February - 2022

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

Assessment Season is here! Your students have worked diligently for Loudoun County Choral Assessment. March will be the busiest month for Lightridge Chorus - and we thank you for all of your support leading up to the biggest performance of the year!

What is Choral Assessment? Assessment is an event where Lightridge Chorus will join the rest of Loudoun County Chorus Departments and perform for a panel of judges. The judges will rate our groups on our musicianship and literacy. This educational experience helps us grow as a department, and gives us feedback on how to improve. This event is comparable to SOLs. Here are the details:

Upcoming Rehearsals

Tuesday, March 8th at 4:15 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Chorus Rehearsal

Upcoming Performances

Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Pre-Assessment Concert

Pre-Assessment concerts are for a final practice before Assessment. Students are to report to the Lightridge Auditorium at 6:15 PM. If they have no ride they are welcome to stay after school. IF they are staying after school they must have their uniform to change into and have pizza cash. The concert starts at 7:00 PM and will be about an hour and a half long. Students are to be in their concert attire for this performance. We will be joined by Willard Chorus students for this event.

Friday, March 18th at John Champe HS

Loudoun County Choral Assessment

Students will be pulled from 4th Block at 2:36 PM. Students will change into their concert attire, eat a snack, and prepare for traveling to John Champe HS. We will take a bus to John Champe HS.

Treble Chorus

[5:00 PM Warm-Up] [5:20 PM Performance] [5:40 PM Sight-Singing]

Bass Chorus

[8:40 PM Warm-Up] [9:00 PM Performance] [9:20 PM Sight-Singing]

Select Treble Chorus

[7:40 PM Warm-Up] [8:00 PM Performance] [8:20 PM Sight-Singing]

Lightridge Singers

[6:20 PM Warm-Up] [6:40 PM Performance] [7:00 PM Sight-Singing]

Assessment Parent Action Items

Field Trip Permission Slip Forms are due on Friday, March 4th.

This form is necessary for your students to have permission to ride the school bus with us to Choral Assessment and attend the event. Please have this filled out and turned in as soon as possible.

ASSESSMENT FIELD TRIP FORM

Concert Attire is due on Thursday, March 17th.

Students can be forgetful when it comes to items for concert attire [black dress, black dress pants, black button-down, black tie, black belt, black socks, and black dress shoes]. We would love for them to bring all of their items on a hanger with their name on it for us to check in advance before assessment!

Whew! March will be action-packed but very worth the reward. Your students are learning so much about commitment, hard work, and responsibility and we cannot be more grateful to be a part of their journey.

Best,

Helai Karim

District Chorus and State Chorus Audition Information

Hello District Chorus Families -

I wanted to make sure to share more information about District Chorus and State Chorus … if I missed anything … let me know!

District Chorus Information

Where can I find information about the sectional coming up?

The second sectional is on Monday February 7th. You must either attend your respective sectional in-person or virtually. Students were aware of both sectionals well in advance. IF you attend virtually you must fill out the Google Form before the event on Friday. Here is the information for the sectional. Make sure you either attended the first sectional in-person or virtually.

When is District Chorus?

District Chorus is on Friday February 11th and Saturday February 12th at Rock Ridge HS

Friday we will have a bus depart from Lightridge HS around 9:30 AM and drop us back off at Lightridge HS around 5:30 PM. Saturday there will be no transportation provided.

Saturday will not have provided transportation. Please arrive at Rock Ridge HS at 8:30 AM in your concert black attire. The high school concert will start at 3:15 PM.

What do I wear for District Chorus? What do I bring to District Chorus?

Friday please wear your black Lightriddge Chorus t-shirt with any pants of your choosing. Bring a water bottle, mask, music, pencil and pizza money [$2 a slice].

Saturday please wear concert black. Bring a water bottle, black mask, music, pencil and pizza money [$2 a slice].

What is the schedule for the two days?

Here is the schedule for the two days including specific rehearsal times.

What is concert black attire?

• black long top [at least 3/4 sleeve]

• black dress pants or floor-length black dress

• black socks or black tights

• black dress shoes or black flats

• black belt [if needed]

Please note that your concert attire should be professional. No jeans, leggings, sneakers, sweatshirts, etc.

