WGHS CHEER 2014
Dear potential squad member:
Thank you for your interest in the Willow Glen School Cheer squad. We are excited to have you try out to join the team. The cheer season runs from May, 2014, through March, 2015. Students who try out are expected to commit for the entire season.
Cheerleading is a sport unique to any other. It combines dance, tumbling, strength, conditioning, and public speaking. Students are expected to act as leaders on campus, as they are the most visual team. Students on the squad are expected to adhere to strict standards in both their classes and with the team. They must be committed to both each other and to the program. Cheerleaders represent the school well beyond that of other sports teams as they compete against other squads around the state. We want Willow Glen to be proudly represented.
Please read ALL of the attached information. It is very important that all squad members enter with the same goals in order to make it through the season.
TRY-OUT CALENDAR
Sun / Mon / Tues / Weds / Thurs / Fri / SatMay / 5
Mandatory Workshop 4:30-6:30 pm / 6
Mandatory Workshop 4:30-6:30 pm / 7
Mandatory Workshop
4:30-6:30 pm
Mandatory parent meeting
6:00 PM
/ 8
Mandatory Workshop
4:30-6:30 pm
Paperwork due by 4pm / 9 / 10
Mandatory Tryouts, first cut
8:45-12:00
approximately
TRYOUTS (Workshop May 5-8, Tryout on May 10):
Students will learn basics of motions, tumbling, and stunting. They will be taught a dance, jumps, sideline and cheer. Potential members must attend all clinics. Every day come prepared:
- Appropriate workout clothes (sports bras must be covered, spanx must be covered with a soffee short for example)
- athletic shoes with laces
- a sports bra (for females)
- long hair in ponytails with bangs back.
- All jewelry/piercings must be removed.
- Water
If a student is not properly dressed, they may not be allowed to participate in the clinic.
MANDATORY INFORMATION MEETING:
Parents and students must attend the information meeting on Wednesday, May 7th at 6:00 p.m. in the Mickey Long Center/SIP. Information will be shared about the upcoming year. This is also your opportunity to ask any necessary questions before tryouts are over.
TRYOUT (May 10):
Students will tryout in small groups on Saturday. At this time, they will perform a dance, cheer, jumps, and tumbling. At this time, first cuts will be made based on paperwork, coach’s score, and tryout score. The first cut list will be posted [on TBD] webpage by 5:00 pm. Wear a plain white shirt, dark shorts, and a ponytail.
EVALUATION:
Scores for tryouts will be broken down as follows:
- Day of tryout (Tumbling, jumps, motions, voice, timing, facial expressions, overall performance quality) These scores together will comprise 50% of the score
- Teacher evaluation and grades = 25%
- Coach’s score (based on attitude and behavior at clinics and throughout past experiences) = 25%
TRYOUT REQUIREMENTS
In order to try-out, students must turn in the following materials by Thursday, May 8th at 4:00 p.m.
1. Application
2. Signed permission form
3. Signed waiver
4. Essay portion
5. Recommendation forms from all teachers
(teachers should turn them in to office, not the students)
Grade requirements: 2.0 GPA (C average) on the last grade report to try out
2.0 GPA on each report card to continue participation
* Falling below a 2.0 at any report card may result in automatic dismissal from the squad for the rest of the season. Students who score below a 2.5 will be required to attend homework center at least two days a week until their grade improves. Student cannot have two F’s.
FORMAT FOR THE SEASON
Regular practices will take place starting in May 19 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. Practices will continue through the end of the school year following this schedule and will resume on that schedule again in August. We do practice most single day holidays (ie. Veteran’s Day.)
There will also be various Saturday practices and other events approximately once a month during the season. We will do our best to keep you informed as early as possible to help you prepare. These practices are important. Squad members depend on each other in order to stunt and set formations. One member missing one practice costs the rest of the squad about three hours of wasted time. Please set doctors’ / other appointments around the cheer schedule.
SUMMER PRACTICE
Practice will be held Monday/ Wednesday/ Thursday from May-June. Practice is mandatory for all squad members. All cheer squads will attend cheer camp. Camp will take place June 26-29 at UC Santa Cruz.
There are no required events between July 1-31. Please plan your vacations during this time. August will be a busy time for the squad. All of our events and schedules will be made public via Google Calendar. Once we get your tryout packet we can add you.
BOOSTERS
All parents of squad members automatically become part of the Spirit Boosters. Meetings will take place for approximately 30 minutes after the first Wednesday practice each month. During these meetings, important information will be given about the month’s schedule, upcoming events, fundraisers, and way you can help as parents. Important paperwork will be distributed and donations will be collected. The first boosters meeting will take place on May 3 at 6:00. Every parent is encouraged to be in charge of one committee or responsibility throughout the year.
FUNDRAISING
All students should participate in fundraising. We will try to offer as many fundraising opportunities as possible based on what the parents want to organize. All money raised will go to the squad as a whole and NOT the individual student, per state law. The first fundraiser will be a catalog sale to go toward uniform cost. Kick-off for this sale will be announced during week two of tryouts.
APPROXIMATE COST:
All NECESSARY items will be provided by and owned by the WGHS Cheer Squad. All items will need to be returned at the end of the year unless they are purchased by the individual member in order to keep them. Students will be charged for the repair/replacement of any item that a squad member damages or loses. Students are held responsible for the care of every item until it is checked back in to the squad at the end of the season or when they leave the team.
Per state law, all monies given are absolutely non-refundable, regardless of continuation on the squad or change in squad format. Any donations given are legally considered donations to the squad as a whole and will not be considered individual payment. There are no exceptions to this rule.
