WEEKLY UPDATE
FROM THE VHSL

View previous releases of Weekly Update

Page Last Updated: 10/06/2008

   

Special Notes

VHSL Weekly Update, October 6, 2008

“The differences between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing it exactly right.”

                                                                        - Edward C. Simmons

ATTENTION: Principals, athletic/activities directors, superintendents, newspapers, magazine and yearbook advisors, theatre coaches, academic advisers, academic coaches, basketball coaches, wrestling coaches, volleyball coaches.

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.

To find a previous Weekly Update posting, go to http://www.vhsl.org/thisweek.htm and select the link at the top of the page, “View previous releases of Weekly Update.”

Volley For The Cure

The VHSL has endorsed the inaugural Volley for the Cure game between Abingdon and John Battle High Schools .  The volleyball game is scheduled for tonight at 7:15 p.m.   Monies raised from this event will be donated to the local Susan G. Komen affiliate.  Information on hosting a game in the future can be found on our website by clicking on the following link:  http://www.vhsl.org/volleybl.htm   VHSL is working to expand this program to other sports in the near future.  Contact the VHSL is you have any questions ( Lora Bickley -- lbickley@vhsl.org or Joyce Sisson – jsisson@vhsl.org).

Attention:  principals, athletic directors, wrestling coaches

Wrestling practice will begin in approximately one month.  VHSL’s weight control program mandates that all wrestlers have their body fat measurements done from Nov. 3 through Nov. 22, 2008.   As a reminder, ONLY a VHSL certified measurer may perform the official testing of wrestlers.  He/she must be a degreed medical professional (MD, DO, ATC, RN, NP, PA, etc.) who has completed the appropriate VHSL training workshop(s), completed the documentation of experience and credentials forms, and passed an examination. 

We are offering training sessions for new certified measurers in various geographic locations over the next few weeks.  Any medical professionals interested in attending a VHSL Certified Measurer for 2008-09 should check the website for workshop dates and locations:  http://www.fcps.edu/supt/activities/atp/WCP/homewcp.htm .  Each school should confirm that the VHSL WCP Certified Measurer they plan to use is eligible to perform the measurements for your team at this time.

VHSL Certified Coaching Education Instructors - annual update meeting

VHSL certified instructors and all recertification and trained instructors in last two years need to attend the annual update meeting on October 28, 2008 at 10 a.m.  The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville , VA.

LTC Class available in October

Professional Development for athletic administrators and assistant principals available at the VHSL office, Monday Oct. 27 the day before the VHSL fall meetings.  Follow this link for course info and registration.

http://viaaa.org/index.cfm?action=pages&id=207

Plan ahead to avoid SAT conflicts

Theatre, Scholastic Bowl and forensics tournament directors as well as coaches with SAT-taking juniors and seniors should plan now to avoid SAT conflicts.  This year’s SAT dates are:  October 4, November 1 (district theatre festival deadline for Group A/AA), December 6, January 24 (district Scholastic Bowl deadline), March 14 (regional forensics deadline), May 2 and June 6.  As always, tournaments may be scheduled prior to, but not after established deadline.

Plan now to attend the 19th annual Virginia High School Hall of Fame banquet

Eleven individuals who have made outstanding contributions to high school activity programs will be honored on October 27 with membership in the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.  Members of the Class of 2008, the 19th to be inducted, will bring total membership to 198 and include three athletes (Thomas Jones, Megan McCarthy and Calvin Talford), three coaches (Roger Bergey, Shelley Blumenthal and Jim Rike) and five contributors (Martha Akers, Jieff Dietze, Ralph Law, Trish Mitchell and Charlene Tiller).  The Virginia High School Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Charlottesville and we invite and encourage you to attend this event.  Ticket order forms may be accessed at http://www.vhsl.org/specprog.htm#HOF.  We look forward to seeing you on the 27th!

Nominations for Hall of Fame

There are many outstanding individuals who have been inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.  There are also many outstanding individuals who have NOT been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Why?  Because deserving candidates haven’t been nominated.  If you know of someone who would make a good candidate for the Hall of Fame, please take a few moments to submit their nomination packet.  The nomination packet is posted on the VHSL website (http://www.vhsl.org/Prinwkbk/hof.doc).  Nominations are due by Oct. 31 for consideration for the next year’s class.  If you have any questions, please contact Mike McCall , mmccall@vhsl.org or Sharon Condoulis , scondoulis@vhsl.org, 434-977-8475.

