FSMS Band Back to School Newsletter 2025-26

Theresa Baragas, Director of Bands

I am currently in my twenty-second year teaching and have spent the past 18 years at Fort Settlement Middle School in Fort Bend I.S.D. For twelve years I have served as the Assistant Band Director at FSMS and I am now beginning my seventh year as the Head Band Director. Preceding my current teaching position, I was an Assistant Band Director at Dulles Middle School in Fort Bend I.S.D. from 2005-2007 and taught elementary music at Oyster Creek Elementary also in Fort Bend I.S.D. At Fort Settlement MS, my classes include conducting the Honors Band, Concert Band, beginning brass classes, and assisting with beginning percussion classes and Symphonic Band. During my time at Fort Settlement MS, the bands have consistently earned sweepstakes awards and top ratings while continuing the long-standing tradition of the pursuit of excellence. In the 2021-22 school year, I received the honor of being nominated as the Fort Settlement MS Teacher of the Year.

I am proud to be a native of Sugar Land, Texas and to be a product of Fort Bend Independent School District. I graduated from Kempner High School and later completed my student teaching in Fort Bend I.S.D. at Fort Settlement Middle School and Clements High School. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. While attending SHSU, I was also invited membership into Golden Key Honor Society, Alpha Chi an honor society limited to the top ten percent of juniors and seniors, and Pi Kappa Lambda-a national music honor society. My professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and Sigma Alpha Iota. I reside in Richmond, Texas with my loving and supportive husband Kyle, who the Director of Bands at Travis High School, and our two children, Braeden and Leila.

Private Lessons

Private lessons provide students with weekly individual help on their specific needs and also help them develop their playing skills more rapidly. Students who enroll in private lessons will receive a weekly half hour lessons one-on-one with a professional on their instrument. The FSMS band directors take great care in selecting private lesson teachers who will provide a quality learning experience that is cohesive and consistent with the pedagogy that students are receiving in class. Private lessons give students an advantage as they are learning new skills on their instrument and preparing for individual playing activities; such as, playing tests, All-Region Band auditions, Solo and Ensemble Contest and performances. Through participation in the private lesson program, students become better individual performers, which in turn strengthens the overall FSMS band program.

Private lessons are not required, but are encouraged for all students regardless of their playing abilities. Performing band students will begin lessons close to the start of school and beginning band students will not start lessons until sometime near the end of the first 9 week grading period, or at the beginning of the second 9 week grading period, once they have learned enough to fill a 30 minute private lesson time.

Private lessons will take place at Fort Settlement MS and will be held in person.

The cost for these lessons will be $30 per half-hour lesson (one per week) based on the teacher's credentials. We know that you will find this to be a great return on your investment, especially if it is compared to the cost of most other private lessons.

Please keep in mind that this is the sole source of income for many of these instructors. Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we ask that you consider this a school year-long commitment when you enroll your child in the private lesson program.

If you are interested, please respond soon so we will know if we need to hire any additional instructors. Private teachers like to teach at FSMS, but if we wait too long to hire them they may have already accepted teaching positions at other schools.

In order to reserve a spot for your child with one of our private lesson instructions, please click on the link below. Please note this is the same link that was emailed to you in July/August so if you have already replied there is no need to fill out the form again.

Please Make Sure Your Child Is On Time For All Rehearsals

To Be Early Is To Be On Time

To Be On Time Is To Be Late

To Be Late Is To Be Less Than You Can Be

Morning and Afternoon Band Hall Procedures

ALL BAND STUDENTS - Band students who do not have morning rehearsals will be asked to proceed to the commons or courtyard with the rest of the student body. At 8:35 a.m., duty teachers in these areas will release all band students to bring their instruments to the band hall. Your instrument will be your pass. All band students will then remain in the band hall until approximately 8:45 a.m. when the rest of the student body is dismissed to go to their hall lockers. At 8:45 a.m., or when the rest of the student body is dismissed from the commons, all the students in the band hall will also be dismissed to go to their hall lockers.

STUDENTS WITH MORNING REHEARSALS (Honors, Symphonic & Concert Bands) - Students should enter the building through the band exterior doors which are located on the left of the front circle drive. Please drop your child off at the front circle drive car ramp and students will use the sidewalk that curves to the front of the school. Please do not use the bus ramp to drop off or pick up your child. Students entering the band hall in the mornings will not be allowed to leave the band hall to go to their hall locker until the remainder of the school is dismissed from the commons. Students will only be dismissed from the band hall to go to the library or to see another teacher if they have been given a pass to do so on the previous day.

STUDENTS WITH AFTERNOON REHEARSALS (Honors, Symphonic and Concert Bands) - Students should be in the band hall by 4:20 p.m. and they should go to their hall locker prior to coming to the band hall for their rehearsal. Students will not be allowed to go to their locker after the rehearsal. All students in the band hall for afterschool activities will exit the building through the outside band hall doors at the front circle drive. Please pick your child up on the front circle drive and not at the bus ramp on the side of the school.

STUDENTS IN ATHLETICS (Honors, Symphonic and Concert Bands)- Morning - These students will go to athletics first and then their band rehearsal. These students will be dismissed from their athletic practice at a specified time agreed upon by the band directors and coaches. They should come to their band rehearsal dressed out and then they will be allowed to go and change into their school clothes at 8:30 a.m. Afternoon -These students will come to band first and then their athletic practice. They should go to the locker room immediately at 4:10 p.m. when school is dismissed to change into the athletic wear and then be in the band hall by 4:20 p.m. Football players should bring your pads to the band hall, but you do not need to be wearing them. Students will not be allowed in the locker rooms between their band and athletic practice. At a specified time agreed upon by the band directors and coaches, the students will leave the band hall through the outside doors to go to their athletic practice.

