Dear
2020 Atchison Wings and Parents/Guardians,
Welcome
to the Atchison Wings! We are expecting
a wonderful year with our chorus. In the
following pages, you will find our rehearsal schedule and operational procedures
for the Atchison Wings! 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, along with all fees, by November
5th to the Intermediate Secretaries office.
If
you have any questions, please contact:
Mr.
Weaver’s Email: bweaver@usd409.net
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
Atchison
Wings Director Atchison
Wings Accompanist
The
following A.E.S. administrators have approved this handbook:
Mrs.
Nichole Honeywell
AES Intermediate Principal
Mrs.
Heather Renk
AES Primary Principal
Ms.
Lisa Pierce
AES Assistant Principal
“Nothing great
has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our History
The Atchison Wings will begin their fifth year on February 4th,
2020, under the direction of Mr. Bradley Weaver, director, and Mrs. Kay Dolenz,
accompanist.
Mrs. Kay Dolenz has served nine years as the accompanist for
the Atchison Aviators. She also serves
as the accompanist for the Atchison Middle School and High School Choirs,
including our premier show chorus, Adrenaline.
Mr. Brad Weaver has served as the director and founder of
the Atchison Aviators, Atchison Wings, and the Atchison Music Creation Recorder
Consort. He also has been the AES K-5 music
educator for the past nineteen years.
Mrs. Gloria Cline is also serving in her third year as a
parent-liaison. She serves our community
as a Third Grade classroom teacher at Atchison Elementary School.
The Atchison Wings continue a rich legacy of excellence in
vocal music education. It is a
non-auditioned second and third-grade honors chorus that focuses on vocal music
education and character development. It is our intent that the students who
join us in Wings will be inspired to continue with us in the Atchison Aviators. We have had 233 students in our four years of
existence.
The Atchison Aviators chorus is a non-auditioned fourth and
fifth-grade chorus performance group selected on meeting high standards in
regards to academic achievement and classroom behavior. Beginning in 2004 with 24 members, this
chorus has developed a reputation as one of the finest elementary choruses in
our area. We have now had over 895
Atchison Aviators members. Many of these
wonderful musicians have continued on to study music at the Middle School and
High School level with some receiving college scholarships in instrumental
and/or vocal music.
An Important Note:
Membership Requirements
Though children are not selected on an audition basis, the children 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 1)
If your child receives in-school/out-of-school
suspension after joining the choir,
he/she will not be allowed to remain with the choir. Positive relationships are of utmost
importance.
2 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 3)
In addition, our members must maintain appropriate
behavior while using USD 409 transportation.
A loss of bus privileges could result in dismissal.
4 4)
Strong rehearsal and performance attendance are required
for our group to perform at its best.
All monies received for activity
fees, etc. will be non-refunded due to the student’s neglect in meeting any of the
above membership requirements.
The Expectations
How Aviators S.O.A.R. in the AES Music Department
S: Show Integrity
O: Own your learning
A: Accept responsibility
R: Respect yourself and others
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 7:30 a.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. If
there is a pattern of consistent lateness or absences, this could result in
disciplinary action including up to dismissal.
Rehearsal /
Performance Dates
February 4, 11, 18, 25
March 3, 17, 24, 31
April 7, 14, 21
April 23rd – Community
Celebration with Atchison Aviators and Music Creation (6:30 p.m.)
**More performance dates could be added**
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 the 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
A 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 we are
expecting in the Atchison Wings, 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.
Trips
The
Atchison Wings will focus on local performances in the Atchison community. During these performances, all children are
required to travel with and stay with the group. They may only leave with the permission of
the director.
If
USD 409 transportation is used, children will travel with their fellow chorus
members. These are performances that are
mandatory. All children will be required to stay with the group and may only
leave the group with the permission of the director.
If the Wing member 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 on 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, the child will be subject to the
discipline policy of the transportation department and this could lead to
dismissal from the chorus.
Before
all community performances, all children will receive an itinerary of that
day’s events which will include the following: bus departure and arrival time, performance
time, and the estimated time of arrival at school. Children are required to travel on USD 409
transportation during trips.