Is the event being recorded?

The concert is being professionally recorded and once the recordings are ready they will be distributed by using a YouTube link.

Who can come to the concert?

Anyone and everyone! The concert is free to the public. The middle school concert begins at 1:45 PM. The high school concert begins at 3:15 PM.

Will I make it back in time for Lightridge Spirit Week events?

YES. Fun fact - Ms. Karim moved the Pep Rally to ensure you would be able to participate.

Friday February 11th is the PowderBuff Volleyball Game at Lightridge. It starts at 8:00 PM.

Saturday February 12th is the Bolt Bash Dance at Lightridge. It starts at 8:00 PM.

State Audition Information

Where is the audition?

THIS AUDITION IS IN PERSON at Loudoun County HS. Please arrive at the school at 6:15. The Lightridge timeslot is from 6:40 - 7:04. It is a BLIND audition so you don't need to dress nice. They can't see you. Make sure you have your mask, music, and water. Enter through door D2 off of Catoctin Circle.

What am I supposed to sing for the audition?

Whe're You Walk - same as for District Auditions. There is also a sight-singing example. It will be similar to a level 2.5 that we work on in class. Resources for this on Schoology - they are still up from Districts.

Can Ms. Karim help me prepare for the audition?

YES - I need ALL auditionees to set up a time with Ms. Karim the rehearse for feedback prior to the audition. Reach out to her via Remind to schedule a time.

If I make it - what happens?

States will be occurring in Richmond VA from April 21st - April 23rd. Hotel accommodations and more information regarding rehearsal locations will be available shortly after auditions. Ensure that availability for that weekend.

Best,

Helai Karim

Course Selections [2022-2023]

Course Selections for high school are fast approaching. As students continue on or are embarking on the beginning of high school, it is important to consider the benefits of performing arts elective.

1. Music courses help students create diversity for their college applications. Creativity is valued in the college acceptance process. A sequential music elective also showcases long-term commitment, diligence, and responsibility. Students utilize these skills in all aspects of their lives. How will your students’ college applications differ from other students in Loudoun County?

2. Employers hire creative team workers who stand out. The first question asked in many interviews is, “tell me about yourself?” Does the candidate showcase unique perspectives and skills that can benefit the company? Employers want candidates that are masters in their content knowledge, but also excel in skills like communication, listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving - all of which are taught in fine arts.

3. Honors Music becomes an option for students in high school. The purpose of the honors music option is to challenge students to participate in a diverse spectrum of pre-approved musical activities to enrich their overall musical understanding and provide deeper learning. Successful completion of these requirements will result in an additional 0.5 credit for the chorus class your student is already in.

4. Students are able to continue to be a school community. The continuation of growing musical skills will result in more performance opportunities, advanced courses, and new repertoire. As your child gets older, they will have more space in their schedule for additional electives closer to the end of their high school career. Their junior and senior year is a great time for their transcript to incorporate additional interests your student has. Please also consider your student completing a course through Virtual Loudoun during the school year for no cost.

If you have any questions - please do not hesitate to reach out to me at helai.karim@lcps.org!

December - 2021

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

Happy Holidays! Your students are excited to share their Winter Concert music and are working hard to perfect their music as we gear up for concert season. It will be a busy season leading up to our performances for you all - so here are some updates and reminders:

Winter Concert [rehearsal]

WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 8th [4:15 PM - 6:30 PM]

ALL chorus students will be staying after school on Wednesday, December 8th, for our final rehearsal before our concert. This rehearsal is mandatory for all students. This will be a combined rehearsal with Willard chorus students. It is vital that all students are in attendance so we can run logistics for smooth transitions. Please be prepared to pick up your student from this rehearsal.

