FSHS Orchestra Members -

August 8, 2016

Hello and Welcome back!!! Its hard to believe that summer is almost over and we
only have a week before school begins. I hope you all have had wonderful summers
and are ready for another great year in orchestra! Before we start, I thought I should
send a little information about the beginning of the year and some of the events that
are already planned.
1. Check out our Orchestra Web-site: www.freestateorchestras.weebly.com I
use this as the main way to regularly communicate to students and parents
throughout the school year.
2. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!!! I regularly update this page with photos and
announcements throughout the school year. Find us under:
FREE STATE HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS
3. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @FS_Orchestra
4. Orchestra Enrollment Day:
ALL FSHS Orchestra members (grades 9-12) need to come in for a uniform
fitting, school instrument check in (only for those who checked out an
instrument for the summer), and fee payments BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS.
I do this to save valuable instruction time once school starts. Please stop in
the orchestra room (608) on this date:
Wednesday, August 10: 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M
5. Orchestra Fees:
USD497 Co-Curricular (Pay to Play) All students performing in the
LFSHS Orchestra must pay a $25 participation fee each year theyre a
member of the orchestra. All members will also be expected to purchase an
LFSHS activity ticket. These funds go towards transportation of the
orchestra throughout the school year. THIS IS PAID TO THE DISTRICT,
NOT TO THE ORCHESTRA DEPARTMENT. PLEASE DO NOT BRING TO
ORCHESTRA FEE PAYMENT/UNIFORM FITTING DAY, the district will
bill your students account for this.

LFSHS activity ticket. $25 THIS IS PAID TO THE DISTRICT, NOT TO

THE ORCHESTRA DEPARTMENT. PLEASE DO NOT BRING TO
ORCHESTRA FEE PAYMENT/UNIFORM FITTING DAY, the district will
bill your students account for this.

USD497 Instrument Maintenance Fee LFSHS provides the

opportunity for cellists, bassists, and a few upper strings to rent an
instrument through the school district. Maintenance fees for the year are
$50. The student and parent must sign an Instrument Agreement form and
the maintenance fee will be assessed to the students account.

LFSHS Orchestra Uniform Fee Below is a list of all possible uniform

fees.
o $15 T-Shirt Fee For all 9-12 FSHSO Members
o $12 Dry-Cleaning Fee For all grades10-12 Members who
checked out a uniform (Philharmonic & Symphonic orchestras
ONLY)
o $20 Tuxedo or Black Dress Shirt Fee For all male members
purchasing a new shirt.

6. Freshman Parent Meeting: Friday, August 19, 6:00-6:30 pm @FSHS

Commons area. Information will be provided regarding our staff and program,
fundraising events, trips, and volunteer opportunities, as well as a Q and A
session. Please save the date if your student is in Freshman Orchestra.
7. ORCHESTRA FUN NIGHT: Friday, August 19, 6:30-9:00 pm. An awesome
evening of games, pizza, and fun for ALL ORCHESTRA STUDENTS. See you
there! (Pizza dinner $6)
8. 2016-2017 SCHEDULE: Included with this letter is our rehearsal and concert
schedule for the year. Please place these dates on your family and personal
calendars so we can avoid any conflicts as the year goes by.
9. INSTRUMENTS: You will not need your instrument on Thursday, Aug. 18
(pease only bring an instrument if you are currently using a school instrument
on this day), but we will be playing Friday 8/19, so bring your instrument then! If
youve been practicing all summer.congratulations!!! If not, nows the time to
dust off those strings and start warming up. We have a big year ahead of us
and were going to hit the ground running.
If you have any questions please dont hesitate to contact me via e-mail or phone.
Im looking forward to seeing you all soon!!
Mrs. Erpelding
jerpeldi@usd497.org

(785) 633-1377