Dear
2018 Aviators and Aviators Parents/Guardians,
Welcome
back! We are expecting another great
year with the chorus! In the following
pages you will find an outline of the practices and operational procedures for
the Atchison Aviators! You are expected
to read and fully understand this manual, as it will answer most of your
questions throughout the year.
Please
take the manual home, review the booklet with your child and sign the
acknowledgment form on the back of the book. Return the signed acknowledgment form by NOVEMBER 24th to
Mr. Weaver.
If
you have any questions, please contact:
School
Phone Number: 913-367-1161
We
are looking forward to another great year.
Through hard work and dedication from everyone, we will have nothing but
success!
Sincerely,
Mr.
Weaver Mrs. Dolenz Mrs.
Liggett and Mrs. Drury
Atchison
Aviator Director Atchison Aviators
Accompanist Atchison Aviators Parent
Liaisons
The
following A.E.S. administrators have approved this handbook:
Mr.
Kent Michel
Intermediate Principal
Mrs.
Heather Renk
Primary Principal
“Nothing great
has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our History
The Atchison Aviators began on January 6th, 2004,
under the direction of Mr. Bradley Weaver, director, and Mrs. Marilyn Albright,
accompanist. Mrs. Mary Liggett begins
her ninth year as our Membership and Parent Liaison. Mrs. Kay Dolenz begins her
seventh year as our accompanist. Mrs.
Amanda Drury begins her second year as a Membership and Parent Liaison.
The Atchison Aviators continue a long tradition of musical groups
that had been a part of U.S.D. 409, such as the former Atchison Singers. The fourth and fifth grade chorus is a
non-auditioned musical performance group selected on meeting high standards in
regards to academic achievement and classroom behavior.
Besides our school performances for our families and
friends, the chorus has sung at many community events over the past few years. Some highlights include, in alphabetical
order:
·
Atchison High School Boys Varsity Basketball
Game Performance: 2006
·
Atchison High School Girls Varsity Basketball
Game Performance: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015,
2016, 2017
·
Benedictine College Women’s Basketball National
Anthem Performance: 2009, 2010, 2011,
2012, 2013
·
Discovery Fair Performance At Benedictine
College In Atchison, Kansas: 2004
·
Heart Of America Women’s Basketball Conference
Championship National Anthem Performance:
2008
·
FC Kansas City Major League Women’s National
Anthem Performance In Shawnee Mission, Kansas:
2013
·
International Forest Of Friendship Ceremony
Performance In Atchison, Kansas: 2007
·
Kansas City Royals National Anthem Performance In
Kansas City, Missouri: 2006
·
Kansas City T-Bones National Anthem Performance
In Kansas City, Kansas: 2005, 2007,
2008, 2009, 2009, 2010, 2011
·
Lewis And Clark Opening Ceremony At Riverfront
Park In Atchison, Kansas: 2006
·
Martin Luther King Celebration Performance In
Atchison, Kansas: 2010, 2011, 2012,
2013, 2015
·
Missouri Western State University Women’s
Basketball Performance In St. Joseph, Missouri:
2014, 2016
·
Read and Sing to Your Bunny Literacy Project
Bunny Hop Performance In Atchison, Kansas:
2014
·
Sporting KC Major League Soccer National Anthem
Performance In Kansas City, Kansas: 2012
·
Topeka Symphony’s Free School Day Concert
Attendance: 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
·
University Of Kansas Women’s Basketball National
Anthem Performance In Allen Fieldhouse In Lawrence, Kansas: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017
·
University of Missouri-Kansas City Men’s
Basketball In Municipal Auditorium In Kansas City, Missouri: 2017
·
U.S.P.S. First Day Issue Lewis And Clark Stamp
Ceremony Performance: 2004
·
Welcome Back Ceremony For Battery B, 2nd
Battalion, 130th Field Artillery:
2005
We are
celebrating our Fourteenth year of the Atchison Aviators. We have had 782
Atchison Aviators sing with us in the past thirteen years and have grown from a
membership of 24 in 2004 to 72 strong in 2017!
It is our hope and aim that 2018 is our best year yet!
An Important Note:
Membership Requirements
In order to be a member of the
Atchison Aviators, the student must be in good standing academically. This requires each member to have a “2” in
each academic class at A.E.S.
Each member of the Atchison
Aviators must demonstrate positive relationships at A.E.S. If a student receives an I.S.S. during our
performance season (January – May 2018), he/she will be dismissed from the
chorus.
In addition, we expect our members
to have excellent bus behavior. If there
are issues regarding their behavior on the bus, based upon administrative
decisions this could lead to their dismissal.
Please encourage your child to do his or her best at all times.
All monies received for activity
fees, etc. will be non-refunded due to the student’s neglect in meeting the
above membership requirements.