School logos needed

All schools please send your school/athletic logo (at least 300p resolution in a jpg format) to the VHSL office by Friday, October 17 to be used in future VHSL publications and the new VHSL website.  Logos should be emailed to Mike McCall (mmccall@vhsl.org) at the League Office.  Thanks!

2008 VIAAA Claudia Dodson Memorial Golf Tournament

The 2008 VIAAA Claudia Dodson Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, October 27 at Old Trail Golf Course in Crozet , Virginia .  Proceeds from the tournament will support VIAAA student-athlete scholarships.  Also, we are asking all Districts and Regions to consider sponsoring a hole for a $100 sponsor’s fee.  If you have any questions please contact Steve Heon at 434.823.8705 or sheon@k12albemarle.org.

Directory updates

Craig County HS – new principal and assistant principal – Dan Bowman, principal, dbowman@craig.k12.va.us, Walt Raines, assistant principal, wraines@craig.k12.va.us

George Marshall HS – new athletic director – Joe Swarm

Appendix – Category II – Seton School
   

Athletic Activities

Attention:  principals, athletic directors, wrestling coaches

Wrestling practice will begin in approximately one month.  VHSL’s weight control program mandates that all wrestlers have their body fat measurements done from Nov. 3 through Nov. 22, 2008.   As a reminder, ONLY a VHSL certified measurer may perform the official testing of wrestlers.  He/she must be a degreed medical professional (MD, DO, ATC, RN, NP, PA, etc.) who has completed the appropriate VHSL training workshop(s), completed the documentation of experience and credentials forms, and passed an examination. 

We are offering training sessions for new certified measurers in various geographic locations over the next few weeks.  Any medical professionals interested in attending a VHSL Certified Measurer for 2008-09 should check the website for workshop dates and locations:  http://www.fcps.edu/supt/activities/atp/WCP/homewcp.htm .  Each school should confirm that the VHSL WCP Certified Measurer they plan to use is eligible to perform the measurements for your team at this time.

Infectious skin diseases

Wrestling season is not the only time that infectious skin diseases are prevalent.  With any contact sport, played indoors or out, on natural or synthetic surfaces, schools should be aware of the opportunity for skin issues.  The following articles and websites may be helpful:  Athletic Business, “Skin Scare,” (April 2007); Reader’s Digest,  “Deadly Superbug,” (August 2007); Columbus Business First, “OSU taking stab against staph infections,” (August 10,2007); Bigger Faster Stronger, “The New War on Germs,” (September/October 2007); Athletic Turf News, “Evidence points to Staph surviving on synthetic fields,” (August 4, 2007); Sports Antimicrobial System, www.csgsport.com.

AP Preps needs basketball schedules

AP Preps is ready to input your boys and girls basketball schedules into their data base to be ready for you on game night.

Schedules can be sent via fax or e-mail: Fax: 888-832-0338 or E-mail: apscores@ap.org  (please type in Virginia Schedules in the subject line).

If you utilize an online scheduler or your schedule is on your school website let AP Preps know through their e-mail address and they will retrieve your schedule.

   

Academic Activities

Academic activities rules clinic updates 

Final round of academic activities rules clinics resume October 2.  For a complete schedule, go to http://www.vhsl.org/AcademicActivitiesRulesClinicSchedule.pdf.  Please check schedule often for updates where information is tentative or TBA.  Agendas are posted online (http://www.vhsl.org/clinics.htm#ACADEMIC%20ACTIVITIES) and all coaches/advisers/directors should print their own agenda and bring to the meeting.  Questions may be directed to Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) or Sharon Condoulis (scondoulis@vhsl.org).   

Sports feature writing contest deadline for volleyball October 15

At 296, the number of VHSL schools with girls volleyball programs is more than quadruple the number of schools with boys volleyball programs (72).  All told, over 8,500 high school students across the state participated in the sport during the 2007-08 school year.  Based on number of participants in Virginia , the sport ranks higher on the popularity scale than golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, swim/dive, tennis and wrestling.  With this degree of popularity, there are hundreds of players, teams, coaches and schools that have human interest stories worthy of being shared.  Or perhaps it’s the water boy, the team mascot or the fans that are more compelling at your school? Either way, we want to hear funny stories, sad stories… poignant stories of triumph and tribulation.  The writer submitting the winning story will: (1) have his/her story published in the 2008-09 VHSL State Championship Souvenir Program, (2) receive 3 copies of the 2008-09 VHSL State Championship Souvenir Program, (3) receive VHSL State Championship merchandise and (4) receive 4 tickets to the VHSL State Championship games for which the story was written.  Entry form may be found at http://www.vhsl.org/Prinwkbk/FeatureWritingEntryForm.pdf

