Director
Email: amichaelson@conroeisd.net
Website: twhsorchestra.org
Location: 6101 Research Forest Drive, Spring, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-1332
Lea Gordon- Assistant Director
Email: lkgordon@conroeisd.net
Website: twhsorchestra.org
Location: 6101 Research Forest Drive, Spring, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-1331