STUDENTS TAKING PRIVATE LESSONS (Honors, Symphonic, Concert and Beginning Band Students) Students taking private lessons may remain in the band hall after school until their scheduled lesson time. They are encouraged to do homework or practice during this time. These students should go to their hall locker at 4:10 p.m., when school is dismissed, and be in the band hall by 4:20 p.m. Students will not be allowed to go to their hall locker after their lessons. Students going home after school and then returning for lessons at a later time should enter the band hall through the outside band hall or orchestra doors that face the front circle drive and not use the commons entrance. All students will exit the band hall through the outside doors to the band hall when they have finished their lesson. Student athletes taking private lessons will also need to follow the guidelines listed above under “Students In Athletics”.

For band activities which occur before or after school hours, please drop off and pick up your child on the front circle drive by the outside band hall entrance. NOT AT THE BUS RAMP ON THE SIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

Grading Policy

Students’ grades will be a combination of written and performance assessments along with grades for class participation and responsibility. Progress reports and nine week grades will be an average of a students’ daily and major grades.

Daily Grades - 50%

• Weekly practice record grade: Due on a specific day and only accepted one day late (-10) or two days late (-20). Can only be turned in late 2 times each 9 week grading period, which is an exception to the school’s late work policy. See the Practice Record Section below for details.
• Worksheets
• Class Participation
• Responsibility Grades: Having equipment & supplies in class, meeting deadlines, etc.
• Playing Tests: recently introduced material
• Homework
• Schoology Assignments
• Schoology Recording Assignments
• Sectional Rehearsals* and Full Band Rehearsals*

Major Grades - 50%

• Playing Tests: long-term assignments
• Projects (usually recorded assignments)
• Quizzes
• Schoology recorded assignments
• Performances*

*The information below is part of the Band Addendum to the FBISD Extracurricular Handbook and pertains to the items in the above list that are followed by an asterisk. Students may have points deducted as follows:

• Unexcused absence from a rehearsal that is an extension of the classroom activities such as section rehearsals = Daily Grade Deduction
• Unexcused absence from a performance that is an extension of the classroom activities, such as school concerts, which do not meet the definition of extracurricular = Major Grade Deduction

The grading system we use is balanced so that a student does not have to make “A’s” on all performance grades in order to receive an “A” in the class. As long as a student turns assignments in on time, participates in class, and attends all rehearsals and performances, the student can have “average” performance grades and still receive an “A” for the nine weeks. We want the FSMS band program to accommodate students of varying musical interests and musical talents. All students should have the opportunity to enjoy the “band experience” and earn an “A” as long as they are responsible and put forth their best effort.

Tryout Procedures- Prior to the academic school year, ALL seventh and eighth grade students will audition for placement in one of the bands. This placement will be determined by an audition on music materials selected by the director and on the student's past performance. NO STUDENT WILL BE ENROLLED IN ANY BAND/ORCHESTRA UNTIL THIS AUDITION IS COMPLETED.

Braces? - Please Plan Carefully

Most students have braces at some time during their middle school years and this generally does not create a major problem with the student play-ing an instrument as long as some planning is included into the decision of when to get the braces put on and removed. When the braces are put on or taken off, it usually requires at least 2-3 weeks and maybe as long as 2-3 months for the student to become accustomed to playing his/her instrument with (or without) the braces. For some students, the adjustment period when the braces are taken off is minimal, but most students require the 2 week to 2 month adjustment period after having the braces put on. Students playing Flute or Brass instruments need to be careful, because the adjustment time can sometimes be 2-3 months. Please consider upcoming auditions, contests, and concerts when scheduling any type of oral work that might effect your child’s ability to play his/her instrument. It can be very discouraging for a student to put forth the effort in preparation for a performance and then be unable to participate because of braces or some other type of oral work. Since a band performance is usually a team effort, this type of situation can also be detrimental to the overall performance of the entire ensemble. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have any questions concerning oral work you have scheduled for your child.

FSMS Band Donation Drive

We are all fortunate that FBISD understands the importance of a well-rounded education for the students, and consequently the funding provided by the district for equipment and instructional supplies is sufficient; however, due to the current circumstances, all budgets have been reduced during the past few years. Hopefully, our annual fundraiser will again be a success and we will be able to make up this budget shortfall in order to continue providing all of the educational, enrichment and social activities which are so important in maintaining a quality band program.

The FSMS Band Program has set its annual fundraiser from November 11th- December 3rd. Please keep this date in mind as your child is involved in other fundraising activities throughout the year and encourage your child to participate in this activity. We will send more information home concerning this important activity as the date approaches. We have implemented a “Donation Drive” in lieu of a product-based fundraiser. The Donation Drive has proven to be very successful and in previous years the students raised $26,000 in donations. In looking at previous years' budgets, we typically spend on average $25,000 for various educational and social activities throughout the school year so we would like to keep this year's fundraiser goal the same.

In order to meet this goal we ask each student to raise $100 in donations from family and friends. This would be an average of $10 for ten individuals interested in supporting the FSMS Band. In order for this to be successful, we need everyone's help. We will provide a letter that can be given to family and friends asking for their support. More information will be provided at a later time.