TIGER SPEECH TEAM HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 TIGER SPEECH TEAM HANDBOOK THE TIGER SPEECH TEAM MISSION: To be a classy team committed to having fun and striving for excellence

2 Dear Speech Team Member: November 2015 Welcome to the 2015 Tiger Speech Team! We seek to be a classy team committed to learning, having fun, and striving for excellence. We are excited to have YOU as a part of our team. LEARNING Speech will provide you with extremely valuable life-skills and for that reason we strongly believe in this activity. Yes, this activity is competitive but on this team we do not see winning as the goal. We see winning as the result of lots of hard work and learning. We are a team that accepts nothing less than a strong desire to learn and improve from all who participate. In the end, this team will push you to reach your full potential. HAVING FUN Speech is so much fun! Being a part of this team is fun. And, in the end, if you re having fun, you ll be more successful and learn more in Speech. STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE The Tiger Speech Team has a proud tradition of excellence. This tradition is one that expects all students to rise up to a higher standard of professionalism and speaking excellence. Your job is to continue this tradition as you strive to reach that very high standard. This handbook of information is put together to aid you in your involvement and success on the Tiger Speech Team. We expect you to be familiar with and follow the policies and procedures outlined. We also ask that you share this information with your parents. You are a valuable member of this team and your input is extremely important. Please direct all questions and concerns to the coaching staff and/or captains. We want to make this season a rewarding one for you. Sincerely, Rick Purrington and the TST Coaching Staff - 2 -

3 TST COACHING STAFF Our coaching staff is an incredibly talented and dedicated group. There is a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise here. Take advantage of your time with your coach, work hard, have fun, learn a lot, and success will follow. Put Mr. Purrington s and your coach s phone number in your phone NOW! Rick Purrington, Head Coach Rick.Purrington@marshall.k12.mn.us Practices in: A252 Carol Purrington, Assistant Coach cvpurrington@gmail.com Practices in: Staff Lunch Room Andrea Olzog-Linville, Assistant Coach annemoo1@yahoo.com Practices in: A256 Rob Purrington, Assistant Coach, Head Holy Redeemer Coach robpurrfect@yahoo.com Practices in: A253 Cole Scheller, Assistant Coach Cole.Scheller@smsu.edu Practices in: A257 Molly Carmody, Assistant Coach Mollycarmody1@gmail.com Practices in: A252 Kami Goblish, Assistant Coach, Team Building Coach kami.goblish@gmail.com Practices in: A257 Heather Purrington, Assistant Coach, Head Middle School Coach purringtonfamily@hotmail.com Practices in: A252 Deb Gau, Assistant Coach dgau@marshallindependent.com Practices in: Journalism Computer Lab Bessie Skalicky, Assistant Coach Bessie.Skalicky@marshall.k12.mn.us Practices in: A201 Mary Surprenant, Assistant Coach pmsurp@gmail.com Practices in: Journalism Computer Lab Katie Jenson, Assistant Coach Katie.Jenson@marshall.k12.mn.us Practices in: The Media Center Electronic Practice Sign Up (link is available on our team website) 5_dtzL883dGgwRGI0dDhoeGd1bFp1VUQ5STlsOWc&usp=sharing - 3 -

4 TST MISSION TO BE A CLASSY TEAM COMMITTED TO HAVING FUN AND STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE. TST VALUES 1. WE UNDERSTAND SPEECH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY. 2. WE BELIEVE IN A POSITIVE AND FUN TEAM ATMOSPHERE. 3. WE BELIEVE IN MAKING COACHING TIME A PRIORITY FOR COACHES AND STUDENTS. 4. WE BELIEVE IN IMPROVING COMPETITIVELY AS A TEAM. 5. WE BELIEVE IN BEING A CLASSY TEAM THAT RESPECTS EACH OTHER, OUR COMPETITION, AND THE ACTIVITY AS A WHOLE.CLASSY MEANS: WE WIN WITH GRATITUTE AND HUMBLENESS. WE LOSE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY. WE WORK FOR EVERYTHING WE EARN. WE SUPPORT AND CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. WE RESPECT OUR JUDGES AND THEIR DECISIONS. WE SEEK TO BE HIGH-ACHIEVING, MODEL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. WE SEEK TO BE MODEL CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. TST 2016 CAPTAINS Andrea Caron, Eukariah Tabaka, Marissa Condon HOME GROUPS Each team member will be placed in a Home Group consisting of team members from a variety of categories. The purpose of the home group is to provide a way for team members to get to know others on the team. Home groups will do small, fun, activities throughout the season

