Please make sure to read through the newsletter and complete all of the tasks by their deadlines. Thank you!

Thank you for a wonderful semester! We hope everyone has a relaxing and joyful winter break. We look forward to working on UIL music when we return in January. Ms. Rodriguez and myself will not be working over the break, so we will return all emails when teachers return on January 6th.

Happy holidays!

If you are interested in being a chaperone on this very fun trip with amazing students please email me at april.kondrat@pisd.edu or reply to my email. Thank you!

We will resume playing on January 7th, so make sure to bring your instruments to school when we return. Have a wonderful holiday break!

• January 7, 14, 21 Full Orchestra Rehearsal 4:45-6:45pm Band Hall
• January 25 Solo & Ensemble Festival @ Hendrick MS (schedule will be released in early January)
• January 25 Swing Dance 7pm PSHS Cafeteria (Evolution and Intermelody)
• January 28 Full Orchestra Clinic with Jim Frank 4:45-6:45pm Band Hall

• ASAP - Orchestra Fee
  
• ASAP - Instrument User Agreement and Fee

Each class learned a piece from the Renaissance or Baroque era and we recorded our final performance to share with parents and our feeder schools. We hope you enjoy hearing what they learned in our study of early music.

Our last full orchestra rehearsal for this semester is on Tuesday, December 10th, in the band hall from 4:45-6:45pm. All students in Chamber and Symphony are required to be at all full orchestra rehearsals. Cello/bass need to bring their home instruments. Please encourage your child to listen to the recordings provided on the announcements prior to this rehearsal. It will help so much!

The Plano Senior High School Orchestra is going to Port Aransas for the spring trip April 11-14, 2025. Please click on the link below to register and pay the deposit for the trip. All details are included on the portal provided by Perform America. You will have the option to purchase trip insurance on the trip portal as well as make the deposit, and all future payments. The trip deposit is due now. The beach is always a fun trip and this year we will bring back the tradition of the cooking competition! Please contact Jeri Ashford with any questions about the portal.

Please keep in mind that students must be eligible to go on the spring trip. They must be passing all regular classes at the end of the third nine weeks in order to participate. Please contact me with any questions about eligibility.

Interested in being a chaperone? Register for the chaperone package to be placed on a waiting list. Our trip rep, Jeri Ashford, will send you a link to complete your registration. The chaperone package has been reduced to $450 (despite what it will say on the portal - the booster club will cover the difference with funds from the fundraiser).

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Oct. 25 - $160

Nov. 25 - $160

Jan. 25 - $160

Feb. 25 - $158

Trip must be paid in full by February 25th. Reminders will be sent out from the portal for trip payments.

If you want to set up contributions pages so others can contribute to your child's trip, here is a link that will help you (this is like a direct fundraiser just for you) - https://help.wetravel.com/en/articles/4498861-how-to-set-up-a-contribution-page

How to register, pay, and manage your booking - PDF Instructions

We were able to raise over $11,000! Thanks to the generosity of our donors we will be able to reduce the cost of the chaperone package, hire clinicians for all orchestras in preparation for UIL, and many other great opportunities for our students! Thank you!

Having trouble paying the orchestra fee? Please contact our treasurer, Chandrashekhar Kulkari.

Please update your information on our website as we will be using that throughout the year for all things orchestra. If you don’t have an account yet, please create one so that you are able to access everything. The orchestra fee of $150 can be paid on the website.The fee is now $150 to help with fundraising. We will still have fundraising opportunities outside of the fee, but the orchestra program needs more funds to cover basic operating costs. The family contribution includes the casual uniform (polo for juniors, sweatshirt or hoodie for seniors), dry cleaning of uniforms, clinician costs, guest artists, Pre-UIL events, music, equipment, social events, 8th grade day, 10th grade day, and so much more! If you would like to pay the fee in payments that is an option as well. All payments go to the orchestra Booster Club which is the program's financial support system. Thank you so much for your support!

Please read through the student handbook and sign and return the parent signature page. We must have this form on file for every student in the orchestra program. All students received a paper copy that can be signed and returned. Thank you!

If you are using a school instrument for the year you will receive a contract within the first two weeks of school that needs to be signed and returned and there is an $85 fee that can be paid on Rycor. Please email me directly if you need assistance with this.

The fee for private lessons is $25 for a 25 minute lessons. Lessons are are offered during orchestra class in the practice rooms. Ms. Rodriguez will let you know your teacher and schedule at the beginning of the year. Students filled out a signature page with the option to sign up for lessons, so those will begin as early as next week. Please email us with any questions about private lessons at school; we would love for everyone to have a private teacher if possible!

Plan on volunteering for orchestra? Go ahead and fill out the volunteer form for PISD to get your approval for the year. Thank you for your time and service!

All music for region and state will be uploaded onto the PSHS Cluster All-Region & All-State Auditions GC in the fall. The audition is optional for all students in orchestra. It is mandatory for all students enrolled in honors credit orchestra. The form and $20 fee are due September 13th. PSHS Cluster All-Region & All-State Auditions 2024 Google Classroom Code: 7mflazm

Join Evolution in the fall! This student led orchestra specializes in the softer side of classical music and performs throughout the year at various events. Erek Smith and Isabelle Hou will be leading the ensemble for 2024-25. Rehearsals start Monday, 9/9, at 4:45pm.

Join Evolution in the fall! This student led orchestra specializes in pops music and performs throughout the year at various events. Alexandra James and Dillon Moya will be leading the ensemble for 2024-25. Rehearsals start Wednesday, 9/11, at 4:45pm.

Dear Parents,

Many of you indicated that you would be willing to donate supplies to the orchestra program. Below is a list of items we always need and either the booster club purchases them or I purchase them myself. We would LOVE to have a surplus on hand so that we always have supplies. Please consider donating the following items. Thank you!

• Paper Towels
• Kleenex
• Band-aids
• Hand Sanitizer
• Plastic Cutlery
  
• Canned Soda (variety of flavors)
• Capri Sun (variety of flavors)
• Plastic Cups
• Pencils
• Black Binders
• Tab Dividers

Please click below to access videos from the last school year.

Username: Kondrat

Password: fcfg3j

Email: april.kondrat@pisd.edu
Website: https://pshsorchestrabooster.membershiptoolkit.com/
Location: Plano Senior High School, Independence Parkway, Plano, TX, USA
Phone: 4697529396