FALL PARENT NIGHT 2015
FOOTBALL, CROSS COUNTRY,
VOLLEYBALL and CHEER
Congratulations on an excellent 2014-15 school
LHC All Sports Champs
DM Register All Sports – 2nd Place
10 Teams to State Tournament
11 Conference Titles
THANK YOU for your support of our programs!
year:
Athletic Department: Located by the East Gym – Hours: 8am-4pm
- For all your Athletic needs – info, drop offs, team parents, team meals, payments for
athletic related items, etc.
- charma.vanderwert@pella.k12.ia.us
628-7305 – Athletic Office
- dale.otte@pella.k12.ia.us
628-7305 – Athletic Office
- Twitter: @PellaAthletics
- http://www.pellaschools.org/activities/athletics
- www.iahsaa.org
- www.ighsau.org
- Booster Club Page
Schedules on-line:
- www.pellaschools.org, select Calendars, then off to the right is “other calendars” then:
- PLEASE USE THE Athletic/Activity Calendar for activities – sometimes the calendar
on the district website doesn’t update fast enough.
- www.littlehawkeyeconference.com for a direct link
o Click on Pella
o Go to “notify me” icon to sign up for game notices, cancellations, reschedules,
etc.
- Some of our teams have a Facebook, Twitter, or Web pages – check with coach on how
they will communicate
Assumption of Risk
- Participation in sports means there is a potential for injuries. This means that you will
take financial responsibility and/or are covered by your own insurance plan. Pella
schools does not offer an insurance policy to cover your athlete.
- To learn more about concussions there is a video available at: www.NFHSlearn.org
- Heat issues: we use protocol established in state provided charts and modified practices.
Transportation expectations:
- Expectations are for kids to ride school transportation for school based activities, unless:
o The student’s parents are on site and have arranged with coach a checkout
o If parents are out of town and the athlete is with another family, please provide
written communication to the Athletic Office before the event.
Ticket Prices: for District 7 Football Games ONLY 9/Varsity games
Adults: $5
Students: $4
Passes: Available in the Athletic Office
- Student Activity Passes: $45 – are good for all home athletic events, excluding postseason events
- Adult Punch Pass: $80 for admission to 20 home events or $40 for 10 – excluding postseason events.
- Sr. Citizen Punch Pass: $60 for admission to 20 home events or $30 for 10 – excluding
post-season events. Participants must be 65 or older with valid identification at time of
purchase
Care of Equipment:
- Please follow washing instructions provided by coach or manufacturer. Any damage or
loss to uniform is the responsibility of the student and replacement cost will be assessed.
Sportsmanship from the Bleachers
- Respecting decisions of the officials, it’s not easy. Please make a conscious effort to
think before you speak.
o Pella has been recognized as a “Community of Character” by the Character
Counts Organization
o There are going to be missed calls – they are not perfect
o The officials have the same passion for high school activities as our coaches and
kids do
o Supply/Demand: veteran officials are retiring and young officials are not filling
in the demand. We need to appreciate what they do. It’s not easy.
o Think of the officials as your neighbor, your colleague, church members, people
who have kids – just like you do. Is what you say in the bleacher reflective of
what you would say to them as one of the above?
o A community or high school’s reputation stems not only from performance but
also from the conduct of their spectators. It is very easy to judge the whole based
on one visiting experience.
What to expect of the parents
1. Attend as many games/events possible and view them with the team goals in mind
2. Be a model, not a critic; model appropriate sportsmanship, poise, and confidence
3. Attend preseason meetings and assist where needed; volunteers are always needed
4. Encourage multi-sport participation
5. Release your child to the coach and the team
6. Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches – be the adult role model
7. Accept the results of the game, do not make excuses. Demonstrate winning and losing with
dignity
8. Dignify mistakes made by people who are giving their best effort and concentration
9. Accept the goals, roles and achievements of your child even if they are different than yours
10. Take time to learn the rules of the game by visiting our state athletic associations.
www.iahsaa.org and www.ighsau.org
Athletic Department and Booster Club will need you: concessions, chain gang, line judges, xc
meets – your help is greatly needed and please work with boosters when asked to help in
concessions. It takes a team so thank you in advance for cooperating. Our reputation for
hosting events is recognized by other schools and associations.
Communication / Concerns: Video: https://youtu.be/Ky-5doFLL2I
- We have a great coaching staff, not a perfect staff
- In a world of instant gratification - patience and perseverance are disappearing traits of
today’s young athletes.
- Decisions are made based on what the coaching staff feel is best for the team.
- Don’t allow frustrations now force quick decisions that impact the future. Everyone has
a role and it can change every season or every game
- Development comes at different times and different ages for students.
- Less than 2% of high school athletes receive a D1 scholarship, and likely not a full ride
while majority of kids play sports because its fun, to be with friends, or to stay in shape
- Ask your child their goals, roles, needs and accept them – release them to the
game/coach not bind them to your dreams
- Defining the 9th grade, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Roles: See “Parent/Student Handbook
online.
What you can expect from the coach for communication:
- Philosophy, expectations, schedules, general announcements, team requirements, injury
protocol, and discipline resulting in denial of playing time.
-
From time to time, in working with the many individuals who are involved in an
activities program in a school such as ours, issues come up that may cause concern for
parents. It is difficult for these concerns to be addressed when the parties involved have
different views, backgrounds and opinions. The Parent/Student Handbook includes the
suggested protocol to student athletes and parents to follow in order to get the issues on
the table and address them.
Injury Evaluation Services / Strength and Conditioning Services
- Sterling Physical Therapy – Travis Sterling
- Fall Clinics/On-Site Free Evaluation: Monday and Wednesdays 3pm or at varsity/jv
football/varsity volleyball events
- Note – appointments at Sterling office are handled through your insurance/responsibility
- We follow the state mandated protocol on concussion awareness and return to play
- Student Training Program – HS students learn and shadow our training staff, eventually
assisting as needed. HS students don’t assess or diagnose injuries. If you know of a
student who may be interested, please contact the AD
ATTENDANCE ELIGIBILITY - Board Policy 501.9
- In order for a student to participate in an inter-scholastic event he/she must
attend all classes and study halls in a normal school day of the event (game or
competition). An approved absence the day of an event must be submitted
in writing (handwritten or email by parent) to the MAIN office no later than
(9am) and must be approved by the administration. Failure to comply with
this regulation will result in being ineligible for participation in any extra-curricular
event/performance on the day they were absent. A student who is in the nurses
office on the day of a contest and misses a class/study hall because of illness
would be ineligible to participate. Any student serving an in-school OR out-ofschool suspension will be ineligible to practice or perform in an event for the
day(s) they are suspended. A student serving an out-of-school suspension is
not allowed on school property or allowed to attend school events, home and
away until reinstated by administration.
Example: Appts.& things that can’t be avoided – oversleeping is not a valid excuse
Advice: bring a doctors note for the early morning appointments. If not feeling well
enough to start school, probably shouldn’t be at school.
PLEASE VISIT THE PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK FOUND AT
WWW.PELLASCHOOLS.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING
PARTICIPATION IN HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
In Conclusion:
“Focus on the Process”, had a great 14-15 school year but last year was last year!
- Please help your student create their own, new memories –learn their goals!
- Don’t focus on comparing to the previous year.
- Help them focus on doing their best on and off the field.
“Simplistic, Relevant, Consistent” in 15-16
- Keep it simple – don’t complicate things and reinvent
- Enjoy the experience, be meaningful, learn, grow, develop in skills and relationships
- Consistent – approach every day the same, bring positive attitude and effort every single
day during the season and at school.