Westlake High School Spirit Squad members set an example for others in their school spirit, leadership, and commitment to their studies. They are held responsible for upholding, reflecting, and projecting the ideals of their school and community. The Spirit Cheer Squad program is demanding both in time and talent. It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of the WHS Spirit Cheer Squad.
TThis packet is designed to provide both the parents and the student with information about the WHS Spirit Cheer Squad. The information contained in this packet is subject to change at the discretion of the coaches, advisor, and/or appropriate administrator.

Westlake High School Varsity Squad 2011-2012

Westlake High School Junior Varsity Squad 2011-2012

Westlake High School Freshmen Squad 2011-2012

Philosophy and Functions

The Spirit Cheer Squad is a body of well-trained and disciplined athletes who carry out the functions of the cheer squad program for Westlake High School and the community. Each student participating in cheer will develop skills that will help them in their life after high school.
The WHS Spirit Cheer Squad program will focus on the following three functions:

1. To provide positive leadership and spirit for the student body and local community.
2. To obtain the skills within each squad to develop personal poise, physical strength, stamina, coordination, and showmanship.
3. To support the Westlake High School athletic teams and their endeavors.

Purpose

• To promote and uphold school spirit by encouraging and demonstrating positive participation
• To develop leadership skills, athletic talent, moral character, and a strong work ethic
• To function as a TEAM while involved in school activities and community events
• To display good sportsmanship while representing WHS and to serve as role models to the student body
• To promote friendships with each other as well as students from other schools
• To achieve excellence with enthusiasm and honor

Organization

The Westlake High School Spirit Squad program is overseen by the Dean of Student Activities. The program is managed and coordinated by the WHS Spirit Squad Advisor. The WHS Spirit Squad Advisor oversees all spirit cheer coaches. The program will consist of a Varsity, Junior Varsity, and a Freshmen squad..

Tryout and Selection Process

If you allow your student to try out, please consider this commitment carefully and realistically. Many more students want to be cheerleaders than we can accommodate, and your student may experience the disappointment of not making the squad. If your student is selected to be on the squad, your support for the advisor and coaches will be needed. Our desire is that there are no surprises or mysteries; the rules are clear and will be enforced. While cheerleading has the potential of adding greatly to a student's high school experience, it is vital that you help your student understand that cheerleading requires hard work and dedication.

Paperwork Submission

All students interested in trying out for the Spirit Cheer Squad program are required to complete specified paperwork prior to being allowed to attend the tryout clinic and the tryout day. All required paperwork and other items must be submitted to Jan Taylor, Activities Secretary, by Friday, March 26, 2010 at 3pm. Mrs. Taylor's desk is located in the main office, near Counseling.

1. The most important is the WHS physical form. You must have a current physical on file in the activities office in order to participate in the tryout clinic and tryout day. A current physical is less than one year old. Failure to submit a current physical form completed by a doctor to the Activities Secretary by the deadline of March 26th at 3p.m. will result in removal from the tryout process.  

NOTE: Students/Parents are responsible for submitting current physical forms during the school year as physicals expire.
Forms are available in the Athletics Office. A cheerleader who fails to maintain a current physical record will be prohibited
from participating in any Cheer-related activity.

2. Part of the physical packet is the CVUSD Co-Curricular Code and Contract form. This contract is required of all students who participate in co-curricular activities at WHS. The form must be signed by both the parent and student and submitted by the deadline. Please read and note the in-school and out-of-school expectations. The physical packet also includes the Informed Consent and Liability Release form, which must also be signed by both the parent and student and submitted by the deadline.

3. A copy of the most recent semester (trimester for middle school) report card demonstrating a 2.0+ GPA must be submitted by the deadline. Copies of report cards will not be provided by the Activities Secretary. Current WHS students may obtain copies of report cards from the Counseling Office. All students participating in activities at WHS must maintain a 2.0+ GPA. Any student who does not possess a 2.0+ GPA on the most recent semester or trimester report card will be removed from the tryout process and will not tryout. At Westlake High School, academics are our first and highest priority, and there will be no exceptions to this rule. It is the responsibility of the students to manage their time in a way that allows them to maintain academic eligibility.

4. A signed Parent/Student Permission to Participate form must be submitted by the deadline. The Parent/Student Permission to Participate form is at the back of this packet.