Winter Concert

THURSDAY - DECEMBER 9th [7:00 PM]

• 5:00 PM - students meet in the Lightridge HS Cafeteria for call time

• black Lightridge Chorus t-shirt + jeans - due to the backorder of our uniforms we will be wearing our informal attire for this concert

• holiday accessories - encouraged for all students to wear throughout the concert

• students must stay for the duration of the concert

District Chorus

Congratulations to our Lightridge students who were accepted into District Chorus. I cannot be prouder of the hard work that students put into preparations. Vulnerability is not an easy thing, but having the courage to put yourself out there is a valuable lesson to carry on into all aspects of life. We celebrate all of the students who auditioned. Those who are accepted include:

High School SSAA Ensemble

Pooja Viswesh - S1

Isabella Schumacher - S1

Kat Bixler - A1

Priya Gupta - A1

Tori Pierce - A2

High School SATB Ensemble

Taylor Livingston - S2

Lily Selvaraj - A2

Annika Kumar - A2

Sierra Khan - A2

Aarya Kumar - T2

James Smith - T2

Alexander Armstrong - B1

Alternates

Sindura Pasupuleti - S2

Caiden Freimann - T1

Yosh Krupa - T2

Ty Snipe - B2

We cannot wait to see you this week for our performance! As always, let me know if you have any questions! Happy Holidays!

Best,

Helai Karim

November - 2021

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

Our program has already accomplished so much this year and I cannot be more proud of my students! September and October were incredibly busy months for Lightridge in general, but also for Lightridge Chorus!

We successfully hosted All-County Chorus and a number of other choral directors in the area were impressed with the hospitality and professionalism that Lightridge Chorus students showcased. We had incredible auditions for All-County Chorus and I had many students who had perfect scores in sight-singing. Music literacy is an immense focus for our program and the number of perfect audition scores indicates the value students have for it as well.

Below are some updates for the month of November.

COFFEE HOUSE CONCERT

Friday - November 12th - 7 pm

Coffee House will be our first concert of the year. It will be a mixture of solos, duets, and group performances prepared by students. Each ensemble will also sing a prepared song for this event. Coffee House will feature music that is not of classical nature and centered around students’ choices. Students have the ability to audition for solos, duets, and group performances THIS WEEK after school and before school, if they contact me in advance. Encourage your student to audition! Students are to wear their black Lightridge Chorus t-shirt and any bottoms of their choosing besides sweatpants and leggings. All students will be required to wear masks for this event.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for this event will be $5 for Lightridge Students and $10 for families. Please purchase tickets for this event through our Online Payment Portal. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Please do what you can to purchase online ahead of time to assist with the flow of admission that day! Students who are in Lightridge Chorus do not need to pay for admission since they all will be performing. This is a mandatory event for all Lightridge Chorus students. Coffee House will be our biggest annual fundraiser. Coffee House auditions.

COFFEE + DESSERTS NEEDED

We are looking for assistance in providing coffee, tea, and desserts for this event! There will be a table in the back of the cafeteria available with refreshments and desserts. Please sign-up to bring items here!

Honors Chorus

The purpose of honors music ensemble classes is to challenge students to enrich their overall musical understanding and provide deeper learning. Successful completion of requirements will result in an additional 0.5 credit for the ensemble your student is enrolled in.

Four different tasks must be completed throughout the year in order for a student to receive credit. Students have been given a list of tasks that count for honors points and are to share that information with you. Students who have shared intention for signing up for Honors Chorus will be bringing home an Application Form to be filled out by the student and parent in order to officially sign-up for the course. This Application Form is due Thursday, October 28th. Students are to also submit their intention form to indicate their choices for their four tasks.

1st Quarter Grades

All grades are up to date at this time for Lightridge Chorus students. Students will be receiving a Major Summative Grade reflecting their cumulative Formal Formative Grades for Rehearsal Skills on the last day of the quarter. This grade will indicate the sum of all of the formative grades combined. Besides that final submission, everything is accurate and prepared for report cards. If you or your students have any concerns regarding their grades, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

SPIRIT WEAR

Lightridge Chorus will be selling fundraising apparel from now until November 15th! Visit the website through Cheer Sports to purchase apparel. All apparel will be delivered through CheerSports.

