Enloe High School Orchestra Attendance Policy for Concerts and Rehearsals Outside of the School Day An orchestra performs at optimum with all members present. Absences affect the morale of the entire orchestra (including the director). Therefore, all students are required to participate in ALL after school rehearsals and performances (unless excused by director using one of the policies below). Class attendance rules are covered under school policy. Good communication between teacher, student and parents can prevent misunderstandings. Please read the following policies and contact the orchestra director if you have any questions:
1. Written notices from parents are required for ALL absences. Verbal or written excuses from students are not accepted. Notes should be submitted directly to Ms. Ju within three days of the date of distribution listed on the concert calendar included in this handbook, or on the notification given in class to the student of a date change, after school rehearsal, or added performance. 2. Students must be present for the entire performance. Each orchestra deserves a full audience. 3. Advance notice is required for all prior commitments. A prior commitment is defined as a date already committed to another event when the schedule is announced. A notice of such a commitment should be sent to the director within THREE school days after the scheduled concert date or rehearsal date is announced. 4. Religious holidays or conflicts with individual religious beliefs are excused if the director is notified in writing by a parent within three days of the date of distribution listed on the concert or rehearsal calendar. 5. In case of illness or family emergency, the parents should send a written notice to the Orchestra Director as soon as they are aware that such a situation exists. If it is an emergency situation, e.g. something that occurs 30 minutes before the scheduled orchestra event is to begin, it may not be possible to get in touch with anyone. Thus, please follow up with a written note as soon as possible after the fact. This is the ONLY category where notice of absence will be accepted the same day, or after, the event.
All of the above are examples that will be excused concert absences and can be made up. Although actual make-up for a missed concert is, in practice, impossible – we cannot recreate the performance opportunity or offer the same listening experience. However, the student can complete the assignment below in order to receive some credit for an absence from a missed performance:
Play their assigned instrumental part of the concert music for Ms. Ju for evaluation. The student must play every piece (in its entirety) that his /her orchestra performed on the concert.
It is the responsibility of the student to communicate with the teacher about the alternate assignment. The student will have 2 class periods to complete the alternate assignment.