5 TURN IN THE FOLLOWING TO THE OFFICE BY DECEMBER 1 As a member of our team, you need to turn in the following to Deb in the office by December 1 or you may be ineligible to compete: Pay your Activity Fee and turn in the Orange Activity Fee Form in the office. Make checks out to Marshall High School. Turn in your Yellow Emergency Form to the office. Sign and turn in your White MSHSL Eligibility Form to the office. Know that poor grades and/or poor choices could negatively impact your Speech eligibility. BE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING.. There are costs that you may encounter over the course of the season. Overnight Trips: Occasionally the team will stay overnight at a hotel the weekend of a tournament. Students may be asked to pay no more than $25 toward the cost of their lodging per night. Meals: Students are responsible for buying their own meals at tournaments. Concessions are available. Attire: Students are asked to dress professionally at tournaments. (See Tips for Professional Attire and PowerPoint slides for more details). For many students, this will mean purchasing new tournament clothes. Speech Portfolio: Students are strongly encouraged to have a classy Speech Portfolio (the leather type) to use at tournaments. Sweatshirts/T-shirts: Students may choose to buy team spirit apparel. Fundraising: Since all team members benefit, all team members are expected to participate in all necessary fundraising endeavors. Due December

6 TST PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS Our team strongly values practice time. Team members have a very limited time to work one-on-one with their coach. So, it is imperative that the short time be used wisely and efficiently. One individual practice per week with a coach is required. The length of this practice may range from 25 minutes per week to over 1 hour per week depending on your category and level (Varsity, JV or Novice) on the team. Team members are also expected to practice on their own. This includes completing weekly assignments given to you by your coach. Students are expected to have a black Speech Folder or classy leather Portfolio to bring to all practices and tournaments. This folder will store tournament critiques, team handbook, coaches comments, etc. Missing Individual Practice: An unexcused absence from practice will result in a review of the student s place on the team. The student s coach must be contacted before missing a practice. If an individual practice is missed and excused, a make-up practice or assignment that satisfies your coach must be completed in order to compete. Weather conflicts: If school is cancelled due to weather, NO SPEECH PRACTICES WILL BE HELD. Students should check with their coach for make-up possibilities. Varsity, Junior Varsity, Novice Levels: Each team member is placed in Varsity, JV, or Novice. Placement is determined based on audition preparation and performance, and experience. The coaching staff may determine that a move to a different level may be necessary during the course of the season. Varsity members, depending on category, may be expected to practice longer/more often. Varsity or JV level placement is not a criterion for placement on our playoff team. Much of the time, Novice and some JV team members will be coached by Varsity team members. Memorization Requirements: In order to be eligible to compete at any tournament, all JV and Varsity team members must be memorized unless given a waiver by their coach due to special circumstances. Novice team members, if not memorized, must have their script neatly glued to black construction paper. See Mr. Purrington for black construction paper. Novice team members must be memorized by the Speech Spectacular on January if not before

