DATES TO REMEMBER
April 1 $80 payment due
April 14 uniform fittings 3:30 in Mrs. Lowder's Room
April 22 Powder Puff (please sign up to work in concession stand)
May 1 all paperwork and 2nd $80 payment due to Mrs. Lashley
June 1 3rd $80 payment due
July 1 4th $80 payment due
Cheer Camp July 21 - 24 (if paying half $200 payment due)
August 1 last $80 payment due
August 13 cheer pictures 9:00 am
August 23 first day of school and 2nd $200 payment due
August 27 first football game
*Summer practices will begin August 2 - 20 times TBD based on volleyball and band
April 1 $80 payment due
April 14 uniform fittings 3:30 in Mrs. Lowder's Room
April 22 Powder Puff (please sign up to work in concession stand)
May 1 all paperwork and 2nd $80 payment due to Mrs. Lashley
June 1 3rd $80 payment due
July 1 4th $80 payment due
Cheer Camp July 21 - 24 (if paying half $200 payment due)
August 1 last $80 payment due
August 13 cheer pictures 9:00 am
August 23 first day of school and 2nd $200 payment due
August 27 first football game
*Summer practices will begin August 2 - 20 times TBD based on volleyball and band
GUNTER HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER/MASCOT BY-LAWS
(revised and board approved 4/20/09)
PHILOSOPHY:
Cheerleaders are selected for the primary purpose of supporting ALL athletic teams. Cheerleaders will demonstrate good citizenship and moral standards as well as assume responsibility for developing school spirit. Emphasis will be on leading rather than competing.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
1. All students will be expected to adhere to the Gunter High School Code of Conduct, the Gunter High School Extracurricular Policy, and the Gunter High School Drug Testing Policy.
2. A cheerleader who receives a grade below 70 in any academic class will be subject to the UIL No-Pass, No-Play regulation.
Exception: Students who are enrolled in classes such as Pre-AP or AP and make below a 70 (5.0 scale) in any of those classes are exempt from the eligibility ruling but cannot make below 60.
3. Upon receiving a second failing grade in any subsequent six-week period (within the same school year), the cheerleader member will be removed from the squad.
4. A cheerleader removed solely on the basis of academics will be eligible to tryout the following year provided that he/she maintains a grade of 70 or above in all classes.
PARTICIPATION:
I. ELIGIBILITY OF TRYOUTS:
1. All students trying out for cheerleader/mascot must have an overall average of 70% for the six weeks of school prior to the scheduled tryouts.
2. All students trying out for cheerleader/mascot must attend three of the four practices prior to tryouts in order to be eligible. No exceptions.
3. All students trying out for cheerleader/mascot must be enrolled in Gunter High School, Gunter Middle School, or Tioga Middle School for 12 weeks prior to tryouts. (Subject to change based upon time and date of tryouts.)
4. All students trying out for cheerleader must receive a favorable teacher evaluation to be eligible to try out for cheerleader/mascot. Any student not receiving a favorable teacher rating will be excluded from tryouts.
5. All students not active in the athletic program must provide the sponsors a copy of a current physical examination prior to the first cheerleader practice.
6. The composite score of judges (70%) and the teacher evaluation (30%) will determine the cheer squad of up to 13 Varsity cheerleaders, 10 JV Blue cheerleaders, 6 JV White cheerleaders, and 1 Mascot per squad.
7. A panel of up to three qualified, professional, impartial judges from a recognized association will score the performance of the candidates. (Judges may also be present at the practices.)
8. All interested persons must attend an orientation meeting with his/her parent/guardian to be eligible to try out for cheerleader/mascot. No exceptions.
9. If there is a need for two JV squads, both squads may be represented with Freshmen and Sophomores. Varsity cheerleaders must represent the JV squad for at least one year unless a student moves to Gunter prior to tryouts of their junior or senior year.
10.Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will represent the Varsity squad.
II. PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCES:
1. Any person not attending the scheduled practices and/or missing summer camp will result in automatic expulsion from the cheer squad; unless the absence is excused as outlined below.
2. During the school year, practices will be scheduled at the discretion of the sponsors. Missing any one practice in a given week could result in loss of performance privileges for that week, even when a doctor's note is provided. Remember, this is a team effort and if one is not in attendance the team has to work without a full squad. (In this event, a JV alternate could be chosen to fill the absence.)
3. Practice time will be limited to a total of eight hours per school week outside the school day. This is a UIL rule for all athletes.
