Welcoming our new teachers

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to welcome you and your student to Noblesville West Middle School! NWMS is an amazing community where students are encouraged to explore their passions, develop their talents, and grow into well-rounded individuals. Our dedicated staff are passionate about education and committed to providing supportive learning environments.

As your child embarks on this new chapter, we wanted to share important information on our Performing Arts opportunities, the scheduling process related to Performing Arts, and a bit of information regarding our transition events/activities later this spring.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to a great year!

8:40am - 9:05am - Student Learning Time (SLT)

9:10am - 12:20pm - Core Academic Classes

12:25pm - 12:55pm - Lunch

1:00pm - 2:00pm - Core Academic Classes

2:05pm - 3:40pm - Diversified Arts Classes (2 DA's - Wellness, Performing Arts, Diversified Arts)

In sixth grade, students have an opportunity to join Choir, Band, and/or Orchestra.

Students have the following choices for performing art scheduling:

- Band

- Choir

- Orchestra

- Band/Choir (Band Monday/Wednesday/Friday and choir Tuesday/Thursday)

- Orchestra/Choir (Orchestra Monday/Wednesday/Friday and choir Tuesday/Thursday)

Students cannot sign up for both orchestra and band together. Below is more information about each of these Performing Arts classes.

Students are provided an opportunity to study music through choral singing. Students will master the fundamentals of choral performance including tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, phrasing, dynamics, articulation, rhythm, melody, and harmonic singing, while learning to read music. The courses progress logically and are designed to take students with no previous musical experience to becoming proficient vocalists.

Students are provided an opportunity to study music on traditional band instruments including: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, or percussion. Students will master the fundamentals of music performance including tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, phrasing, dynamics, articulation, rhythm, melody, while learning to read music. The course progresses logically and is designed to take students with no previous musical experience to becoming proficient musicians on their chosen instrument.

Students are provided an opportunity to study music on traditional string instruments including: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Students will master the fundamentals of music performance including tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, phrasing, dynamics, articulation, rhythm, melody, while learning to read music. The course progresses logically and is designed to take students with no previous musical experience to becoming proficient musicians on their chosen instrument.

Visits start in January:

Our Performing Art teachers will visit each elementary school the middle of January. At these visits, students will learn more about each Performing Arts class. Following these initial visits in January, our music teachers will return to each elementary school. At these follow up visits, students will learn even more about Band, Choir and Orchestra and will have an opportunity to try different instruments.

Sign-Up Scheduling Form:

A Performing Arts Sign--Up Form will then be sent to families where the student's preferred Performing Arts class is selected and submitted.

Students who join Choir, Band, and/or Orchestra will take this PA course as a year long class/elective.

In April, families will receive a special edition Miller Matters newsletter that contains an abundance of information about the transition to middle school. Dates and times for upcoming events will be included in this communication. Overall, some of our transition activities this spring include:

• Canvas Course for Incoming 6th grade: Info for students and families (January)
• Incoming 6th Grade Paige's Music Instrument Meeting (February)
• Student Tours at NWMS (field trip to NWMS in May)
• Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night (May)
• 6th Grade Open House (July)