WEBER HIGH CHEERLEADERS

CONSTITUTION

I. Name and Organization

A. The name of this organization shall be the Weber High School Cheerleaders.

B. The purpose of this organization shall be to develop leadership skills, good citizenship, sportsmanship, encourage school spirit, improve physical technique, promote mental development, and to acquire lifelong values and skills.

  1. This organization shall be affiliated with Weber High School and will uphold all ideals and regulations as set forth in the constitution of this school. It shall also uphold the rules as set forth by the Weber County School District.
  2. The cheerleading squad acts as a service organization to the athletic department.

II. Maintaining Membership

  1. All members are required to carry a full Weber High schedule with at least six classes.
  2. If a member leaves the squad for any reason, she will not be able to participate in any further activities (performances, tryouts, banquet, parties, etc.) of thesquad unless invited to do so.
  3. Cheerleaders are responsible for their own GPA, citizenship, and attendance progress. The advisor will not intervene between a cheerleader and her teachers.
  4. Any attendance, citizenship, or academic grade will be considered final when grades are posted at the end of the term.
  5. The advisor will check the grades at the end of the term when grades are posted and if any required level is not met, the member will be placed on probation beginning that day.
  6. Academic Requirements
  7. A cheerleader must maintain at least a minimum 3.0 GPA each quarter of membership, including the 4th quarter in which she is chosen. If she falls below a 3.0 she will be placed on probation.
  8. A term grade of F=, NC=, or NM= in any class will be placed on probation.
  9. An I= grade in any class will make the student ineligible to participate with the cheerleaders until the incomplete grade is immediately made up.
  10. A member will be allowed a maximum of one P= grade during each full year of membership (4th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd term). Exceeding this limit will result in probation. (Allowances will be made for off campus programs, AP Contract, and Aide classes).
  11. Academic Credit earned must be online for graduation.
  12. Citizenship Requirements
  13. A member receiving more than one N on her report card in any class will be placed on probation.
  14. A member receiving a U on her report card will be placed on probation.
  15. A member must maintain at least a minimum of 3.0 GPA each quarter of membership including fourth term of the year of selection. Failure to do so will result in probation. A second probation from any category will result in removal from the team.
  16. A member must comply with all school policies and rules including cell phone use during class. Violation of the Safe School Policy (which includes drug and alcohol provisions), inappropriate behavior (including but not limited to: insubordination, lewd or questionable moral conduct, etc.), may result in expulsion from the team.
  1. Attendance Requirements.
  2. A truancy in any class will result in being placed on probation.
  3. Members are allowed to miss .75 attendance credit, which follows the school’s attendance policy. If a member loses more than .75, she will be placed on probation.
  4. Attendance will be checked at the end of the term.
  5. If a member loses more than the limit of .75 attendance credit during the term, she must have it made up by the time grades are posted or it will be counted as attendance credit loss and she will be placed on probation.

III. Probation and Dismissal Guidelines

  1. Probation time is defined as four (4) weeks or 20 school days from the day the member is placed on probation, or 20 summer practice sessions. A progress report may be circulated and submitted to the advisor and administrator for review.
  2. A member on probation may not dress or perform with the squad during probation time.
  1. A member on probation must still attend all the practices and performances, and carry out all her assignments even though she will not participate in cheering or performing.
  1. A cheerleader may be placed on probation only one time during her membership year. A second infraction will result in removal from the team.

E. Cheerleaders will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:

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  • Receiving more than one N in citizenship
  • Receiving a U in citizenship
  • Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA for each quarter
  • Losing 70 or more points from the Cheer Point System
  • Receiving one truant in any class
  • Receiving an F= grade in any class
  • Receiving an I= grade that is not made up within a two week period
  • Receiving more than one P= grade in an academic class
  • Failure to maintain on-track status for graduation
  • Showing disrespect to advisor, fellow squad members, student body, or administration
  • Inappropriate behavior at games such as: unsportsmanlike conduct, not remaining with the squad, visiting with friends, etc.
  • Displaying a negative attitude or failure to be an active, contributing, member of the squad
  • Failure to follow directions and/or complete assignments
  • Not following the safety guidelines outlined by the NFSH
  • Being caught plagiarizing or cheating on assignments or tests in any class

F. Cheerleaders will be removed from the squad for the following reasons:

  • Having a pattern of truancy
  • Being placed on probation a second time
  • School administrators and advisors have the right to remove anyone from the cheer squad for misconduct without a probationary period. Misconduct (both ON & OFF campus) can include, but is not limited, to the following:
  • Possession, or use of controlled substances such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco. Avoid being at a party where these substances are in use even though not personally being used.
  • Violation of Safe School policy including fighting, weapons, harassment, etc.
  • Conduct that is inappropriate or unbecoming of a Weber High student
  • Noncompliance with school policies and rules
  • Inappropriate conduct unbecoming a Weber High Cheerleader, such as breaking the law (left at the discretion of Administration and Advisor)
  • Questionable Moral Conduct

IV. Second Year Try-outs

All sophomores and juniors will have to try out in order to be on the squad the next year. They will not automatically be on the squad the next year. They must meet the same requirements as those trying out for their first year.

