The Brookwood Orchestra Student Handbook
Students are expected to be in the Right Place at the Right Time with the Right Equipment and the Right Attitude!
Required Supplies and Equipment
- An instrument and bow of quality
- A quality instrument is an investment but rental plans can be very manageable.
- Play the instrument before purchase or contract rental.
- Avoid “Violin-Shaped-Objects” that are difficult to play and sound terrible.
- Music teachers and directors can help!
- Shoulder Rest – for VIOLIN and VIOLA (no sponges!)
- Rock Stop – for CELLO and BASS
- Rosin & Cleaning Cloth
- Pencils
- Mute
- Black Three-Ring Binder
- "Concert Black" Formalwear (NOT included in New Student Fee)
- We will provide our approved vendor information during the first week of class. Please do NOT purchase your concert attire until we give you the information you need.
- Annual T-Shirt (Provided for Informal Concerts)
- Music Stand (for at-home practice)
- New Strings (preferably each year)
- New Bow/Rehair (preferably each year)
- Short Fingernails!
Attendance
Attendance is required at every rehearsal.
- Rehearsals take place every day during your orchestra class period, and occasionally after school hours or weekends. Required out-of-class activities, as stipulated by the teacher, will determine a portion of the student’s grade (GCPS policy).
- Students must be present for 70% of rehearsals to be eligible to perform in the upcoming concert. If a student fails to attend the minimum required amount of rehearsal (excused or unexcused), he or she will not be permitted to perform with the orchestra at the concert and an alternate performance will be assigned – attendance at the concert is expected and required.
- MiniCamp is a required outside-the-school-day rehearsal in preparation for LGPE. Check the calendar for when your orchestra is rehearsing. This typically takes place near the beginning of the 2nd semester.
- Failure to attend MiniCamp will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, students have five school days to perform their part for the teacher as a make-up assignment for a grade.
Attendance at concerts is required. Check the calendar for when your orchestra is performing.
- Orchestra Concerts at school are either in the Theater or the Commons.
- Performing students are expected to arrive and sign-in at least 30 minutes prior to concert time.
- Failure to attend a concert will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, the student will have five school days to perform their part for a make-up grade.
- Concert etiquette: Let others enjoy the musical performance undisturbed. Respectful attentiveness is required at performances. Phone use is highly distracting to those around you and will result in a letter grade deduction per offense.
- Clean up. Do not leave your instrument, music or other personal items in the Commons or Theatre. Please help stack chairs and stands onto the racks. BOLT can take it from there.
- LGPE is March 11-13 at School of the Arts (Central Gwinnett High School).
- Please do not schedule other events for the LGPE weekend. Specific dates and times will be announced as soon as possible.
- LGPE is a required performance that takes place away from Brookwood High School. The weekend and location is on the calendar, however, please reserve the entire weekend as we will not know our performance times until February.
- Failure to perform at LGPE will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, students have five school days to perform their part for the teacher as a make-up assignment for a grade.
Excused Absences and Make-Up Assignments
Students will be excused from school under the following circumstances:
Students will be excused from school under the following circumstances:
- Personal illness or attendance in school endangering a student’s health or the health of others. (In case of an emergency, a written note must be provided within five school days of the absence to be excused.)
- A serious illness or death in a student’s family necessitating absence from school.
- A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.
- Celebrating verifiable religious holidays necessitating absence from school (with advanced notice).
- The cancellation of school by GCPS due to conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.
Student Progress
Students will receive Progress Reports at the 6-week and 12-week mark during each semester and will receive a Report Card at the conclusion of each semester. Student grades are available on the ParentVUE and StudentVUE. Students and parents are advised to check the academic progress of students throughout the semester. Parents may request access to the ParentVUE and StudentVUE by visiting the Brookwood High School Main Office. Students who do not meet the academic requirements of passing their classes may be assigned mandatory Academic Intervention, which meets during Extended Lunch periods.
Classroom Grades (35%)
- 20% - Playing Tests – Students will be asked to perform alone and with others excerpts from their concert music and assigned technical exercises. Playing tests are how we measure skill development. The goal is always improvement, therefore, students are allowed to re-play any playing test within the concert cycle. Once that concert has passed, reassessment will no longer be an option. Students will be assessed in the following categories:
- Tone – bow usage (Weight, Angle, Speed, Placement)
- Rhythm – pulse is steady, note and rest durations as presented in the music
- Articulation – each note is “pronounced” as indicated in the music
- Pitch – notes are correct and well in tune
- Expression – dynamic levels are obvious, appropriate, consistent and contrasting
- Artistry – perform with creative nuance and appropriate style
- 15% - Assignments – Assignments in class and online are designed to prepare students for written exams. Point break-downs and rubrics for these will be present at the time of assignment.
