The THUNDER SPEECH THEATER AND DEBATE COMPANY (TSTDC) is an organization dedicated to advanced training and excellence in acting, debate, research and rhetoric, public speaking, interpersonal communication and teamwork skills needed for success in high school, college and the professional world. Participation in this company and in this activity is a privilege, not a right. As such, all members of TSTDC are to hold themselves to the highest degree of excellence upholding the following ethical standards (and those outlined in the handbook):

Academic Standards

Because education is the highest value of this activity, team members will uphold the highest excellence in the classroom.

This includes striving for academic excellence, effectively and respectfully communicating with teachers, and being a model student in behavioral standards. Team members will be required to complete monthly grade checks. Any grade lower than 70.0% in any class will require mandatory tutoring. Team members must maintain a quarterly G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Team members who fail to turn in a grade check or who are not academically eligible to compete will be suspended from competition and may be suspended from practice and/or tournament competition until the following grade check. Grade checks will be done the week before any tournaments. If you are ineligible you cannot raise your eligibility until the next tournament, Those who are consistently academically ineligible may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered. Students who violate academic honesty policies and/or are found to cheat or aid others in violating academic honesty policy at any time may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Attendance Standards

Students will adhere to and attend all mandatory meetings, tournament dinners and tournaments. Those who do not communicate conflicts in a timely manner and/or do not attend mandatory events may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from the tournament entry and can be suspended and/or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Accountability Standards

Students are to be accountable for their own actions. That means that our students will not blame judges. other members of our team or other teams, and will focus on what they need to do to get better. Students will hold themselves accountable by seeking to find where they can improve, listening no couches on what they need to do better, and by making that change.

Students will be positive at all times and will not become negative. Students who fail to be accountable may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from the tournament entry. Those who consistently fail to be accountable may he suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Behavioral Standards

Because students represent TSTDC in and out of school activities, students will be held to the highest behavioral standards.

Students will adhere to Tempe Union High School District rules and regulations, Desert Vista rules and regulations, and be model citizens for the Ahwatukee and Arizona community during the totality of their participation in TSTDC. Students are to do what is right in all situations. TSTDC members are not to be bystanders or allow other students to make poor decisions. We are a team and we will take care of our own. Sometimes that means telling someone that what they are doing is wrong and they need to stop. Hazing of any kind is not tolerated by STDC, Desert Vista High School, or TUHSD. Any student who violates Desert Vista and TUHSD policies, in or out of school grounds and school hours including drug and alcohol or encourages others to violate Desert Vista and TUHSD policies may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Communication Standards

Because the focus of this activity is communication, team members are to demonstrate the highest degree of excellence in communication. Team members understand that all informative and administrative information is communicated via the

"Remind" app, e-mail, and by our website, it is the team member's responsibility to be informed on important activities and deadlines. Furthermore, team members will initiate timely communication with the coaching staff whenever there are any conflicts or concerns. Team members are to always copy TSTDCcoaches@gmail.com on communication. Team members should not say anything negative about another team, judge, or any person/part of TSTDC. This includes on social media or any public forum. Students who fail to communicate effectively may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from the tournament entry. Those who consistently fail to communicate effectively may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Competition Standards

Because education is the highest value of this activity, team members will adhere to all ALA and NSDA rules and regulations and will adhere to the code of conduct and ethics of those institutions. Furthermore, team members will respect all competitors, coaches, judges, tournament officials, observers and guests of all teams before, during, and after tournaments, including internet discussion forums and other social media. Finally, because it is the responsibility of the competitor to work to appeal to all audiences, team members are never to blame a judge, the competition or anything other than themselves for any tournament results. Students who fail to compete effectively may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from the tournament entry. Those who consistently fail to adhere to these competition standards may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Financial Standards

Students and families should adhere to payment deadlines.

Practice Standards

Winning practice and getting an inch better every day is core to what TSTDC is all about. When in a practice setting, students should be working diligently to be their best. Students must be positive at practice, complete assignments, as well as follow any instruction from a coach. Bullying, negativity etc. will not be tolerated. TSTDC members are to not to be bystanders or allow other students to make poor decisions at practice. Students who fail to practice effectively may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from tournament entry. Those who consistently fail to practice effectively may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Team Standards

Because this is a team activity, members will adhere to all TSTDC rules and regulations; attend meetings, practices, coaching sessions, team events, and tournaments on a regular basis. Team members will also respect administrative deadlines by turning in all paperwork, fees, grade checks, and tournament requests by (if not before) the announced deadlines. Team members will show mutual respect for all genres, activities, members, parents, and coaches of the team.

Students who fail to meet a team standard may be asked to leave practice and/or dropped from tournament entry. Those who are not working to the team standards may be suspended or expelled from the team with NO refund offered.

Team Requirements

There are 3 things that are mandatory in order to compete on this team:

1.    Tuesday Meetings

2.    State Week

3.    State

   
   

While there will be some exceptions made (with proper communication) you cannot be a member of TSTDC unless you are available for Tuesday meetings, State Practice, and State This applies to ALL members, even the new ones who, although may not be competing, will be attending.

7th Hour Requirements

Signing the below contract serves as the "Syllabus" acknowledgement for 7th hour students.

Students in 7th hour, recognize their grade is based on the following:

• Signing this handbook (aka syllabus acknowledgement)

• Choosing an event for the duration of two weeks.

• Creating an NSDA account and Tabroom account.

• Students provide 1 artifact at the end of each week proving their allocated time to their event. - Competing once in the first semester.*

• Competing once in the second semester.*

• Attending 2 Tuesday meetings each month (students are allowed to choose what Tuesday meetings they attend of the 4 meetings held a month).

  
  

*Competition serves as a summative grade for each semester. There is no replacement grade if a student does not attend the tournament as a competitor.

Should students choose to compete more than once a semester, they must pay the full team fee-> this gives them access to however many tournaments they choose to enter.

Students in 7th hour may not choose “state" as their second semester tournament.

*The Agreement*

We have read and agreed to the terms, policies, and procedures in the TSTDC 2022-2023 Team Handbook. We further acknowledge that violation of any of the aforementioned rules may result in the suspension or expulsion from all TSTDC activities with NO refund offered. All decisions regarding suspension or expulsion are at the sole discretion of the coaching staff.