Constitution and Bylaws of the Lamar High School Cheerleaders 2018-2019--Freshman Cheerleader Objectives: a. Cheerleaders should promote school spirit b. Cheerleaders should demonstrate good sportsman-like conduct among all students and adults. c. Cheerleaders should strive to maintain high standards and excellence in cheerleading and academics. d. Cheerleaders should promote the need for unity among all aspects of the school. e. Cheerleaders should make continuous efforts to remain in good standing with relationships between schools. Squad Divisions: a. Varsity (sophomores, juniors and seniors) b. Junior Varsity (JV) (sophomores and juniors) c. Freshman d. Mascot (any grade level) Cheerleader Responsibilities: Freshman Required Games: Cheer at Freshman football games ON LAMAR CAMPUS(during construction the games will be held at Butler Jr. Stadium and transportation will be provided and cheerleader will be allowed to go home with parent at the end of the game with the parent signing out the cheerleader during the during 4 th quarter) Cheer at 4 Varsity football game (must ride the bus to the game) Cheer at Freshman volleyball games and boys/girls basketball games at Lamar Freshman Other Events: Required to attend all after school practices on Wednesday Required to be enrolled cheer class in the fall and spring semester Required to perform at every pep rally throughout the school year Required to perform at Freshman Roundup 2 Attend mandatory practices July 9th Aug. 2 nd (9AM -12noon) Attend USA Cheer Camp (July 23-26) Required to ride the bus to varsity football games Required to sell spirit items before the game and at other times by the coach Requirements: CHEERLEADERS SHOULD BE COOPERATIVE WITH COACHES, OTHER CHEERLEADERS, AND LAMAR FACULTY AND STAFF MEMEBERS. Cheerleaders will be enthusiastic, spirited, and leaders at all times Cheerleaders will set examples during all events Cheerleaders will practice 1 afternoon after school 1
o In order to participate in the pep rally that week you must be present in class and at practice. NO excuses will be accepted for missing practice. This is a safety issue. Ineligible cheerleaders will not be allowed to wear their uniform to school or at games o Failure to comply with this policy will result in dismissal from the squad Cheerleaders will attend the required games listed above o The only excused absences will be personal illness or accident, death in the family, or exceptional circumstances approved by the coach in advance. o All excuses must be sent by a parent/guardian to lamarcheer@gmail.com o Lamar Senior Girls; Lamar Junior Girls; and Lamar Sophomore Girls are not affiliated with Lamar High School and thus absences due to this conflict will be unexcused and result in a deduction in the cheerleader s grade Cheerleaders are required to have a physical each year. The physical form must be turned in with the rest of the athletic packet on the first day of camp (July 9th). The physical must be on the HISD form and must be dated after May 15 of the preceding school year. All cheerleaders are required to purchase school insurance or sign with waiver in the athletic office. This must be done before the athletic packet is due on July 9 th. Per U.I.L. Cheerleaders will maintain a 70 average or above in all course work during each grading cycle. Cheerleaders receiving a 69 or below will not be allowed to participate in any after school activities. Cheerleaders who do not pass one (or more) class more than two times within a school year will be dismissed from the squad. Cheerleaders that are ineligible will receive a grade of 75 in the cheer class for the time that they are ineligible. Cheerleaders that are ineligible must continue to dress out in cheer class and will spend the class period working out. BEHAVIOR: Grading Policy: Categories: Class Participation 50% o Includes participation and uniform. The designated practice uniform must worn on the correct day. Event Participation 50 % o Includes attendance, uniform, participation, and being on time. o Events include games, pep rallies, freshman roundup, and any other event in which the cheerleaders are required to participate in. Tardy Policy: If you are tardy to cheer class the Lamar tardy policy will be applied o If you are more than 15 minutes late to an after school practice you will be removed from the pep rally or event in which the practice is held for. 2
Absences: If you are absent from cheer class or an after school practice, regardless of the excuse, you will not be allowed to perform in the event and you will be replaced in the routine. If you do not perform in the pep rally you will be benched at the game. You must still attend the game in full uniform. o Excessive absences from after school practices will result in being dismissed from the squad. Excused Absences: In order to be excused from an event, a 24 hour advance notice is required. The excuse must be sent by a parent/guardian to lamarcheer@gmail.com. This is the only way you can be excused without your grade being affected. Absences excused after the event will result in a grade of a 50 for that event unless it is an emergency Please note if you are absent due to another Lamar activity, your parent/guardian must still notify the coaches via lamarcheer@gmail.com 24 hours in advance. Unexcused absences: Unexcused absences from an event will result in a grade of a 50. Summer practice and