We hope that everyone had an enjoyable, relaxing, and safe break! We are ready to hit the ground running with this last nine weeks of the school year! We have several upcoming performances throughout the last part of the semester, so I hope you take a minute to add them to your calendar.

Fundraiser order forms AND money is due TOMORROW! This fundraiser is to help us raise funds for our spring trip, to help pay off any remaining fees, and to boost our budget for all upcoming events for the rest of the year. Thank you for everyone who has contributed to our students! Y'all are AMAZING!

Report Cards come out THIS WEEK! Students who will be participating in our spring trip at the end of April MUST be passing ALL of their classes in order to be allowed to travel. There will be a progress report in between now and then, so students will have one more chance to gain eligibility.

If you have read this far, THANK YOU! If you (the parent/guardian) will click on the "Contact" button at the very bottom of this newsletter and send me a message, your student may purchase a muffin THIS FRIDAY (3/28) for only $1!

Hope everyone had a great Spring Break! As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments!

--Mrs. H

BEYOND proud of BOTH the Treble and Tenor-Bass Choirs for their performances at this year's UIL Evaluations. Both choir received the coveted Sweepstakes trophy and earned ALL Superior Ratings from all six of the judges. This is the first time in several years that all performing groups have received top marks. Congratulations, Cougar Choirs!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the annual Middle School Solo & Ensemble Contest this past January!

We kicked off our spring fundraiser on Friday, 3/7, for our choir program! These funds help us pay for those going on our spring trip, help us catch up on unpaid fees, and all other activities. Students were sent home with everything they will need to make this fundraiser a success! You will find the information letter and the link to our digital store below.

THE LINK BELOW WAS FIXED, SO YOU NO LONGER WILL HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION TO ACCESS!

This April, several choir students will be travelling to Amarillo, TX for the annual Los Solistas Festival at Caprock High School. The students who are attending this festival should have brought home a letter on Friday, March 7th, that needs to be filled out and returned ASAP. More detailed information will be sent home after Spring Break.

If you are interested in accompanying us as a chaperone, please click on the button below!

Help support the Cougar Choirs and satisfy your morning sweet tooth by purchasing one of our delicious GIANT muffins!

Next selling date: FRIDAY, MARCH 28TH.

Available Flavors:

• Double Chocolate Chip.
• Blueberry.
• Cinnamon Crunch.
• Banana Nut.

Each school year, we have a small $25 choir fee that helps supplement our budget, uniforms, and allows us to provide the best possible experience for ALL the students in the Irons MS Choir program. This money goes to pay for our choir t-shirts that we will wear for multiple performances and events, supplies that are provided to each student, snacks, meals, etc.

You can click the button below if you wish to pay online**, or you may send cash or a check with your student to school. Please make checks out to "Irons Middle School Choir."

If you have any concerns, if we need to set up a payment plan, or anything else, PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out to me. No student will be turned away because of the inability to afford this fee.

I have parents ask me this every year: If you feel drawn to help out another student and would like to cover their fee, please email or message me on Rooms.

**There is an added Admin Fee of $1 for paying online.

This year, we will not be using the “REMIND” app, and will be utilizing the LISD app’s “Rooms” feature to communicate with parents. Students will be added to their classes, so please make sure you set up an account on the app if you have not done so in the past!

Please mark your calendars with the dates below! Details will be added here and sent home via "Rooms" prior to each event.

A hard copy of the choir handbook was sent home with students on Friday, 8/16. There were some VERY important forms attached to the handbook that MUST be filled out and brought back to me ASAP. Please make sure your student gives you those forms so that they will be able to participate in all of our upcoming events!

Mrs. Hooten has been teaching middle school choir since 2018, and has been at Irons Middle School since 2021. She graduated from Lubbock Christian University with her Bachelor of Arts in Music in December 2017. She and her husband, Bobby, have been married since 2013, and have two sweet and crazy boys, Elijah and Elliott.

Favorites:

Snack - Doritos.

Candy - Snickers.

Drink - Dr. Pepper.

Book - Harry Potter.

Vacation - Cruise.

Season - Fall.

Hobbies - D&D, crafting, running, singing, video games.