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
Wings performance white polo shirt and black pants/slacks. I always
recommend that your polo shirts be ordered at least one size larger to provide an opportunity for growth. We will order the shirt size that you list. If your child remains in Atchison Aviators in
Third 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 Wings concert/performance.
Atchison Wings 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 AES Wings 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
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 Wings 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/aeswings
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 @aeswings to
the number 81010.
If you are having trouble with
81010, try texting @aeswings to (913) 225-7739.
*Standard
text message rates may apply.
This year we
will have a wonderful opportunity for our 2nd
– 3rd-grade students, the Atchison Wings children’s choir! Beginning on February 4th, from 7:30
to 8:05 a.m., the Atchison Wings will meet in the AES Music room on Tuesday
mornings. The overall focus for our choir will be vocal music development and
community service.
We will have
several performances at school and in the community. Our community concert is on
April 23rd, at 6:30 p.m. at Atchison Elementary School. There will be more performances that will be
scheduled as the school year progresses.
In the past, we have sung at Atchison High School, Atchison Medical
Lodge, and at Atchison Elementary School.
.
Our Atchison
Aviators, our 4th and 5th-grade choir, 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 various Lewis and Clark festivities.
Since 2003,
we have had 895 members in our chorus, the Atchison Aviators, and have grown
from 24 members our first year to now consistently having over 50 members a
year! Last year, we had 50 students
apply to be members of the Atchison Wings. How many Atchison Wings will we have
in our choir during our fifth year? 60?
70?? 80???
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 the choir, he/she will not be allowed to remain with the choir.
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.
In all
instances, our administrators will individually determine each disciplinary
action. The above criteria will
certainly provide an incentive for all of our students to truly “fly” this year as
Atchison Wings!
The activity
fee for the group will be $25. Choir
members will be required to purchase an AES Wings choir shirt. The cost of the shirt is $10. The children will own the shirts
purchased for the group and will be expected to wear them during each of our
performances. Each child is responsible for obtaining black dress slacks, and
black shoes 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 Wings choir, please sign the below permission slip and
have your child bring it to the Intermediate
Secretaries Office before November
5th. Depending on which grade level
your child is in, we will submit your child’s name for consideration for
membership to Mrs. Nichole Honeywell, AES Intermediate Principal, and Mrs.
Heather Renk, AES Primary Principal, and your child’s classroom teacher. We will notify each child if they are
selected for membership.
All fees due
(shirt and activity) will need to be given to Ms. Pamela Brewer, AES
intermediate secretary. However, no child will be allowed to
rehearse/participate until all fees are paid.
You will receive the 2020 Atchison Wings
chorus member packet after confirmation of membership. All activity and shirt fees must be submitted
before November 5th. Our
first rehearsal is on February 4th, 2020.
Sincerely,
Bradley Weaver
Atchison Wings Director
AES WINGS APPLICATION IS ON THE NEXT PAGE J
The Atchison Wings
APPLICATION FORM
Parental
Permission Slip – November 5th – Due Date
Date ___________
Student Name
_________________Grade ______Classroom Teacher _________________
Shirt Size ________ Not Needed ** _____________
** If you still have an
Atchison Wings performance shirt from last year, it fits your child, and is in
good condition, please mark “Not Needed.”
I understand that the
criteria for membership will include classroom academic performance (2.0 or
above in all classes) and good behavior (no ISS), including performance and
rehearsal attendance, and appropriate USD 409 bus behavior. I will provide the $25 activity fee and $10
shirt fee by November 5th
to the Intermediate Office. 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 with the Atchison Wings using USD 409 transportation, I give
permission for him/her to travel on the bus.
The Atchison Wings is a performance-based chorus. I provide authorization for photos or videos to be taken of my child during his/her performances or rehearsals.
If my child is removed
from the Atchison Wings due to behavior or academic disqualifications, I understand
that all monies are non-refundable.
Parent/Guardian First and
Last Name _______________________
Signature
____________________
__________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PROVIDE EMERGENCY
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER ABOVE
If possible, please
provide a valid parental email address to receive occasional email information
letters.
__________________________________________________
PLEASE PROVIDE PARENTAL EMAIL
ADDRESS
