2. UIL RESULTS

1. TRIP REMINDERS:  our trip to New York is this Friday!!!  We know the students are excited, and are ready to have a great time in NYC!  A few reminders as we approach our departure.

BALANCE:  all balances must be paid in full BEFORE Friday.  Charms has been updated to reflect all payments turned in through the end of last week.  Please check to make sure your account reflects a balance of $0.

FORMS:  please check Charms to makes sure that we have your Trip Handbook Acknowledgement, as well as all other required Orchestra forms.

BAG CHECK:  a reminder that as per AISD policy, all bags must be searched and secured prior to the trip.  Students MUST bring their bags, fully packed, to the Orchestra Hall on Thursday, March 10.  We will begin accepting bags at 5 pm, and all bags MUST be brought in by 6:30 pm.  Students who do not bring their bags by this time will not be able to go on the trip.

DEPARTURE:  student call time Friday, March 11, is 4 am in the AHS Orchestra Hall.  Students must be one time.  Any student who is late risks missing the group, and will not be able to go on the trip.

2. UIL RESULTS:  last week, the AHS Orchestra participated in the UIL Region 5 Concert & Sightreading Evaluation at the Mansfield PAC.  All of the students did a wonderful job, representing the AHS Orchestra well through excellent behavior and performance.  Students performed for very tough judging panels both on stage and in sightreading, and earned strong praise from the judges.  Symphony earned a Superior, the highest rating possible, for both their stage and sightreading performances, continuing a 35 year tradition of Sweepstakes!  Philharmonic and Sinfonia Orchestras also earned Sweepstakes for their performances, demonstrating exceptional skill.  Philharmonia earned an Excellent for their stage performance and a Superior for their sightreading performance, demonstrating great progress throughout the year.  Chaccone and Concert earned a Good on stage, and an Excellent for sightreading, also demonstrating their great progress this year.  All of the students should be incredibly proud of a strong showing at this year’s UIL evaluation!

Please let us know if you have any questions, and thank you for your continued support of the AHS Orchestra!

1. PASSOFF EXTENSION

2. PRE-UIL WEDNESDAY

3. UIL

5. TRIP BALANCE

6. CHAPERONE & ROOM ASSGINMENTS POSTED

1. PASSOFF EXTENSION:  students still needing to complete any of the 4th six weeks passoffs may come in Monday after school.  The deadline to enter grades is 5 pm, so we will be listening until 4:30 pm to allow time for finalizing grades before the deadline.

2. PRE-UIL WEDNESDAY:  all groups except Symphony have Pre-UIL this Wednesday, February 24, at AHS.  Students have been given details regarding the call time for their class (posted on Charms).  Students must be in uniform, in Gym B, with everything needed for Pre-UIL, by their call time.  Parents are invited to attend these performances, and should see the information given to students for specific performance times.

3. UIL:  all groups will have UIL on March 2 and 3, at the Mansfield PAC.  Symphony will go to UIL on March 2, and all other groups will go on March 3.  Exact times will be sent home this week.  Groups will mostly go during the school day, with some times extending beyond the end of the school day.

4. FORMS & FEES:  all students should check Charms to make sure all required forms and fees are turned in.  Forms and fees not turned in could prevent students from participating in UIL and/or the spring trip.  Please let us know if you have any questions regarding forms or fees shown as not turned in.

5. TRIP BALANCE:  any students going on the spring trip should check Charms to make sure their balance is no more than $350.  The final trip payment is due the week of March 2.

6. CHAPERONE & ROOM ASSIGNMENTS POSTED:  chaperone and room assignments are now posted on Charms.  We appreciate your patience as we have worked to finalize the chaperone assignments.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and thank you for your continued support of the AHS Orchestra!!!

2. PASSOFF UPDATE

3. PRACTICE THIS WEEK

4. PRE-UIL & UIL

5. ELIGIBILITY REMINDER

1. TRIP MEETING REMINDER:  a reminder that our trip meeting is next Tuesday, February 16, at 7 pm in the AHS Auditorium.  ALL students going on the trip must attend, with a parent.  We look forward to seeing you there!

2. PASSOFF UPDATE:  a reminder to students that all Passoffs must be complete by the end of the six weeks, which is Friday, February 19.  Since the directors will be out the rest of this week, we are removing Passoff 4.4.  Students are responsible for Passoffs 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3.

In addition to continuing Passoffs during class and Plus Periods next week, the directors will also be available after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week.  Don’t wait until the last minute!!!

3. PRACTICE THIS WEEK:  as was discussed with students over the past two days, this week is a critical time for individual practice.  We appreciate any help parents can give encouraging students to choose to practice over the next week so that all groups are prepared for our upcoming Pre-UIL and UIL performances.  The current practice journal is due next week.  Take advantage of your extra credit opportunity!

4. PRE-UIL & UIL:  students have received detailed information about Pre-UIL, and should be making arrangements for their group’s call times.  A reminder that Symphony Pre-UIL is next week, on Thursday, February 18.  See the details given to students (also posted on Charms) for exact information.  We have just received times for UIL, and will be sending home details next week.

5. ELIGIBILITY REMINDER:  a reminder that students MUST be academically eligible (passing all of their classes) at the end of the current six weeks to participate in both UIL and the trip.  The six weeks ends a week from Friday, February 19.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  The directors will be out of the office for the remainder of this week, and will respond upon our return next week.  Thank you for your continued support of the AHS Orchestra!!!