4. The active cheerleading season will be during all football games, home District basketball games, and playoff baseball and softball games. All other sports will be supported with locker signs and other acts of special recognition. All playoff games of any sport will be attended.
5. Vacancies on the squad prior to August 1 will be filled with alternates at the discretion of the sponsor.
III. ABSENCES
1. Excused absences are defined as absences due to personal illness (office must be notified), for religious holidays, death or serious illness in the family, or other absence excused at the discretion of the sponsor or principal. (In the event a cheerleader/mascot is absent, a note from the doctor's office must be turned into the school office and to the sponsor.)
2. Class absences will be covered under school policy.
3. Absences from cheerleading caused by conflicts with other school activities will be excused.
4. If the cheerleader/mascot has a truancy or excessive absences, she may not be allowed to tryout for cheerleader/mascot for one (1) year.
DISCIPLINE:
Certain standards are necessary for the integrity and reputation of any leading organization. Cheerleaders/mascots should beleaders within the school and should set a good example at all times. Cheerleaders/mascots are expected to have and maintain character above reproach. Personal appearance and habits of which there can be no criticism are required since cheerleaders/mascots are constantly representing the school before the public.
Minor Infractions (any that are not listed as major):
1. Minor infractions will be addressed by the Demerit System.
2. Demerits will be given on a point-by-point basis and a consequence will be assessed. When five (5) demerits are earned, a parent conference will be scheduled to discuss the issue. In the event of fifteen (15) demerits, another parent conference will be scheduled and the cheerleader/mascot will be suspended for a specified number of games determined by the sponsor and the Principal. If a cheerleader/mascot earns three additional demerits after returning from a suspension (in the same school year), he or she will be removed from the squad.
3. If a cheerleader/mascot relinquishes his/her position on the squad at any time during the school year, he/she is ineligible to tryout for cheerleader the following year and is still responsible for any money owed on any remaining balance for that year.
4. The sponsors at their discretion will give demerits.
5. Any student receiving ISS will be given five (5) demerits and will be prohibited from cheering at the next pep rally and game. An AEP placement will result in removal of the squad.
AEP ‚ Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement
ISS ‚ In-School Suspension
The following are considered Major infractions: (during or apart from school hours and on or off school property)
1. Any tobacco use or possession
2. Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages
3. Possession, distribution, or use of any illegal or unauthorized drug
4. Possessing or sharing any compromising, suggestive, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate photos, texts, notes, or media of any kind
5. Theft
6. Hazing/Bullying
7. Any serious misconduct (at or away from school) as determined by Sponsor and Principal
All major infractions apply to both cheerleaders and mascots and will be subject to the student code of conduct as well as the GISD extracurricular policy. Any infraction that leads to an AEP placement or an arrest by law enforcement authorities will automatically result in removal from the squad with no monetary refund. Other major infractions not resulting in an AEP placement will be subject to the following steps:
1st major infraction:
Suspension from all cheer team activities for the remainder of the current six weeks grading period plus the next 2 six weeks grading periods. If the major infraction occurs during the summer, then the suspension will be for the first two six weeks grading periods. If a suspension occurs after the beginning of the 5th six weeks or before camp in the summer, then the suspension includes all summer camps and activities with no monetary refund for those activities.
2nd major infraction:
A second major infraction (whether in same school year or not) will result in removal from cheerleader squad with no monetary refund. The student will not be eligible to try out for cheerleader or mascot until the spring tryout time of the school year following the year of the second major infraction.
If a student is removed from the squad, he/she and parent(s) will receive a letter in a timely manner providing an explanation for the disciplinary action taken. A conference will be offered to the parent and student so that the student may be given the opportunity to explain his/her actions that led to the removal from the squad.
UNIFORMS AND EXPENSES:
1. There will be a possibility of two cheer clinics throughout the season to raise funds. Other fundraisers will be planned with the approval of the principal and superintendent.
2. Each cheerleader will be responsible for purchasing his/her own uniform; this includes one basic uniform, warm-ups, socks, tights, shoes, camp wear, megaphone and pom-poms. Expenditures will be approximately $400.00 per person.
3. A deposit in the amount of $200.00 will be collected prior to camp and the remaining balance is due before the first football game. Another option is to divide your payments in 5 and pay $80.00 per month starting May 2009. Any person not paying the full amount prior to the first football game will not be permitted to cheer until the balance has been paid in full.