New state laws have changed the face of cheerleading fees. We have to raise / receive donations in the amount of $50,000 in order to continue to run the program as we have done so in the past. In order to accomplish each of the following, we need to meet financial goals of corporate donations / parent donations / fundraising at each stage. If the goal is not met, the event will not happen. There will be further financial breakdowns at each stage if the full goal is not met. The law says that all members must be able to participate at the same level. This will be further explained at the parent meeting.
SQUAD FUNDING GOALS:
May 30th: financial equivalent of $330 per member in order to purchase uniform warm-ups, shoes, poms, and camp deposit for squad.
June 15: financial equivalent of $400 per member to pay for camp balance and camp clothes.
August 3: financial equivalent of $175 per member to pay for competition fees, squad supplies and training supplies
Nov. 15: financial equivalent of $750 per member to pay for nationals bus, nationals competition fee, Disneyland tickets, nationals hotel
Jan. 10: financial equivalent of $60 per member to pay for nationals pizza party, nationals t-shirt, nationals banquet cost, and end-of-year banquet
Optional items available for purchase: sweatshirt & bag
FYI information on example fundraisers and their percentage of total goal.
Tacos & Tunes / 29%
Kids Camp / 13%
Dance / 5%
eTeam / 4%
Talent Show / 4%
Community Market / 3%
Bake Sale / 2%
------RULES AND REGULATIONS------
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is extremely important. It is VERY difficult to participate in any other activities/sports if you are a member of the competition squad as we will adhere to the attendance policy listed below very closely. If a competition squad member misses more than 3 practices/events, regardless of reason, in a semester (May 10-June 30 & August 1-December 31) or more than 1 practice/event from January 1 2013-Nationals, they will be removed from competition squad. Further information is below:
1 regular practice / game = 1 absence
Team Event (game/ community event/ show) = 2 absences
Coming late or leaving early by 5 to 15 minutes = ¼ absence
Coming late or leaving early by 16 to 60 minutes = ½ absence
Coming late or leaving early by more than 60 minutes = 1 absence
Unexcused absence (not notifying coach at least = additional ¼ absence
30 minutes prior to practice)
Multiple days of absence for a single incident (ie. strep throat) may be treated as a single absence in specific circumstances, at the discretion of the coach and with a doctor’s note. If a student is sick, but not contagious, they are expected to come to practice and watch. Any absence of 30 minutes or more that occurs for whatever reason the week of a performance, rally, competition, or game will result in being benched for the next performance.
BEHAVIOR: Students are to act as role models at all times they are in uniforms or any other clothing item related to the squad. That means following all school rules, using proper language, refraining from PDA, and being positive about other team members and other teams. Students also need to act as role models on campus. We want to obliterate the negative stereotypes of cheerleaders. Drugs and alcohol are not allowed at any school or cheer event or outside of school. Any violation of school and district rules that leads to suspension may result in immediate dismissal from the squad.
EVENTS: At events (games, competitions, socials, etc.) attended with the squad, the athlete’s first priority is to the squad. That means that students need to follow the direction and schedule of the squad as a whole.
GAMES: At the end of every basketball and football game, there will be a short team meeting before the athletes are released to campus.
HAIR: Hair must be up at every practice – bangs back with no hard hair accessories (ie. headbands). Hair must be in a ponytail with bangs back and with the proper bow at every game / performance. Improper hair is considered being out of uniform and will result in being benched for a portion of the game or the performance. Your hair must be a “normal” color (ie. Not blue) for each competition.
NAILS: Must be trimmed and kept short. Students are not allowed to have fake nails at any time during the season.
SOCIALS: Social events will take place approximately once per month. These events are as important as practice, as they lead to team cohesion. Please make these events a priority.
UNIFORM: No cheerleader is allowed to loan any portion of their uniform to anyone not currently on the squad at any time. If you leave the squad before the season is over for any reason, are on probation, or are benched from a game, the uniform or any cheer related clothing cannot be worn to school.
COMPETITIONS: We will compete 5 or 6 times during the year. Please note that being a part of the competition squad is not permanent. If a competition squad member does not maintain their dedication to the squad and skill progression, they will be asked to step down from this group, without refund. Tentatively, these events will be in Santa Cruz (mid – late September), in Fremont (early November), in Stockton (early January), and in Disneyland for nationals (early March) + 2 more TBD. Dates are announced late in the summer.
The cheer season also includes: Community events, Pep rallies, Spirit Week, Kid’s Camp fundraiser, Talent Show fundraiser, Dance fundraiser, among many other things!
We are excited that you are interested in trying out. Remember, all paperwork must be turned in Thursday, May 8 at 4:00 p.m.
WILLOW GLEN HIGH SCHOOL CHEER INFORMATION
Name ______Grade in fall ______
Home Phone ______Cell Phone ______
Email address ______
Parent name ______Language(s) spoken ______
Address ______Zip Code ______
Home # ______Cell # ______
Place of Employment ______Daytime #______
Email address ______
Parent name ______Language(s) spoken ______
Address ______Zip Code ______
Home # ______Cell # ______
Place of Employment ______Daytime #______
Email address ______
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name ______Relationship ______
Phone Number ______
Medical Insurance Co. ______Doctor Name ______
Phone # ______Policy # ______
WILLOW GLEN HIGH SCHOOL CHEER
Name: ______
Position (if known) you are interested in filling (circle all that apply):
flier base back spot front spot
T-Shirt Size (circle one): YM YL AS AM AL AXL
Sweatshirt Size (circle one): YM YL AS AM AL AXL