1. 2016-2017 Cheer Parent Informational Meeting Monday March 7th, 2016 Coach Kassidy Free Kfree@nisdtx.org

2. Cheer Constitution Please refer to this document on ALL district guidelines and regulations. This is a living document created by our Fine Arts department. It was revised February 2 nd 2016 by the NISD Middle School cheer coaches and Fine Arts Administrators

3. Introduction O 7 th Grade Language Arts teacher O Northwest Graduate O Texas A&M Graduate O Almost two decades of cheer experience O Pee Wee/Competition/Gymnast O Middle School/Captain (Go Pike Panthers!) O High School/Captain O 6 years coaching Private tumbling lessons O 4 th year of Coaching in school O BCS Varsity Assistant O FHS JV Head Coach, Varsity asst. Coach O CTMS 7 th grade Head Coach O CTMS 7 th and 8 th grade Head Coach

4. Order of Business O Try-outs O Squad norms and expectations O Spring commitment O Summer commitment O Fall commitment O Costs O Further Information

5. Try-Outs O 3-day Clinic O 4:15-5:45pm O April 4 th, 5 th, 6 th O Tryouts O 4:30-? O Thursday April 7th O Results posted on CTMS Cheer webpage by 5pm Friday O 7 th grade squad- Top 18 scores O 8 th Grade squad Top 18 scores O One mascot for 7 th grade O One mascot for 8 th grade

6. 3 Day Clinic O Must wear athletic/cheer appropriate clothing O Material Includes: O 1 dance O 1 cheer O Jump technique instruction O All material will also be on online for at home practice O Mock Try-outs on Wednesday O We will draw numbers for official try-outs on Thursday

7. Try-Out Day O Solid color shirt + black shorts + Cheer shoes or tennis shoes O Begins promptly at 4:30 O Holding room- small gym O Try-outs in big gym O 3 at a time O Myself and an administrator will be present O Cheerleader may leave once they have finished their try-out

8. During Try-Out 1. Spirit In O Running tumbling O Move to position O Standing tumbling 2. Jumps O First- single toe touch O Second- left or right herkie or hurdler O Third- specialty jump (series, or jump with tumbling) (^^All of these will be done individually) 3. Perform Cheer all together 4. Perform Dance all together with music

9. Scoring O 3 Outside judges O Will perform 3 jumps, cheer, dance, tumbling pass, and spirit in and out O Judges will be given rubric in advance O Scoring will be heavily based on this rubric O Categories are weighted as shown after they are scored. O Coach + administrator tallies final scores

10. Score Sheet- Pg 7 of handbook

11. Rubric Rubric for Scoring- Found on CTMS Page

12. Mascot O You will need to come up with a 45-60 second skit to showcase your mascot skills O You may get ideas from youtube, etc. O We will provide you with a costume to wear during the try out O You are encouraged to incorporate… O Music O Props O Signs O Other students O Costume O Chants/Cheers O School colors

13. Mascot Cont… O You do not have to attend the clinic on Monday and Tuesday after school. O You are HIGHLY encouraged to attend the mock try-out on Wednesday April 6th

14. Mascot Scoring Mascot #______ CategoryScore Creativity1 2 3 4 5 Energy and Enthusiasm1 2 3 4 5 Character Definition1 2 3 4 5 Spirit/School promotion1 2 3 4 5 Audience engagement1 2 3 4 5 Overall Impression1 2 3 4 5 Total Score

15. If you make the squad…

16. WE NEED A PHYSICAL O In order to begin to participate, we MUST have a physical on file. O Current 7 th graders are up-to-date since it is good for two years O Schedule now so that she doesn’t have to sit out after she makes it

17. Norms O Respectful Communication O Check Email regularly O Give 24 hours to reply O Check Moodle FIRST O Always give the benefit of the doubt O Campus administration has 100% access to all cheer emails O Responsibility lies in cheerleader’s hands O NOT THE PARENT

18. Discipline System O Handbook Page 6 O “Following any infraction of the guideline rules, demerits may be given by the sponsor. Five accumulated demerits will automatically suspend a cheerleader for the next event. While suspended, the cheerleader will wear their uniform, sit with the sponsor, and cheer along with fellow cheerleaders only in the stands. Ten accumulated demerits will suspend a cheerleader for the next two events. Fifteen demerits will permanently remove a cheerleader from the squad. Merits can be earned during the year to cancel out demerits. Merits and demerits will be given by the sponsor. The limit of merits is five, which will cancel out five demerits. Demerits may be given for summer activities as well as during the school year.”

19. Captains O Will be selected at the June 14 th practice O Each candidate will answer a series of questions in front of the squad and then we will have a squad vote. O They will select their top two O The top score will be captain and second will be co-captain

20. Spring Practices O April 12 th 4:15-6:00 O April 19 th 4:15-6:00 O April 26 th 4:15-6:00 O May 10 th 4:15-6:00 O May 17 th 4:15-6:00 O May 24 th 4:15-6:00 O Note: Mascot does not need to attend. We will be mostly practicing stunting and cheer skills

21. Summer Commitment O During the day- arrange rides! O 4 Practices prior to camp O Learning cheers O Practicing safety and skills O June 14, 16, 21, 23. 9-11am at CTMS O Up to 4 practices prior to school starting in August- dates TBD (2 weeks prior to school) O MUST commit to memorizing all material by August practices O This means PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE at home

22. NCA Home Camp O Location- Eaton High School O Date- June 24, 25, & 26 th O Times- 8:00am-4:00pm O Cost $127 O All 5 middle schools O Parents will be allowed to watch performances and evaluations

23. NCA Home Camp Cont. O Professional NCA Staff O Learn official NCA material O Evaluations O All American nominations and try outs O Captains class O Mascot Program O Coach’s training O NCA Buddies/ Team Time

24. Football Season O Cheer at all home games/NISD games (4-5 games total) O You are responsible for transportation O Cheer for both A and B teams O 7th grade games- Monday Night O 8 th grade games- Tuesday Night O End of August-Beginning of November O Calendar will be available by Mid August

25. Fall/Winter Practices O 7th grade practices- Wednesday Mornings O 8th grade practices- Thursday After school and Mondays that there is not a 7th grade game O Pep rallies- may call extra practices to prepare O Basketball Practice information is TBD

26. Basketball Season O 2-3 girl’s games- Thursday evening O 2-3 boy’s games- Monday Evening O Cheer in groups of 8-10 O December through first week of February O Only need to attend practices prior to the game you cheer at

27. Uniform Package O Between $250-$300 O Includes O Shell O Skirt O Sleeves O 2 shirts O 2 shorts O 2 Bows O Pom Poms

28. Required Uniform pieces NOT included in package O Black spandex O Black sports bra O White Sports Bra O White cheer shoes

29. Uniform Optional Items O Jacket O Bag with name O Shoes O Ear warmer

30. Fittings O Either the April 12 th practice or April 19 th Practice O Camp Money Due at this time as well (I am going to see about pushing this due date back) O Note: Money is due at this time O Parents are suggested to attend the fitting

31. Possible Extras O Megaphones O Yard signs O Cheer Mom Shirts O Car Decals O Buttons O Spirit wear for theme days O Candy Poppers

32. What if I have Questions? O NISD Cheer handbook O CTMS page O Netschool/Moodle Page (after you make cheerleader) O Cheer calendar O Previous emails from coach O Remind 101 O USUALLY School calendar/emails O Email coach if still unsure