The Expectations
The Three R’s
The Three R’s have been
approved by the U.S.D. 409 Music Department.
1. RESPECT…That is the
single most important rule to remember. You are the musical representatives for
your school, and all it takes is one
person involved in one incident
to give the whole group a bad name.
Don’t be that person. In every
situation, during every event in your life, you should ask yourself these
questions:
Ø Am
I respecting myself?
Ø Am
I respecting everyone else?
Ø Am
I respecting the property around me?
2. RESPONSIBILITY… You will
be given certain responsibilities: trips, music, instruments, etc. Do not abuse
your privileges.
3. Positive
RESULTS… By respecting each other, along with
personal responsibility, we will get positive results.
Discipline Policy
We have a strong tradition of
excellent behavior and attendance in our chorus. However, if students do not follow the rules,
there will be consequences for their actions.
If there is misconduct
during any performance/rehearsal, this could possibly result in expulsion from
chorus.
Discipline
will be dealt with on an individual basis.
***For
more information refer to the discipline policy in the A.E.S. student
handbook***
Rehearsal Preparation
Rehearsal starts promptly at 3:30 p.m. Children must be ready to sing at this time. If a
child is not ready to sing, they will be asked to stay after rehearsal briefly
to discuss the problem with Mr. Weaver, Mrs. Dolenz, Mrs. Drury, or Mrs.
Liggett. If there is a pattern of
consistent lateness, this could result in disciplinary action.
Rehearsal Dismissal
The
Atchison Aviators begin rehearsal at 3:30 and end at 4:30 p.m. Please be prompt in picking up your
children. We are unable to make
long distance phone calls from the AES Music room after school so please plan
according.
It is very important that your child is picked up at 4:30
p.m. Due to District policy, Atchison
Aviators staff, including administration, cannot transport children home after
rehearsals. Abuse of this policy could lead to possible dismissal from
the group.
If before 4 p.m., you can call the school and one of our
secretaries will contact us. If you need
to reach us after 4 p.m., please call (913) 367-1161 and use extension 805 to
leave a message on voicemail. After 4
p.m., we are unable to receive direct phone messages. You may also send us an email at bweaver@usd409.net
Per our administrator, Mr. Michel, our dismissal protocol is listed
below:
Aviator Choir Dismissal Protocol
4:30 Students at AES primary back door dismissed, parents wait
outside the door. In case of inclement
weather, we will do a car loop, with Aviator staff dismissing students in order
of cars. Students are required to check
out with Aviator staff prior to leaving the building.
4:40 Students will be asked to call home (No long distance calls
possible, please plan accordingly)
4:50 If a
parent/guardian cannot be contacted, Atchison Police will be called for the child
in need.
*1st Time:
Warning
*2nd Time:
Dismissed from Choir
All
students need to leave with their parents, if possible. If your child needs to leave with someone
else, please provide written notice with contact information, to Mrs. Liggett, mliggett@usd409.net, Mrs. Drury, amanda.drury@usd409.net or Mr.
Weaver, bweaver@usd409.net, prior to the beginning of rehearsal.
Rehearsal
Dates
January 9, 16, 23, 30
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 6, 13, 27
April 3, 10, 17, 24 (Last Aviator Rehearsal at Atchison Middle School)
Current Performance Dates
April 26 – Atchison Aviators Celebration at Atchison Middle School (6:30
p.m.)
Possible performances at a variety of different locations to be
announced later
Attendance Policy
Rehearsal and Performance Attendance
All rehearsals and concerts are mandatory. Absences will only
be excused in case of serious illness of the student or a family emergency.
If your child has more than THREE absences, it could result in
dismissal from the chorus. This is
an administrative procedure and does allow for some flexibility on our part for
the unforeseen happenings of life.
Individual Practice
You will have homework…
PRACTICE! The chorus is only as strong as it's weakest singer. Every child
should strive to do his or her personal best. A minimum of 1 hour of practice
per week is expected. It will show during rehearsals and performances if you
have not been putting in enough time on your music.
Performance Procedures
Any
child that leaves the performance/rehearsal before the director has dismissed
them will receive an unexcused absence for that performance, resulting in a
possible disciplinary action including up to dismissal from the chorus.
Safety is our greatest priority for our chorus members!
Rehearsal
Procedures
Rehearsals – Due to the large number of children in the Atchison
Aviators, all children need to practice self-discipline and respect. Unless given permission to talk or sing by
the director, all children are to remain quiet. When the director is
conducting, children are to sit quietly and await instruction. Talking will not be allowed during this time.
It is recommended that the child use this time to review his or her own parts
in the music. When children come in at
the beginning of rehearsal, they will be given their music folders.
Sectionals – A sectional is a rehearsal called by the
director. The chorus will be divided
into two sections. You will work with
your section only during these rehearsal times.