Training offered for newspaper, magazine and yearbook advisers and staffs

This year’s Championship Journalism Workshop, a (one or) two-day event, will be held in Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University on October 18 and 19.  Sessions are brought to you by professional media, college level instructors and member school advisers across the state who have achieved consistent success with their publications and who are eager to share new ideas!  There is no limit to the size of the delegation attending this workshop, so join us in our 38th year of scholastic journalism training – the state’s largest program for high school students and advisers!  The Crowne Plaza (555 East Canal Street) will be the official host hotel for this event and a limited number of rooms have been reserved at $94 + tax per single, double, triple or quad.  To receive this rate, call 804-788-0900 and mention that you are with the Virginia High School League Championship Journalism Workshop room block.  Additional rooms have been reserved at $80 + tax per single, double, triple or quad at the Comfort Inn ( 3200 West Broad Street ), 804-359-4061.  Workshop registration materials may be obtained online at http://www.vhsl.org/Workshop/Registra.pdf.  Should you have any questions, please direct them to Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) or Sharon Condoulis (scondoulis@vhsl.org).

Theatre Rules Clinic Survey now available

This electronic survey replaces the paper survey given each fall at rules clinics.  Your participation in this survey, while voluntary, will help gauge sentiment on current issues. Directors' sentiment is strongly taken into consideration when rules changes are proposed; however, outstanding support does not guarantee action.  Responses are confidential, and we ask for your identification information only to ensure that duplicate responses are avoided.  While in the survey, you may go BACK to previous pages. However, after you are finished, you will not be able to re-enter. The survey will be available until 10/24/08 at 5 p.m. Please respond prior to that date and time.  Thank you in advance for your participation.  To take the survey, go to:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hLfyW3xwcK35lHsz_2fmchBw_3d_3d

2008-09 Forensics Rules Clinic Survey now available

This electronic survey replaces the paper survey given each fall at rules clinics.  Your participation in this survey, while voluntary, will help gauge sentiment on current issues. Coaches’ sentiment is strongly taken into consideration when rules changes are proposed; however, outstanding support does not guarantee action.  Responses are confidential, and we ask for your identification information only to ensure that duplicate responses are avoided.  While in the survey, you may go BACK to previous pages. However, after you are finished, you will not be able to re-enter. The survey will be available until 10/24/08 at 5 p.m. Please respond prior to that date and time.  Thank you in advance for your participation.  To take the survey, go to:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3y1t2nsJQPRNb95K4zMUBQ_3d_3d.   

2008-09 Forensics Manual now available

The 2008-09 Forensics Manual is now available online at http://www.vhsl.org/Forensics/ForensicsManual.pdf.  All forensics coaches should replace the 2007-08 manual with this new version immediately.  Changes from last year appear in highlight.  Tournament dates and venues that have been reported thus far appear on page 60, and the list of preferred judges for tournaments begins on page 53.  Please direct questions to Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) or Sharon Condoulis (scondoulis@vhsl.org).    

Plan NOW to attend the 38th Annual Championship Journalism Workshop

This year’s CJW promises to be one of the best!  On October 18-19, sessions will be presented by special out-of-state guests, professional media, college level instructors and member school advisers across the state who have achieved consistent success with their publications and who are eager to share new ideas!  There is no limit to the size of the delegation attending this workshop or awards banquet, and your $50 registration includes access to 100 workshop sessions on Saturday and Sunday, dinner at the Saturday night awards banquet as well as the Saturday night poetry slam and karaoke party!

The Crowne Plaza (555 East Canal Street) will be the official host hotel for this event and a limited number of rooms have been reserved at $94 + tax per single, double, triple or quad.  To receive this rate, call 804-788-0900 and mention that you are with the Virginia High School League Championship Journalism Workshop room block.  Additional rooms have been reserved at $80 + tax per single, double, triple or quad at the Comfort Inn ( 3200 West Broad Street ), 804-359-4061.  These rates are good through October 3, so please make your reservations ASAP!

Workshop registration materials may be obtained online at http://www.vhsl.org/Workshop/Registra.pdf.     

In the meantime, here are a few answers to your F.A.Q.s:

Q.              Who are the featured speakers at this event?

A.              Jason Baranowski of Jostens, Jerry Bellune of South Carolina, Spoken Word Poet John “Survivor” Blake, Dell Burgess of Jostens, Penelope Carrington Wallace of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Paul Fleisher of the University of Richmond, Kelly Furnas of Virginia Tech University, Ed Henninger of South Carolina, Editor/Columnist/Consultant/Author Gary Kessler, Novelist Joanne Liggan, NBC 12’s Piper Nichole, Mike Spear of University of Richmond and Keynote Speaker Bradley Wilson of North Carolina State University.

