MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Student Requirements
All prospective students and parents must attend Orientation on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:30pm. We will meet at our regular location, see Home page for address, directions and Mapquest link.
Students must be age 12-18 on January 1, 2010 and homeschooled at least 50% of the time.
All LAHSD members are required to compete in NCFCA-at least one qualifying tournament per season. Aside from NCFCA, we believe that good communication skills are crucial to success in the home, church, workplace, and community. We want to train communicators who will go out into their communities and deliver their message in a way that is engaging, persuasive, thoughtful, entertaining and truthful. We want our students to make an impact for Christ on today’s culture. Competition is an opportunity to sharpen skills, but not the end goal. However, speaking skills cannot sharpen without competition.
Mandatory Parental Involvement
Student success requires parental involvement. At least one parent from each family is required to attend and assist in speech once a month and in debate once a month (assuming your student is involved in both activities). Parents may choose which dates they want to participate. Be sure to write it on your personal calendar and sign-in at meetings. Please don’t think of this as a burden. Come and learn alongside your student. The more parents are involved, the more all students in our club benefit.
In addition to club responsibilities, parents must also volunteer at area tournaments. There are a variety of positions to be filled and all offer training. Dedicated parents make our tournaments happen.
We do not provide childcare, so arrangements must be made for your younger children.
NCFCA Family Affiliation
Club member families are to register for NCFCA Affiliation by December 31, 2009. Cost is $45/family.
After your family affiliate (NCFCA) registration is processed, NCFCA will email you with your family’s affiliate number. Keep this info for tournament registration.
Dress Code
The Spirit of the dress code is modesty and professionalism with the intent to glorify Christ. The goal is to minimize the focus on the body or outward appearance and maximize the focus on the development of ideas and communication skills. Young ladies should wear modest clothing with pants, skirts or shorts (fingertip length) and must have no midriffs showing. No hats, tank tops, low-cut blouses, short skirts or T-shirts with offensive slogans are allowed. We don’t want our students to recite every week in front of a distracted audience. Our dress code is strictly enforced.
Code of Conduct
All club members are to exhibit a kind, polite and respectful attitude toward others at all times and to behave in a manner that brings glory and honor to God. All club members are required to stay within the geographical boundaries set by the administration of the facilities we use and are to strictly adhere to all established rules/regulations. If a student is disrespectful, uncooperative or disruptive, the student will be given one warning. If the behavior continues, leaders will consult with the parents. Habitual problems will result in dismissal from the club.
Statement of Faith
Members are not required to sign a statement of faith. NCFCA recognizes differing Christian beliefs. We are a Christian club which teaches skills and leaves matters of doctrine to individual families.
Tournaments
Official tournament schedules are usually published around December. Families are encouraged to plan for monthly tournaments in the Spring. A typical season may offer the following opportunities:
Nov-Dec - Practice tournaments/local round robins
Jan-Mar - Qualifiers for Regionals
Jan-Mar - National Opens (qualifiers for Nationals)
Apr - Regionals (qualifiers for Nationals)
Jun - Nationals
Each family should consider their commitment level when approaching tournament opportunities. Some families attend all the tournaments; others are selective based on financial constraints. All LAHSD students are required to participate in at least one qualifying tournament in the spring. Each tournament is an opportunity to develop skills and bring home valuable ballot feedback. Tournament participation level is typically directly related to how far a student advances in a given season.
Tournament dress code is professional business attire (suits are recommended).
Communications
All announcements including club meetings, homework, tournament information and other events will be communicated through the LAHSD parent yahoo group. Families are responsible for checking email regularly to stay informed.
This loop is strictly for club use. Only speech and debate information is to be posted.
Registration
To join:
All parents and students must read and comply with all membership requirements and club policies.
Attend Orientation on August 20, 2009.
Fill out and submit 2009-10 Registration Form.
Debate students must fill out and submit a Partner Survey.
Submit annual non-refundable club fee.
Join LAHSD parent yahoo group.
Club Fee
$75 for first student in the family
$15 for second student in the family
$10 for third student in the family
$100 family maximum
Club fee is non-refundable and not prorated. If your family drops out of club after joining, you are not entitled to a refund. Everyone pays the same amount regardless of when in the school year they join club.