Policies For Participation - Reminder

Policies For Participation

WRHS – Performing Arts

Parents – please read the following and go over the policies with your children:

Homeschooling is awesome!  I love having the freedom to instill my values in my children, and decide how, what and when to teach them.  I love being able to work around their individual dispositions and provide a learning environment suited to them.  And, I love that my children can be part of the homeschool play with so many other great kids.

However, even though we are a group of homeschoolers and we do our best to provide a pleasant and enjoyable experience for each child, we need you to understand that rehearsals and performances do not take place in your home.  For the last few years, there have been over 50 children of various ages in each play.  A structured environment is necessary to maintain order.  We need you to understand this and help us enforce rules for rehearsals and performances.

Each student in the play is expected to know his/her lines for the scenes they’ll be in at each rehearsal.  Parents, please go over the schedule each week so your child knows which scenes he/she will be in.  When possible, help them learn their lines. 

Each student is expected to be quiet and respectful during their down time at rehearsal.  They may play games or read quietly, but running around either inside or outside, or being otherwise disruptive, is not allowed.

Each student is expected to dress appropriately for rehearsals.  This includes, but is not limited to: no hats or caps for either boys or girls, modest attire (no cleavage or underwear showing) and no shirts advertising substances which are illegal for minors to purchase.  The directors reserve the right to determine when an item of apparel is inappropriate or offensive.

Instead of monthly treats and the point system, we are going to use a different incentive program this year.  After the first performance, each student will receive a ticket they can redeem for either one box of candy, one flower or one balloon – unless that student is on probation.

Probation means that a student has accumulated at least 5 demerits.  Some of the ways demerits will be handed out include:

            Tardiness – 1 each occurrence (more if extreme)

            Unprepared for Rehearsal – 1 each occurrence

            Disruptive Behavior in Rehearsal – 1 each occurrence (more if extreme)

            Disrespectful Behavior to Fellow Student – 1 each occurrence (more if extreme)

            Disrespectful Behavior to Adult – 2 each occurrence (more if extreme)

            Disruptive Behavior During a Performance – 2 each occurrence (more if extreme)

Directors reserve the right to award demerits for behavior not listed.

Directors may also determine that a student is on probation based on their behavior during last year’s performance.  (If that is the case, parents will be informed before the first rehearsal)

A student who is on probation with 5-9 demerits, will receive a treat ticket after the final performance.

A student with 10 or more demerits will not receive a ticket.

Directors reserve the right to require parents to sit backstage with their child during a performance if the child is too unruly.

The use of cellphones or ipods (or similar devices) will not be allowed during rehearsals, even during down time.   First offense – the device will be confiscated and the student can pick it up after rehearsal.  Second offense – the device will be confiscated and a parent will need to pick it up after rehearsal.  Third or more offense – confiscation and directors will determine appropriate punishment.  (We understand that their may be circumstances when a student will need to make a call during rehearsal, or use an electronic device as a camera.  Please speak with a director first.)

Guests are allowed at rehearsals.  However, guests are not permitted to wander around the church or the theater during rehearsals.  It is too disruptive to the performers, and it is not respectful to the people who are generously allowing us to use their facilities.

Furthermore, no guests are allowed backstage during a performance. 

In extreme cases, the directors may pull a student out of the play if their behavior and/or attitude is too disruptive.   We don’t anticipate that this will happen, but we want to be clear from the start that no individual’s performance is more important than the show as a whole.

We’re really not anticipating that many behavioral problems.  We just want to be prepared and try to be as clear as possible about the rules from the start.  This is a great bunch of kids, and we’re anticipating a super year!