Dripping Springs High School Speech and Debate Team Dripping Springs High School Speech and Debate Team Official Handbook

Transcription

1 Dripping Springs High School Official Handbook

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3 Hey Team! Welcome to Dripping Springs High School's Speech and Debate program. If you are a returning member, welcome back! We are looking forward to another fun year of tournaments, and we hope you will join us! The DSHS is an extra-curricular program that competes regularly at local, regional, and state tournaments throughout the school year. Over the years, the team has qualified numerous students to state- and national-level competitions, and its members have even won a few state championships. If you enjoy arguing, talking, having fun, and making lots of new friends, this is the activity for you! Competing in Speech and Debate can also help you become a better speaker, thinker, and decisionmaker, and it is a great way to boost your college résumé while earning scholarship opportunities. This handbook will take you through the ins and outs of the DSHS. Please complete the enclosed documents to become eligible to join our program. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this document, please contact the coaches using the information below. Davy Holmes Sara-Jane Shepperd Speech & Debate Coach Asst. Speech and Debate Coach davy.holmes@dsisdtx.us sara-jane.shepperd@dsisdtx.us DSHS DSHS

4 Expectations and Policies: DSHS Handbook Dripping Springs High School #1: Mr. Holmes and Ms. Shepperd will make the ultimate decision regarding who is ready for competition. #2: When team meetings are announced, all active members are expected to be in attendance. #3: Tournament sign-up sheets will be posted in Mr. Holmes s room 3-4 weeks before each tournament. Commitment to attend is made when a student signs up to attend. If a student signs up to attend a tournament and cancels AFTER the entry deadline, the team must be reimbursed for entry fees and any additional costs (portion of hotel, drop fees, etc.). #4: Criticism from one or more factions within the group is not constructive and will not be tolerated. Showing respect for coaches and fellow students is crucial to maintaining the well-oiled machine that our team should be. Arguing within the team or with coaches will not be accepted. Disrespecting one another will result in tournament privileges being revoked, for a time period to be determined by Mr. Holmes and Ms. Shepperd. Some phrases (among many) that we expect to hear from the team: "YES!", "How can I help?", "Please...", "Thank you", "Wow... you did a great job!. RESPECT IS A KEY WORD. #5: Team members must help with all fundraising efforts. #6: All team members must maintain passing grades in order to compete. #7: We devote our class time to practice and preparing for tournaments. Students are not allowed to do homework, work on non-speech and Debate assignments unless they have missed school for a Speech and Debate tournament. Some tournaments may require after school practice to attend. #8: BE ON TIME, please. (That's five minutes early!)

5 Competition and Tournaments: Our program is geared heavily toward competition. Most of what we work on in class is designed to prepare students for competition at Speech and Debate tournaments. Debate I students are expected to attend at least 1 competition per semester. Debate II students are expected to attend at least 2 competitions per semester, and Debate III-IV students are expected to attend at least 3 competitions per semester. Most of the tournaments that we attend will be at high schools in our surrounding area, but there will also be opportunities for overnight trips to out-of-town tournaments. We compete at tournaments that are sanctioned under three different organizations. The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA, formerly the National Forensic League or NFL)- This organization hosts the national tournament and keeps track of competition points for each round in which a student competes. The NSDA is a national honor society for Speech and Debate competitors. The Texas Forensics Association (TFA)- This group sanctions most of the weekend tournaments that we attend. There is a TFA State tournament held in March for students who have earned enough qualifying points. The University Interscholastic League (UIL)- The UIL serves two major functions: it designs the guidelines by which students are eligible to compete, and it hosts district, regional, and state tournaments. Things that are provided by the school: For most tournaments, the school will pay for entry fees to tournaments. There may be some exceptions to this. The cost of transportation will almost always be covered by the school. Things that students will need to provide: With the exception of UIL and state-level competitions, students will need to provide their own money for food. For some out-of-town tournaments, students may be asked to contribute to the cost of the hotel. Students will be expected to dress professionally at tournaments. It is encouraged that all students have at least two professional outfits since many tournaments last two days. Traveling To and From a Tournament: In most cases, we will all travel together to and from a tournament using school-provided transportation. Students may not arrive late or leave early unless there is some kind of an emergency. Alternate travel arrangements will need to be planned and documented in advance of the tournament. While traveling in the van or bus, students must behave appropriately. When we return to the school, no one can leave until the bus/van has been completely cleaned out.