7 TST PROFESSIONAL DRESS CODE Appearance is a critical factor when making a favorable first impression in any public speaking situation. Therefore, the Tiger Speech Team will take on a classy, professional approach to dress and overall appearance. Required tournament attire (see PowerPoint slides for specifics): Men Women Young men are required to wear a suit, collared shirt, tie (no goofy patterns), slacks that accompany the suit, and dress shoes. Young women are required to wear a long (at least knee-length) skirt and a suit jacket. We expect that the suit include a skirt, not pants. The suit should be more conservative than trendy shop in the misses section of the store, not teens. Our young women are encouraged to wear conservative make-up. Hair should be crisply pulled back and very neat. Jewelry should be minimal and not distracting. Men and Women Be conservative in your choice of color and pattern to avoid anything too distracting. Conservative colors are preferred. Avoid distracting or dangly jewelry, accessories, nail polish, and hair styles. OUR TEAM COMMUNICATION In order for our large team to effectively communicate, students must remain updated. OUR PRIMARY FORM OF COMMUNICATION WILL BE VIA . Make sure you check your daily. Weekly team announcements will be sent out on Sunday afternoons. We will usually have 2 team meetings per month in Jan, Feb, and March. Attendance at these meetings is required. Check out our team website from Activities menu choose Speech. Check out the Tiger Speech Team on Facebook! We expect that all PUBLIC conversation and photos pertaining to our team will be positive and will uphold our mission and beliefs. This includes any posts on social media, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. A team member who fails to meet this expectation is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as determined by the coaching staff and/or Activities Director. STAR OF THE WEEK! All Tiger Speech Team competitors have the opportunity to be the Star of the Week at each tournament. The star will be awarded to those students who display and further our team s mission and values in an exceptional way

8 THE PLAYOFFS! BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT, SECTION 2AA, NSDA NAT-QUALS, AND THE NIETOC After the first tournament in March, our playoff team will be determined by the coaching staff. This team will consist of roughly team members. Students who are placed on the playoff team will continue competing while students who are not on the playoff team will be done competing for the season. All members of the playoff team will compete at the following tournaments: Big South Conference Championships and the MSHSL Section 2AA State Qualifying tournament. Individuals can earn All-Conference recognition at the Big South Conference Tournament. Some members of the playoff team will be selected to compete in the NSDA Southern MN District National Qualifiers (Nat-Quals) to qualify individuals for the NSDA National Tournament. There are three primary factors that we will consider when selecting students for our playoff team: 1. Adherence to the TST mission and beliefs. 2. Demonstration of and potential for competitive success. 3. Balance of talent across categories. OUT-OF-STATE TRAVELING OPPORTUNITIES The Tiger Speech Team offers optional opportunities for team members to have unique, fun, and educational speech experiences outside Minnesota. Only team members in national categories (Drama, Prose, Duo, Humorous, Oratory, Extemp. Speaking, and Informative) are eligible to attend out-of-state-tournaments. Students are expected to pay for their own expenses at these tournaments. Harvard Tournament One of the most exciting trips is to the oldest, most prestigious university in the United States - Harvard University outside Boston Massachusetts. Harvard hosts the largest speech tournament in the country over Presidents' Day weekend in February. Our team attends this tournament every-other-year (on odd-numbered years). Teams from many states make the trip to learn from and compete against top-notch competition. In addition to the unique competitive experience, students also get to take in the splendor of the Harvard campus with rounds held in the historic, grand, classrooms that only Harvard can offer. There are also two national tournaments that team members in national categories can try to qualify for: NSDA Nationals and the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC). Team members who qualify may be expected to pay for some of their own expenses but the Speech Boosters will help as well. NSDA Nationals The National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament is held in June and students must place in the top 3 in their category at the Minnesota NSDA Southern District Qualifying Tournament (Nat-Quals we call it) in March to qualify. NIETOC The NIETOC is held in May and students can qualify by reaching a set-standard at two selected NIETOC "bid" tournaments. Our team tries to attend as many bid tournaments as possible to give team members a chance to qualify for the NIETOC

