Liberty Hill High School

Liberty Hill High School Belles and Stars Dance Team Constitution and Code of Conduct 1

I. PURPOSE The Liberty Belles and Liberty Stars support and represent Liberty Hill High School at multiple school and athletic events, school programs, and serve for the entertainment of the Liberty Hill community. Through these experiences, LHHS dance teams help to uphold the purposes of the school district. Because of these responsibilities, members of our program will be expected to maintain a higher standard of behavior both on and off campus than that of their peers. In or out of uniform, members are representatives of the Liberty Belles/ Liberty Stars and Liberty Hill High School. II. ELIGIBILITY FOR TRYOUTS A. Candidate must be a student of LHISD entering grade 9 th through 12 th. At the discretion of the director and administration, candidates that move in the district after tryouts will be given a video tryout option for the JV team only. No move-in candidates will be considered for Belles Varsity. B. All candidates (including move-in) must pass a discipline and attendance check made by the Principal and/ or Assistant Principal. C. If a candidate was previously a Belle and quit or was dismissed for any reason, they are not eligible to tryout for the upcoming year. D. A candidate must clear all financial obligations prior to the tryout clinic. Financial obligations include but are not limited to library fines, uniform fees, cafeteria fees, any unpaid balance on campus. E. A candidate must not have failed any two grading periods (6 weeks), consecutive or not. F. A candidate must not have been suspended, placed in DAEP, or expelled in the current year. G. Each candidate must turn in a written certification yearly by a medical doctor stating that she/he has passed a physical examination and is capable of fulfilling all the physical requirements to dance. H. Candidates must have turned in the following by April 6, 2017. (Thursday before the clinic.) I. Medical History and Physical Exam (by a doctor) II. Parent Permission Form/ Constitution Agreement ALL FORMS ARE DUE BY TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2017. (Thursday BEFORE the Tryout Clinic). III. TRYOUTS A. Tryout clinic dates and times are April 10 and April 11 from 4:30-6:00 P.M. Both clinic dates are mandatory. Failure to show will result in the loss of the privilege to tryout. B. Tryout clinic and judging are closed to everyone except the director, candidates, judges, administration, and choreographers. C. The following criteria will govern some of the selection of the Belles Dance Team: Dance Technique, Body Placement, Control of Movements, Musicality/Timing, Showmanship, Overall Impressions D. Once final tabulations are done. The candidates will be ranked. The judges will break all ties after ranking. The top 18-25 scores or where a natural break in scores occur will be on the Belles Varsity Dance Team. The next 12-18 will be on the Stars JV team. No seniors will be on JV. No freshman on Varsity. The judges decisions are final. 2

MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES E. Each member of Belles Varsity will be enrolled in the 1 st period dance class, set by the counselors. Belles earn a variety of credits for dance class, fine arts, PE, and/or elective. JV Stars will be enrolled in the JV class period, determined by the counselors. F. Each member is required to participate in all assigned fund-raiser activities to help the team s needs and offset financial obligations. It is the responsibility of the member and/or their parent/ guardian to fulfill any financial requirements that the Belles/ Stars activities demand. G. Members are required to purchase all necessary items with the total balance paid prior to May 23, 2017. H. Members need to maintain a level of physical fitness that will allow them to participate fully in all aspects of dance. Summer workout logs are required by each team member. I. Inform the director immediately of any disorderly conduct or activities that would involve yourself or a fellow Belle or Star. (This includes off campus behavior.) J. Members will participate in all team activities identified by the director, including but not limited to practices, pep rallies, football games, band shows, fundraisers, community events, and competitions. IV. ABILITY TO PERFROM A. Dance involves many aspects of athletic attributes requiring members to stay in fit form. All members will have a current physical on file completed by a medical doctor. B. Any member suffering from injury or illness will be excused only by a written note from the doctor explaining the extent of the injury and workout limitations. PARENT NOTES FOR ILLNESS/ INJURY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. In order to return to full participation, the member must have a medical release from the doctor on file. Use our athletic trainers. C. Any Belle/ Star unable to perform due to injury or illness may be assigned other duties to help fulfill their responsibilities as a Belle. Alternative assignments will be assigned to injured Belles/ Stars to earn credit for the class. Assignments are based on the director s discretion. D. All Belles and Star s performances will be judged and who performs will be based on the director s discretion. The director will and can adjust who participates in various activities at any time. V. ATTENDANCE A. Summer practices and summer team camp are mandatory by all team members. Belles Varsity Team camp is June 26-28. JV Stars camp is June 20-22. Both Teams will have practices throughout August, including the first week. B. Little Belles Dance Camp Fundraiser is required by all Belles members to work. Parents are asked to send concession items or possibly volunteer during this week as needed. Aug.8 & 9 C. Practices and performances will be attended by all team members for all football games, pep rallies, parades, and other events determined by the Director. In the event of a holiday week or weekend, team members within 1 hour of Liberty Hill or the game location are required to attend. D. Members absent from school will not be permitted to participate in a performance or activity unless the student has been involved in some other school activity or prior approval has been made by the Director and administration. 3

