1. HERITAGE HIGHSTEPPERS
Parent
Information Meeting

2. Meet the Director Mrs. Currie 21 years dance and teaching experience
Experience directing a 5A & 3A Dance Team, Middle school dance team and have sponsored Freshman, JV and Varsity cheer squads at a 4A high school all at the same time.
Former HS and College dance team member
Past Board member for 4 years of Dance and Drill Team Directors of America
Professional Judge of dance competitions all over Texas and Oklahoma
Married 23 years with a junior Panther O-line player and 7th grade competitive gymnast here at HMS.

3. INFORMATION Highsteppers Website – Go to HMS website
Click on ACTIVITIES
Click on DANCE TEAM
Menu on the left side of page
Other Information
Constitution

4. All figures are approximate.
EXPENSES
3rd page of packet
Fundraisers will be held throughout the year to help defray some expenses.
We do not receive any funding outside of fundraisers…therefore, scholarships are not provided.
All figures are approximate.

5. MEMBERSHIP
Heritage Highsteppers are expected to set a good example by displaying the following character traits:
Must be honest and truthful
Must exhibit high moral standards
Must willingly display positive school spirit
Must show good sportsmanship
Must exhibit a very positive attitude toward dancer duties

6. Duties of a Heritage Highstepper
Show school spirit and cheer for HMS at athletic events
The Highsteppers are responsible for helping setup and clean up pep rallies.
Highsteppers are required to attend practice to prepare for games, pep-rallies & competition
Highsteppers may only dance at one Athletic event per week.
School dance takes precedence over outside dance studios. Please arrange your schedule accordingly

7. Heritage Highsteppers
COMMITMENT!!!!!!!!
When at a game – give 100% of time and effort
Attend ALL practices (unless ill or school sponsored event)
Give 100% at practice
Dancing is a TEAM sport.
We look great as a team or we don’t. Actions of one Highstepper effect the ENTIRE team.
School dance takes precedence over outside dance studios. Please arrange your schedule accordingly

8. PRACTICE
Practice 1-2 days a week beginning in April to prepare for the upcoming year & camp
Days of practice may vary due to game schedules—every Wednesday!
We do work with coaches if a Highstepper is participating in athletics
Preparing for Competition will require more practice—will get plenty of notice of extra practices

9. PERFORMANCES
Monthly calendar of practice and performances will be on the dance website.
Weekly schedule ed every week.
There may be tryouts for all performances
(regular season & competition)

10. ATTENDANCE
Highsteppers must seek approval from sponsor BEFORE being absent from a game or practice.
Excused absences: personal illness, school function
School dance takes precedence over outside dance.
Any Highstepper who has not attended at least three class periods on game day may not perform that evening.

11. DEMERIT AND MERIT POLICY
A Highstepper will receive demerits when she fails to satisfactorily complete her responsibilities.
There are two demerit cycles:
1) Election Day to the first school day of the fall semester
2) first school day of the fall semester to the day before Election Day.

12. DEMERITS Attendance Performance Practice Uniforms Conduct
These demerits may NOT be removed (through merits) during a demerit cycle.
General Responsibilities

13. HOW DO I EARN MERITS? Activity Time Required Merits Earned
Helping a teacher before or after school
1 hour 1
Community Service or Volunteer hours
30 minutes
Teaching/Practicing with other grade level squad
Attending/cheering a school sporting event; sitting with sponsor
Duration of game
Remember: FIVE merits will erase ONE demerit!

14. BENCHING
Failure to maintain an overall “70” or above average in any class during a six (6) weeks
After three unexcused absences from practices or from games
After receiving the 5th and 7th demerit as outlined in the demerit policy. (See Demerit Policy, p. 4)

15. NUMBER OF HIGHSTEPPERS
Natural Break
There is NOT a minimum or maximum number of girls
The number of team members will be determined by the candidates’ demonstration and verification of the required qualifications.

16. NATURAL BREAK Natural Break 13 61.40 14 59.93 15 56.10 16 53.78 17
52.98 18
51.68 19
51.63 20
50.13 21
49.33 22
47.75 23
47.10 24
44.85 25
44.15 26
40.95 27
40.25 28
35.58 29
35.10 30
34.90 31
34.38 32
32.85 33
32.78 34
32.20
Natural Break

17. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Enrolled and in attendance in the GCISD by the day of tryouts.
Minimum fall semester average of 77.5 or above in all classes for the current school year.
May not have been expelled for any reason.
May not exceed ten (10) unexcused absences in any one class during the current school year.
Must be in good financial standing with the Highstepper organization and the school
Reports Cards can be purchased from counseling office for $1
- OR – you may print from Skyward (we MUST have conduct grades)

18. HIGHSTEPPER TRYOUTS BEFORE JUDGES
The categories to be judged are as follows:
Technique
Precision
Appearance
Overall Impression
More details on page 9 in the constitution
The judges are certified Showtime dance instructors.

19. TRYOUT PREPARATION All workshops are closed practices. Forms Due
Letter of Agreement
Medical Waiver for Tryouts
Student Evaluation Form
Report Card (1st Semester)
Wednesday, March 7th
*no later than 3:40 p.m.
Give to Mrs. Michelle (front office)
or Mrs. Currie
Candidates Posted - Outside Office &
Online
Friday, March 9th at 3:25 pm
Workshops
Candidates must wear workout clothes and shoes.
Last workshop will be a practice tryout which may last until 5:30 pm.
March 19st - March 22nd
3:30 – 5:00 pm
HMS gym B
All workshops are closed practices.

20. All tryouts are closed sessions.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
HMS gym A (warm-up area)
Gym B (Tryouts with judges)
All Candidates report at 3:40 to warm up
Candidates must stay until all try-outs are complete…call backs are possible
All tryouts are closed sessions.

21. TRYOUT RESULTS
New Heritage Highsteppers will be posted by 10pm Friday, March 23rd on the dance portion of the HMS website.
New Heritage Highsteppers will meet in room 706 on Monday, March 26th at 7:30am.

22. OFFICER TRYOUTS
Process will begin Monday, March 19th through Thursday, March 22nd.
Candidates will:
Choreograph a Solo Dance Performance.
Be interviewed by the judges.
Create a binder - details in officer packet.
Choreograph and teach their own original 8 count at tryouts as requested by the judges..

23. IMPORTANT DATES for the 2012-2013 Team
Weekly Practices - Wednesdays
3:40-5:00 - Beginning April11th for 3 weeks.
Monday, April 9th at 6:00 pm in the SAC Heritage Highstepper Team Parent Meeting
Bring your checkbook!
Uniform Fittings – Date and time TBA

24. CAMP! Camp date: August 6-8 Showtime Camp – at HMS
Camp is mandatory for all Heritage Highsteppers.
**see me if you have conflicts
Camp fee should not exceed $150. We do not have an exact amount at this time.