I. Organization 2017-2018 CONNALLY HIGH SCHOOL STARS DANCE TEAM CONSTITUTION The name of this organization shall be the Connally High School Stars Dance Team. The organization shall follow the traditional school colors of Forest Green and White, and will serve as role models and ambassadors to Connally High School. II. Purpose This organization shall have several purposes. It shall serve as a support group for school events and activities. It shall promote school loyalty, school spirit, and good sportsmanship. It shall also serve as a foundation for the growth of each member. Members will learn team-building skills, time management, and self-respect. They will also learn dance technique and performance skills. Members will show support to other school groups such as athletics, fine arts, and other organizations/clubs. Members will represent and promote Pflugerville ISD, be role models in their community, and be positive ambassadors to their peers. III. Tryout Eligibility Candidates must meet the following eligibility guidelines: A. All current Stars Dance Team Members must tryout each year to remain on the team. B. Candidates must be enrolled or transferring to Connally High School for the 2017-2018 school year. Transfer students must provide approved transfer documentation upon making the team. C. Candidates must not have been placed in Alternative School, DAEP, or OC during the school year of auditions (2016-2017 school year). D. Candidates must not tum 19 years old before September 1, 2017 under UIL Eligibility Rules. E. A student who has been attending high school for seven or more semesters is not eligible to audition under UIL Eligibility Rules. F. Students who have been or will be in high school for more than four years are not eligible for dance team membership under UIL Eligibility Rules. G. Each student must have earned the cumulative number of credits for his/her grade level under UIL Eligibility Rules. a. Beginning the 9 th grade year - Student must have been promoted from 8th grade to 9th grade. b. Beginning the 10 th grade year - Student must have earned at least 5 credits earned towards graduation. c. Beginning the 11 th grade year - Student must have earned at least 10 credits earned towards graduation. d. Beginning the 12 th grade year - Student must have earned at least 15 credits earned towards graduation.
H. Candidates must not be selected as a part of any other Spirit Organization, including CHS Cheerleading or Mascot for the 2017-2018 season. I. Students will not be eligible if they have been dismissed/removed from ANY high school extracurricular activities including but not limited to dance team, color guard, band, choir, cheerleading, or athletic teams. J. Candidates must not owe any debts to PfISD, CHS, or the Stars Program. K. Candidates must complete the Tryout Packet and Tryout Process in order to be eligible for membership. IV. Program Membership A. Membership in this program is considered a privilege and not a right, and can be revoked at any time. B. The Stars program may consist of grade levels 9-12, male or female. C. The final number of team members may be determined by the Director and/or Principal. D. All candidates will be required to turn in an Application Packet and complete Tryout Process. If a candidate is seriously injured and cannot complete the Tryout Process, video footage may be submitted for the judges. Video footage should include all portions of the Score Sheet in order to be scored accurately. E. While a member of this program, you may not have any facial piercings that cannot be removed. Facial piercings will need to be removed for ALL games and performances. F. While a member of this program, you may not have any visible tattoos. Covering tattoos with make-up is not allowed and any tattoo that is visible must be covered at all times in accordance with the CHS Student Handbook. V. Member Expectations A. As a Star Dance Team Member, each member will be expected to: 1. Display good manners and proper conduct at all times. 2. Obey all school rules and show respect to all faculty/staff. 3. Show respect to the Director and Officers. 4. Maintain excellent attendance to school and practices. 5. Pass all classes. 6. Have an Emergency Card on file with the Director. 7. Have a Physical/UIL Agreement on file with the Director. 8. Be enrolled in Drill Team class. 9. Participate in team fundraisers. 10. Dancers should be prepared to audition for every dance for football, basketball, and contest season. The Director will base routine readiness on memory, technique, showmanship, and attendance. The Director has the right to cut a member out of the routine if these requirements are not met, or if the dancer is absent for Auditions.
