WICHITA EAST HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT SQUAD
2019-2020 DANCE TEAM TRYOUTS
Informational Packet
Congratulations on your decision to tryout for the East High Spirit Squad! I hope this will be a fun and rewarding experience for you.
This application packet will provide you with information pertaining to the requirements, responsibilities, cost, and time involved in the program.
If you have any questions, please contact the coaching staff via email. Coach Blanton, Head Coach: [email protected] Coach Golden, Asst. Coach: [email protected] Coach Brittain, Asst. Coach: [email protected]
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Tryout Information
Tryouts When: April 2-5, 2019 Where: East High Small Gym Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Everyone will be given a tryout number. You will be scored by your tryout number throughout the week, with a final evaluation (in groups of two or three) on the last tryout date. Throughout the week, you will be judged on POTENTIAL as well as TECHNIQUE. Although, the first few days are more of an informal scoring, you will be making your first impressions on the coaching staff. You will be evaluated informally or formally every day.
One of the most important factors I am looking for is attitude. Are you on time? Do you come prepared? Dressed appropriately? Do you follow directions the first time given? Are you putting 110% into the tryout every day? Does your positive attitude set you apart from others? Do you help others rise to a higher level? Are you KIND to others? Cooperate with the coaching staff? These things go a long way.
What to Wear For all days of tryouts, please wear all black (fitting clothing is preferred for ease of movement). Wear either jazz shoes or tennis shoes. Hair up with bangs pinned back out of the face. NO GUM! NO JEWELRY!
Team Meeting A mandatory student and parent meeting for those who make the team will be Tuesday, April 16 @ 6:00pm in East High hangar (cafeteria). All team members will be fitted for team clothing, warm-ups, and pants. ***Payment #1 will be due at this time.
Team Contract & Expectations
Selection - Selection is based upon the coaches’ criteria and tryout performance. Be prepared for long, hard practices with elite level difficulty. Our season stretches from the beginning of June to the beginning of March, straight through with hardly any breaks and this takes great management of time and grades.
Attendance - Attendance at all team functions is mandatory. Work and non-school activities should not interfere with practice, games, or any other scheduled event. Scheduled appointments should not be scheduled during practice or games. The coach must be contacted if a member must miss practice or a game. An unexcused absence warrants benching from the next performance/game. If a member is not performing for disciplinary reasons or is injured, that member is still required to attend all activities and be in uniform. In cases of repeated failure to meet expectations, a member may be suspended or removed from the team. If removed, the member will not letter and no fees will be reimbursed.
Practice & Game Schedule – o Summer: Practices during summer will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 6:00-7:30 AM in the main gym the month of June. See attached calendar. o Football Season: Practices during football season will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 6:00-7:30 AM in the main gym. Football games are Friday evenings. o Basketball Season: We will practice Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 6:00-7:30 AM in the small gym. Basketball games are Tuesday and Friday evenings. o Occasionally, extra practices will be added as needed. 2
Participation – All members are required to participate in all games, practices, fundraising activities, and other events as determined by the coach. Phones and other devices must be put away during practice and games.
Attitude – As a spirit squad member, you must have a positive attitude and be respectful to coaching staff and teammates at all times. A bad attitude will not be tolerated and will have consequences. Cooperation is a must!
Misconduct - As a spirit squad member you are a student-athlete and a student leader. As a representative of East High School you are expected to always bring honor to yourself, your school, your team, and your coach. Any behavior, which does not represent East High School and its spirit squad in a positive way, is considered reason for removal from the team. You are an East High spirit leader while in the classroom, on the field/court, and in your community. You will be held accountable for your actions at ALL times. Skipping school, public displays of affection, profanity, drug or alcohol use, tobacco/nicotine use, fighting, and other major offenses will not be tolerated and will be reason for immediate removal from the team by the coach. This includes all conduct on social media. Conduct that is unbecoming of a teenager, appears to be disgracing others (including other teams) or yourself, making you look like something other than what you are, retweeting or posting offensive things, any other social media behavior (including pictures) that the coaches find inappropriate is cause for IMMEDIATE REMOVAL.