Parent Involvement

There are many elements of a choral program that need to be established for our students to have the best experience possible filled with valuable opportunities. For this reason, I hope to collaborate with families to establish traditions [scholarships | college visits | community service] that will contribute to the overall value that this program can bring to our community. Please fill out the form below if you are interested in being a member of the LCPA!

I am excited for the events that are upcoming and kicking off some in-person performances!

Thank you for your continuous support!

Best,

Helai Karim

October - 2021

Welcome, Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has been such an exciting start to the school year! The chorus room has been filled with harmony, students have been sneaking snacks out of my office, and I’ve been distancing myself from your new drivers in the school parking lot. I have had such an incredible time reuniting with students the past couple of weeks and building relationships with my new students as well. Not many teachers have the privilege of watching students grow from year to year. I feel nothing but gratitude for having the opportunity to teach your children.

As many of you know, building a strong relationship with the families of my students is a priority of mine. The Lightridge Sings Newsletter will share updates with you about the Lightridge Chorus Program!

Handbook + Calendar

Below is the Lightridge Chorus Handbook and Chorus Calendar. Once you have taken a look at both of these please complete the Permission Click and pay the Course Fee. If you have any questions about these two items, please email me at helai.karim@lcps.org. All forms and payments are due on Friday, October 15th.

Please acknowledge the change that was made for our Coffee House Concert to Friday, November 10th at 7:00 PM. This change was made to accommodate the immense number of conflicts with winter sports tryouts. Students will still have rehearsal on Tuesday, November 9th for sound checks. I appreciate the flexibility with this!

SPIRIT WEAR

Lightridge Chorus will be selling fundraising apparel from until November 1st! Visit the website through Cheer Sports to purchase apparel. All apparel will be delivered through CheerSports.

Parent Involvement

There are many elements of a choral program that need to be established for our students to have the best experience possible filled with valuable opportunities. For this reason, I hope to collaborate with families to establish traditions [scholarships | college visits | community service] that will contribute to the overall value that this program can bring to our community. Please fill out the form below if you are interested in being a member of the LCPA!

I am blessed to be at Lightridge and cannot wait to see what we accomplish this year as a department. I am beyond ready to have students make memories and grow as musicians. Go Bolts!

Best,

Helai Karim

June - 2021

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

Last week I shared with the students how grateful I am for them and for them not giving up. This year was difficult as a teacher. The countless words of encouragement that they sent me along the way made the world of a difference. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than with your students working to make their high school experience the best it can be.

Next year is all about establishing the vision of Lightridge Chorus and the positive impact it will have on students’ experience. Music matters, but what matters more is helping students navigate through these years as they learn who they are and who they want to become. Yes - we rehearse and perform. What I strive for is establishing a culture that results in personal growth beyond the work we do as musicians.

Lightridge Virtual Showcase

All students in the Lightridge Choral Department and the Willard Choral Department have been collaborating for our virtual showcase. Our students are very excited to share our hard work! Students have persevered this year in many ways. I am especially proud of their progress in regards to their confidence in singing at home and recording themselves. The showcase is available for you to watch now! There will be a different version of Special that will be shared at a later date. Nothing will ever take the place of rehearsing in-person and performing in-person. I cannot wait for those moments to return!

Lightridge Chorus Parent Association

There are many elements of a choral program that need to be established for our students to have the best experience possible filled with valuable opportunities. For this reason, I hope to collaborate with families to establish traditions [scholarships | college visits | community service] that will contribute to the overall value that this program can bring to our community. Please fill out this form if you are interested in being a member of the LCPA! I will be in touch with those interested throughout the summer. More information to come!

What a year it’s been. As always, please let me know if there is anything I can do for your student to help them know how much they are valued and loved.

WE MADE IT!

Best,

Helai Karim

May - 2021

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

I hope that the beautiful weather has brought your families joy as we head into the end of the school year! We have fallen into a flow with concurrent learning, however, we cannot wait for next year to have all students back in the building for full rehearsals! I feel as if we have one foot out the door ready for the next chapter despite recognizing the importance of finishing this year off strong. This newsletter will provide details regarding our virtual showcase and our Lightridge Singers being featured for our school’s Dedication Ceremony.