6 At the Tournament: All DSHS rules will be followed at all times at tournaments, and any DSHS faculty member has ultimate authority. Possession or use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs is explicitly prohibited and will result in the automatic and permanent dismissal from the team. Students should always be in their assigned rounds at the assigned time. Skipping rounds will result in removal from the team. As soon as possible, students should check postings if necessary, codes will be provided to students. Students should write down or take pictures of their codes, room numbers, section numbers, and speaker numbers. Students are encouraged to check to make sure that they are entered in the right events. If not, Mr. Holmes or Ms. Shepperd should be notified ASAP. Students are expected to get to every round on time and to stay in that round until all competitors are done, unless they are cross-entered. Ballots will only be picked up by Mr. Holmes and Ms. Shepperd. Students are not permitted in the tab room or hospitality lounges. Students are not allowed to leave the tournament location for any reason without a coach. Students eliminated from competition early must watch elimination rounds (preferably in their events). This is not optional. Watching elimination rounds is one of the best ways to learn and improve, and besides winning, that is what competition is all about. Students should support and encourage the members of our team who have advanced to elimination rounds. Students are expected behave appropriately while competing and watching others compete. Distracting members of our team or other competitors will not be tolerated. Students are prohibited from talking while watching rounds. Students are not allowed to invite people who are not competing at the tournament to hang out in between rounds, unless they are part of the student s family. Out of Town Trips: Students must earn the right to travel by demonstrating appropriate behavior and commitment to preparing for competition. Attending out-of-town tournaments is a privilege that can be revoked. Luggage students may bring one small suitcase and/or hanging bag. Students can also bring a carry-on (backpack, etc.). Please be aware that all luggage is subject to being searched. When riding a bus, be respectful of the driver s requests and try to follow them. Don t yell and scream enjoy spending time together without distracting others. Be careful with food and drink. If a mess is made, it is the student s responsibility to make sure that it gets cleaned up. All music must be listened to with headphones or earbuds. When we arrive at the hotel, no one will get keys or go to a room until the bus is unloaded and clean. Students should dress comfortably while traveling, but the school dress code should be observed at all times. Please be quiet at the hotel. Students should wait until they get to their rooms to talk, and they should remain quiet in their rooms. People in rooms nearby may be sleeping.

7 There will be a curfew. Students are expected to be in their rooms on time. STUDENTS ARE NOT TO LEAVE THEIR ROOMS AFTER CURFEW CHECK. If there is a problem, students should contact Mr. Holmes or Ms. Shepperd immediately. Rooms should be checked for damage upon arrival. Keys should be returned upon departure. Don t order anything from the hotel without Mr. Holmes or Ms. Shepperd s permission. No one is forced to sleep anywhere but in a bed forcing someone to sleep somewhere other than a bed will result in immediate suspension from traveling with the team. Tournament Attire: One of the most important parts of competition is how you look. For right or wrong, people make assumptions about you based on the way that you dress, and our team should try to make the very best impression possible. While there are other teams that do not have a strict dress code, we want to uphold a high standard. Tournament attire is non-negotiable if you want to compete, you ll need to meet the following guidelines. Ladies- Dresses, skirts, skirt suits, and pant suits are the basic guideline for tournament attire. Nothing should be shorter than 3 inches above the knee the longer the better. Nice, professional shoes should be worn as well (no tennis shoes, house slippers, boots, street shoes, etc.). Absolutely no jeans or shorts should ever be worn for competition. Gentlemen- Slacks or a suit are the basic guideline for tournament attire. Absolutely no jeans can be worn for competition. You should wear a tie. Nice, professional shoes should be worn as well (no tennis shoes, house slippers, boots, street shoes, etc.). Consequences: Violation of team policies and expectations may result in the following: Notification of parents. Suspension from competition at tournaments, for a number of tournaments to be determined by Mr. Holmes and Ms. Shepperd. Notification of school administrators who will determine an appropriate consequence. Removal from the team.

8 Date Sep 8 Sep Oct Oct 28 Nov 3 Nov 10 Nov??? Nov 29 (Thurs) Nov 30-Dec 1 Dec 7-8 Jan 7-9 Jan Jan Jan 30 (Wed) Feb 2 Feb 9 Feb Feb/Mar??? Mar 1-2 Mar Mar (Spring Break) Mar/Apr??? Apr Apr/May??? May June 16-21, Sun-Fri Dripping Springs High School Tentative Tournament Calendar Location La Vernia TFA Westlake/Chaparral Swing TFA Reagan TFA (San Antonio, overnight) Lampasas TFA Bowie TFA (Austin) Champion TFA (Boerne) UIL Congress Region Capitol Congress (Austin) San Marcos TFA UT TFA/TOC (possibly overnight) UIL Congress State Churchill TFA/TOC (San Antonio, overnight) Tuloso-Midway TFA (Corpus Christi, overnight) UIL CX District (Dripping Springs) Hays TFA (Kyle/Buda) Claudia Taylor TFA (San Antonio) Harvard???? (Boston, overnight, juniors and seniors) TAPT Regional Competition** NSDA District (TBD) TFA State** (Houston, overnight) UIL CX UT UIL LD/Speech/Interp District UIL LD/Speech/Interp Region** (San Antonio, overnight) TAPT State Competition** (Waco, possibly overnight) UIL LD/Speech/Interp State** (Austin) NSDA Nationals** (Dallas, overnight) **These tournaments have qualification requirements.