9 TST LETTERING POLICY A letter may be earned in Speech if all of the following criteria are met: 1. The student shows a true commitment to the team by a. Competing in all scheduled tournaments. One excused absence is allowed. Students who miss more than one tournament for any reason may be ineligible to letter. b. Acting true to our mission, beliefs, and all policies stated in this handbook. 2. The student breaks to 4 Quarter-final, Semi-final, Novice final, Honor final or Final Rounds. This would include making our Playoff Teams: the Big South Conference Team, the NSDA Nat-Quals Team, and/or the Section 2AA Team. 3. The student maintains academic and MSHSL eligibility at all times. 4. The student completes the lettering form and turns it in by the due date at the end of the season. Exceptions: 1. Students who do not meet all of the above criteria but have shown commitment to the team in grades for 4 straight years may letter. 2. All letters are granted at the discretion of the activities director and coaches. MHS Lettering Policy and Procedure Students who participate in Marshall Public Schools Activities programs will be eligible to earn a varsity letter in recognition of outstanding performance and commitment. The criteria for earning a letter in each activity will be determined by the coaches and advisors of each activity. Upon earning a letter for participation in any activity, the following process has been approved for recognition of the accomplishment: 1. The coach or advisor will turn in a list of letter winners to the Activities office. 2. Student earning their first letter (grades 7-12) will be provided by the school an official letter M chinnel. Letters will be distributed by the coach or advisor. 3. After receiving their official M, each subsequent letter earned in any activity will be recognized by a chevron which will also be provided by the school. Chevrons will be distributed by the coach or advisor. 4. Students recognized as team captains will be provided by the school a captains star for each activity in which they serve as a team captain. Coaches or advisors must provide the names of team captains to the Activities office. Stars will be distributed by the coach or advisor. 5. Other recognition patches (i.e. state tournament, all-conference, all-state, etc) will be the sole responsibility of the activity booster club or the student

10 TST DOUBLE-ENTERING CRITERIA In order to maximize opportunities for the greatest number of students while adhering to our team s budget restrictions, we will use the following criteria in determining who will be allowed to doubleenter. A double-entered speaker has demonstrated skill at auditions or past seasons for a category that is not beyond capacity and has an available coach. TST TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES 1. Upon arrival at a tournament, you can change into your suit in the bathrooms. Then wait in the cafeteria until team warm-ups. Listen for when warm-ups will be. 2. Bring a traditional color, classy pen with you to warm-ups and all competition rounds. 3. Once you have received information from coaches at warm-ups, you are free to get ready to speak on your own. Check out the locations of your rooms. 4. Before each round, warm up individually by actually delivering your speech. Reviewing the speech mentally is not enough. We will expect to see TST speakers talking to walls. 5. Be early to your round (5 minutes). If you are double-entered make sure that your judge is aware that you will need to leave early or come late. 6. Speech is a listening activity as well as a speaking activity. Reading, doodling, visiting, reviewing your speech, rustling though papers, etc. while others are speaking is rude. We pride ourselves on being a team of courteous listeners. 7. Never put down or make negative remarks about other speakers or judges at a tournament or on social media. Save venting comments for the bus ride home! 8. Judges don t know what school you are from. This is purposeful. Protect the anonymity the tournament by not asking competitors where they are from or offering that information about yourself. Don t bring anything into a room that says Marshall on it. 9. Know when it is your turn to speak. Keep track of any drops or double entries in the round so that you are not taken by surprise. When is your turn to speak, wait until the judge calls you then move confidently to the pre-determined speaking area. Wait until the judge has given a verbal or non-verbal sign that he/she is ready before beginning