Please keep updated through Lightridge Chorus social media! The links are below.

Dedication Ceremony - Performance

Students who are in the Lightridge Singers [2nd Block] will be performing for the Lightridge HS Dedication Ceremony. This is a ribbon-cutting ceremony that will be celebrating the school’s inaugural year. This ceremony was supposed to be in October but has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 3rd. This ceremony will be in-person for Loudoun County Public School’s Interim Superintendent, School Board Members, and distinguished guests. The ceremony will also be live-streamed. Due to this performance’s in-person nature, students in 2nd Block have been granted special permission to attend three in-person rehearsals during 2nd Block in order to join their hybrid classmates.

These are the mandatory rehearsals and performance dates that will need to be attended:

Tuesday, May 25th [11:00 AM - 12:15 PM]

Thursday, May 27th [11:00 AM - 12:15 PM]

Tuesday, June 1st [11:00 AM - 12:15 PM]

Thursday, June 3rd [9:00 AM Call Time - 11:30 AM Pick Up Time]

The decision to not have rehearsals after-school or on asynchronous Mondays is to honor prior obligations related to other extra-curricular activities. If transportation is an issue for your student - we would love to arrange rides. All students will be temperature checked and will have to fill out an LCPS Covid-19 Symptom Checker Form when entering the building. Students have completed this process for various events in school this year and I am confident that these rehearsals will run just as smoothly. If there are any questions or concerns about this event and the rehearsals leading up to it - please do not hesitate to reach out!

4th Quarter Grades - Virtual Showcase

All students in the Lightridge Choral Department and the Willard Choral Department have been collaborating for our virtual showcase. Most of our recordings have been submitted and we will be working on our visual elements for the next couple of weeks. Our students are very excited to share our hard work! Students have persevered this year in many ways. I am especially proud of their progress in regards to their confidence in singing at home and recording themselves. The showcase will be aired on YouTube sometime in the last two weeks of school.

Most of the grades this quarter are related to the content students are creating for this showcase. There will also be other assignments that will be included related to our curriculum. I also intend on meeting with each student individually as well this quarter for a vocal evaluation and to discuss their progress! This process will serve as an informal audition for the following school year’s ensemble placement.

Lightridge Chorus Parent Association

There are many elements of a choral program that need to be established for our students to have the best experience possible filled with valuable opportunities. For this reason, I hope to collaborate with families to establish traditions [scholarships | college visits | community service] that will contribute to the overall value that this program can bring to our community. Please fill out this form if you are interested in being a member of the LCPA! Please join us for our first meeting on -

Time: Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:00 PM

https://zoom.us/j/99152948536?pwd=dnJnVVpCbFpwSDRBZFhCNFdxTFNrZz09

 Meeting ID: 991 5294 8536

Passcode: 6Q4V5z

We are almost to the finish line! What a year it’s been. I will be reaching out towards the end of the year to share details regarding our virtual showcase. As always, please let me know if there is anything I can do for your student to help them know how much they are valued and loved.

Best,

Helai Karim

March - 2021

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has meant so much to hear harmonies in person these past weeks with the addition of hybrid to our year. It has instilled a new sense of motivation in me and I owe it to the energy your students have brought into the building. I wanted to share some updates and share the accomplishments that have been achieved thus far!

Please keep updated through Lightridge Chorus social media! The links are below.

Hybrid Learning - Distance Learning

Information was just released that starting April 20th, students that have currently selected the hybrid model will be moving to four days a week for instruction in their schools. Students who are currently in the distance model will continue in that choice. These steps Loudoun is taking have me hopeful that the following year will be where we start to truly establish Lightridge Chorus with countless opportunities through performances, leadership, and service.

HOW IS CHORUS HANDLING CONCURRENT LEARNING?

Hybrid Students -

We have started this process and I have quickly found myself back in the rhythm of the model of instruction I used prior to the pandemic. It has truly brought me joy! Students are able to see students that are at home projected on our board and can interact with them through microphones we have stationed throughout the classroom.

