2007-2008 Bowie Step Team Informational Document

Parent Meeting on May 14, 2007 at 6:30p.m.

Forms and Teacher Recommendations due

April 18, 2007

Practice

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

3:15-4:45

Step Team Tryout Informational Sheet

REQUIREMENTS

Candidates that have met the following requirements will be allowed to tryout.

v  Distribute teacher recommendation forms to two core teachers and an additional form to a teacher of choice (not an athletic/PE coach).

v  Turn in to Mrs. Turner in room 415 by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 the following items:

o  Application

o  Commitment form

o  Permission to travel form

o  Volunteer/criminal history background for student

o  Volunteer/criminal history background for parent

o  Extracurricular activity participation form and

o  Medial Form (The Medical Form Must Be Notarized)

v  Attend all clinic days on April 23-25

v  Arrive at the clinic on time in the cafeteria

v  Wear plain black t-shirt; black pants/shorts and rubber soled black boots or flat shoes to clinic.

o  The t-shirt should NOT be revealing.

o  The pants should NOT be jeans. Pant/shorts should NOT be sagging or revealing.

v  Any candidate who was on last year’s team must be financially clear, owing no money to the Step team.

CLINIC

v  The Clinic will be held on April 23-25 in the Cafeteria. Attendance at the clinic is mandatory.

v  The Clinic will be from 3:15-4:45 p.m. (Junior high 4:45-5:45pm)

v  The required forms previously mentioned must be signed and turned in by April 18, 2007 by 3:00 p.m. for a candidate to begin practicing if she makes the team. Remember the medical form must be notarized.

v  All candidates will need to wear plain black t-shirt, pants/shorts and rubber soled boots or flat shoes to the clinic.

v  The Clinic is closed to non-candidate members.

NO EXCEPTIONS!!! ALL FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN BY WEDNESDAY April 18, 2007 AT 3 P.M. TO MR. CALDWELL IN ROOM 415

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MATERIAL

v  Material will be created and taught by senior step team members.

v  Candidates will be taught one mandatory group step.

v  Candidates will be taught one individual step.

v  Each candidate will perform the steps at tryouts.

v  The trainers will NOT be available outside of the clinic to assist any candidate. Any candidate found in violation will not be allowed to tryout.

TRYOUTS

v  Tryouts will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2007

v  Tryouts will begin at 3:15 p.m./4:15 p.m. for Junior High Students

v  Judges will use candidate’s numbers on their score sheets to identify the candidate.

v  Each candidate will perform a step in a group of approximately three and an individual step.

v  Candidates will be scored on precision, enthusiasm, showmanship, and appearance

v  The team will be selected based on tryout performance, teacher recommendations, and a discipline check.

SELECTION

v  Tryouts are closed to non-candidate members. No one is allowed in the building during or after tryouts except the judges, school personnel, the senior steppers, and the candidates. Candidates will be in a holding area until it is his/her time to tryout.

v  Each candidate will tryout before the judges.

v  Scores will be calculated by the judges and checked by the judges for accuracy. A sample score sheet is provided in this packet.

v  The final selection will be based on 60% judge’s score, and 40% teacher recommendation.

v  All step teams will consist of no more than 20 members.

RESULTS

v  The team list will be posted outside of Mr. Caldwell’s room (415) at 11:00am on Friday following tryouts.

v  No scores will be given to any candidate or parent the day of tryout or the day of posting.

PARENT INFORMATION

v  Parents of selected members must attend a mandatory meeting.

v  An installment plan for the dues has been set up. It is as follows:

May 15 $72

August 15 $71

September 15 $71

v  Payment in the form of cash or check/money order may be sent to Mrs. Turner with your child to school or mailed directly to the school to

o  2101 Highbank Dr. Arlington, TX 76018

o  ATTN: LINDA CAMERON

v  Payment can also be made via credit card on the Step Team’s Website

v  www.bowiesteppers.com In the left margin Click LINKS and then Click Pay DUES

v  Any member who fails to pay the assigned uniform installment by each designated date will be removed from the team.