Appearance – All members are required to be in the assigned uniform, hair style, and makeup. Members are not to chew gum, have long or pointy nails, or wear jewelry during practice and performances.
Skills & Conditioning – Spirit squad members are athletes and the team will condition regularly. Cheering and dancing involves aspects of agility and coordination, stamina, strength, balance and flexibility, etc.
Academics – You are required to pass at least 5 classes. This is the minimum standard. As an athlete, you should not have any failing grades. You are expected to be a leader not only on the field/court, but also in the classroom. At grade checks, if a member has failing grade, they will be benched until the grade becomes passing.
Priorities – As a student-athlete, your grades and education are most important. Cheering and dancing for East involves more than just football and basketball games; it is a year-round sport. It is an incredible amount of hard work and dedication. It requires a real commitment, not just to the sport, but to East High School, your coach, and your teammates. We will build endurance, strength, and integrity here at EHS. You will be expected to give 100%.
Game Etiquette- Spirit squad members are expected to display outstanding conduct and sportsmanship at all times. They are expected to concentrate on the game and promote school spirit. There should be little to no socializing with anyone while on the field/sidelines/court. Realize it or not, all eyes are on you. Public displays of affection of any kind will not be tolerated. You are a representative of East High School and must act in a manner that will make all proud. Members must stay together at all times and will only be excused by the coach. Being late to a call time will result in sitting out a quarter.
Uniforms- It is an honor to wear a Blue Aces uniform. It is your responsibility to treat all pieces of your uniform with care. Uniforms are not to be worn except to games and activities. Your uniform may only be worn by you, and may not be borrowed by anyone. Adjustments or alterations to any uniform should not be made without approval from the coach (darts, hems, zippers, etc.). All uniforms are the property of East High School and must be returned clean at the end of the season. At this time all uniforms will be checked for holes, snags, stains and unapproved alterations. The member will be charged with replacement costs for any damages or unreturned items.
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Transportation- Transportation to home games and city league games is the responsibility of the member. Cheer only: For out of town games and tournaments, transportation will be provided.
Lettering Requirements- All athletes will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the season, but there are certain requirements in order to earn a Varsity letter. A first time letterman will receive their Varsity letter at the end of the season and I will award them a pin with that letter. Lettering after that each year, the athlete will receive a certificate and a bar to put on their Varsity letter beside the pin they were awarded previously. Here are the requirements for lettering on the East High Spirit Squad: **Varsity members will receive a letter based upon participation and conduct as determined by the coach. **A JV member must cheer at minimum 3 varsity-only games to letter.
Being on the spirit squad at East High will require a tremendous amount of time and hard work. It will also be full of fun and excitement that you won’t want to miss!! As a member of the spirit squad at East High School, you will be a part of many traditions that will remain for years to come. I can promise you a year full of rewarding experiences, where you will learn a great deal about yourself and being a part of a true team.
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Costs for 2019-2020 Dance Season
EVERYONE School Uniform Rental Fee $75 Team Clothing $80 Summer Camp & Transportation $320 General Team Fee $25
NEW MEMBERS ONLY Warm-ups (Jacket & Pant) $85 Team Performance Sneakers $65 Team Jersey $30 ***Each dancer will need black and tan jazz Uniform Jazz Pants $25 shoes and black and light suntan tights. If you Uniform Leggings $25 already own the correct jazz shoes and tights, Team Backpack $35 you will NOT need to purchase another. If yours are discolored, torn, or ripped, it is the dancer’s (returners) $475 responsibility to purchase a new pair prior to (new members) $740 camp (June 25).