11 10. Judges will write critiques which are given back to the competitor at the end of the tournament. You will also see your ranks at the end of the tournament. 11. All students will be expected to go and watch final rounds (in their entirety) if they are not competing in a final round. 12. TST speakers are expected to conduct themselves in a classy and respectful manner at all times. TST HOTEL BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS 1. Know that you and your hotel behavior are representing Marshall High School and the Tiger Speech Team. We expect the front desk of the hotel to tell us on Saturday morning: There were no problems! What a classy group! Please come back! 2. We will not be the only people in the hotel. The other folks staying in the hotel should hardly notice that a large group of students are in the hotel with them. Keep our area of the hotel quiet. During any social time do not have too many in any 1 room. Do not gather or talk loudly in the hallway. 3. Do not leave the hotel without permission. 4. Do not let your room door bang when it closes. Close it gently. 5. No movies should be purchased. 6. Be in your room by room time and have your lights out by lights-out time. 7. Set multiple alarms and a wake-up call in your room for Saturday morning. 8. Clean up your room on Saturday morning. Throw away trash. Consider leaving a small tip for the housekeeper. 9. If you wish to eat the complimentary breakfast, do so before the load time. 10. You should be dressed in tournament attire and packed by the load time. Being late for the bus makes everyone late for the tournament

12 TST BUS BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS 1. Know that you and your bus behavior are representing Marshall High School and the Tiger Speech Team. 2. Arrive at the load time. We leave at the leave time. Being late is disrespectful to all of our team members who need to get to the tournament on time. 3. Missing the bus and being dropped from a tournament results in a $25 fee to cover the drop fees our team must pay. 4. We sleep on the way to tournaments in the morning. This means we respect the quiet and darkness that all need to sleep. 5. We conduct ourselves on the bus in a classy way. I expect the bus driver to say as we return home, I enjoy driving the speech team! Your team members are respectful and courteous and classy. I look forward to driving your team again. Thank you for the enjoyable day! 6. We always leave the bus the way we found it clean. We all help pick up the garbage upon our return. 7. No public displays of affection are allowed on the bus at any time. PDA makes others around you uncomfortable. This means no cuddling, no back-rubs, no touching that would make others around you uncomfortable. 8. Engage in appropriate conversation that will not offend others around you. 9. Offenders of these behavior expectations will have their parents notified and will have their place on the team reviewed and disciplinary action taken by the coaching staff and/or Activities Director. Consider this your warning

13 TST TOURNAMENT ATTENDANCE POLICY At the beginning of the season (usually at auditions) all team members are expected to turn in a tournament contract to Mr. Purrington. In order to plan ahead for buses, lodging, entry fees, judges, etc. Mr. Purrington needs a commitment from all team members for each tournament. We expect all team members to attend all tournaments. However, exceptions can be made. If lettering is important to you, see the lettering policy regarding tournament attendance in our team handbook. If there is a change in the contract, please notify Mr. Purrington as soon as possible. If a student misses the bus or is absent without adequate notification, the student is expected to reimburse the team with a $20 payment. Advanced notice will, in most cases, help avoid the $20 reimbursement charge. For overnight tournaments, $25 per night travel fees are due the day before we leave. Financial aid may be available for those who need help paying the $25 travel fees. Mr. Purrington s Contact Info: Rick.Purrington@marshall.k12.mn.us cell phone:

14 December Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Forms and Fundraiser Due Workshop at MHS Parent Meeting/Fashion Show MHS Cafeteria 6: Holiday Break Begins January Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat School Resumes Judges Workshop Speak2Compete 1-5 (Varsity) Judges Workshop Mock Tournament at MHS Chanhassen Speech works concessions Marshall Speech Spectacular 30 Marshall Speech Spectacular

15 February Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Prior Lake Mankato Loyola Eastview (overnight) 20 Eastview (JV/Varsity) Pipestone (Novice) MHS Jr. High Tournament Chaska 28 Playoff Team Announced 29 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Speech Spotlight 5 Fairmont (End of season for non-playoff team members) NSDA NatQuals (overnight) 11 Eagan + NatQuals (overnight) 12 Eagan + NatQuals (playoff team only) Big South Conference (playoff team only) SMSU (playoff team only) 20 Sections Practice (playoff team only) Easter Break Begins Easter School Resumes

16 April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Section 2AA at Hutchinson (playoff team only) State Speech A 16 State Speech AA (Qualifiers only) 17 Banquet May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NIETOC (Qualifiers only) 7 NIETOC 8 NIETOC