E. Excused absences include: personal illness or accident, funeral or death, school approved activities- same as LHISD handbook. Out of town trips, vacations, work, your birthday, nonschool competitions, etc. are not excuses for missing required activities. F. In order to receive an excused absence, a member must present a written note from a parent or doctor. Emails are acceptable. G. Members will remain at performance for the entire time, unless approved by the director and administration. H. Any member who misses a mandatory event will forfeit a mandatory performance chosen by the coach. I. Habitual absences or tardiness can result in benching, probation, or removal from the team. J. The director will set a practice schedule but additional practices will be added. We will have additional practices when the team has additional performances or contest. This includes EARLY MORNINGS. VI. GAMES and PERFORMANCES A. Each member must provide her/his own transportation to and from home games, pep rallies, functions, practices, and other events that take place in the Liberty Hill area. B. For home events, members will meet at a designated time and place in the designated complete uniform with hair and make-up finished. (Uniforms and costumes are determined by the director.) Members should be ready to warm-up. If a team member is not in her complete uniform, including hair and make-up, she will NOT participate with the team. You are expected to be ready! C. For away events, members are required to ride the bus to and from away games or out of town events. Members may be picked up by their parents only with prior notice (Trip Change Form). Trip change forms are due the day before the event. VII. UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT A. Members will purchase items deemed necessary by the director. The school will purchase the field uniform and other items as possible allowed by the budget. B. Uniforms and accessories will be chosen by the director with input from the members taken into consideration. C. Each member is held responsible for the care and return of items issued by the school and will be responsible to pay for any items lost or damaged while in her possession. D. Team members are eligible to earn a letter jacket after completing two full years of Belle responsibilities with at least one of those years being a Varsity member. Exceptions may be made for a first year senior. VIII. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY A. Liberty Belles must pass every subject at each grading period. If a member is failing, they must bring proof of passing grades every 3 weeks. The Belles follow Texas Education Code, 33.081c. and UIL guideline, No Pass No Play. B. Any six week failure will result in a 3 week suspension from performances. If a member is still not passing after the 3 week suspension, the member can be dismissed at the Director and/ or Administration s discretion. C. If ineligible, the member must still attend every practice and class. 4

D. A member is removed permanently for the school year, if they fail any (2) 6 week grading periods in the school year- consecutive or not. IX. DISCIPLINE A. Warnings and discipline will be at the discretion of the Director. I. Warning and discipline violations include: tardiness, chewing gum, not wearing appropriate or assigned attire, disrespect towards the coach or any team member, forgotten accessories, use of cell phones while in uniform, inappropriate language, inappropriate behavior, public display of affection, any discipline infraction listed in the Student Handbook. II. Belles that earn an office referral will be benched for a performance. Belles that have more than 3 office referrals in one school year will be dismissed from the team. III. This guide to our discipline system is not meant to be inclusive of every, or exclusive of any, situation. This guide may be adapted during the year by the director and administration as needed. If the director and administration deems an offense severe enough, a student may be placed directly on a behavior contract or removed from the squad at the discretion of the director and administration. IV. BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL. X. LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP Members who are dismissed will return uniforms and equipment immediately, and take care of any unpaid amounts they may owe. They will relinquish all rights of the Liberty Belles and will not be allowed to return to the membership of the organization. A. Grounds for automatic dismissal include but are not limited to; drinking alcoholic beverages, using drugs, suspension from school, failing a class after being on academic probation, extreme non-compliance, any unbecoming behavior, excessive warnings and unexcused absences. B. Belles who are dismissed or quit at any point in the semester will immediately be dropped from the class and lose the credit. Students who are not on the team will not be allowed to stay in team class periods. XI. EXPECTATIONS A. Belles are Stars are expected to be responsible for their school work and attendance, dance materials and uniforms, mandatory items, and knowing routines. Belles and Stars are expected to communicate with directors about questions, schedules, absences, and concerns they have. B. Parents are expected to be supportive of their dancer, the LHHS program, and directors. Parents are expected to communicate with directors about concerns. XII. OFFICER SELECTIONS/ TRYOUTS A. Tryouts for LINE officers may include candidate choreographed series, dance technique, interview, routine idea, team questionnaire, and teaching skills. Team routine idea must include genre, music including artist and title, suggested costume with price, formations for 18 girls, and 10 (8) counts of choreographed dance notes for the routine. B. Tryouts for SOCIAL officers will be by interview with the director and judges along with a team questionnaire. XIII. OFFICER ELIGIBILTY 5

