Auditions take place this week for our 2007 musical, Bye, Bye Birdie. I am so excited about this musical! Ever since I saw it in a live production many years ago, I grew to love the music, lyrics, and wonderful staging. This delightful and up-beat musical is always a hit with the students, parents, and audience. It has something for everyone, and I know you will find yourself humming the songs well after closing night!!

Of course, the musical is only as good as the volunteers—we are already working on it, and I have a list of the committee chairs below. Those wishing to participate (earning points for Europe, etc) should attend the meeting on February 6^th at 7 pm (see the calendar below) whether or not you have a child in the musical itself. Sign up to help, and I know you will be amazed at the pleasure you will receive by working with these EXCEPTIONAL people. I have never worked alongside so many caring, talented, and fun people. Do your part, and you will have an experience you will never forget.

I know, we are all busy—you wouldn’t believe the stories (excuses I hear) about why we CAN’T help. Well, I am here to tell you that I can always find a way for you to do SOMETHING (even just bringing food to the kids one night, or baking a batch of brownies). You would not believe how much time is devoted each spring to make the musical a hit. Why do we do it? There are many reasons –especially supporting our kids and because there are few opportunities to take part in something that is such a quality experience. Don’t let another year go by without signing up for more than one committee, and you will be richly rewarded for whatever time you can spare.

So, mark your calendars with these dates, and get ready!!!! See you on February 6^th!!!!!

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Rhonda Nelson 243-6346, 227-6346 (thenelsonfamily@charter.net)

PAINTING/DESIGN: Diedra Malain 365-5939, 524-0918 and Diane Elrick 246-3603, 949-5363

USHERS/LOBBY: Francie Parr 221-5463, 515-2223 and Bridget Brickwood 241-2560, 524-7029

May 9 (W) Possible second matinee – early (matinee starts at 10 am. Cast call TBA)

Choir Communications

The choir has its own website at www.shastachoir.com. A current calendar of events is always available on the website. We also communicate information by group e-mail; please make sure you give us your e-mail – both parents and students – so you can keep current on what’s happening with choir. Please send your name and e-mail address to info@shastachoir.com and we will add you to the list. Newsletters are e-mailed or posted on the website unless you specifically request to have them mailed to you. Please contact Peggy O’Lea at 246-1446 if you do not have Internet access to make arrangements to get a printed copy of future newsletters. Thanks.

MARCH 2007 TRIP TO NAPA/SAN FRANCISCO: The choir will take a trip to Napa to perform at an invitational choir festival from Friday, March 23 to Sunday, March 25. The trip will include activities in San Francisco. Although only the A Cappella and Madrigal Choirs will be performing at the festival, this trip is open to all students in choir, and plans are to have all choirs perform at a venue in San Francisco. Details, including cost, will be sent home in a flyer by mid-February.

2008 TRIP TO EUROPE: We are in the process of finalizing plans for our next choir trip to Europe. It will be in June, 2008 and tentatively will include the Czech Republic (Prague, Theresienstadt), Austria (Vienna, Eisenstadt, Melk, Salsburg) and southern Germany (Munich, Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein, Heidelburg). The trip will probably be 14 days, 12 nights and we are hoping the cost will be under $3,000. We are currently getting bids from different companies and as soon as a tour company is confirmed, we will have an information meeting for students and parents – hopefully by mid to end of February. This is a performing tour for the choir and will include performances in the major cities. The points that parents and students earn by helping with the choir productions help defray the cost of this trip. Our goal is for the parent/student who earns the maximum number of points to be able to pay for approximately ˝ of the cost of the trip.

OUR GOAL: The point system was introduced to encourage parent involvement in choir activities, to help families pay for choir trips, and as a way to distribute earnings fairly to our hardworking students. The Choir Boosters was established to give our students the best experience we can. It is run by a Board elected at a general Parent Meeting. We are all volunteers.

Points may be earned by parents and students by working on choir activities such as the Madrigal Dinner or the musical. Generally, one point is credited for each hour’s work. Points will be assigned a monetary value and credited toward trip expenditures for the European trip.

Points have a monetary value only when used for the Europe choir trip. They do not constitute money in the real world and are non-refundable. Money equal to students’ unused points remains in the choir account to fund choir expenditures such as microphones, tuxedos, or computer equipment.