camp absences: Absences from mandatory summer practices including camp will result in being benched until the first progress report. *Extenuating circumstances will be handled on a case by case basis by the coaching staff. Leaving Early: If you leave an after school practice early, you will be replaced in the routine. If you need to leave an event early the coaches must be notified via email in order to be excused without penalty to your grade. If you leave early without notification, 30 points will be deducted from that event s attendance grade. Grades: Point Deduction: If you are missing any part of your uniform including but not limited to: bow, under armor, leggings, correct color spanx, correct color socks(white), correct bra (ie color/not showing), correct outerwear, and correct shoes, you WILL NOT be allowed to perform and 30 points will be deducted from your grade for that event. 20 points will be deducted from event participation for each item of jewelry worn. 30 points will be deducted for the wrong uniform and the cheerleader will not be allowed to perform If nails are painted it should be a clear polish. No other color will be allowed at events. If nails are painted the cheerleader will not be allowed to perform and 30 points will be deducted for that event. 10 points per day will be deducted for not turning in assignments (permission slips/progress reports) 3
o Failure to turn in a permission slip on the due date will result in your not being allowed to attend the event. If you do not attend the event you will be considered absent. o Athletic packet is separate from this! Not turning in the athletic packet on July 9 th will result in dismissal from the squad. (No Refunds) 30 points will be deducted from your event attendance grade if you leave a varsity football game without being signed out by a parent/guardian. Points will be deducted from your participation grade for the following reason: o Talking to people in the stands o Playing around during the national anthem and alma mater, etc. o 10 points will be deducted each time a coach sees a cheerleader with a cell phone out during practice and events o General lack of participation o Other situations will be dealt with as they occur o Leaving trash in gym or practice area will result in the entire squad running before the next practice Conduct Outside of the School: Cheerleaders are representatives of Lamar High School outside of school hours and are expected to behave. Illicit/Inappropriate behavior recorded on social media can result in removal from the squad without a refund. Also the cheerleader can be excluded from games and/or other school events Cheerleaders need to be very mindful that the pictures/videos they post online are accessible to family, friends, teachers, administrators, and future employers. Reminder: The internet does not forget! Dismissal from the Squad: The following will result in automatic dismissal from the squad. If you are dismissed from the squad you will be moved into the P.E. class as soon as we can make a change in your schedule. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS IF YOU ARE DISMISSED FOR ANY REASON! Suspension Smoking Drinking Use of illegal substances Fighting Defacing property Cheating in class a second time Hazing Theft Bullying Cyber bullying A second failing grade on a report card 4
Wearing cheer uniform when ineligible Failure to turn in athletic packet on July 9 th *Dismissal may occur for reasons not listed here after a meeting with the coaches, cheerleader, and parents* Reinstatement: If a cheerleader is dismissed for any reason, they will relinquish membership for the remainder of the school year. A member who is dropped for scholastic reasons may try out again in the spring as long as they are in good academic standing at the time of try outs. A cheerleader dismissed for any other reason will be not be allowed to try out again. Cheerleader Duties: Good physical conditioning is essential for all cheerleaders. Students will be trained to stretch properly for workouts. All cheerleaders must be in good general health. It is important that cheerleaders maintain proper body weight and to engage in exercise to increase strength. Cheerleaders will stretch properly, wear any necessary bandages or braces needed to protect wrists, ankle, or knees to avoid injuries. Cheerleaders will be given a calendar at the beginning of each semester/season. The calendar will have the time that cheerleaders are to arrive at events and the correct uniform to wear. Uniform changes will not be made to the calendar. Reminder text messages will not be sent. Cheerleaders are responsible for their own schedule and wearing the proper uniform without expecting a reminder. Uniform Cheerleaders need to care for the uniform properly No jewelry is to be worn with the uniform at any time (including during school) Hair must be pulled securely off the face by purchased bow and must be worn when wearing cheerleader uniform Leggings must be worn by the ENTIRE squad when uniform is worn during school. If cheerleaders choose to not wear their uniform during school they must change before they go to their first period of the day. No t-shirts, sweaters, or jackets which represent other organizations are permitted with the cheerleader uniform. Non-cheerleaders caught wearing any part of the cheerleader uniform (including t-shirts, fleeces, warm ups and pullovers) will be asked to give the item to the coach. 10 points will be deducted from that weeks practice grade each time the offense occurs. Expenses: Expenses will vary from year to year depending on the needs of the squad An estimated expense sheet will be given to the cheerleader before tryouts All payments will be made before anything will be ordered for the cheerleader All payments will be paid by cash, money order, or cashiers check with the cashier check/money order made out to Lamar High School NO PERSONAL CHECKS All money must be paid before any uniform is ordered for the cheerleader and squad Money will be paid on School Pay or to the Business Office You must present the receipt to receive credit for payment. 5