VI. Attendance Expectations Stars is a year-round commitment that required devotion of time and effort by both parents and dance team members. Unexcused Absences from practices will result in consequences and/or removal from performances. A. The following Attendance Requirements are expected: 1. Attend all scheduled practices before and after school, including any additional practices scheduled by the Director. 2. Attend all games, performances, and/or contests scheduled by the Director. 3. Attend all summer camp and/or summer practices scheduled by the Director. 4. Be punctual to all practices, game, and/or performances. 5. You must be in attendance at school on days when performances and/or games are scheduled. 6. You must be in attendance for routine auditions to be considered for that particular routine. 7. You must contact the Director and/or your designated Officer prior to any absent via text message, email, or phone call. 8. Please do not schedule doctor and/or dentist appointments that interfere with practice and/or performance times. 9. Please do not schedule college visits and/or family vacations that interfere with practice and/or performance times. B. Excused Absences are: 1. Personal illness and/or medical emergency (please contact the Director and/or your designated Officer prior to your absence if time permits). 2. Death of a family member and/or friend, funeral attendance, or bereavement. 3. Medical emergency of a family member that requires your attention. 4. Extra-Curricular Absences or School-Related Absences (please notify the Director in advance of such absences) C. Unexcused Absences are: VII. Uniforms 1. Work and/or job-related conflicts 2. Dates and/or plans with boyfriends 3. Attending a concert 4. Attending a birthday party or other party 5. Driver's Ed classes 6. Outside hobbies 7. Sleeping in A. Parents must furnish the majority of the member's personal uniform. A uniform list will be provided at tryout time to see the estimated amount for that year. Amounts may vary from year to year.
B. The school will provide a Field Uniform for team members. These must be dry-cleaned and returned at the end of the year for Inventory. Field Uniforms that are damaged or lost must be paid for by the student and/or parent at the time of Inventory. C. Costumes for Contest Season may be furnished by the school in full or in part. D. Dancers may be asked to provide some of their own costumes for Contest Season. If costumes are issued by the school, they must be cared for and returned in good condition. Costumes that are damaged or lost will be paid for by the student and/or parent at the time of Inventory.
E. Uniforms and costumes should be kept clean and neat. Failure to provide clean uniforms and/or costumes may result in loss of performance or Marks. F. Members should always wear a cover-up to and from rehearsals and while walking in the hallways. G. Members should not loan out any of their uniforms, attire, or costume pieces to any non-member. H. See Disciple section of this document for further consequences relating to uniforms and/or costumes. VIII. Transportation Stars are expected to ride the bus to and from any school-related activity requiring such transportation. An exception will be made for students desiring to ride home with their parent(s) such activities. Documentation must be provided in advance and must provide the following information: Due to budgeting, school transportation may not be available for all events. In such a case, students and parents may be asked to carpool for such events. IX. Academics Members must meet all UIL Eligibility Guidelines of a 70+ on all subjects (NO PASS, NO PLAY) to remain eligible. A. Stars may be removed for Academic Suspension if the following occurs: 1. Failing a total of three consecutive 9-week reporting periods. 2. Academic probation for four consecutive reporting periods starting after the first 9-week reporting period. B. Stars who are removed for Academic reasons MAY try out again after one calendar year from the date of removal. A member will be placed on Alternate status until all of the following requirements have been met: 1. The student must be which will include the prior six weeks of tryouts and the week of clinics. This is to be determined at the time of removal and under the decision of the Director. 2. The person must also have conference to receive permission from the Director before tryouts. C. Stars will be expected to attend Tutorials if grades fall below a 70 in any subject until the grade has been changed to passing. Failure to attend Tutorials can result in Strikes and/or Conditioning. X. Lettering Stars may earn a letterman jacket upon completion of 2 years of service to the organization. Seniors are eligible to letter their first year. Patches and any additional items will be paid for by the individual. Letterman privileges will be revoked if removed from the team, if a member resigns, or if a member owes the program funds.