9 DSHS Student Contract Student Pledge: I have read the DSHS Speech and Debate Handbook. I understand and accept these policies, duties, and responsibilities. I will work to the best of my ability, always considering the good of the team. I realize that if I qualify for UIL Region, UIL State, TFA State, or NSDA Nationals I will compete at that tournament or reimburse the school for entry fees spent on me for the entire year. I realize that failure to abide by team policies or to carry out my responsibilities may result in suspension from competition and/or immediate dismissal from the team. Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Acknowledgment: I have read the DSHS Speech and Debate Handbook and understand the responsibilities my child will assume as a member of the team. I understand the team and tournament guidelines, and I will encourage my child to fulfill his or her obligation. I also understand that my student attends practice tournaments to prepare for UIL District, Regional and State competitions, as well as the Texas Forensic Association state tournament. All funds spent by the school district are in preparation for those tournaments, and if my student qualifies to compete at that level, these tournaments will be given priority or we will reimburse the school for funds spent at practice tournaments. Parent/Guardian Signature(s) Date

10 DSHS Permission to Travel School Organization: Dripping Springs Destination/Date: See Tournament Calendar For: Speech and Debate Competitions (Student's Name) is traveling with the Dripping Springs High School with our complete knowledge and full consent. Information will be provided prior to each tournament which includes destination, method of travel, and contact details. It is understood that the student will be chaperoned during the trip and that normal precautions will be taken in the interest of his or her safety and well being. We agree that the sponsors, chaperones, and school will not be held responsible for any accident or misfortune that might occur in connection with any trip. Parent/Guardian Signature(s) Date Publications and social media release (please check one): I give do not give permission for pictures of my child participating in speech and debate tournaments and activities to be used for publicity purposes on brochures, posters, social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Parent/Guardian Signature(s) Date

11 Student name: DSHS Student Information Sheet Mailing address: Student cell number: Student Parent/Guardian(s) cell number(s): Parent/Guardian(s) (s): Emergency contact if parents or guardians cannot be reached: Student birthday: Grade level: Preferred speech and debate event(s): Anything else that you would like me to know:

12 DSHS Parent Volunteer Form Judging at tournaments: Whenever we attend a speech and debate tournament, we are responsible for providing judges for the events in which we enter students. Since we have students competing in a variety of different events, we are usually unable to fill our required judging commitment with just Mr. Holmes and Ms. Shepperd. This forces our team to pay judge fees for the events that we cannot provide a judge. Judge fees are expensive and can range from $75-$200 depending on the tournament. We are hoping that we can fill some of our judge slots with parent volunteers to minimize our costs. Judging at tournaments can be a lot of fun, and it is also a good way to get a better understanding of the types of events in which we are involved. Tournaments also usually have hospitality rooms with good food for coaches and judges. If you would like to volunteer as a judge for our team, please let us know by placing a check by the dates and times that you will be available. Once you commit to judging, a packet will be sent home or through with some details and instructions. I will also notify you at least 2 weeks before the tournament to confirm your availability. I would be happy to host a judge training meeting in the very near future if there is enough interest. Tournaments where we will likely need volunteer judges: Anderson HS, Friday, Sept 22 (4:00-11:30 pm) Anderson HS, Saturday, Sept 23 (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) Bowie HS, Saturday, Nov 4 (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) Champion HS, Saturday, Nov 11 (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) University of Texas, Friday, Dec 1 (2:00-11:30 pm) University of Texas, Saturday, Dec 2 (7:45 am-8:00 pm) San Marcos HS, Friday, Dec 8 (4:00-11:30 pm) San Marcos HS, Saturday, Dec 9 (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) Smithson Valley HS, Saturday, January 13 (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) Hays HS, Saturday, Feb 3, (7:45 am-8:00 pm, could break into shifts) (Times are estimates. There is a strong chance that you could be released from judging duties much earlier than the last listed time.) Judge name and contact info: Have you completed DSISD volunteer forms? Yes No If not, please complete the forms that are attached to this packet and return them to Mr. Holmes at your earliest convenience.