Please read the following two pages before signing the permission slip.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
My name is Ishmael Kissinger, and I am the debate coach at MHS. For 4 years I debated in high school, and then after receiving a scholarship to UCO, I debated there for 5 years. Since being the debate coach at Moore High School, we have attended the National Forensic League’s National
Tournament 3 times; placing in the top 40 in the entire country (this is against every school both public and private). Although this was an amazing feat, it is something I am confident we can replicate with the help of your child and you.
Tournament Schedules
On tournament days your son/daughter will probably miss some (or all) of their classes on
Friday, if s/he is doing debate (acting events are only on Saturday). It is his/her responsibility to get the assignment from the teacher before Friday; if a project is due, it is his/her responsibility to turn in that assignment before we leave. A bus will be by to pick up the students from the Middle School at approximately 11:00am. Since your child may miss lunch, they should bring something to eat. The typical debate tournament will have 4 preliminary rounds on Friday night. The first round starts at approximately 3:30 pm (after the host school lets out), and the tournament will last until 10:15 pm.
After all the rounds are completed we will wait to hear who has advanced to the single elimination rounds on Saturday. Because it takes an hour or more for the tournament director to make this announcement, we will not leave the host school until approximately 11:00-11:30 pm. Once we are on the bus, I will make an announcement letting your child know to call you. Students must be picked up from the Performing Arts Center at Moore High School.
Even if your child does not advance to the Saturday rounds, they still need to be present on
Saturday. I use a football analogy, even if you aren’t playing – you still have to be there for the team.
Saturday we will leave the high school at 6:45 am from the circle drive (performing art center
entrance). The first round of the tournament is typically at 8:00 am and the tournament can last as late as 8:00 pm, although it has been my experience that most tournaments are over by approximately 6:00 pm. Following the tournament, we will be back to the high school. From there most of the kids like to go to Chili’s or IHOP on 19 th ; this is not a requirement and is NOT a school function.
Tournament Necessities
At no point will the coach/teacher be able to provide lunch for the students. However, the host tournament always has food for sale on Friday (starting at 4pm) and Saturday (until 4pm). The students should come with approximately $15.00 to buy themselves food or drinks at the tournament. I will be judging other competitors from different schools; if there is an emergency the tournament director will stop the round I am judging and will be able to reach me. Students and parents are encouraged to leave me a text message which I will be able to check within an hour. Unless there is a family emergency or

your son/daughter has done something to violate school policy or OSSAA rules, they must stay at the tournament the entire time.
Additionally, your child will need to have tournament appropriate attire. This is what I would like to refer to as “Sunday Dress” or “Business attire.” Jeans and a T-shirt are unacceptable, unless they aren’t competing, and they are just observing.
I would personally suggest that your son/daughter does not bring anything that is valuable or hard to replace. Tournaments can be a stressful time and things can get misplaced, or put on another teams table, mistakenly left behind, or even stolen. I will remind them before the first tournament not to leave things behind, and there will be other teammates around most of the time but it is just better to be safe than sorry.
I am really looking forward to this year, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
My cell phone number is (405) 816-7087. The Permission slips can be turned in at the Middle-School in room __________.
Ishmael Kissinger
Speech & Debate Coach
Moore High School
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To: The Parents/Guardians of a Speech and Debate Team member
My child _________________________________________ has permission to attend a speech and debate competition.
In the case of an emergency, I can be reached at (______)_________________(H) or on my cell phone at (______)_________________.
Alternate Contacts & Numbers: ____________________________/
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My child is allergic to:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
And is taking these medicines:
___________________________________________________________
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_________________________________(signature of guardian)__________(date)