XI. Transfer Students At the discretion of the Director, transfer students will only be considered if that person was an upstanding member of her previous drill team. Transcripts, letter of recommendation, and a separate tryout will determine if that student will be accepted. Transfer students are not eligible to hold office until they have served one year of service. Transfer students will be considered for lettering on a case-by-case basis. XII. Officers Officers will be selected later in the year and is only open to Veteran members. Please see Officer Tryout Packet for eligibility and tryout requirements. Officers will have an additional Agreement to sign as part of the packet and must understand that if the Agreement is broken during the school year, that that Officer s position can be revoked. XIII. Managers At the discretion of the Director, Managers may be installed either during tryouts or at the beginning of the school year. Managers act as secretary and runner for the Director. They are to uphold the same standards set for the Stars Program. They must wear the required dress code to participate as a Manager. Applications and interviews will be held by the Director. XIV. Probation Definition: A period of time during which a member is denied the privilege of participating in scheduled performances. A. Participation 1. Members on probation for any reason will still be required to participate during class and practice time, unless otherwise specified by the Director. 2. Members on probation will still be required to attend events and functions to show support of their team-mates. B. Length of Probation 1. If placed on probation for any reason other than academic, length will be determined by the Director. If a length of time is not suitable for probation, then the Director has the option of suspending dancers from certain performances. 2. Academic probation will follow the UIL eligibility guidelines and dates. 3. If a student is on academic probation, she may not wear any of the school-issued uniforms or use school-transportation to games/contests. XV. Discipline Discipline will be administered within the Stars program at the sole discretion of the Director, in the best interests of the program. The following disciplinary rules are guidelines only; the Director has the sole discretion to assign disciplinary sanctions for any given conduct, taking into consideration the severity of the conduct, the disruption to the program, and the likelihood that the conduct will tend to undermine the success of the program as a whole. Each section will be viewed separately. There will be 3 levels of discretion in this organization. They are called 1) Marks, 2) Strikes, and 3) Immediate Removal. They are detailed below:
A. Level 1 - Marks Daily Discipline Infractions will be counted as Marks. Each Mark received by an individual will be noted and will result in either conditioning (see examples) or a Strike if a certain number is accumulated. Examples of conditioning are: 1 Mark = 1 lap around the track (1/4 mile), OR 1 Mark = 10 eightcounts of high kicks in a row (40 kicks). Marks will be cleared approximately every six weeks after the conditioning has taken place, and a new count will begin. You may receive Marks for the following minor infractions: 1. Tardiness to a practice, game, event, performance, or report time. Being MORE than 30 minutes late will result a. in an automatic 5 marks. 2. Missing or wrong uniform piece, practice outfit, and/or game day outfit at practice, game, event, or a. performance. 3. Not wearing designated "Spirit Attire" on Football Fridays and/or during Homecoming Spirit Week. 4. Missing or wrong practice wear including jazz shoes, field boots, poms, and/or field hat on required days. 5. Not bringing designated items to practice, game, or performance. 6. Not turning in specified documents and/or inventory to the Director on time. a. 1 Mark each day for late documents and/or inventory (examples: grade sheets, tutorial slips, medical release forms, inventory pieces, etc. 7. Cursing or swearing at practices, games, events, or performances. 8. Wearing or forgetting to remove individual jewelry and/or colored nail polish during a. performances. 9. Improper performance hair and/or make up. 10. Failure to observe rank or line order. 11. Excessive talking during stretching and/or practice. 12. Not standing at attention, not smiling, and talking excessively on the field during pre-game and halftimes. 13. Talking to and/or loitering with boyfriends and friends without permission during games. 14. Removing hat during games without permission. 15. Chewing gum during practice and/or performances. 16. Eating or drinking in uniform and/or costume at games and/or performances without Director's approval. 17. Uniform piece or hair piece falling off during a performance will result in an automatic 5 Marks. 18. Any teacher-assigned after school detention for disciplinary reasons will result in an automatic 5 marks. 19. Once a member receives 25 marks in one period, and automatic STRIKE will be given.