Sectionals are used to improve the overall quality of the section.
Memory, dynamics, pitch, etc., should be the goals of your sectionals. These
rehearsals, if handled properly, can do a lot toward building section unity,
both socially and musically.
Trips
At
times, the Aviators will be taking out of town trips. These are performances
that are mandatory and all students are required to travel on USD 409
transportation. All children will be required to stay with the group and may
only leave the group with the permission of the director.
If
an Aviator would like to ride home
with a parent/guardian, or a parent/guardian designee, the director must
receive a written note at least one
day before the event.
Children are only allowed to ride
home with their own parents/guardians, or a parent/guardian designee. No notes
will be accepted the day of the event. No exceptions.
While
on the bus, all children must follow the rules set forth by the transportation
department. If you do not follow these rules, you will be subject to the
discipline policy of the transportation department and this could lead to
dismissal from the chorus.
Before
all out of town trips, all children will receive an itinerary of that day’s
events which will include the following: bus departures, arrival time, eating
time with location, performance time, and estimated time of arrival home.
Please share this information with your parents.
Remember that you are representing
Atchison Elementary School; any misconduct could result in dismissal from the
chorus.
Concert
Attire Procedure
The mandatory
concert attire will be the Atchison
Aviator branded white performance polo shirt and black pants/slacks. I always
recommend that your polo shirts be purchased at least one size larger to
provide opportunity for growth. We will
order the size of shirt that you list.
If your child remains in Atchison Aviators in Fifth Grade, they do not
have to purchase a new shirt unless it is in disrepair or needed due to growth.
It is also expected that you wear black shoes with black
socks/stockings. It is mandatory that
you wear your concert attire for EVERY
Atchison Aviators concert/performance.
Atchison Aviators concert attire is not to be worn at school unless so directed by the
director. This is to prevent unnecessary
soiling of shirts and to show unity within the chorus. There will be scheduled days in the school
year that the children will get to show their Aviator pride!
“The difference
between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of
knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”
Vincent T. Lombardi
Aviators Parents Association
(A.P.A.)
The Aviators Parents Association
(A.P.A.) is a group composed of parents of Aviator members who want to be
active in their child’s Aviators music career. Children gain a sense of pride
when they see parents involved in any school activity.
The A.P.A. contributes greatly to
the following things:
·
Video and Pictures
·
Chaperones
·
Spring Concert Reception
·
Informational Liaisons with Aviator Parents
·
Organization
The A.P.A. will meet as needed on the first Tuesday of each month at
4:30 p.m. in the A.E.S. music room.
The first A.P.A. meeting is January 9th
at 4:30 p.m. in the A.E.S. music room!
Atchison
Wings Website, Email Blasts, &Text Service
Please visit our Atchison
Aviators website for our performance calendar and other important information
regarding our elementary music department.
Our website address is:
We also often send our families
email blasts of all current information regarding the Atchison Wings. Please list your home email address on the
attached student/parent contract sheet and we will add you to our list!
Probably the quickest and most efficient way to be “in the know” is to sign
up for our Atchison Aviators text messaging service!!!
You may sign up for this amazing
resource by following the below directions :
A)
If you have
a smartphone, get push notifications.
Open your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the
following link: rmd.at/4aviators
Follow the instructions to sign
up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to
download the mobile app.
B) If
you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications.
Text the message @4aviators to
the number 81010.
If your having trouble with
81010, try texting @4aviators to (913) 225-7739.
*Standard
text message rates may apply.
The Atchison Aviators
Parental Permission Form
This year we
will have a wonderful opportunity for our 4th
– 5th grade students, the
Atchison Aviators children’s chorus! Beginning on January 9th, the Atchison Aviators will meet in
the AES Music room on Tuesday afternoons, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. The overall
focus for our chorus will be vocal music development and community service.
We will have
several performances at school and in the community. The Atchison Aviators community celebration is
on April 26th, at 6:30 p.m. at Atchison Middle School. We also will I am hopeful that more
performances will be scheduled as the school year progresses.
This is the
fifteenth year for the Atchison Aviators, our 4th and 5th
grade chorus. We have gained a very
strong reputation throughout the greater Atchison area and beyond. We have performed at the University of Kansas
Women’s basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas, MLS Sporting KC in Kansas City,
Kansas, the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Missouri, Missouri Western State
University, Benedictine College, the Kansas City T-Bones independent league
baseball team, and the University of Missouri-Kansas.
Since 2003,
we have had over 782 members in our chorus, the Atchison Aviators, and have
grown from 24 members our first year to now consistently having over 70 members
a year! How many Atchison Aviators will
we have this year???
Each child
will be selected on behavior and classroom academic performance. We will expect excellent behavior and effort
from your child as we work on our music.
