HERITAGE HIGHSTEPPERSHERITAGE HIGHSTEPPERS

Parent

Information Meeting

Meet the DirectorMeet 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.

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

• Highsteppers Website – •Go to HMS website

•http://www.gcisd-k12.org/hms/site/default.asp

•Click on ACTIVITIES•Click on DANCE TEAM•Menu on the left side of page

•Other Information•Constitution

EXPENSESEXPENSES

• 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.

MEMBERSHIPMEMBERSHIP

• 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

Duties of a Heritage HighstepperDuties 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

Heritage HighsteppersHeritage 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

PRACTICEPRACTICE

• 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

PERFORMANCESPERFORMANCES

• Monthly calendar of practice and performances will be on the dance website.

• Weekly schedule emailed every week.

• There may be tryouts for all performances

(regular season & competition)

ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE

• 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.

DEMERIT AND MERIT POLICY 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.

DEMERITSDEMERITS

• Attendance• Performance• Practice• Uniforms• Conduct

•These demerits may NOT be removed (through merits) during a demerit cycle.

• General Responsibilities

HOW DO I EARN MERITS?HOW DO I EARN MERITS?

Remember: FIVE merits will erase ONE demerit!

Activity Time Required Merits Earned

Helping a teacher before or after school

1 hour 1

Community Service or Volunteer hours

30 minutes 1

Teaching/Practicing with other grade level

squad

1 hour 1

Attending/cheering a school sporting event;

sitting with sponsor

Duration of game 1

BENCHINGBENCHING

• 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)

NUMBER OF HIGHSTEPPERSNUMBER 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.

NATURAL BREAKNATURAL 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

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSELIGIBILITY 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)

HIGHSTEPPER TRYOUTS BEFORE JUDGES

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.

TRYOUT PREPARATIONTRYOUT PREPARATION

Forms DueLetter of AgreementMedical Waiver for TryoutsStudent Evaluation FormReport 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

WorkshopsCandidates 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.

TRYOUTSTRYOUTS

• 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.

TRYOUT RESULTSTRYOUT 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.

OFFICER TRYOUTSOFFICER 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..

IMPORTANT DATESfor the 2012-2013 Team

IMPORTANT DATESfor 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 2012-2013 Heritage Highstepper Team Parent Meeting• Bring your checkbook!

• Uniform Fittings – Date and time TBA

CAMP!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.