Summer Camp/Summer Practices Work is not considered an excused absence Summer camp as designated by the sponsor will be required of all the cheerleaders Missing any of the summer practices will result in the cheerleader being benched until cycle 1 progress reports Practices No jewelry, watches, or sunglasses will be worn during practice or cheer class Practice clothes will consist of t-shirts, shorts/sweat pants, shoes, socks Hair must be pulled securely off the face No scarves, bandannas, or head wraps no curlers- a baseball hat may be worn outside NO CELL PHONES DURING PRACTICE! If the cheerleader has her/his phone out during practice the coach will take it and it will not be returned until the end of practice. Game Responsibilities: Visitations with outsiders on the field is not permitted during games parental contact will be before the game, at breaks, or after games Breaks may only be taken at times designated by the coaches Water is provided at VARSITY football games o JV must provide their own water at JV games Cheerleaders will not practice or stretch in front of the crowd If the cheerleader does not know the called cheer/chant he/she must sit down out of sight of the crowd No cheer/chant will be performed while an injured player is on the field ALL CHEERLEADERS WILL RIDE THE BUS PROVIDED TO VARSITY FOOTBALL GAMES! (NO EXCEPTIONS!) o If the cheerleader does not want to ride back to Lamar a parent must sign the cheerleader out during the 4 TH QUARTER. Cheerleaders may not be signed out after the game. o An email must be sent to coaches if you are will be signed out by anyone other than your parent/guardian 24 hours in advance. Failure to do so will result in you riding the bus back to school. All cheerleaders must be picked up within 10 minutes from the end of games or events o Cheerleaders not picked up within 10 minutes will be left in the care of HISD police officers or taken to the nearest HPD station. Cheerleaders not picked up within 15 minutes of the end of the game (off campus) or returning to school will not be allowed to perform off campus again. Cheerleaders must keep in mind that they are attending the games for the following reasons: o To support the respective team, the Rangerettes, the band, and to watch the game. o At half time all cheerleaders will sit on the field to support the Rangerettes and the Band Work Outside of School: Work will not be an excuse for any missed event or practice. Amendments: This constitution may be changed and amended by the coaches. 6
2018-2019 Cheerleader Application Name: Mandatory Freshman Parent s Meeting: Thursday, April 5 th in W111at 6 PM- Freshman Cheer Fittings will on Saturday, April 14 th at 11AM In the Alumni Room on 2 nd floor across from the main office Application Checklist: Completed Application Parent Release (notarized) Signed Contract Copy of cycle 4 report card attached Please note- if you received a grade of 69 or below in any class on your cycle 4 report card you may NOT tryout. Turn in completed packet at the Parent s meeting as stated above. There will not be any applications at the Parent s meeting. *We will not accept faxed or e-mailed copies* 7
2018-2019 LHS Cheer Application Name: Incoming 9 th Grader What ideas do you have that will be a benefit to the cheerleading program? Describe 3 personal traits that will benefit to the cheerleading programs? What extracurricular activities are you/will you be involved in next year? 8
CHEERLEADER CONTRACT 2018-2019 I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE Lamar High School Cheerleader constitution. I understand what is expected of me/my child and the consequences associated with noncompliance. I understand that if I am dismissed from the squad no money will be refunded. I also understand that failure to turn in paperwork and/or payments on time will result in dismissal from the squad without a refund. I have also seen the summer calendar and I understand that if miss any summer practices and/or camp I will be benched until the first progress report. Cheerleader (print) Cheerleader Signature Date Parent/Guardian (print) Parent/Guardian Signature Date 9
Uniforms: Red $210 Nvy $225 Accessories: Brief Nvy $35 Red $35 Turtleneck $45 Shoes Leather $90 Mesh $120 Bag $75 Warm-up $195 Rain Jacket $16 Bow Game Day $25 Pink $25 Beverage Cooler $12 Campwear/Classroom 2 specialty shirts/2 specialty shorts $190 Camp $240 Total $1538 FRESHMAN EXPENSE SHEET ESTIMATED 2018-19 All money must be paid by Monday, May 7 th you may pay on School Pay www.schoolpay.com or you may pay in the Business Office in the form of cash, money order or cashier check (made out to Lamar High School) NO PERSONAL CHECKS Optional: Jersey $50 10