5. Four teacher recommendations must be returned to the Activities Secretary by March 26th at 3pm. Late recommendations will not be accepted. One recommendation must come from the current PE teacher. For cheerleaders currently on the squad, the PE teacher recommendation must come from the Spirit Squad Cheer Advisor. If a student does not currently have a PE class, then the fourth teacher recommendation may be submitted by any current teacher, or current cheer coach. Teacher recommendations should be requested from teachers the student has during the current 2009-2010 school year. They can be delivered by the teacher directly or through US Mail to the Activities Secretary. It is completely unacceptable for a student/parent to be in possession of a completed teacher recommendation. Any such occurrence will result in immediate removal from the tryout process. Students who do not currently attend WHS can have their teachers mail the recommendations to:

Westlake High School,
100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village, 91362
Attn: Jan Taylor, Activities Secretary

6. It will be helpful for your teachers if you provide them with a stamped envelope already made out with the above address. All teacher recommendations are immediately logged upon receipt. It is the students' responsibility to check with the Activities Secretary to see which teachers have submitted the recommendations and which have not. It is the students' responsibility to encourage teachers to submit the recommendations by the deadline. If only three teacher recommendations are received, all three will be counted and the lowest teacher recommendation score will NOT be dropped. One of the three recommendations must be from the PE teacher. 

7. A tryout fee of $20.00 (CASH ONLY) is charged to cover the cost of the judges. This tryout fee must be included by the deadline of March 26th in order for an application to be considered complete. A CD of the tryout music will be provided to each student.

The deadline for all paperwork listed above is March 26th at 3pm. No exceptions. All paperwork must be submitted to Jan Taylor, Activities Secretary at WHS. Failure to do so will result in the student not being allowed to tryout. If you have questions about the application process or whether teacher recommendations have been received, please email Jan Taylor at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Total Points Available in Selection Process

There are 200 total points available through the selection process. An example "Cheer Squad Tryout Totals" form that breaks down the exact distribution of points is provided for your review. The teacher recommendations mentioned above represent 75 total points available (25 per recommendation). Provided that four teacher recommendations are submitted, including one from a current PE teacher/cheer advisor if applicable, the two highest scoring teacher recommendations and the PE teacher/advisor recommendation will be scored. Therefore, the lowest teacher recommendation score will be dropped. Students not currently enrolled in a PE class may submit a recommendation from another current general education teacher, or current cheer coach. The Academic and Disciplinary Evaluation represents 20 total points available. The final 105 points are available as part of the tryout routine. The tryout will be judged by four impartial judges. Provided all four judges submit scores for a student, the lowest score will be dropped. Only the three highest scores will be counted. Each judge can award a maximum of 35 points. Judges and the tryout process will be explained later in this packet.

50 points (teacher recommendations)
25 points (PE teacher/cheer advisor recommendation)
20 points (academic and disciplinary review)
105 points (judges scores)
 
= 200 total points available

Academic and Disciplinary Evaluation

Spirit Cheer Squad members represent Westlake High School both on campus, on other school campuses, and in the community. Character, self-discipline, and demonstrated responsibility and respect are expected and valued. The Academic and Disciplinary Evaluation is an important part of the overall selection process.

1. Most recent semester/trimester GPA – any student with a non-indexed, cumulative GPA of 3.0 and above will receive four points. Any student below 3.0 will receive zero points.
2. Citizenship and Work Habits – any student that does not have a single N or U listed under Work Habits or Citizenship on the most recent semester/trimester report card will receive four points. One or more N(s) or U(s) under either Work Habits or Citizenship will result in zero points.
3. Classroom Attendance (truancies) – Any student with 2 or fewer total period truancies by the paperwork submission deadline of March 26th at 3p.m.will receive 4 points. Any student with 3 or more total period truancies will receive zero points. If your student is a CVUSD student, a copy of their year-to-date attendance will be provided to you prior to the conclusion of the evening. According to District policy, absences and tardies must be cleared within 72 hours or they will be recorded as truants and/or unexcused tardies. Therefore, there will be NO changes to the year-to-date attendance you receive, and this is the record that will be used to score your student.
4. Only Saturday Work Study (SWS) assignments, Suspensions, and Academic Honesty violations count as disciplinary actions for this section. Any student who does not have a single SWS, Suspension, or Academic Honesty violation listed in their discipline action file for the 2009/2010 school year will receive eight points. Any student with only one SWS, or one academic honesty violation, and no suspensions for the current school year will receive 4 points. Any student with more than one SWS, and/or more than one academic honesty violation, or a single suspension, will receive zero points. 