B. Level 2 - Strikes Mid-level disciplinary infractions will be counted as Strikes and will be documented. Strikes can be added together and will not be cleared until the end of the current school year. The Three Strike policy is outlined below. In the event of a Strike, the parent will be contacted via email, phone call, and/or letter. One Strike: Written Warning and/or 1-3 week Probation and/or 1-3 performance Suspension. Two Strikes: 3-6 week Probation and/or 3-6 performance Suspension. Three Strikes: Removal from the program. You may receive Strikes for the following: 1. Unexcused absence from practice, game, and/or performance (see Unexcused Absence section of this document). 2. Leaving practice, game, and/or competition without the Director's approval. 3. Vulgar or lewd behavior at practice, game, and/or performance. 4. Poor or dangerous conduct on bus and/or dressing room. 5. Destruction of property or desecration of facility. 6. Wearing Stars uniform inappropriately in public and/or parties. 7. Lending uniform pieces or costumes to a non-member. 8. Excessive failure to follow school dress code. 9. Excessive PDA (Public Displays of Affection) including making out in public, displaying hickies, and/or any other behavior deemed inappropriate by the Director or School Administration. 10. Posting inappropriate photos or content on any Social Media site (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 11. Refusal to remove facial piercings for games and/or performances. 12. Getting tattoos that are visible in uniform and unable to cover during performances (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 13. Insubordination to the Director, Officers, and/or Parent Chaperones. 14. Making poor choices on social media; posting negative/inappropriate/lewd text, pictures, or videos that undermine the program. 15. Other conduct which is hostile to the program, including disruptive behavior, disrespect of teachers and peers, failure to comply with the rules or directions of the Director, or other similar conduct. 16. Receiving 3 or more after school Detentions (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 17. Receiving ISS for 1-2 days (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 18. Failure to attend Summer Camp (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 19. Failure to attend Boot Camp (consequences will be assigned on a case-by-case basis). 7
C. Level 3 - Immediate Removal A meeting will be set up with an Administrator, Director, parent(s), and dance team member if removal from the team is necessary. A member may be immediately removed from the team for the following major disciplinary infractions: 1. Smoking, drinking, and possessing any drug, alcohol, and/or tobacco product on campus or as a felony/misdemeanor in public. This also includes admitting to and promoting drug, alcohol, or tobacco use on social media sites or text messages. 2. Truancy or skipping class resulting in 3 or more days of ISS. 3. Receiving 3 or more days of ISS from any administrator for violation of school policies. 4. Suspension or expulsion from school for 3 or more days. 5. Placement in DAEP or OC for any amount of days. 6. Fighting 7. Stealing 8. Indecent exposure in public and/or on any form of on-line communication or text messaging. 9. Engaging in taunting or bullying via various forms of social media. 10. Engaging in conduct punishable as a felony and/or conduct resulting in an arrest. 11. Failing to comply with school policies applicable to participation in Athletics, and/or failure to follow UIL Rules. 12. Failing to comply with the Director s instructions, repeated insubordination to Director, or repeated disruptive conduct. 13. Engaging in conduct that tends to undermine the legitimate objectives of the Stars program. 14. A Star may be removed from the team with just cause as determined by the Director and/or Principal. 15. If a Star is removed for any of the above reasons, she/he may not try out for one calendar year from the day she/he is removed. 16. If a Star resigns or quits the team, she/he may not try out for one calendar year from the day she/he resigns. A dated and signed letter of resignation must be submitted to the Director. 17. If a Star is removed from the team or resigns, no refunds will be given and all Letterman privileges will be revoked. After reading this Constitution in full, please sign your Constitution Agreement located in your Tryout Packet. Agreements are kept on file for one calendar year and must be updated each year. Any questions or concerns should be immediately addressed with the Director. 8