Update: February 7, 2013

CONGRATS MINI-MADS
Students in our beginning ensembles had the opportunity to audition for Mini Mads, a mostly 9-10th version of our Madrigal Singers.  This extra curricular ensemble will rehearse before/after school and participate in Solo-Ensemble Festival.  To see the 2012-13 Mini Mads Roster CLICK HERE.

NYC TRIP

• Trip payment #2 ($200) is due Friday, February 8.  You may choose to pay online using www.charmsoffice.com or turn payment in to Cates.  Remember checks are made out to Olathe East Choir Boosters and must have the student's first and last name in the memo.
• If you plan to join the trip please contact Cates (dcatesoe@olatheschools.org) so he can add you as a trip participant in Charms.  If additional non-student travelers will be going on the trip please email those names to Cates so they can be added in Charms as well.
• All trip payments are non-refundable.  

RETURN UNSOLD ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
The Entertainment Book Sale has officially ended.  If you still have an Entertainment Book it must be returned.  Congrats to Brian Percival in Hawk Men--he sold 33 books!

2013-2014 CHOIR ENROLLMENT/AUDITIONS
Next week we will begin auditioning for 13.14 OE Choirs.  Audition materials will be available outside of the choir room and at www.oechoirs.org.  The audition dates listed on the choir calendar may be used if students do not have an opportunity to audition in class.  All auditions must be complete by Wednesday, March 13.  Audition results will be posted on Friday, March 15.

Important clarification:
Next year we will begin asking those students who are in Armonizzare and Madrigal Singers to dual enroll in Chorale, similar to the jazz band students being asked to take Marching/Symphonic Band.  Please note that this change will be made slowly over several years.  Exceptions will be made for students who are unable to dual enroll this year--this is not a reason to refrain from auditioning.

Update: Friday, Jan. 18

GENERAL BOOSTERS/NY TRIP MEETING
Our second of two yearly General Choir Boosters meetings will be held on Tuesday, January 22 at 6:30p in the choir room.  The meeting will last 30 min.

Following the boosters meeting we will have our first meeting concerning next year's trip to New York City.  This meeting should begin close to 7p and end by 7:30p.

SIGN-UP FOR CHOIR TEXTS!
To sign-up for choir texts messages send the code below that applies to you to: 571-384-4485.

• Chorale: @oechorale
• Madrigals: @oemads
• Armonizzare: @oearmon
• Orange & Blue: @oandb
• Belle Chanson & Hawk Men: Mrs. Holthus set up your texts last semester
• If you are going on the New York Trip: @oenyc

Charms Account

Good News!  After an evening of working with various finance features on Charms I have:

1.  Included profit from the Patron Drive in Student Choir Accounts
2.  Set-up the trip total to be tracked in Charms

You should be able to log-in to see your current choir account balance and track your trip payments.

If you have signed up for the NY Trip and have money in your choir account it will automatically be subtracted from your trip total when each payment is due.

Feel free to log in to www.charmsoffice.com to check your choir account balance.

Peace.
Cates

Update: January 8, 2013

WELCOME BACK!

I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful winter break!  Mrs. Holthus and I are excited to begin the 2nd Semester!  The next several months are filled with the musical: Legally Blonde, Harmony Explosion, Solo/Ensemble Contest, State Large Ensemble, State Solo/Ensemble, Spring Show and Graduation!  Make the most of all of these awesome opportunities by doing your best!  

For seniors, this will be your last chance to participate in many of these events.  It is temping to "check out" or "coast" through your final semester of high school.  I encourage you to do just the opposite--you will never get this time back.  Your full commitment will impact the memories you will have and the legacy that you will leave for choir at Olathe East!

Let's have an EPIC second semester!

Cates & Mrs. Holthus

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK SALES WRAP-UP THIS WEEK

Students participating in the Entertainment Book Sale must turn in any remaining books and money for books by this Friday, January 11.

FIRST NEW YORK CITY TRIP PAYMENT DUE FRIDAY

Our first trip payment ($200) is due Friday, January 11.  Payment may be turned-in to Cates or mailed to:

• Kala Welch, Treasurer
  OE Choir Boosters
  12743 S. Gallery St.
  Olathe, KS 66062

Below is a list of remaining trip payment due dates.  Please add these dates to your calendar.  Payments may not be submitted late.