A. Candidates must first make the Belles Varsity team. B. Line candidates must be entering grades 11 th - 12 th and have been on the Belles Varsity team for at least 1 school year. C. Social officer candidates must be entering grades 10 th - 12 th and have been on the Belles Varsity team for at least 1 school year. D. Officer candidates must have an overall grade average of 85% or higher. Average is determined by 1 st semester averages and the 4 th 6 weeks. E. Team members who have been ineligible at any 6 week period during the current school year are not eligible to tryout for officer. XIV. OFFICER RESPONSBILITIES A. Line and Social Officers are required to attend officer camp June 15-16 at LHHS and to help at JV Stars home camp in August. Times and exact dates will be determined. B. Line officers are expected to enroll in the dance class period immediately following Belles. C. Line and Social Officers will be expected to participate in Officer Days and activities to be determined by the director. D. Line Officers are expected to help with the following; LEADERSHIP, evaluation of team performances, choreography, team practices, instruction of new dances or elements, etc. E. Social Officers are expected to BE THE BEST LINE MEMBERS, demonstrate LEADERSHIP, help with team moral, big sisters & little sisters, team bonding, hair and make-up instruction, social media, and a multitude of other things. F. Officers who do not follow the Code of Conduct, Belles Constitution/ Handbook may be removed at the discretion of the Director. OFFICERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LEADERS AND SET THE EXAMPLE. LHHS Dance Team Tryout Score Sheet Candidate Number: Judge: _ Category: Comments Score/ Possible Points Dance Skills Right Splits. _/ 5 Left Splits.. _/ 5 Leaps _/ 10 Turns.. _/ 10 Kicks... _/ 10 Group Routine Technique _/ 15 Showmanship _/ 15 Memory _/ 10 Body Placement/ Control/ Rhythm _/ 10 Overall Appearance _/ 5 Work Ethic and Attitude during clinic _/ 5 Total JV Varsity 6

LHHS Dance Team Line Tryout Information Thank you for your interest in joining the Liberty Belles Dance Team. Please read, sign and return the attached permission form to Mrs. Pirtle or Ms. Lipinski by April 6, 2017. Requirements for Tryout: Parents/ Guardian must attend of the Liberty Belle Parent meeting: March 21 st at 6:00 PM in LHHS Auditorium Turn in the mandatory forms: o Permission to Tryout Form o Constitution/ Code of Conduct Signature Form o Medical Physical completed by a medical doctor Meet eligibility requirements as stated in the Liberty Belles Constitution. Attend every day of Tryout Clinic (April 10t h -11 th from 4:15-6:00 PM). What to Wear to Clinic: On Monday and Tuesday, you can wear anything that you can move in, that would be appropriate for a dance class or athletic period. On Wednesday for tryouts, you must wear all black. Fitted clothing is preferred. Hair must be pulled back in a tight ponytail, bun, or Belle hair. Performance make-up is strongly suggested. Look your best! Bring a sack lunch. Tryouts will go over lunch. Transportation on Tryout Day: There will be a bus to transport Junior High candidates back and forth. Notification will be sent to current 8 th graders. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Pirtle or Ms. Lipinski. epirtle@libertyhill.txed.net llipinski@libertyhill.txed.net 512-260-5500 ext. 7151 Good Luck, Emily Pirtle, Director Lauren Lipinski, Assistant Director 7