Loudoun County Public Schools has worked closely with health professionals to determine the guidelines for music classes. Extensive research has been done throughout the world in regards to playing instruments and singing indoors. Here are the guidelines created:

• 8 - 10 Feet Distance: our classrooms are much bigger than other classrooms and can comfortably accommodate this extra distance.

• Mandatory Masks: students will be wearing masks at all times, whether we are singing or not.

Distance Students -

Students at home are able to see the students in class through a classroom camera and can interact with them through microphones we have stationed throughout the classroom. Classes, where students have cameras on at home, are able to truly soak in the content being taught. Classes, where students do not have cameras on at home, struggle to build a cohesive environment and focus on the content being taught.

I am grateful to have met almost all of my students in person and have been able to maintain relationships with them regardless of the extent of their online presence. My hope is that they are engaged. I cannot wait for the day that we are all able to be together in the classroom and that I am able to showcase the true potential of high school choral opportunities and how they can enrich a person’s life.

This photo is with students from 4th Block Women’s Chorus - they are the winners of showcasing the potential this concurrent model has.

3rd Quarter Grades

Below is a calendar of the final assessments students have for this quarter. They are submitting final recordings and have prepared for this for the past month and a half. These recordings can be done all in one session or can be done all on the first day they have chorus class that week depending on their comfort level.

Students can either record at home or at school regardless of their status as a hybrid or distance student.

Recording at Home: Please ensure that your student has headphones that have microphone capability in order to record their final assessment for the quarter. The quality of the recording is important. Students are aware of the tricks available for recording without fuzzy background noise or errors with submission. Please provide your student with about thirty minutes of privacy and space to record comfortably.

Recording at School: Students who are distance learners also have an option to come in and use our professional recording equipment for their upcoming Major Summative Recordings in a more comfortable setting. Here is the link for signing up for a studio slot.

Connected

During the first semester, students spent time perfecting their recordings for our first virtual performance, Connected. Please share our first virtual accomplishment! We are currently working on our spring virtual showcase and cannot wait to share the music we are making with you!

District Chorus

Congratulations to the Lightridge Chorus students who were accepted into District Chorus this year! We are awaiting State Chorus results and will be sharing those soon.

This year has been challenging to say the least. Your students have been resilient and I know you as families have been too. Thank you for all you do and the support you give. Know that I am always here to listen and to do what I can to remain an active part of your students high school experience. I cannot wait for us to all experience music through concerts again. Soon!

Socially Distant,

Helai Karim

November - 2020

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

Thanksgiving will be different this year, however, I am no less thankful for the work I am blessed to do. Your students have persevered through many obstacles this year and I am grateful to have them in my life. This newsletter will include updates regarding your second-semester options of hybrid learning or distance learning, what we are working on during the second quarter, and chorus spirit wear pick up days. Please keep updated through Lightridge Chorus social media! The links are below.

Hybrid Learning - Distance Learning

The link below has set of instructions for families of all students to complete a survey by Friday, November 20 at 8:00 PM to register their choices for the type of instruction for their students in the second semester, which begins January 21. All families should make a new selection for the second semester, even if your preference has not changed. 

There are two options:

• Hybrid Learning, in which a child comes into school twice a week and is at home the other days of the week.

• Distance learning, in which a child will not attend school in person.

Choices must be made in the ParentVUE system by November 20 at 8 p.m. Information about how to make the selection through ParentVue is available on the LCPS ParentVue Website.

How will chorus be handling hybrid learning?

Loudoun County Public Schools has worked closely with health professionals to determine the guidelines for music classes. Extensive research has been done throughout the world in regards to playing instruments and singing indoors. Here are the guidelines created:

• 10 Feet Distance: our classrooms are much bigger than other classrooms and can comfortably accommodate for this extra distance.

• 30 Minutes of Singing: guidelines indicate that we will be singing for half-an-hour and working on other elements of the chorus curriculum to allow for air circulation.

• Mandatory Masks: students will be wearing masks at all times, whether we are singing singing or not.