Q.             What is the schedule for the day and what classes are being offered?

A.       See attached Sneak Peek Schedule!

Q.             What are the registration procedures? 

A.              We ask that everyone fill out their registration form and fax it to us ASAP so that we can arrange for the proper amount of food at the banquet.  Follow up this fax with a mailed hard copy of your registration form and payment by Friday, October 10.  If you are unable to mail your payment by Friday, October 10, we still need you to fax your registration ahead of time, but please plan to pay at the door when you check-in.    

Q.             Since Saturday lunch is on our own, what are the best options available?

A.              VCU has an all-you-can-eat option at its dining hall right on campus.  That’s your best bet, but there are also restaurants in walking distance such as Piccola Italy ( 1100 West Main St. ), Mojo’s ( 733 West Cary St. ), Stuffy’s ( 411 N. Harrison St. ) and the Village Café ( 1001 W. Grace St .). 

Q.         What if students back out or we have to cancel the trip?  Can they get a refund?

A.         Refunds will be processed through 5 p.m. on October 10 so long as Lisa Giles is notified in writing prior to that time.  No refunds will be given for cancellations made after 5 p.m. on October 10. 

Q.         What if I have a chaperone, senior who’s already graduated or other guest who wants to just come to the awards banquet.  Can they just pay for that?

A.         Yes!  The fee for banquet only attendance is $30.

Q.         There’s always so much at this conference for newspaper and yearbook.  Is there anything good for magazine and creative writing, too?

A.         Yes!  We have made a concerted effort to make sure that magazine/creative writing staffs are well taken care of.  Don’t miss the sessions on spoken word, fiction writing, stanzas, setting, point-of-view, tone, voice, similies/metaphors, character, personification, dialogue and so much more!  And of course, there’s the poetry slam right after the awards banquet!

Q.         What awards are presented at the awards ceremony?

A.         At the awards ceremony, the results of the Writing/Photo/Design Contest will be announced in addition to the Savage Award for Sustained Excellence and evaluation results that lead toward a state championship.  VAJTA will also present its adviser awards and Write-Off and Best of Show awards. 

Q.          Who is permitted to perform in the poetry slam and karaoke following the banquet?

A.          We would hope that students participating in the poetry writing workshops on Saturday would present their material at the slam (or open mic), but anyone is permitted to share their original work.  Please keep them at three minutes or less in length.  Sign up with John “Survivor” Blake, our emcee at the banquet.  Advisers and students alike are permitted to take part in the karaoke fun.  Sign up at the banquet with Amanda, our karaoke d.j., and she’ll get you on the list!

Q.          What time should we arrive?

A.          Give yourself plenty of time to navigate the city, register and familiarize yourself with V.C.U. before the keynote begins on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Q.          What is the parking situation?

A.          We are working on obtaining permit parking for busses at VCU, the Greater Richmond Convention Center and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  There are parking garages adjacent to the Temple building at VCU, and this is typically where cars park free of charge on the weekends.  There is also free parking at the Comfort Inn.    

Q.           I’ve already attended a mandatory media meeting (rules clinic) in 2005.  When do I need to attend again?

A.           Once you’ve fulfilled your meeting requirement, you are not obligated to attend again unless you have a break in your employment or transfer to another school.  If you do need to fulfill this requirement, you may do so without attending the workshop.

VAJTA Write-Offs & Best of Show

Contests will be offered in conjunction with the VHSL Championship Journalism Workshop held in Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 18. Categories cover all facets of journalism, from news writing, to photography, to poetry, to broadcasting! In addition, this year's contest will feature an overall sweepstakes award to the school that accumulates the most points.  Write-offs are a NON-intimidating way for kids to build confidence in their journalism skills, while being compared to the rest of the state.  In addition, awards will be presented during the banquet on that day, giving kids a chance to accept their medals and certificates in person this year!  Nine of the contests will be completed on-site, while nine are completed ahead of the contest and delivered on contest day. Each student may compete in up to three contests, even if they aren't attending the Workshop.  For the rules and registration, click here: www.oaktonmedia.net/writeoff.html For information on the Best of Show contest, click  here: www.oaktonmedia.net/writeoff.html.

For more information on the CJW, please contact Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) or Sharon Condoulis (scondoulis@vhsl.org).

See you in Richmond at the state championship!

   


For More Information

Contact the VHSL office via telephone:  434-977-8475 or mail:  1642 State Farm Blvd., Charlottesville, VA   22911.

      
   

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