February 8, 2013

March 8, 2013

April 12, 2013

May 10, 2013

June 14, 2013

July 12, 2013

August 9, 2013

September 13, 2013

October 11, 2013

November 8, 2013

ADDITIONAL NEW YORK TRIP INFORMATION

A few points of clarification concerning the trip:

• Parents/family members are welcome to attend.
• Parents/family may choose to plan/pay for their trip through our travel company or make their own arrangements.
• A student may add themselves to the trip after the first payment is due.  They simply owe the total amount due to that date. Eg. If a student decides to go on the trip on March 8 they owe the January, February and March payments ($600).
• The trip company has assured me that alternate arrangements can be made for any football players who may be involved in a State Football game.  There could be a $100 transfer fee for airfare.

2nd SEMESTER CALENDAR

A hard-copy of the Choir Calendar of Events was passed out in class this week.  For the most current choir calendar please visit www.oechoirs.org.

Entertainment Book Sale

In an effort to get one more fundraiser for individual student accounts we kicked off an Entertainment Book Fundraiser on Friday. 

Below are the terms for the fundraiser:

• Students are NOT required to participate
• Sale Begins - December 14
• Sale End - January 4th
• Students will be able to offer buyers a 2 for 1 special - for every One book someone buys, they will receive another book free of charge.
• The books sell for $30 dollars
• Individual student profit it $15 per $30 sale
• Books may be sold to out-of-town customers online.  A book specific to their community will be sent to them.  Students will STILL receive one free KC book for their out-of-town sale (not an additional out-of-town book)
• Payment and delivery process (excluding out-of-town sales):
• Students will collect payment for the sale upfront
• Students will turn-in money to the director
• Students will be issued books
• Students will deliver books

Questions?
Contact Cates: dcatesoe@olatheschools.org or Mrs. Holthus: jholthusoe@olatheschools.org

HAPPY SELLING!

Reminder:  There is a $200 New York Trip Payment Due on January 11.

Kansas All-State Choir Results!

Congrats to our OE All-State Choir members:

Nikolas Andrews
Joy Donnelly
Sam Edwards
Luke Harbur
Adam Holthus
Grant Johnso
Marshall Monrad
Monica Sigler
Viktoria Sterkhova

Alternate:
Anna Elliott

For the full list:
http://www.ksmea.org/hschoir/

Update: December 11, 2012

OE Choir Students & Parents:

A HUGE congrats to ALL of our choirs for OUTSTANDING Winter Spectacular performances.  Each ensemble performed with artistry and musicality.  We are proud of you!

Peace.
Cates & Mrs. Holthus

ADOPT-A-FAMILY
OE Choirs have been collecting in class to make a contribution to over 30 Olathe East families who are in need or homeless this holiday season. We will continue to collect through finals.  Funds collected will be given to the OE Administration to distribute those in need.

PATRONS
We have wrapped up the OE Choir Patron Drive.  We are still processing many of the checks and forms.  We hope to send out a statement of Patron Drive results  and post our most current patron list on the choir website before winter break.

NEW YORK TRIP CONFIRMATION
Students and parents who showed an interested in going on next year's trip to New York City will receive a confirmation email by next week.

PAYMENT REMINDER:  The first payment for the New York Trip is due January 11.  

NATIONAL ANTHEM @ HOME BASKETBALL GAMES
To sign-up to perform the National Anthem at a home girls or boys basketball game (individuals or small groups) you must perform for Cates or Mrs. Holthus.  Once you have been cleared you may use the link below to sign-up for a game:
NATL ANTHEM @ BASKETBALL SIGN-UP

CHOIR CALENDAR UPDATED
There have been a few date changes and additions to the online calendar of events for second semester.  Please take a moment to glance over the calendar: www.oechoirs.org

GET OE CHOIR GEAR
www.oechoirs.org will soon offer a link to purchase Olathe East Choir Gear: polos, sweatshirts, coffee mugs etc.  To access the link now: CLICK HERE  Currently the selection is limited to a few items.  Submit your ideas by using the wishlist link located at the top of the page.