Weekly Update - June 9, 2009

June 09, 2009

VHSL Weekly Update, June 9, 2009

 

“Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody gets there unless everybody gets there.”

                                                          – Virginia Burden

 

ATTENTION: Principals, athletic/activities directors, superintendents, guidance counselors, scholastic bowl coaches, debate coaches, theater coaches, publications advisers,

 

Weekly Update, distributed at the beginning of each week, contains current League news and information on website updates (www.vhsl.org), with links that will provide you with immediate access.  Please forward this message to each of the coaches or activity advisers to whom this information pertains.

 

  

League ends year on high note

 

With the conclusion of Spring Jubilee, the competitive season for VHSL activities has come to a successful close.  We salute all students, coaches and teams who competed in these events throughout 2008-09, and we are especially grateful for the tireless efforts of the administrators, contest officials/judges and event directors/staffs that were responsible for helping to stage the many hundreds of district, region and state contests throughout the year. 

 

We wish everyone a safe and relaxing summer, and we look forward to even greater success in 2009-10.

 

VHSL spring champions crowned at Westfield and Radford

 

Baseball: AAA – Menchville; AA – Poquoson; A - Chatham

Lacrosse (boys): Langley

Lacrosse (girls): Chantilly

Soccer (boys): AAA – Frank W. Cox; AA – Blacksburg; A – George Mason

Soccer (girls): AAA – Chantilly; AA – Broad Run; A – George Mason

Softball: AAA – Great Bridge; AA – Broad Run; A – Altavista

Tennis (boys) – AAA – Mills E. Godwin; AA – Western Albemarle; A – Gate City

Tennis (girls) – AAA – Mills E. Godwin; AA – John Handley; A – Wilson Memorial

 

VHSL office summer hours

 

The VHSL office will be observing summer hours beginning Monday, June 15.  The office will be closed at noon on Fridays through August 7.

 

Spring Jubilee 2010

 

Next year’s Spring Jubilee will be held the week of June 7-13, 2010.  Please make this a consideration when planning graduation ceremonies.

 

SAT dates for the 2009-10 school year are as follows:

 

October 10, 2009

November 7, 2009

December 5, 2009 (VHSL Football Semi-finals)

January 23, 2010

March 13, 2010 (VHSL Basketball Championships)

May 1, 2010

June 5, 2010 (VHSL Track & Field Championships; VHSL AAA Team Tennis Championships)

 

Loudoun Valley High School practices good sportsmanship

TJ Shepardson, director of athletics at Franklin County High School, shared the following story.  Inclement weather had postponed the Northwest Regional semi-final softball game between Loudoun Valley and Franklin County on two occasions.  On Franklin County’s third attempt to host the game, rain again was going for force a cancellation of this important contest.

When Loudoun Valley parents arrived for the game, they were greeted by an unplayable field.  They chose to demonstrate an act of sportsmanship by stripping off shoes and socks, grabbing rakes and brooms in an effort to help clear water from the field.  The actions of these parents along with the assistance of the Franklin County staff enabled the game to be played.

Loudoun Valley High School parents proved again, one person practicing good sportsmanship is far better than 50 people preaching about good sportsmanship.

District and region officers’ directory request

 

If you have not sent in your listing for district and/or region officers for the 2009-10 school year, please email the list to Lora Bickley (lbickley@vhsl.org) no later than June 15.

 

District/region treasurers and bookkeepers

 

With the end of VHSL’s fiscal year on June 30^th, please remember that each district and region treasurer or bookkeeper needs to email a copy of QuickBooks standard year-end Profit and Loss Statement and QuickBooks standard Balance Sheet for June 30^th for their district/region to Denise Marshall (dmarshall@vhsl.org) or Jim Garman (jgarman@vhsl.org) by Friday, July 17, 2009.  Please remember to follow-up the emailed reports by mailing a hard copy of the reports with the treasurer’s financial certification to Denise or Jim at the VHSL office at 1642 State Farm Blvd, Charlottesville, VA 22911 within three (3) days after emailing the reports.  They can be reached at (434) 977-8475 should you have any questions.