Summative Grades (45%)
- 25% - Rehearsal Skills – Students will receive points for each of the following categories: Punctuality, Preparedness, Participation, and Professionalism. Points may be deducted for the following reasons:
- Punctuality – absent, late, packing up early
- Preparedness – no instrument, no music, fingernails are too long
- Participation – not participating, doing other work, sleeping
- Professionalism – talking, causing a disruption, phone is out
- 20% - Concerts and Performances
- Professionalism – Students are well-prepared for concerts, arrive dressed and on time and behave in a professional manner on and off the "stage."
- Musicianship – Performance Quality as observed by the Directors.
Final Exams (20%)
- 10% - Performance Final - Students will perform a prescribed etude or piece of music for the directors to demonstrate mastery of a skill required for their orchestra class. Tone, Rhythm, Articulation, Pitch and Expression are always important but special attention will be focused on the development of new skills. Students will have up to three opportunities throughout the semester to demonstrate mastery of the assigned piece or etude.
- 10% - Final Exam - The written final exam will be administered on the scheduled final exam day for each class period. These multiple choice questions will relate to the AKS as stated for each orchestra. [Graduating Seniors may be able to exempt their 2nd Semester local final exams if they meet Academic, Attendance, and Behavior criteria.]
Academic Knowledge and Skills
Maroon Orchestra
Gold Orchestra |
Concert Strings
Symphonic Strings |
Philharmonic Orchestra
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Chamber Orchestra
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Procedures, Rules and Response to Behavior
Brookwood Expectations
- Students are expected to exhibit the characteristics of an UPSTANDER: Citizenship, Advocacy, Respect, and Engagement. Therefore, students are expected to conduct themselves as mature young adults while on the BHS campus.
- Students are expected to comply with reasonable requests of staff, including identifying themselves by name when asked.
- Students are expected to remain seated in The Commons before school and during lunch and not roam.
- Students are expected to behave appropriately in the hallways.
- Students must exit the building by 2:25 in the afternoons unless at a school-sponsored activity and supervised by a teacher or coach.
- Students should remain in supervised areas once they arrive to and while they are on campus. Students are not to loiter in the restrooms, stairwells, or outside the building. (Orchestra students staying at school on concert days are expected to remain in the orchestra room until the concert.)
- Students are expected to be in class when the bell rings. Students must have a hall pass to be in the hall when class is in session.
- Students may not wear anything which may make them unable to be identified. This includes but is not limited to hats and hoods.
Orchestra Room Rules
- Respect and exhibit an awareness of other people and their property.
- Do not disturb people who are working.
- Be responsible for your own learning.
- Come to class prepared to make music.
- Food and drinks are NOT allowed in the orchestra room. Anything other than water can be dropped off at the door.
- ALL Electronic devices should be off and packed away during rehearsal. This includes headphones, earbuds, meta glasses, and so forth.
Food and drinks are NOT allowed in the Orchestra Room.
While Brookwood High School attempts to keep classrooms free of common food allergies (milk/dairy, seafood/fish, peanuts/tree nuts, eggs, soy, wheat), there could be traces of food allergens present. When bringing snacks for school, please consider bringing snacks that are free of tree nuts and peanuts in order to be considerate of the health and safety of our students with nut allergies.
Eating and drinking in classrooms and hallways are discouraged. Students should consume food and beverages in the Commons and other designated areas.
While Brookwood High School attempts to keep classrooms free of common food allergies (milk/dairy, seafood/fish, peanuts/tree nuts, eggs, soy, wheat), there could be traces of food allergens present. When bringing snacks for school, please consider bringing snacks that are free of tree nuts and peanuts in order to be considerate of the health and safety of our students with nut allergies.
Eating and drinking in classrooms and hallways are discouraged. Students should consume food and beverages in the Commons and other designated areas.
Response to Behavior:
Students who fail to abide by Orchestra Room Rules or otherwise cause a disruption to the learning and music-making environment will be asked to leave.
Students who fail to abide by Orchestra Room Rules or otherwise cause a disruption to the learning and music-making environment will be asked to leave.
- Students may receive a verbal warning
- Once asked to leave rehearsal, students find a place in the room to remain quiet while the ensemble continues.
- Students who continue to disrupt will be directed to an administrator.
