Newsletter #12

Orchestra Newsletter #12 - 11/20/08
Thank you for reading this newsletter online!!
In this newsletter:

1) Monday parent meeting
2) Suggested Boston payment schedule
3) Dec 12 Portland Zoo Trip commitment forms and payment due
4) Baked Goods sale tomorrow and Tuesday (11/21 and 11/25)
5) Communication about absences - IMPORTANT!!
6) Oregon Symphony in Salem Tuesday night
7) Next week's schedule
8) Save the date - next concert Dec. 16, 7pm

1) There is an orchestra parent booster club meeting in the orchestra room MONDAY NOVEMBER 24 AT 6:30pm - please come. On the agenda: Scholarship and instrument purchase allocation, Waltz night fundraiser, booster revenue. Anything you'd like to put on the agenda? Please contact orch booster president Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net

2) Here's the suggested payment schedule for the Boston trip people (those who qualify for free or reduced lunch should contact the Lowens ASAP to discuss scholarship and adapted payment schedule: lowen.4@gmail.com

Trip expense - $1075

$75 Deposit - already received

Dec. 1 - $300 payment
Dec. 18 - $200 payment
Jan. 9 - $200 payment
Balance due January 23

Fundraising opportunities (muffins and Waltz Night) will hopefully render at least a $50 reduction off the top of the whole amount for everyone. Individuals will have money in their student accounts as a result of EBooks, Wreaths and Pointsettias, chamber music, and fruit sales. This amount will be revealed just before the Jan. 26 deadline so that you can know your balance.

Those who have decided to now not go on the trip but who have put in a deposit NEED TO HAVE A PARENT CONTACT THE LOWENS (lowen.4@gmail.com) to have a refund issued. After Dec. 19 you cannot receive the entire amount back.

3) Period 6 Orchestra and ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT GOING ON THE BOSTON TRIP are eligible to go on the Zoo Lights trip December 12. Ms. Silberman has handed out commitment forms to all in period 6 - STUDENT AND PARENT signatures are needed on this form - return the form ASAP to Ms. Silberman. There are provisions for delayed payment ($60) - see the form. WE NEED CHAPERONES FOR THIS TRIP - interested? Contact Ms. Silberman (or see the commitment form). Those not going on the Boston trip will have the option of letting Ms. Silberman know they're interested in going - they'll receive a commitment form Monday.

4) There's a Baked Goods Sale benefitting those going on the Boston Trip tomorrow (Friday Nov. 21) and Tuesday (No. 25). Those who donate (who are going on the Boston Trip) and those who work will divvy up the proceeds. Those who are not going on the Boston Trip - you're welcome to donate baked items (purchased at a store, NOT HOME BAKED) to help those who are fundraising to go on the trip. Q's? Ask Ms. S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

5) Orchestra is a wonderful and dynamic group to be a part of - this is due in no small part that everyone in the room is valuable and necessary, both because of the team-like nature of being in a section and in an orchestra. When students miss a day of class they miss valuable rehearsal time where they learn how their part works into a section and into the orchestra as a whole, and they miss valuable markings, announcements and often they miss materials that are handed out. It's totally understandable that things come up (sickness, emergency appointments, etc...) but I would deeply appreciate it if students and/or parents got into the habit of touching base with me so I know if students are sick, etc. A simple email will help me know that a students cares enough to want to know what they missed. I would be happy to let them know what they missed - and would even take the time to fill them via email on what they can do to better prepare themselves before returning to class. Please consider communicating with me more so that we start treating orchestra like the team it is. I check email very frequently: silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us

6) Oregon Symphony in Salem is this next Tuesday, Nov. 25. Students can get $5 tickets at the door. Here's more info from the Symphony:

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor *Jennifer Koh, violin
Beethoven: Overture to Egmont Stravinsky: Symphony in C *Brahms: Violin Concerto
in D Major
Musicians from the Salem Youth Symphony will be entertaining the audience with music in the gallery prior to the concert and during intermission. Student tickets are available for $5.00 with valid student ID at the box office on the night of the concert.

7) Next week is a 2 day week (even day Monday, odd day Tuesday). Here's the schedule:
Tuesday - Advanced Symphony 2nd violins 3:45pm
Tuesday - Advanced Symphony 4:30 - 6:15pm (Yes, it is a symphony day!!!)

8) The next concert is Tuesday Dec. 16, 7pm... SAVE THE DATE!!

Happy pre-holiday shopping weekend!!
~Ms. S