Newsletter #1- Welcome to a New Year of Music!

The Orchestral Note: Official Newsletter of the Dr. Phillips High School Orchestra

Welcome to a New Year of Music!

My name is Ms. Raine Hollingsworth, and I am honored to serve as the Director of Orchestras here at Dr. Phillips High School. I am thrilled to work with each and every student as we kick off a spectacular year! Our program is thriving, having already achieved an incredible 8% growth rate this school year.

Research continuously shows the transformative power of arts education:

• Academic Excellence: Students involved in music programs consistently achieve higher standardized test scores compared to non-music peers.
• Attendance & Engagement: Participation in high school ensembles correlates directly with increased attendance rates and stronger overall school performance.
• Emotional Well-Being: Learning and performing music provides a critical outlet for emotional expression, stress relief, and community-building.

I am eager to get to know your children and help them become the best individuals they can be through the power of music!

Contact & Communication:

• Email: raine.hollingsworth@ocps.net
• Phone: 407-355-2203 (direct line to classroom phone)
• Primary Channels: The most frequent updates will be sent through ParentSquare/StudentSquare and email.
• Social Media- Instagram: @dphsorhchestras | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dphsorchestras

Progress Reports Distributed Tomorrow
Progress reports will be distributed tomorrow! Please check Canvas and Skyward to view your child's most up-to-date grades in orchestra and review any missing assignments. If you have questions or concerns about your child's standing, please reach out to me via email.

Parent Tour & Course Resources
To help you navigate our program, please use the Canvas link below to access our Parent Tour. This resource covers all the essentials, including our Handbook, 2026–2027 Calendar, Uniform Requirements, Fair Share Fees, Resources, and FAQs.

👉 Canvas Course & Parent Tour- Use Your Student's Login Info!

Save the Date: Fall Concert
Our ensemble performances are an essential extension of our classroom curriculum. Students have four required after-school performances per year, which account for a major portion of their final grade.

• Date: Wednesday, October 14
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: DPHS Performing Arts Center
• Expectations: Students must arrive in full concert uniform (as detailed on Canvas and in the Orchestra Handbook) and are expected to stay for the entire performance.

All-State Auditions (Location Change!)
All-State auditions are happening this Saturday! Please note the change of location:

• Location: Lake Nona Middle School
• Schedule: The audition schedule is available on our Canvas homepage under the "All-State Info" hyperlink at the top of the page.

All-County Auditions & Registration
All-County registration is officially open!

• In-Class Guidance: Students should see Ms. Hollingsworth in class this Friday, September 18 for step-by-step instructions on setting up their new student accounts and reserving an audition slot.
• Audition Window: Auditions will take place after school from Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2.
• Details: Check the Orchestra Calendar button or click the "All-County Info" hyperlink at the top of our Canvas homepage for complete details.

Solo & Ensemble Information
Keep an eye out for Solo & Ensemble details! Information and sign-up materials will be released next week.

Thank you for supporting the Dr. Phillips High School Orchestra program. I look forward to an inspiring and musical year ahead!

Sincerely,
Ms. Raine Hollingsworth, M.M.E. 
Director of Orchestras, Dr. Phillips High School
Doctoral Student, Educational Leadership & Learning
University of St. Thomas, MN
"The University of St. Thomas occupies the ancestral and current homelands of the Dakota people, Mni Sota Makoce. We also recognize the Ojibwe and Ho-Chunk whose lands were colonized by the United States and are currently occupied by the State of Minnesota.
We condemn the tools of settler colonialism, including genocide and forced assimilation, undertaken in the name of white supremacy that created structures of injustice and inequity that continue to oppress and marginalize Indigenous and underrepresented peoples. We work towards the process of decolonizing minds and educating students to be morally responsible leaders.
We commit to the work of truth-telling and relationship building as we seek new pathways forward as relatives in the University of St. Thomas community, the Indigenous communities, and those who traverse multiple communities."