Middle School Schedule Music Ensemble Update

Dear Parents & Guardians,

You are receiving this communication because your student is involved in a musical ensemble and/or has chosen to enroll in chorus for the 2025-2026 school year.   We are writing to you with an important update about how vocal music instruction will be delivered.  Previously, we communicated that the vocal music ensemble (chorus) would not be offered as an elective course and would instead be scheduled during the Opportunity Period for one day of the rotation.  In addition to this, each grade-level chorus would be provided the opportunity to have one after-school rehearsal per month.  

After reviewing the enrollment in the vocal music program and working collectively with our Middle School Principals, Supervisor of Arts & Humanities, and Coordinator of Instrumental Music, we have identified a way to enable chorus to occur as a scheduled course elective, meeting every other day for the entire school year, the details of which will be outlined below. 

For students who only choose to enroll in chorus: 

For students who only choose to enroll in chorus, this elective will run every other day for the entire school year, guaranteeing at least two forty (40) minute class periods of vocal music per week.  These students will have the ability to take two (2) additional electives to complete their schedule. 

For students who choose to enroll in chorus and either band or orchestra: 

For students who choose to enroll in two music ensembles, they will be scheduled for both and have the ability to take two (2) additional electives to complete their schedule.  In the first semester, Band/Orchestra and Chorus would be scheduled on alternating days, paired with an elective (see sample schedule below).   This schedule iteration would guarantee a student who is enrolled in two music ensemble groups a minimum of at least one forty (40) minute class period per week in each ensemble area.

Sample Student Schedule

As previously communicated, all students enrolled in music ensembles would still have the ability to meet with their teachers for enrichment opportunities during the designated enrichment days in their respective schools. With this change, however, full vocal music rehearsals will not be regularly scheduled in the opportunity period rotation.  Additionally, because of the consistently available rehearsal time, these groups will no longer be regularly scheduled for after-school rehearsals, although periodically, they may be offered at the discretion of the teachers.  New, however, vocal music teachers will have scheduled times to conduct lessons, as needed, similar to instrumental music.   

Should you have any remaining questions, please feel free to contact your school principal or assistant principal. 

Sincerely,