V. Officers

The advisor/coach and the members will elect the officers.

VI. Game assignments and Attendance

  1. Members are required to participate in assigned activities such as school athletic events, school functions, extra scheduled practices, and performances. Only the advisor/coach can excuse a member from an event. Members who have an acceptable reason to miss must notify the advisor in advance. (Exception: valid emergencies will be accepted only if notified by parent/guardian.)
  2. Acceptable excuses are:Unacceptable excuses are:

1. Extreme personal illness1. Jobs

2. Death or funeral in the family2. Appointments*

3. Wedding in the family3. Social with friends

4. Significant family activity4. Entertainment function

5. School excused activity*With the exception of necessary medical appointments.

  1. Any pre-excused game or missed practice must be made up or it will count as a missed game and go against the points on the grade. Members are not allowed to miss their assigned game and say they will trade it for another time; they must trade with someone else before the assigned game.

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  1. If a member misses a performance or assigned game without prior approval, or for an unacceptable reason, she will be docked points against her grade.
  2. If a member misses “black-out” practices before a performance, she may not be allowed to perform unless arrangements have been made in advance with the coach/advisors approval. Reasons for missing must be valid reasons.
  3. Members may trade game assignments. Trades must be cleared with the advisor. The replacement is then responsible to attend the game.
  4. Members’ jobs must not interfere with required practices, school activities, games, performances, etc.
  5. Cheerleaders are expected to attend all assigned games. If she is not able to attend one, she must notify the advisor/coach in advance and make arrangements to do make up for that game. If the make-up is not done, she will lose points toward her grade. Reasons for missing need to be valid ones.
  6. If a member misses a practice, she will not be able to participate at the game that follows the missed practice.
  7. If a member does not prove that her skills are improving, she will be asked to sit out at the game.

VII. Safety Guidelines

A. We follow and adhere to all cheer safety regulations as outlined by the National Federation of State High School Association. Failure to follow these guidelines under the direction of advisor/coach is grounds for probation.

B. In accordance with cheer safety guidelines, the following will not be permitted in practice: gum, jewelry of any kind (including body piercing jewelry), long fingernails, unsecured hair, and inappropriate attire.

VIII. Cheering at Games

A. Cheerleaders act as representatives of Weber High School. All cheerleaders must act in a responsible and appropriate manner during the games.

  1. Cheerleaders must ride the school bus as a group to and from all required away activities. If the member has a valid reason for not riding the bus, the member may be released to go with a parent/guardian only if the parent talks personally with the advisor.
  2. Cheerleaders must arrive at their assigned home games at the scheduled time; for away games, they must be at the school to catch the bus at the scheduled time or they will lose points on their grade.
  3. Sometimes games come up at the last minute or the schedule changes for various reasons. These games and other last minute assignments are dealt with on a volunteer basis first. If there are not enough volunteers for the assignment, members who have to do make-up will be assigned next. If more are still needed, then the advisor will draw names and those whose names are drawn will go.

IX. Cheerleading Grade

  1. Cheerleaders receive grades on their report card for their cheerleading activities. Grading is based on the following:
  1. Participation in cheerleading class, practices, and activities.
  2. Performing at games
  3. Skill level improvement
  4. Assigned duties
  5. Misc. assignments
  6. Handing in assignments, forms, money, etc. on time
  7. Proper dress for practice, games, and day uniforms
  8. Grading Criteria will be according to the Cheerleading Grading Policy as determined by advisor/coach.(See Cheer Point System)
  9. Regarding participation in extracurricular activities other than cheerleading: We respect the right of individuals to participate in other extracurricular activities and will make reasonable accommodations for such students. It would not be reasonable to excuse a cheerleader from a cheer practice if she is needed in her stunt group because her absent would impact the other cheerleaders in her stunt group. Students who choose to participate in other activities should realize that there may be times when they have to make choices between the two activities if there is a scheduling conflict. These choices could impact participation in performance routines and/or point accumulation for grades.
  10. The coach and advisor reserve the right to review an individual’s extenuating circumstances that might affect her grade and make adjustments as deemed appropriate.

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