 

New NFHS Sanctioning Procedures

 

The NFHS has revised their sanctioning procedures beginning August 1.  Their most recent sanctioning newsletter indicated they would be contacting all event managers shortly to advise them of the new changes and provide an opportunity for events sanctioned prior to August 1 to avoid the increase in fees. 

 

Opportunity for VHSL schools to earn up to $10,000

 

VHSL corporate partner Allstate Insurance helps to underwrite many of the costs of state-level programs. They have also initiated a new fundraiser which can directly benefit your school.  For every auto insurance quote written between now and December 1, 2009, Allstate Insurance will donate $5 (up to $10,000) to your school.  See the attachment for step-by-step instructions, and begin securing your quotes now.

 

Regional journalism workshops to visit four cities in September

 

VHSL continues to offer you the most amazing educational opportunities in partnership with Jostens.  The top names in scholastic journalism will be coming to a city near you this fall to teach a variety of courses in newspaper, magazine and yearbook publishing.  Join Bobby Hawthorne, Betsy Rau, John Cutsinger, Mark Murray, Gary Lundgren and others at this exciting event in Chesapeake (9/21 at Chesapeake Conference Center), Richmond (9/22 at Greater Richmond Convention Center), Roanoke (9/23 at Holiday Inn Tanglewood) and Springfield (9/24 at Waterford at Springfield).  Save the dates, and stay tuned for more information! 

 

2009 Championship Journalism Workshop

 

Save the date!  Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 for the 2009 Championship Journalism Workshop!  Plan to join your peers across the commonwealth for the state’s premiere scholastic journalism training event!  Many speakers have committed to appearing and presenting exciting new sessions, and you too are invited to submit an Instructor’s Proposal Form (http://www.vhsl.org/files/pubseval-speaker-proposal.pdf) and help students and advisers across the state with advertising, building a curriculum, caption writing, using fonts and color, illustrating, photography or some other aspect of publications in which you excel.  Innovative, interactive sessions with fun, catchy titles will ensure maximum attendance to your session.  Proposals may be sent to Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) and will be accepted through the late summer; however, those received by August 1 will be given priority consideration.  Stay tuned for more information!

 

Submit materials to new NFHS online publication, The Forensic Educator

 

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Speech, Debate, and Theater Association's Speech Committee is requesting materials for its new online publication, The Forensic Educator, which is designed for teachers and coaches of speech to share their insights and express themselves on important issues related to competitive speech, debate and theatre. 

 

In addition to traditional scholarly articles, The Forensic Educator is looking for other materials that can be placed on the site.  These include:

 

*     Lesson plans

*     Testimonials (for use in justifying programs)

*     Professional development materials

*     Judge training materials

*     Sample ballots, procedures, certification exams

*     Rule sets for unique events

*     PowerPoint presentations from training events

 

The goal is to make The Forensic Educator site not only a beneficial scholarly resource, but a one-stop-shop for valuable training tools, lesson plans, and professional development material for new coaches and teachers in speech, debate and theater.  Combined with resources already available through the National Forensic League, the Education Theater Association, the National Debate Coaches Association, and others, we hope to establish a viable ring of web sites that can assist speech, debate, and theater educations, while still maintaining the unique character of The Forensic Educator.

 

If you have materials that you think may be usable, please forward them to Lisa Giles, VHSL Director of Activities.

 

This is your chance to share and to be heard!

 

Publications advisers reminded to submit publications and individual Writing/Photo/Design Contest entries for evaluation by June 15

 

VHSL annually evaluates publications of member schools in an effort to improve the quality of scholastic journalism.  Newspaper, magazine and yearbook advisers are reminded to submit their publications for evaluation no later than June 15.  A publication will be officially entered upon receipt of entry form, publication and fee.  Entry forms may be retrieved from the RESOURCES section of the VHSL website (http://www.vhsl.org/activities) under your respective publication type.  Individual work may be submitted separately into the VHSL Writing/Photo/Design Contest using the entry form at http://www.vhsl.org/files/pubseval-statewrite-entry.pdf.  Please direct any questions on publications evaluations or the Writing/Photo/Design Contest to Sharon Condoulis at (scondoulis@vhsl.org).     

 

Adults and student athletes encouraged to take survey

 

Your help is needed!  As you may know the VHSL has for years been a strong supporter of the Pursuing Victory with Honor sportsmanship program.  Would you please click on the link below and answer a simple on-line survey about ethics and sportsmanship in high school sports.

