Age
NGHSB has programs for all home school students between the ages of 6 to 18, but Parents can participate in NGHSB programs for only the $60 registration fee and not have to pay tuition at any time.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Students missing more than two rehearsals within a concert period or missing a rehearsal prior to a performance may have their seating changed or be denied permission to perform.

Bad Weather Policy
Even if Pickens County Public Schools are closed for bad weather, a decision will be made mid-morning whether we will have class or not since we meet in the afternoon.

Character
NGHSB has student guidelines that every student is expected to follow. As we wish to do all to the glory of God, we require all our students to exhibit the following minimal personal virtues:

Kindness
Punctuality in attendance and work
Truthfulness
Courtesy and respect toward others
Modesty in dress
Diligence in effort and attention
Respect for and obedience to those in authority

Concert Dress Attire
Boys: black pants, long-sleeve: white dress shirt or white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, dark shoes.
Girls-black pants, mid-calf black skirt(girls), long-sleeve: white dress shirt or white pin-pleat tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, dark shoes. Black dress is okay for chorus. Girls' hair accessories should be black or white.

Code of Conduct
Students are expected to behave in a respectful, obedient fashion while participating in band activities, at the church or at performing venues. Living Word Church is our host and we are privileged to meet at this location. Any abuse of the facility could cause us to lose this privilege; therefore, abuse of the facility and disrespectful conduct or attitude is grounds for immediate dismissal without refund. Our desire is to be pleasing to the Lord and not a stumbling block to each other. This code of conduct will be enforced before, during, and after band anywhere on the property in which the band practices. The following behavior will result in immediate disciplinary action:

Foul language or unwholesome talk (Eph. 4:29)
Roughhousing
Disruptive behavior during rehearsals
Disrespect for those in authority
All other inappropriate behavior as deemed by the director
Damage done to the facility or its equipment will be the financial responsibility of the people involved in causing the damage.

Dress Code
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." - Philippians 4:5

Everyone (including family members of students) must come properly dressed to NGHSB. Your children will be dismissed from a practice or a performance if not dressed properly. Midriff tops and boxers that show are not allowed.

Facility Care
The atmosphere of our music program must be one of order, discipline, and cooperation. No running or roughhousing will be permitted. Please remember we are guests at Living Word Church, and other venues. Let's work together to leave the building in the same condition as we found it. This will help minimize our impact on the building. No hall wandering is permitted by parents or students. A waiting room is provided for your convenience.

Fees
A Student Registration Fee of $60 is due with the Registration Form.

The Registration Fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

The Tuition Fees are due in full the first day of class. However, they may be paid in full upon enrollment or may be paid by using the following payment plan: 50% of Class Fees paid by the first class in September; the remaining 50% of Class Fees paid by the first class in January. If there are special circumstances that may cause your payment to be late, please call ahead and make arrangements.

Discount-To keep the program affordable for all, families with 3 or more students enrolled in a class will only be charged for two tuition fees per class. (See the Registration Form for more information).

A Late Fee of $10 per month will be charged for Tuition Fees not paid in full by the due date. Unpaid Tuition Fees may cause your child to be dropped from the class or prevent participation in a concert.

Instrument Care
Students are encourage to take care and clean their instrument.
Students should never play or handle another student’s instrument, case, or accessories.
Instruments and cases should not be left where people will be walking.
Students other than the drummers should never touch the percussion equipment.

Instruments
All beginner band students must attend an instrument fitting during the summer.
As a rule, each family is responsible for providing their instruments.
Percussion students must provide a snare for beginner band.
All percussion students must have at least a year of experience playing a piano or other instrument in order to play percussion in the beginner band.

Music and Copyright Policy
North Georgia Home School Band complies with copyright laws and follows the publisher’s requirements for music use by the members of NGHSB. Everyone participating (teachers, students, student’s families, etc…) in any NGHSB activity is required to govern themselves according to the law and according to the policies of NGHSB. Music issued by NGHSB remains the property of NGHSB. No teacher, student or family members may keep or copy the music issued to them by NGHSB in any form. All music must be returned to NGHSB. North Georgia Home School Band assumes no responsibility for actions of teachers, students or family members in violation of the above-mentioned laws. A $5 fee will be charged per sheet of music not returned, as we will have to purchase that music once again.

Parental Supervision

WE ARE NOT A DROP-OFF SERVICE!

Every student &/or child must be supervised by an adult at all times.

There will be a waiting room available for you and your children to use. There are to be no children running around the hallways at any time. Many of our parents use this time to encourage each other, and the little ones love to play.

If you leave your student at band, you must arrange for another parent to be in charge of your student until you return--and your student must know that "Mrs. So-and-so is responsible for you." We simply cannot take responsibility for all children every Thursday upon our volunteer shoulders!

Leave the parking spaces closest to the door for the directors. They have a lot of equipment to bring in.

There are offices in the church open and working while we are there.

We must respect any and all church materials and equipment by not writing on wipe-away boards or using markers or papers.

The playground is located behind the building which the church has given us permission to use. It is, however, play at your own risk. Neither North Georgia Home School Band OR Living Word Church will be held responsible in case of any injuries.

Please supervise your children when they are on the play structures.

Students driving themselves to band are expected to monitor their own behavior appropriately.

Practice Minutes
Practice minutes should be recorded on the sign-in sheet each week. If student is absent, record the minutes in the appropriate space the next week he attends.

The Practice Awards Program year is broken into two sessions, fall and spring. Practice Awards for students meeting the conditions of the program are presented twice per year.

Each student is given an amount of time they are expected to practice each week, by performance . The practice times for the various groups are:

30 Minutes per week for Recorder
75 Minutes per week for Beginning Band for the first semester
150 Minutes per week for all other groups
Practice minutes are counted when a student:

Practices their own band exercises assigned by the music director,
Study music theory - in private lessons or self-paced instruction,
Attend college or professional level concert, or
Take private lessons on your band instrument.

Student Requirements
Beginning band must be nine years old, unless they have had previous private lessons. Beginning Chorus students may begin at age 6. Recorder class is open to students 6 and above. All students are required to maintain a record of home practice to keep up with our weekly instruction. All students will need to provide a folding wire stand for home practice and to bring to rehearsals, as well as a 1” black binder for concert music, a practice book, to be announced and “concert dress.”

Volunteers
Due to the number of students involved and a desire to keep the cost of the band programs reasonable, we find it necessary to require all families to be involved in the operation of the band program. Approximately 10 hours per family/per year is all that is needed to operate the band in an efficient manner.

If you have health problems that prevent you from working, an exception will be made for you. If you are healthy but too busy to help, you will be charged $80 per year to be of help in a different way. Please be sure to indicate this by checking the appropriate box on the Enrollment Form.

Non-Discrimination Policy
North Georgia Home School Band holds to the truth that all people, regardless of race, are created in the image of God. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color or national origin. All students are precious to us and will receive just treatment and equal opportunity for advancement.