Liberty Belles LINE Officer Tryouts Judges Rubric Name Tryout # Judge s Initial SOLO ROUTINE.. / 10 ROUTINE NOTEBOOK Creativity.. / 5 Quality/ Overall Impression. / 5 INTERVIEW Quality of Response/Confidence.. / 10 Maturity/ Leadership..... / 10 TEACHING SKILLS Knowledge of skill.. / 10 Teaching ability.. / 10 TEAM VOTE TOTAL / 40 FINAL SCORE Candidate s Line Officer Choices: Captain: 1 st Lt. Lt. Lt. Notes: Liberty Belles SOCIAL Officer Tryouts Judges Rubric Name Tryout # Judge s Initial SOCIAL OFFICER NOTEBOOK Creativity.. /10 Organization... / 5 Quality.... / 10 Overall Impression.. / 5 INTERVIEW Quality of Response/Confidence.. / 10 Maturity/ Leadership.. / 10 Overall Impression... / 10 TEAM VOTE TOTAL / 40 FINAL SCORE Candidate s Social Officer Choices: President: Vice President: Historian: Notes: 8

Liberty Belles Dance Team Officer Tryout Information Thank you for your interest in joining the Liberty Belles Dance Team Line and Social Officers. Please read, sign and return the attached permission form to Mrs. Pirtle by April 6, 2017. Requirements for LINE OFFICER Audition: You will teach a dance skill to one of the tryout candidates. All dance skills will be listed on a piece of paper. You will draw a paper with a listed dance skill and teach that skill. You will have 1 minute to teach. Perform a 45 second 1 minute solo for judges. Do not use a choreographer! Show your skills and creativity! Neatly organize your team routine idea in a folder or notebook. It must include genre, music with title and artist, formations for 20 dancers, costume ideas with prices, and dance for 10 (8) counts choreographed. Requirements for SOCIAL OFFICER Audition: Neatly organize a Social Officer Notebook. The Team Looks section must include 2 hair styles, performance make-up suggestions with prices, The Gift section must include visiting team gift suggestions, big/ little sister ideas, and Christmas gift exchange each with prices. The Team Events section must include suggestions for beginning of year get-to- know- your team, fun moral boosting games, how to fix your hair and make-up Belle style, team bonding ideas/days, and two event ideas of your own. Include any handouts, papers, or pictures associated with your ideas. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Pirtle or Ms. Lipinski. epirtle@libertyhill.txed.net llipinski@libertyhill.txed.net 512-260-5500 ext. 7151 Good Luck, Emily Pirtle, Director Lauren Lipinski, Assistant Director 9

Liberty Belles Dance Team Line Tryout ~ Parent Permission Form Candidate s Name Parent s Name Please initial next to the statements below: Candidate Initials Parent Initials Belle. I understand that my student is auditioning to serve as a member of the Liberty Belles Dance Team for the 2017-2018 school year. I understand that my student will be required to attend rehearsals, contests, camps, and outside activities. I understand that all Varsity Liberty Belles are required to attend the mandatory team camp. I understand there are financial responsibilities for members of the Liberty Belles Dance Team. I am prepared to support my student and LHHS in her endeavor to become a Liberty I understand all the requirements for eligibility to tryout for the Liberty Belles. Please indicate which team or teams you would like to be considered. JV Varsity Candidate Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Liberty Belle Dance Team Handbook/Constitution Agreement We have read the handbook/constitution and understand how it applies to voluntary members of the Liberty Hill High School Liberty Belles Dance Team. We agree to abide by its rules and regulations. Parent s Signature date Candidate s Signature date Candidate s Social Media Username Info: (Snapchat) (Instagram) (Facebook) (Twitter) (Other) 10

Liberty Belles Dance Team Officer Tryout- Parent Permission Form Candidate s Name Parent s Name Please initial next to the statements below: Candidate Initials Parent Initials I understand that my student/ myself, is auditioning to serve as an officer of the Liberty Belles Dance Team for the 2017-2018 school year. I understand that, if selected, my student will be required to attend additional practices, contests, camps and outside activities. I understand there may be additional financial responsibilities for officers. I understand that results are final. I am prepared to support my student and LHHS in her endeavor to become an officer. Please indicate which Officer you would like to be considered: Line Social I understand and agree to follow all requirements needed to audition for a voluntary officer position. I understand that failure to meet all requirements will result in my candidacy being revoked. Please return this page to Mrs. Pirtle by April 6, 2017. Parent signature Candidate signature 11