 

The on-line survey will take you less than 10 minutes to complete.  Your answers will be kept private and confidential, please answer the questions honestly.   

 

As you will see when you click on the web link, there are two surveys – one for Adults and one for Student-Athletes.  Any help and assistance you can give in forwarding the link and encouraging others to complete the survey would be greatly appreciated. 

 

The Josephson Institute and the CharacterCounts program has worked very hard for many years with the VHSL to help all of us in our efforts to promote character, ethics and teach life lessons through our sports programs.  Please take a few minutes of your busy day, complete the survey and forward on this email to others – especially student athletes -- and ask them to do the same.   The results will help all of us in the days and years to come.

 

Athletes Survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4dD4Kcq34aM3UylUTdL7SQ_3d_3d

Coaches, Administrators and Parents Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tufJfLstTVJ_2fu0WBN1CpUw_3d_3d

 

Thank you!

 

League seeks Scholastic Bowl commissioner and tournament director

 

The Virginia High School League is seeking letters of interest for Scholastic Bowl Commissioner and/or Tournament Director.  Please share the attached information with people you think may be interested in serving the Scholastic Bowl community in either or both capacities.  Questions may be directed to Lisa Giles.

 

VIAAA sponsoring summer institute

 

The Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) is sponsoring a professional development summer leadership institute.  A total of 16 classes will be offered over a two day period, July 15 and July 16 in Charlottesville.  The course topics address many current issues facing high school and middle school administrators.   The courses offered are also part of the requirements for athletic administrators to become certified at the RAA, CAA, or CMAA levels.  Don't miss this meaningful staff development opportunity. 

 

For complete details and course descriptions, follow this link:  http://www.viaaa.org/index.cfm?action=pages&id=196

 

VIAAA offers new AD’s workshop

 

The VIAAA will offer a New AD’s Workshop at the VHSL Office on July 29 and 30.  Athletic Directors with three or less years of experience are eligible for this workshop.  For registration information, please go to the VIAAA web site and click on the Leadership Training link, New AD's Workshop, for the registration form and additional information. If you have additional questions, please contact Kevin Adams via telephone at 804-780-6052 or via email at kadams@richmond.k12.va.us.

 

Regional Award of Merit, Torch of Honor and Lifetime Achievement Awards past due

 

The Regional Award of Merit, Torch of Honor and Lifetime Achievement Awards nominations were due April 15.  Please submit deserving individuals for the Regional Award of Merit, Lifetime Achievement Award and/or the Torch of Honor.   Nomination forms may be found at http://www.vhsl.org/about_vhsl/awards_and_recognition.  Selected award designees should be forwarded to Mike McCall.

 

The following Regions have submitted their nominations:

 

Group AAA                                           Group AA                                             Group A

Central Region                                      Region II                                               Region B         

Eastern Region                                     Region III                                              Region D

Northern Region                                                                                                Region C

Northwest Region

 

Record Book updates needed

 

The VHSL Book of Records, 14th Edition is being updated to include winter champions and independent submissions.  To access the record book, go to http://www.vhsl.org/files/pub-vhsl-recordbook-jan08.pdf .  The record book is updated twice a year, at the conclusion of the fall season in December and at the conclusion of the spring season in June.  Schools may submit applications for recognition with corresponding documentation at any time.  This application may be found on the last two pages of the record book.  Any questions may be directed to Mike McCall at 434-977-8475.

 

Team and individual photos from VHSL championship teams requested

 

VHSL member schools that had a state champion team or individual for the 2008-09 school year are requested to submit a photo of your champion(s) for inclusion in our end-of-the-year publication, The Leaguer.  Electronic photos are preferable and should be emailed to Mike McCall at mmccall@vhsl.org for inclusion in the 2008-09 edition of The Leaguer as soon as possible.   Please be sure to submit a quality photo of at least 300 pixels per inch.

 

School logos still needed

 

All schools please send your school/athletic logo (at least 300p resolution in a jpg format) to the VHSL office to be used in future VHSL publications and the new VHSL website.  Logos should be emailed to Mike McCall at the League Office.  Thanks.