James Bowie High School

Step Team Teacher Recommendation Sheet

Teachers: The following student is trying out to become a member of the two time State Championship Bowie Step Team. A Stepper should possess a positive attitude, have strong academic skills, be a leader and be able to represent Bowie High School well at on campus functions, as well as off campus events. In order to get “EXEMPLARY” Steppers, we are asking for your help. Please rate the student according to the following criteria as fairly as possible. Please do not return this form to the student, but instead place it in Mrs. Turner’s box or delivery it to her directly by April 18, 2007. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Student______Grade_____

Teacher:______Subject______

Use the following scale to rate the student.

1-poor 2-fair 3-average 4-good 5-exemplary

1.  Student has a positive attitude.

1 2 3 4 5

2.  Degree to which the student complies with rules and policies.

1 2 3 4 5

3.  Student’s interaction with other students (especially in group situations)

1 2 3 4 5

4.  Student’s interaction with adults

1 2 3 4 5

5.  Student’s punctuality (e.g. to class, with schoolwork, etc) and attendance.

1 2 3 4 5

6.  Student’s dependability and trustworthiness.

1 2 3 4 5

7.  Student’s ability to handle pressure.

1 2 3 4 5

8.  Initiative and/or self-motivation.

1 2 3 4 5

9.  Decision making skills/abilities.

1 2 3 4 5

10.  The student’s ability to represent Bowie High School

1 2 3 4 5

Additional Comments:

Teacher Signature:______

James Bowie High School

Step Team Teacher Recommendation Sheet

Teachers: The following student is trying out to become a member of the two time State Championship Bowie Step Team. A Stepper should possess a positive attitude, have strong academic skills, be a leader and be able to represent Bowie High School well at on campus functions, as well as off campus events. In order to get “EXEMPLARY” Steppers, we are asking for your help. Please rate the student according to the following criteria as fairly as possible. Please do not return this form to the student, but instead place it in Mrs. Turner’s box or delivery it to her directly by April 18, 2007. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Student______Grade_____

Teacher:______Subject______

Use the following scale to rate the student.

1-poor 2-fair 3-average 4-good 5-exemplary

11.  Student has a positive attitude.

1 2 3 4 5

12.  Degree to which the student complies with rules and policies.

1 2 3 4 5

13.  Student’s interaction with other students (especially in group situations)

1 2 3 4 5

14.  Student’s interaction with adults

1 2 3 4 5

15.  Student’s punctuality (e.g. to class, with schoolwork, etc) and attendance.

1 2 3 4 5

16.  Student’s dependability and trustworthiness.

1 2 3 4 5

17.  Student’s ability to handle pressure.

1 2 3 4 5

18.  Initiative and/or self-motivation.

1 2 3 4 5

19.  Decision making skills/abilities.

1 2 3 4 5

20.  The student’s ability to represent Bowie High School

1 2 3 4 5

Additional Comments:

Teacher Signature:______

James Bowie High School

Step Team Teacher Recommendation Sheet

Teachers: The following student is trying out to become a member of the two time State Championship Bowie Step Team. A Stepper should possess a positive attitude, have strong academic skills, be a leader and be able to represent Bowie High School well at on campus functions, as well as off campus events. In order to get “EXEMPLARY” Steppers, we are asking for your help. Please rate the student according to the following criteria as fairly as possible. Please do not return this form to the student, but instead place it in Mrs. Turner’s box or delivery it to her directly by April 18, 2007. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Student______Grade_____

Teacher:______Subject______

Use the following scale to rate the student.

1-poor 2-fair 3-average 4-good 5-exemplary

21.  Student has a positive attitude.

1 2 3 4 5

22.  Degree to which the student complies with rules and policies.

1 2 3 4 5

23.  Student’s interaction with other students (especially in group situations)

1 2 3 4 5

24.  Student’s interaction with adults

1 2 3 4 5

25.  Student’s punctuality (e.g. to class, with schoolwork, etc) and attendance.

1 2 3 4 5

26.  Student’s dependability and trustworthiness.

1 2 3 4 5

27.  Student’s ability to handle pressure.

1 2 3 4 5

28.  Initiative and/or self-motivation.

1 2 3 4 5

29.  Decision making skills/abilities.

1 2 3 4 5

30.  The student’s ability to represent Bowie High School

1 2 3 4 5

Additional Comments:

Teacher Signature:______

Judge Score Sheet
Candidate #
Precision 10 / Uniformity 10 / Showmanship 10 / Appearance 10

Total

Grand Total

Candidate #
Precision 10 / Uniformity 10 / Showmanship 10 / Appearance 10

Total

Grand Total

Candidate #
Precision 10 / Uniformity 10 / Showmanship 10 / Appearance 10

Total

Grand Total

Candidate #
Precision 10 / Uniformity 10 / Showmanship 10 / Appearance 10

Total

Grand Total

James Bowie High School

Step Team Procedures and Guidelines

Qualifications

  1. Students participating on the step teams must be enrolled at Bowie High School.
  2. Complete all necessary paperwork provided in the tryout packet.
  3. Be able to give freely of his/her time during and after school.
  4. Understand and meet all financial obligations. All money is non-refundable.
  5. Be physically and emotionally capable of dancing and performing extensively.
  6. Have parents or guardians that are willing to assist their student in obeying all rules and regulations of the school and the organization and its’ sponsors.
  7. Be willing to participate fully in all fundraising activities and have parents willing for him/her to do so.

Tryouts

  1. Tryouts are closed to everyone except participants
  2. Current members will be required to try out every year.
  3. Confidential recommendations will be completed and signed by the candidate’s teachers.

Practice

  1. Practice days for the step teams are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday everyday if a competition is scheduled for that week.
  2. Practice times are 3:15 pm until 4:30 pm.
  3. Team members are required to wear a black T-Shirt, black pants/shorts and black shoes to every practice.
  4. Team leaders will monitor students during practice.
  5. One or more sponsors will be present (in the cafeteria) during practice.
  6. Team leaders are responsible for developing routines.

Behavior/Character

  1. Students are expected to follow the directions of the student leaders during practice and competitions.
  2. Students are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship, high moral standards, display school spirit, and refrain from drinking, smoking, using drugs and participating in any activity that would be degrading to themselves or the team.
  3. All students will be disciplined according to the student code of conduct. However, students who violate the student code of conduct will be disciplined according to the following outline:
  4. Level 1 Violation
  5. Student will receive a warning.
  6. The student will be removed from the team after the third violation.
  1. Level 2 Violation
  2. Student will be asked to perform additional exercise routines.
  3. The student will be removed from the team after the second violation.
  4. Level 3 & 4 Violation
  5. The student will be removed from the team immediately.

Sponsors can and will deviate from these procedures depending on the situation that a student is involved in. The previously mentioned procedures serve as an outline or guide for student reference and are not intended as policies.

Sponsor(s)

1.  Since the Sponsors are directly responsible to the Principal and parents for the welfare of this organization, it is expressly understood that all student powers, rules, procedures and regulations are designed and delegated by the Sponsors and may be revoked at any time.

2.  The interpretation of any rule, procedure, situation or statement is the sole right of the Sponsors.

3.  Students and parents should be aware that sponsors are not paid to spend their valuable time at practice away from home and family. Therefore, students and parents understand that any disrespect toward sponsors will not be tolerated and the student will be removed from the team immediately with extreme prejudice.

PARENT INFORMATION

v  Parents of selected members must attend a mandatory meeting.

v  An installment plan for the dues has been set up. It is as follows:

May 15 $72

August 15 $71

September 15 $71

v  Payment in the form of cash or check/money order may be sent to Mrs. Turner with your child to school or mailed directly to the school to

o  2101 Highbank Dr. Arlington, TX 76018

o  ATTN: LINDA CAMERON

v  Payment can also be made via credit card on the Step Team’s Website

v  www.bowiesteppers.com In the left margin Click LINKS and then Click Pay DUES

v  Any member who fails to pay the assigned uniform installment by each designated date will be removed from the team.

Commitment Form

I have read the attached Step Team Procedures and Guidelines and understand the process by which Steppers are selected as well as the responsibilities that Steppers have, once selected.

I understand that attendance at practice is mandatory. If selected, I will make attending practice a priority. I understand that only school related activities are an excuse for not attending practice. Furthermore, I understand that work schedules need to be scheduled after practice. In addition, I understand that it will be difficult to work, come to practice, and participate in other time consuming activities while being a stepper.

I understand and am willing to accept the consequences involved by non-compliance of these guidelines.