1) If your child receives
in-school/out-of-school suspension after
joining, he/she will be dismissed from the chorus.
2) Each member must have a “2.0”
or above grade in all classrooms and their academic standing must be maintained
throughout the school year.
3) In addition, our members must
maintain appropriate behavior while using USD 409 transportation. A loss of bus privileges could result in
dismissal.
4) Strong rehearsal and
performance attendance is necessary for our group to perform at its best.
5) If a child is dismissed due
to the reasons above, fees will not be reimbursed.
In all
instances, our administrators will individually determine each disciplinary
action. The above criteria will
certainly provide incentive for all of our students to truly “fly” this year as
Atchison Aviators!
The activity
fee for the group will be $20. Chorus
members will be required to purchase an AES Aviators choir shirt. The cost for the shirt is $10. The children will own the shirts
purchased and will be expected to wear them during each of our performances. If your child already has a shirt due to
being a member last year or from a family member, purchasing a new shirt is not
necessary as long as it is in good condition. Each child is responsible for obtaining dress
slacks for their performance attire.
There are many retailers in our area that would be happy to assist you
with this need.
If you are
interested in your child being a candidate for the Atchison Aviators choir, please sign the below permission slip and
have your child bring it to the INTERMEDIATE
office on or before November
1st. We will submit your child’s name for consideration for membership to
Mr. Kent Michel, AES Intermediate Principal, and your child’s classroom
teacher. We will notify each child if they are selected
for membership.
Please
submit your dues no later than November 14th. The
money and forms will need to be given to Mrs. Pamela Brewer or Mrs. Rawls, intermediate
secretaries. No child will be allowed to rehearse/participate until all fees
are paid. If your child does not
qualify for initial selection due to classroom behavior or academic standing, all
dues will be reimbursed.
Once we have received verification that
your child qualifies for membership, you will receive the 2018 Atchison
Aviators chorus member confirmation. All
dues must be submitted no later than November 1st. Our first rehearsal is on January 9th, 2018.
Sincerely,
Bradley Weaver
Atchison Aviators Director
THE ATCHISON
AVIATORS APPLICATION IS ON THE BACK PAGE J ------->>>
The Atchison Aviators
APPLICATION
FORM
Parental Permission Slip – November 1st
– Due Date
Date ___________
Student Name ________________________ GRADE
_____________CLASSROOM TEACHER_________________SHIRT SIZE ________
**SHIRT NOT NEEDED DUE TO PRIOR MEMBERSHIP IN ATCHISON
AVIATORS AND SHIRT IS IN GOOD REPAIR______________
I understand that the
criteria for membership will include classroom academic performance and good
behavior, including performance and rehearsal attendance, and appropriate USD
409 bus behavior. If my child is selected,
I will provide the $20 activity fee and $10 shirt fee by November 14th.
I will be able to arrange
travel to drop off my child before rehearsal and to/from performances.
When my child is required to travel on USD 409
transportation due to an out of town performance, etc. I give permission for him/her to travel on
the bus.
If my child is removed from
the Atchison Aviators due to behavior or academic disqualifications, I understand
that all monies are non-refundable.
I, ___________________________ have read the above
statements and give permission for my child, ________________, to be
Parent/Guardian
Name
First
and Last Name
considered for membership in the Aviators chorus.
__________________________________________________
PLEASE PROVIDE EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
If possible, please provide a valid email address to
receive occasional email information letters.
__________________________________________________
PLEASE PROVIDE PARENTAL EMAIL ADDRESS
AVIATORS
PARENTS ASSOCIATION
We
are always in need of parental support and help with various activities. If you
are willing to offer your assistance, please check the box below.
I would be interested in donating snacks/refreshments for the Atchison Aviators if needed.
I would like to be a part of the Aviators Parents Association. Our first meeting: 01/9/18 at 4:30 p.m. in the A.E.S. Music Room.
Atchison
Aviators Website, Email Blasts, &Text Service
Please visit our Atchison Aviators
website for our performance calendar and other important information regarding
our elementary music department. Our
website address is:
We also often send our families email
blasts of all current information regarding the Atchison Aviators. Please list your home email address on the
attached student/parent contract sheet and we will add you to our list!
Probably the quickest and most efficient
way to be “in the know” is to sign up for our Atchison Aviators text
messaging service!!! You may sign up
for this amazing resource by following the below directions:
A) If you have a
smartphone, get push notifications.
Open your iPhone or Android phone, open
your web browser and go to the following link:
rmd.at/4aviators
Follow the instructions to sign up for
Remind. You’ll be prompted to download
the mobile app.
B) If you don’t
have a smartphone, get text notifications.
Text the message @4aviators to the number
81010.
If your having trouble with 81010, try
texting @4aviators to (913) 225-7739.
*Standard text message rates may apply.
