Ashland Independent School District
Beginning Strings Program
Dear Fifth and Sixth Grade Parents,
Your child has been selected to be a part of the beginning strings program during the 2014-2015 school year. Sixth grade students are continuing instruction from last school year. Students new to the program should understand that they were chosen based on teacher recommendation. Your child will be pulled out of class for a 30-minute block of time, once a week to practice with their string instructor. Students are selected with the understanding that they will make up any missed work. Continued failure to make up classwork will result in dismissal from the program. If your child served in In-School Suspension at any time during their 5th /6th Grade year, they will not be eligible to participate in Ashland’s strings program.
Students will be given a school owned violin for practice and performance during the school year. Please be aware that proper care instructions will be given to every participant and that the student and family will be responsible for that violin. The goal of elementary strings is for our students to advance to the middle school and eventually high school orchestra programs.
Parents please review this letter and discuss each area with your child. If your child is interested in participating in the strings program, please return the bottom portion of this form as soon as possible, no later than August 29th. At that point, we will offer your child’s position to another student. There are many other students interested in this program and their spot can be filled with another child.
Areas of Concern
Responsibility: Class Dojo points or other behavior systems and regular classroom expectations will be reviewed often with the classroom teachers. Students MUST bring their violin and practice book to school on lesson days. Students should not call home on lesson days to have parents bring the instrument to school.
Grades – Grade Point Average: Your child must obtain a 2.0 grade point average (with NO F’s) throughout their 5th/6th Grade school year.
Attendance: If your child misses school on their lesson day, they miss an entire week of instruction. Please be mindful of this when scheduling doctor’s appointments, etc.
Music Assessment: Your child will be given a music assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses.
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At this time, my child is interested in participating in the beginning strings program in the Ashland Independent School District.
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Student’s signature
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Parent/Guardian’s signature
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Date