HOW ARE POINTS EARNED? Parents may earn points only when working on a project that benefits the entire group and not for such things as making your own student’s costumes. These points may be applied to the account of any of their children who are enrolled in choir. They may earn 1 point per hour when working on choir projects or when serving in the following ways:

A student can be credited with a maximum of 120 points each year, which may be earned in any combination by the student and his/her parents. There is a maximum cumulative total of 300 points for each student.

If you are going on the Europe Trip and you have not been able to earn points over a three year period because you were a transfer student or a sophomore the year of the Europe Trip, you may request Board review of your point status. This review must take place by the November board meeting of the Europe Trip year. Call the Points Chairperson to schedule the review.

WHO MAY EARN POINTS? Parents, or approved adults, may earn points for only their own children who are currently enrolled in choir. Children cannot earn points for themselves until they are in a high school choir, even if they are cast members. Points earned by a student in the music program cannot be transferred to a sibling or a fellow choir member. Points may not be earned by sisters and brothers, cousins, grandparents, friends, etc., nor offered to anyone outside the immediate family. Although we welcome the help of these people, the value of points would be greatly diluted if we allowed too many people to collect them. Parents who are employed by the music department do not earn points for time spent at their paying jobs, but may join committees to earn points.

HOW ARE MONETARY VALUES OF POINTS FIGURED? The total number of points earned for the year by all students will be divided into the total net income from the Madrigal Dinner and the musical. This will establish a fixed value for the points earned that year. The amount each student has earned toward the cost of the European trip is calculated by multiplying this value times the student’s total points for that year. Points and their values will be fixed at the end of each year and cannot be changed at a later date. Point values will differ from year to year depending on the number of students’ and parents’ hours and the success of the musical. (The Madrigal Dinner is always sold out.) Points are only used towards the cost of the European trip. Freshman students who can attend two trips during their high school years will be allowed to use their first year earned points (120 points maximum) for the freshman year trip. They will also be allowed to earn another 300 points maximum toward the senior year trip.

FUND RAISING PROJECTS: Fund raising projects must have prior approval from the Boosters Board when the Shasta High Choir Boosters or a particular trip is mentioned in the advertising for the event. Monies collected will be deposited in the Choir Boosters’ account, in the individual student’s name, to be used toward choir trip expenses only. The person in charge must furnish the Treasurer with a list of students who earned money.

RESPONSIBILITY: It is the responsibility of every parent and child to use the sign-up sheets provided at each activity. This is the only way your points can be reported. It is the responsibility of the chairpersons to provide sign-up sheets, tally total hours worked by each volunteer and turn in these points in a timely manner.

All appeals for change in points must be addressed in writing to the Choir Boosters Board. Questions about your account’s current status may be addressed at any time during the year to the Student Points Coordinator or at any Parent Meeting. If you suspect that there has been an oversight, be sure to take care of it during the school year in which you worked.

Calendar

JANUARY 2007 APRIL 2007

23-25 musical try-outs 2-10 spring break

29 begin musical rehearsals 11 musical cast photos at 4 pm

15 board meeting (third Sunday)

FEBRUARY 2007 28 all day musical

rehearsal

5 board meeting 30 musical dress rehearsal

6 musical chairpersons meeting – 6 pm

6 mandatory musical parent meeting – 7 pm MAY 2007

26 musical set construction begins 1 musical dress rehearsal

2 musical matinee at 2 pm

MARCH 2007 3-5 musical at 7:30 pm

4 board meeting 3 Madrigal Dinner patronships for

sale at 6 pm

8 musical lead photos – 3:30 pm 6 board meeting

12 musical rehearsals move to SLC – 3:45 pm 9 possible second musical

matinee at 10 am

16 musical patron deadline 10-12 musical

21 patron tickets mailed 14 mandatory strike musical sets

21 musical ticket training – 6-7 pm 21 Choir Spring Concert

21 Region 2 Choral Festival

23-25 Napa Valley trip JUNE 2007

24 parent ticket sales at SLC – 11 am-2 pm 3 board meeting

31 public ticket sales begin at SLC 7 last day of school

8 graduation