Choice Board

Chorus students worked diligently first quarter as they prepared for our virtual performance of Connected. We are still in the editing stages of this performance and hope to have it completed as soon as possible! It was important to me to have second quarter serve as a time for individual growth rather than another quarter rehearsing music. I wanted each student to intentionally choose their own assignments that will strengthen their understanding of music and its significance to other aspects of life.

Students have already chosen their assignments from the list below:

A copy of this can be found on Schoology with links to every assignment and their specific directions.

Students have created a schedule for what assignments they would like to work on each week. We are working together to keep them on track and make sure that their focus during this holiday season is to mainly work on assignments during class time so they can focus on spending time with their families. We are following this daily schedule to structure our time:

While students are working individually, I am available for assistance and also teaching voice lessons to students who signed up for them.

Chorus Apparel [Pick-Up]

Every student has a t-shirt to pick up from Lightridge in the upcoming weeks. Some students who also ordered extra spirit wear can pick up their items during this time as well. If the dates and times do not work for you - do not hesitate to reach out for an alternative time.

Here are the pick up dates and times:

• Monday, November 30th from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

• Wednesday, December 2nd from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Pick-Up will be by the Chorus Room - below is an image of its location:

Please text Ms. Karim on Remind when you arrive so she can come out with your t-shirt!

As always, thank you for your support of Lightridge Chorus. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Socially Distant,

Helai Karim

October - 2020

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

We are settling into our routine this year and I wanted to share our progress and some reminders. Please keep updated through Lightridge Chorus social media!

CALENDAR

Below is our calendar for the remainder of Quarter I! The calendar lays out what is worked on during class time and when our Minor Summative and Major Summative assessments are. Anything not completed during class is expected to be completed during learning lab. I have designed our distance learning curriculum to be focused on building community and still making music. We break up our class time into sections and it has been so wonderful to see students engaged and getting back into rehearsing!

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT

You should be hearing your student singing during our rehearsals. Much of what I teach in chorus has to do with confidence. Your student needs space to be vulnerable while singing at home. They are used to singing in rehearsal with their classmates. Please encourage them how you see fit. You know your student best and know what environment at home will ensure their comfort when submitting recordings for chorus or singing during rehearsal!

GRADES

I spend time listening to every student’s submission each time there is an assignment. This takes time and I am doing the best I can to keep things up to date. This week you will see that all grades have been updated up to this point in Quarter I. Encourage your student to complete missing assignments if you see any! Let me know if you have any questions!

I hope you all are enjoying this fall weather and are spending quality time with your children at home. I miss them all very much and cannot wait to hear them sing in person one day soon!

Best,

Helai Karim

September - 2020

Welcome, Lightridge Chorus Families -

This is not how I envisioned the beginning of our time at Lightridge High School. The chorus room would have been filled with harmony, students would be sneaking snacks out of my office, and I would be distancing myself from your new drivers in the school parking lot. With all of the current uncertainties, I want you to know that my dedication to the work of serving your students will not change, no matter the circumstance.

---

As many of you know, building a strong relationship with the families of my students is a priority of mine. The Lightridge Sings Newsletter will share updates with you about the Lightridge Chorus Program!

SYLLABUS

Below is the Distance Learning Syllabus and helpful links for keeping updated.

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT

Much of what I teach in chorus has to do with confidence. Your student needs space to be vulnerable while singing at home. They are used to singing in rehearsal with their classmates. Please encourage them how you see fit. You know your student best and know what environment at home will ensure their comfort when submitting recordings for chorus or singing during rehearsal.

DO

• support them in finding a space in your home where they can practice and perform freely

DON’T

• draw attention to their progress unless they are ready to share [both positive and negative attention can have them overthink]

SPIRIT WEAR

Lightridge Chorus will be selling fundraising apparel from until October 1st! Visit the website through Cheer Sports to purchase apparel. All apparel will be personally delivered to your home by Ms. Karim [with a mask and 6-feet away of course]!

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Parent involvement and support is vital for a successful opening and a thriving program. Do not hesitate to reach out to me anytime! I am blessed to be at Lightridge and cannot wait to see your students grow and experience high school. Go Lightning!

Socially Distant,

Helai Karim