BMS Choir Newsletter

Welcome to Spring Break!

We wish everyone a healthy and relaxing Spring Break. In whatever you and your family are doing, from traveling or staying home, be safe! Remember Spring Break runs Monday, March 29th through Monday, April 5th. We will see everyone back in class on Tuesday, April 6th!

Please make sure that both you and your student are checking Progress Book on a weekly basis. This helps everyone know what is missing and what can be done to complete assignments in a timely manner. Communication is key and sometimes students are not always truthful. I know, I have been teaching for 20 years and have two children of my own.

As per the policy all year, WE ACCEPT LATE WORK FOR FULL CREDIT!!!! They only thing that we as is that your student emails us when they complete late assignments. We do teach many students and it is a challenge to keep going back to see what work has been completed after the first round of grading. Please remind your student to fall into this good habit.

The last day for late work is Tuesday, April 6th. All work turned in by this date will be graded and counted for the 3rd quarter, which ends Friday, April 7th.

We have seen many things this year about leniency towards turning in assignments and missing work. Beginning in the 4th quarter, we still will be accepting late work. However, due dates will be used more frequently to help students to stay up to date with their assignments. We will also be offering extra credit for those who turn in assignments on time. Our goal is to promote a positive spin on completing assignments.

Please remember that class time is always given for assignments to be completed. Additionally, students can come down during Pride time to work and receive extra help. We just ask that they request & receive a pass from us first.

We would like to remind everyone about the classroom norms as we transition back into face-to-face learning. We will be establishing new norms as we move forward in the physical space. Students who are remaining online for the rest of the year need to refresh themselves with the online norms. It is very difficult for Mrs. Wank and myself to monitor the online environment while playing the piano and directing the students in the physical classroom.

Online Classroom Norms

- make a safe learning space free of distractions

- cameras are on and faces are visible.

- do your best to participate

- appropriately dress

- Be on time

If you have any issues please communicate that to Mrs. Wank or me via email.

Your child should have recently brought home a letter. This letter is just explaining some expectations and guidelines for the choir classroom. Below is a link to the form. Please complete this form if you have not.

The biggest thing we want to be very clear with is that we will be singing with masks on during the class period. The boosters have purchased plastic mask spacer for all the choir students. Each student will be issued two masks free of charge. These spacers make it easier to breathe when performing. We ask that students use the mask spacers when singing. We ask students to sanitize the mask after each use and alternate the use of them during the week.

Please contact Mrs. Wank or Mr. Albright if you have any questions.

Click Here for the form.

Click Here For The Most Up-To-Date For Safety & Guidelines For Performing

The Aerosol study just released its preliminary results from the 3rd part of the study. We are following these guidelines for performance safety. We are very excited about the study and be given the opportunity to perform during the school day.

We are singing in the classroom with masks on and a minimal of 3 feet spacing per our district guidelines. For large classes, we have relocated the choir room to the auditorium and will be singing with masks on as well.

Mr. Adam Albright is in his 18th year of teaching and directs 6th, 7th and 8th-grade choirs at Brunswick Middle School. Mr. Albright is also the Director of the Brunswick Middle School Drama Club and 8th-grade football coach.

Email: aalbright@bcsoh.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brunswicksouthchoirs
Twitter: @BMS_Choirs

Michelle Wank is a music teacher in Brunswick City Schools and has degrees in Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University (B.M.E) and The University of Michigan (M.M. Ed.). Most recently she has taught middle school choir and band in Brunswick, but in her 14 years there she has also taught high school and elementary band, K-5 general music, and beginning orchestra. Previous teaching assignments include North Royalton and Elyria City Schools. In August of 2019, Michelle was hired to fill a one-year position as Associate Professor of Music Education at Baldwin Wallace University where she was responsible for teaching courses in Choral Music Methods, General Music Methods, Vocal Technique, and Culturally Responsive Teaching. Michelle is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

Email: mwank@bcsoh.org

SCOTT LITTLE holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Kent State University. His studies have included oboe with Danna Sundet, composition with Dr. Frank Wiley and Dr. Adam Roberts, and voice with Dr. Jay White. Though primarily an oboist, Mr. Little is also an active composer. His creative projects include a chamber opera, as well as full orchestral and choral works. Mr. Little was the 2019 winner of the Winifred Collins Scholarship for Music Education as part of the Tuesday Musical Association Competition, and he is a recipient of a Bascom Little Fund Grant.

In his free time, Mr. Little enjoys listening to podcasts, having long conversations with friends, and pushing the limits of how much peanut butter one person can consume. He is very excited to begin teaching music in Brunswick this year!

Email: slittle@bcsoh.org