PAYMENT DUE DATES $40 camp deposit, $80 team clothing, $85 warm-ups, #1 $120 for returnees $65 team sneakers, $30 jersey, $25 jazz pants, $25 leggings, Tuesday, April 16 $385 for newbies $35 backpack
#2 $280 Remaining camp fees Friday, May 10
#3 $75 Uniform rental fee Monday, June 3
**There are NO REFUNDS for any reason, even if your student is removed from the team due to inappropriate behavior, grades, or any other unforeseeable circumstance.
Fundraising Opportunities 1. Corporate Sponsors (optional) – Members may ask for donations from companies to go towards their individual fees. This fundraiser will begin shortly after the new team is selected. Sponsorships collected need to be turned in BEFORE the due dates to be credited and no money will be reimbursed. 2. Pizza Sales – Members will each be required to work pizza sales during lunch several times each semester. The profits made will help pay for team expenses.
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Mandatory Summer Schedule
June 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Practice Practice Practice Practice 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Practice Practice Practice Practice 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Practice Practice Practice Practice 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am 6-7:30am
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Practice CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP 6-8:00am
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You will have the month of July off.
Please continue to stretch, condition, and work on technique on your own.
Practice will resume the week of August 12.
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Application for Tryouts
Dear Parent/Guardian and Student,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of what will be expected of the members of next year’s spirit squad. Please read over this entire letter and carefully consider whether or not you are willing and able to make the necessary commitment to the team. I want you to fully understand what I expect before your student is to tryout. I am looking for respectful, positive, hardworking, academically focused, and cooperative team members. I expect members will approach their role as leaders or the school, displaying appropriate behavior both in class and at school activities. Remember, a member’s behavior must be above expectations, for they are leaders of East High school and the spirit squad.
The factors that will be considered for acceptance on the team include the following: pre-enrollment at East for 2019-20 school year, grade check, administrator approval, teacher evaluations, good standing with bookkeeping, signed application for tryouts, completed student survey, passing scores on tryouts, availability for summer requirements, positive participation during tryouts, and positive conduct both in and out of the classroom.
The commitments this year will require as follows: Attendance to summer camp (June 25th-28th) at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina; Attendance to both summer and school year practices Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs from 6-7:30 am; Attendance to ALL required games. Included in this packet is a cost page with details of all expenses and payment due dates. Camp and summer practices are MANDATORY! Not being able to make summer practice or camp will put you at risk of not making the team. Nothing will be excused in June.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the coaching staff through email. [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Sincerely,
Ashley Blanton, Head Spirit Squad Coach Renate’ Golden, Assistant Spirit Squad Coach Kassidy Brittain, Assistant Spirit Squad Coach
I will cooperate with and follow the instructions of the coaching staff. As the parent/guardian, I will do my best to help my student meet the expectations. I will be able to commit to the team for the entire season and be at morning practice at 6:00 AM (June-March). I will be able to pay for camp and all the uniform items I need by the due dates listed on the “costs” page. I have read and comply with the spirit squad expectations.
Parent Signature: ______Date: ______
Student Signature: ______Date: ______
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East High Spirit Squad Dance Tryout Survey
Name: ______
Current School (name of middle school, East, NE):______
Grade for 2019-2020 School Year: 9 10 11 12
Student Email Address: ______Student Cell Phone: (______) ______-______
Father/Guardian Name: ______Email Address: ______Cell Number: (____) _____-______
Mother/Guardian name: ______Email Address: ______Cell Number: (____) _____-______
Emergency contact name: ______Phone Number: (____) _____-______Relationship to student: ______
Any medical concerns or allergies I should know about? ______
Please list any previous dance training and experience. If so, what and where did you train? ______
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East High Spirit Squad Tryouts Medical Release Form
I, ______(Parent) do hereby release Wichita High School East, coaches, sponsors, and administrators, from responsibility in case of illness or injury of my child, ______, during tryouts.
I also give permission for treatment of illness and injury that may be sustain while performing said duties.
______Signature of Parent/Guardian Home Number
______Address Cell Phone Number
______Emergency Contact Emergency Contact Number
______Name of Physician Preferred Hospital
______Insurance Company
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