Academic Honesty & Honor Code
The Brookwood tradition of excellence requires an academic environment that rejects cheating or any other form of dishonesty. In addition, the academic integrity of all students is paramount in the pillars of citizenship and respect that describe a Brookwood UPSTANDER. An essential part of education is developing a sense of honor, responsibility, and ethical principles that extend to all facets of life. Our students can earn respect for themselves and their academic work through academic integrity and ethical conduct.
Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead a teacher in arriving at an honest evaluation of student achievement. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Looking at another student’s answers or work or sharing answers on an independent assignment or assessment unless expressly permitted by the teacher.
- Attempting to communicate information in any way during an independent assignment or assessment unless expressly permitted by the teacher.
- Having cheat sheets or information written on the body or other personal objects.
- Using programmed calculators or other electronic devices unless expressly permitted by the teacher.
- Looking at quiz, test, or exam materials prior to their administration.
- Sharing or receiving information regarding an assignment or assessment.
- Failing to give credit when the ideas, words, or works of others are used. (See the information in your agenda book regarding Plagiarism.)
- Submitting work that is not created by the student. This includes, but is not limited, to file sharing (submitting the same work with different header, copying files to and from electronic devices and web tools, and/or receiving or purchasing solutions or works from others).
- Taking or transmitting photographs of secure assignment or assessments.
- ANY electronic device (including, but not limited to, cell phones and smart watches) visible during ANY assessment can be considered cheating. At no time during an assessment should an unauthorized electronic device be visible or accessible.
- NO students should have access to their phones or electronic devices until ALL students are finished with the assessment.
Cheating is inexcusable conduct and will be dealt with strictly. The teacher will contact the parent(s), and a record of the incident will be placed in the student’s disciplinary file. Students may lose other privileges, positions, or opportunities as determined by the administration.
Electronic Devices & School Technology
Being responsible stewards of electronic devices and practicing digital citizenship are important skills for students.
Google Classroom and Digital Learning Days
- Google Classroom is Gwinnett's digital content, learning, assessment, and support system. Brookwood students are expected to check their Google Classroom course pages on a regular basis.
- During any digital learning days (DLD) for this school year, students should log in and check every course’s Google Classroom page each class period.
- Brookwood Orchestra uses Google Classroom for the majority of assignments and distribution of music and other materials. Assignments, and make-up Playing Tests should all be submitted via Google Classroom (no emails!).
Personal Electronic Devices
To promote student engagement and minimize distractions, Brookwood High School classrooms are phone-free spaces. Students may not use cell phones, headphones, personal devices, or Meta glasses during class. Each classroom provides storage pockets for student devices.
ANY electronic device (including, but limited to, cell phones and smart watches) visible during ANY assessment can be considered cheating.
Consequences
To promote student engagement and minimize distractions, Brookwood High School classrooms are phone-free spaces. Students may not use cell phones, headphones, personal devices, or Meta glasses during class. Each classroom provides storage pockets for student devices.
ANY electronic device (including, but limited to, cell phones and smart watches) visible during ANY assessment can be considered cheating.
Consequences
- Violations of the electronic device policy will result in consequences as determined by the administration.
Exceptions, changes, and additions to the Brookwood High School Electronic Device Policy may be made by the Principal or his/her designee for specific reasons. Brookwood High School is not responsible for loss or theft of electronic devices. It is the responsibility of the student to secure these items of value.
Handbook Acknowledgement Form
Go to your orchestra's Google Classroom page to complete your first assignment: "Have you reviewed and agree to the Brookwood Orchestra Handbook 2026-2027?" Both the student AND parent must review and agree to the terms of the handbook/syllabus.
Media Release
In completing the Handbook Acknowledgement Form above, you also agree to the following concerning the release of media:
I hereby give my consent to all photographs, audio recordings, academic work, and/or video recordings taken of me or my minor child by Gwinnett County Public School staff or their designee. I understand that any such photographs, audio recordings, academic work, and/or video recordings become the property of the local school or district and may be used by the school, district, or others with their consent for educational, instructional, or promotional purposes determined by the district in broadcast and media formats now existing or created in the future.
I hereby give my consent to all photographs, audio recordings, academic work, and/or video recordings taken of me or my minor child by Gwinnett County Public School staff or their designee. I understand that any such photographs, audio recordings, academic work, and/or video recordings become the property of the local school or district and may be used by the school, district, or others with their consent for educational, instructional, or promotional purposes determined by the district in broadcast and media formats now existing or created in the future.
