Parent involvement is vitally important to the success of an orchestra student.  Whether it's providing affirmation and encouragement, monitoring at-home practice, taxiing to/from rehearsals and events, providing the student with a quality instrument and all needed supplies, or ensuring that financial obligations to the program are paid in full and on time. 

Students need you and are depending on you! 

Parent Expectations

Be an encouraging manager

• Find a consistent time and a quiet place for your child to practice.

• Make it a high priority – put it on the family calendar. It should have equal weight with homework from other classes. 

• You will have to remind your child to practice. Remember to frame it as a benefit and not a disciplinary penalty.

• Monitor your child so they stay on task – you don’t have to be in the same room, but you do need to be aware of what they should be working on.

• Setting a timer is a good way to ensure adequate time is being given to practice.

• There will be days and/or seasons of discouragement when they want to give up… don’t let them! That’s when it’s crucial to keep pressing forward; usually a breakthrough is on the horizon!

• Additional helpful practice tips are available at the TCO website. 

• See that your child keeps up with weekly passoff assignments.

Be an attentive supporter

• Ensure that your child takes his/her instrument and music to school and home again.

• Keep your child’s instrument in proper working order, including periodic string replacement.

• Pay all required fees in full and on time.

• Purchase all required supplies well advance so the student is fully prepared for success from Day 1.

• If possible, give the gift of private lessons to your child.

• Keep a schedule of orchestra activities in a prominent place to help avoid conflicts.

• Volunteer time for your child’s orchestra program.

Be an affirming audience member

• Show interest in your child’s study of music.

• Ask your child to play for you.

• Attend your child’s performances. The best audience is always made up of parents!

• Your affirmation will mean more to your child than words can describe. Music is a family affair. Don’t miss an opportunity to celebrate your child’s talent and accomplishments.

Chaperones must be district staff members or parents of orchestra students. All chaperones must complete the Keller ISD parent volunteer application which can be accessed via the TCO web site. 

Parent chaperones may not bring other non-orchestra children, such as a student’s siblings, on the trip. Being a chaperone is hard work, especially on overnight trips. Chaperones are responsible for doing the following to keep the students safe and help the trip run smoothly. If you have any questions, please ask the director.

General Guidelines

• Add the cell phone numbers of the other chaperones and the director to your phone’s contact list. 

• Install the Remind app on your phone and join the applicable group.

• Learn the names and needs of the students assigned to you.

• Familiarize yourself with any allergies and special dietary needs; double-check to make sure they have food that they can eat during meals.

• Keep students safe by controlling student environment to reduce students’ risky behavior. Enforce the district Code of Conduct consistently.

• Be on time at meetings and designated checkpoints, and stay apprised of any changes or updates to the itinerary.

• Model appropriate behavior and use professional language with students and other chaperones. Please do not use offensive or critical language toward students or other adults.

• When a student refuses to comply with a reasonable request, seek assistance from a member of the staff or the director. Do not allow students to draw you into an argument, and NEVER put your hands on a student, unless the student is a clear danger to himself/herself or others. Report any notable behavioral issues and violations of school rules to the director immediately. Disciplinary action should be left to the director who will address these issues with administration during or after the trip.

• Do not administer any medications to students, including pain relievers (such as Tylenol). All medications must be preapproved on the student’s medical form and are to be administered by a designated district staff member.

Bus Travel

• Supervise the loading and unloading of all bags, instruments, and equipment on the buses. Students may load this equipment with supervision to ensure proper care of their personal or school instruments.

• Before leaving any location (food stops, bathroom breaks, competition sites, etc.), check the roll on each bus. Buses should NOT leave until every student is counted. 

• Chaperones are expected to maintain order on the bus. They should sit in the middle rows and occasionally move around the bus to keep an eye on all students, especially those in the back.

• When exiting the bus, one chaperone should do a final check, walking through the bus to make sure no students or items are left behind.

Bus Etiquette

• Students will ride the same bus for the duration of the trip and should not switch buses unless told to do so by the director.

• Every student must have a seat, and students should remain seated when the bus is in motion. Students are not allowed to sit in the aisle or on another student’s lap.

• Bags, purses, etc., are to be stowed in the overhead compartments or under the seat, not in the bus aisles.

• Blankets may only be used when a student is sitting alone.

• Students are to be completely quiet during every roll call and when instructions are being given by the chaperones, director, or driver. While the bus is moving, students may speak at reasonable noise levels that do not distract the driver.

• Group activities on the bus should be respectful and should not involve peer pressure to coerce students into unwanted or uncomfortable situations. No lewd or disrespectful songs or other activities are allowed.

Hotels

• Know the rooms for which you are responsible and know the room number and the names of all students in each room.

• Make sure that all students for whom you are responsible know your room number.

• At room checks, make sure all students are present. Students should be told when they are to report to breakfast or check out the next morning.

• Students are not allowed to leave the room for any reason and should call the chaperone if they need help. Chaperones should give students their room phone number in case they need to contact an adult.