Tryout routine

A Spirit Squad Tryout Clinic will be conducted from Tuesday, April 13th through Friday, April 16th, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. The clinic is coordinated by the spirit cheer advisor and routines are taught to the students by graduating spirit cheerleaders. Attendance all week is mandatory. Any student who misses a day will not be permitted to try out for the cheer squad. During the tryout clinic week, no advisor, coach, and/or graduating spirit cheerleader may offer additional assistance outside of the clinic to any student trying out. No videotaping may take place during the spirit clinic tryout week. Anyone doing so takes the risk of losing their right to participate in the tryouts. Additionally, it is important to know that holding a current squad position does not guarantee placement on the Spirit Cheer Squad for the 2010/2011 school year.

The required tryout attire includes:

• WHITE TOP (that is long enough to tuck in)
• Solid colored shorts
• Hair is pulled up and off the face
• Shoes should be comfortable and allow for safe participation
• No logos are allowed on either shirts or shorts and no identification of being a past Cheer/Yell Leader or Mascot is allowed, including but not limited to: cheer shoes, socks, shorts, and other apparel.

The Varsity squad consists of Juniors and Seniors.
The Junior Varsity squad consists of Sophomores.
The Freshmen squad consists of Freshmen.

Students will be evaluated by four impartial judges on Saturday, April 17th, starting at 9am.

1. Students are judged in three specific areas: Cheer; Dance Technique; Showmanship-Spirit. An example "Judges Cheer Program Tryout Score Sheet" is attached (addendum B).
2. Judges are provided by one of the recognized cheer organizations, namely NCA, USA, and UCA.
3. The lowest score is dropped (provided there are four judges- if only three judges score a student, all three scores will be counted). Only the three highest scores will be included in the final tryout total. Total points available for tryout routine is ninety (105)- thirty (35) per judge.
4. Not all students will be trying out at WHS. Even though a student may be trying out at another high school, they are only competing against WHS students. They are not competing against students from other schools.
• Varsity tryouts will be conducted at Thousand Oaks High School.
• JV tryouts will be conducted at Newbury Park High School.
• Frosh tryouts will be conducted at Westlake High School.
• Maps to the school and of each campus will be provided the week of the tryout clinic.

Final Selection/Totaling of Points

The school administrator(s) will tally the final scores and determine the final squads, but will have no involvement in the judging process. Final scores are kept confidential and are not disclosed to the students or the parents. All final scores are considered to be final upon the selection of the squads.

A fixed number of spots are available for each squad:

• Varsity will have up to 18 spots available. Up to 18 students with the highest varsity score totals (minimum qualifying score = 160 points) will be placed on the squad.
• Junior Varsity will have up to 14 spots available. Up to 14 students with the highest junior varsity score totals (minimum qualifying score = 160 points) will be placed on the squad.
• Freshman will have up to14 spots available. Up to14 students with the highest freshman score totals (minimum qualifying score = 160 points) will be placed on the squad.
• Number of selected applicants may be smaller than maximum spots available.
• In the event of a tie(s) for the last spot, the tiebreaker will be the tryout score. If the tryout scores are the same, both students will be added to the squad.

The last four digits of each student's social security number will be used to identify each student during the tryout day. The final roster will be posted using those same numbers for identification. The final roster of students who made the squad will be posted both on the school website for easy access from home (http://www.whswarriors.com) and on the front main doors of the WHS administrative offices. The postings should be available by 6pm Sunday evening.

Additional Requirements

The Spirit Cheer Squad is a YEARLONG co-curricular activity. Students are expected to stay in the cheer class and participate in cheer duties for the entire 2010/2011 school year. However, students who qualify to participate in a co-curricular athletic team or activity during the spring semester may transfer out of the cheer program with no penalty. When the spring sport/activity concludes, the student is expected to transfer back in to cheer. Failure to do so will result in not being allowed to tryout next year for the Spirit Cheer Squad.

The minimum required commitment is one full semester. Any student who transfers out of cheer for ANY reason prior to the conclusion of the first semester will be considered to have quit the cheer squad and will be subject to the following consequences:

• Student will not receive credit for being in the cheer squad for that school year
• Student will not attend the cheer banquet or any other cheer functions
• Student will not be allowed to try out for cheer the following year
• Student will transfer out with a grade of 'F'