Parents,

I wanted to make you aware of a new law relating to e-cigarettes. HB 114 was passed by the Texas legislature last spring and requires schools to place in the District Alternative Education Program (DAEP) any student who is in possession of, uses, sells, gives, or delivers an e-cigarette on school grounds or at any school related event. Tomball ISD will make changes to the Student Code of Conduct to comply with and will strictly enforce this new law, which is intended to stop the rapidly increasing numbers of students affected by the vaping epidemic.

What this means for your student:

• If your student has an e-cigarette (even if nothing is in it) on school grounds or at a school-related event, he or she will be recommended for a DAEP placement of at least 10 school days. Please note: your student is responsible for any item in his or her possession- even if it does not belong to your student.

• While at DAEP, your student will not be allowed to attend any school activities and may be removed from certain student organizations or clubs in accordance with the rules and regulations of each organization.

• Your student will not be eligible for exam exemptions.

• The district does not provide transportation to DAEP.

What you can do:

• Talk to your student to ensure he or she is aware of the new law.

• Ensure your student knows what is in his or her backpack, car, or other belongings.

• Remind your student to not allow friends to leave restricted items such as e-cigarettes in his or her car and to not carry such items for other students.

• Talk to your student about the health effects of vaping. Resources are available on the Tomball ISD website.

Thank you for your attention to this very important matter, and we appreciate your cooperation as we strive to provide a safe and healthy campus for our students and staff.

Check out some of our awesome choir merchandise! Click below to go to the TMHS choir shop and purchase!

If you are interested in participating in the Texas All-State Choir process but are a beginner on the music, have no fear! Click below to sign up!

We are so excited for our first social of the year on Friday, August 18th! Come to the choir room after school from 3:00-4:30pm and get some ice cream and meet your new choir family! Students are allowed to bring one friend that is not in choir!

Chorale will be singing The National Anthem at all home football games this year! Please see those dates below:

8/25

9/8

9/22

10/6

10/13 Patriotic Show

10/20 is Fine Arts Senior Night, which will also be our Choir 8th grade night

11/3

Students will wear their TMHS Choir polo, jeans with no holes, and closed toed shoes for all home football games. All students must follow the TISD Dress Code Policy for these performances.

Students may drive themselves or carpool, but there will also be a bus provided to each game for students that do not drive. Students can either ride the bus back to school immediately following the National Anthem, or can stay for the game but must find their own transportation home.

All students must complete the required documents below to be able to perform at the games, and all students must be eligible.

Most of our leads have been cast for our Fine Arts musical, The Music Man, but we will be having another round of auditions on September 1st for any students wishing to be part of the ensemble! Be on the lookout after school starts for another sign up to audition!

This school year is our out-of-state trip year and the TMHS Choir and Orchestra Departments will be performing at Carnegie Hall during Spring Break of 2024! This is an exciting opportunity for both of our programs!

**Proposed dates for the trip to NYC are Wednesday, March 13th - Monday, March 18th, 2024. **

This will be the only trip offered for the Spring of 2024.

**The $300 deposit is for all travelers, and is non-refundable. Please make your deposits at the link below**

Students wishing to only participate in the Carnegie Hall portion should make their deposit through schoolcashonline as well.

Below is the presentation and notes from the Interest meeting.

Travel Insurance

We did find a travel insurance company that you are able to purchase through if you would like. The link for trip insurance is for each individual traveler, for some will not want to pay for insurance. Each traveler must arrange for their own trip insurance. With this particular company, for anyone 17 and under, insurance is free with the addition of a paid for adult.

Click HERE for Allianz Travel Insurance Information

Raise serious funds towards NYC trip and other choir needs with WiddyUP!

We have already created a WiddyUP fundraiser to be used to help fundraise for the trip. The kick-off date is Friday, June 16th. We highly encourage you to take advantage of this fundraiser as it is not a ton of work on students or families. Many of our students participated in this fundraiser last year so the set up should be easy! Simply create your account, pitch video, fundraising video, and share, share, share!! The information to get signed up with WiddyUP is below:

Sign up below.
https://www.widdyup.com/students/register/PsiZUVTLVxa1XxgHdKLxCGhG

STEP 1
Create and upload your first video, called the "pitch to friends & family": asking for donations from your family and friends and telling them what you’re going to do for the talent show.
● Say your name what you’re helping your school raise money for, your dollar amount goal, and what you are going to showcase in your next video for donors that support you.

STEP 2
This is how you raise money. Share your pitch to friends & family video with your family and friends.
● Once your pitch is uploaded and approved, you will receive an email telling you to log into your WiddyUP account, go to your homepage, and share your video with family and friends.

STEP 3
This is how you reward your donors for supporting your cause! Create and upload your second video, called the "follow-through": showing donors your talent or interest.
● Have fun while sharing your talent or interest with your donors!

Possible Pitch Script:

Hello, My name is ___________. We are raising funds for the Tomball Memorial Choir Program’s performance at Carnegie Hall and other Choir Needs with Widdy UP! I’m asking for your help with two things:

First, please make the small donation of $5 (or more!) to watch my short performance video.

Second, please send this link to 10 of your closest family or friends who would be willing to support a worthwhile cause. Let’s see if we can make this video go Viral!

Thank you for your time, kind consideration, and small donation.

It's time to get started! Sign up!
https://www.widdyup.com/students/register/PsiZUVTLVxa1XxgHdKLxCGhG

May: $300

June: $300

July: $300

August: $300

September: $300

October: $300

November: $300

December: Final Balance

If you have missed previous months payments, you can make multiple purchases of the current month to catch up. Unfortunately, each month's link expires at the end of the month.

Students, please join the remind for your class for next the next school year! Students should have been added to their choir's remind for next school year, so if you are already on a remind, PLEASE DO NOT DOUBLE JOIN!

Belles: @tmhsbelles

Dudes: @tmhsdudes

Bel Canto: @tmhsbelc

Chorale: @tmhschoral

Major Chords: @majorchord

This year, we are starting a Big/Little Program for our students! This program will pair underclassmen with upperclassmen in order to promote camaraderie and the building of positive relationships across the entire choir program. This is not required, but is encouraged! There is no cost related to participating in the program, but we will pair students up and encourage communication and guidance between bigs and littles.

Below are our forms and choir class fee for this school year! As with any organization, there are needed forms at the beginning of the school year, so we’re getting them to you now! All forms are completed by way of google form that can be done with computer or your smart phone!

Please read over the handbook with your student and sign the acknowledgement. Some information has changed from previous years!

Even if your student does not drive yet, please complete the travel/transportation form. There is important information that still applies to them!

All forms and fees for this school year will be due by Friday, September 1st.

Pop Show auditions will be in the Fall. As a reminder, only seniors may do slow songs, and all tracks must be cut to fit within 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Auditions should be performance ready and with all group members present. Audition sign ups will be in the Fall, but you can start preparing now!

Any information can be found at tmhschoir.com where our newsletter and calendar are updated regularly!

jedragsdale@tomballisd.net

jordynwhite@tomballisd.net

Website: tmhschoir.com
Location: 19100 Northpointe Ridge Lane, Tomball, TX, USA
Phone: 281-357-3230 1106
Twitter: @theTMHSchoir