Attendance & Home Practice
| General Handbook Index |

| Absences Procedures | Excused Absences | Unexcused Absences | College Visitations | Tardy Policy | Extra Rehearsal Absences | Home Practice |

 

Attendance Policy for Performances and Extra Rehearsals

By virtue of membership in the Farwell Area Bands, you have placed upon yourself an obligation not only to yourself, but to the entire organization. Because it is our desire to achieve the finest possible results, attendance at all rehearsals and performances by every band member is mandatory. It would be unrealistic, however, to assume that absences due to illness, death in the family, and other valid reasons do not occur. With this thought in mind, the following policy has been instituted to explain and define the absence policy of the instrumental music department. These regulations have been designed to maintain the excellence of the Farwell Area Bands, and will help to ensure that membership in this group continues to be a worthwhile and educationally rewarding experience for all. Furthermore, it is assumed that any student who becomes a member of the Farwell Area Bands recognizes his/her responsibility to fellow students of the organization and wishes to contribute his/her best effort at all times.

 

Procedures Regarding Absences

1. A note (written notification) from parent or guardian with the student's name, reason for the absence, date of the absence, phone number, and signature must be submitted for each absence to the Director of the organization.

2. All advance absence requests require the note to be turned in to the Director TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE.

3. If a student misses a rehearsal or performance due to an emergency, the student should turn in a note of explanation immediately upon his/her return.

< To Top

Excused Absences From Performances

1. Personal illness -advance notice appreciated.

2. Death in family.

3. Vacations WITH PARENTS.

4. Direct conflicts with other school activities involving participation (not observation) will be resolved in a manner satisfactory to both coaches involved (Sports and Band or whatever other organization is involved).

< To Top

Unexcused Absences From Performances

1. Any excuse not listed above. This includes miscellaneous excuses that have not been approved by the Director.

  1. WORK IS NOT CONSIDERED AN EXCUSED ABSENCE -your first obligation is to your school and its activities. Employers should be notified well in advance of your obligations to both family and school, and in nearly all cases will be very understanding. Provide them with a copy of your schedule to assist them in scheduling your hours (we keep extra copies of the Music Department Calendar for just this purpose). If you would like the Director to contact your employer and explain the necessity of your attendance at a rehearsal/ performance, this will gladly be done upon your request.
  2. Observation of other school activities is not considered an excused absence.
  3. Vacations WITHOUT PARENTS or without giving two weeks notice.
  4. Any excuses listed above for which the student has not given 2 weeks advance notice (written notification).
  5. Failure to participate in a performance without being excused may result in the loss of certain privileges of being a Farwell Area Band member, as well as loss of credit for the graded activity.
  6. Failure to participate in the entire performance constitutes as an unexcused absence also.
  7. The performance, when planned, organized, and evaluated as a culminating activity in a learning experience becomes a legitimate part of the music curriculum. The performance for the band is akin to the final exam in a class such as English, and will be treated as such. Failure to participate in a performance without being excused will severely affect the student's final grade for that marking period. just as failure to take a final exam in the English class would affect the grade for that course.

< To Top

Senior College Visitations

It is realized that choosing a college to attend is a very important decision, requiring much thought and investigation. However, we ask that seniors please do not plan college visitations when they know they will encounter a conflict with an band performance. As senior,-,, you are an extremely valued and experienced member of our band, and we can't afford to not have you at a performance. With a little prior planning, you will be able to satisfy your obligations to the band while still being able to obtain all the information you need to make the proper choice of what college to attend.

< To Top

Class Cut and Tardy Policy

1. The student will be considered TARDY for class if he/she is not in his/her seat by the designated beginning of rehearsal. Being tardy to a rehearsal represents non -participation in part of that rehearsal. This will effect the student's participation grade for that rehearsal.

2. Class cuts will not be tolerated. Students who do cut class will fall under the school's code of student conduct.

 

Absences From Extra Rehearsals

  1. An extra rehearsal is a rehearsal held outside of the normal school day. Example: Before or after school, afternoons, evenings or weekends.
    1. This could involve the full ensemble or only a part of the ensemble.
    2. Sectional rehearsal; only a part or portion of the ensemble is rehearsing,
  2. All regulation-, are the same as those for absences from performances with the following exceptions
    1. Because less advance notice is given to band members for extra rehearsals, only four days written notice is required.
    2. Dress rehearsals for major events are mandatory, with the exceptions of death in the family and personal illness requiring a doctor's care.
    3. An unexcused absence from an extra rehearsal may result in the loss of certain privileges of being a Farwell High School Band member.
    4. As Band is a laboratory course with much of the work being done during rehearsal time, the rehearsals are an important part of the class requirements. Failure to participate in a rehearsal without being excused will affect the student's final grade for that marking period. In the same regard, being tardy to a rehearsal represents non-participation in part of that rehearsal. This will effect the student's participation grade for that rehearsal.

    < To Top

    Home Practice

    The directors will always strive to give as much individual attention to each student, but time constraints, and the size of a band program, the directors do not reach each individual as often as needed. The success of every outstanding band program depends on the quality of the players as well as the determination of the band students to give that extra effort. Top school band programs across the state typically have large numbers of the students studying privately. Excellent private teachers take the student to the next level, many times teaching finer points that will never be covered in a class setting. Contact your director for help locating a private teacher.

     

    < Back to Handbook
    < To Top

     

Band Welcome Page | General Handbook | High School Handbook | Beginning Bands Handbook