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UIL Staff Participates in 2 Community Service Projects
By Kim Carmichael, Chief of Staff | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:09 AM
UIL staffers Chris Schmidt, Jessica Lane, Phyllis Broz, Susan Doherty and Stephanie Ramirez volunteer at the Coats for Kids drive.
Photo by Kim Carmichael
Through area-wide community service programs, the UIL staff has joined in initiatives to better the lives of underprivileged youth in Central Texas.
In August, the UIL connected with an Austin non-profit organization for their 2011 Back-to-School initiative. “Back-to-School” is an important community program that provides children living in poverty with one backpack, a set of school supplies, books and two new sets of clothing. The program helps children feel confident and creates positive experiences at the beginning of school to promote academic success.
A Few Issues Popping Up in Music
By Richard Floyd, Music Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:05 AM
What’s new with UIL? How are things in Austin? Anything happening in music?
These and countless similar inquiries confront me everywhere I go as I travel across the state and nation. People want to know what is going on, and from my perspective, they deserve to know what is going on. To be honest, sometimes there is very little going on. The ship is on a confirmed course, the sails are trimmed and it appears to be smooth sailing ahead. At other times the seas are rough, the winds are unpredictable and there are uncharted waters ahead. While there is little drama in our “UIL music world” at present, there are issues that have surfaced in recent months that require thoughtful deliberation and possible action.
So, since you asked, here’s what’s new in Austin. Not surprisingly, several of these items have to do with marching band.
Postseason Play Begins for Basketball
By Darryl Beasley, Assistant Athletic Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 10:56 AM
This is a very exciting time for many teams, players and coaches. All of the hard work culminates with the start of postseason competition. It brings new expectations of the players and coaches.
The girls’ district certification date will be Feb. 11, and the boys’ district certification date will be Feb. 18.
As the postseason competition gears up, we are always asked about district ties and warm-up games
Some districts may have two-way or three-way or more schools ties.
Selection of Debate Topic Steeped in Research, not Randomness
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 10:28 AM
Rebecca Meeks (in red) from Devine HS who was the Texas representative last year defends her paper before the National Wording Committee.
Photo by Jana Riggins
After a rigorous academic process extending more than one and a half years, the cross-examination debate topic for next season, 2012-2013, has been announced. The official topic is Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.
Most people in the debate community are unaware of how resolutions are selected. When the topic goes public, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Where did that topic come from?” I promise, it wasn’t random or haphazard. The process for picking a policy debate topic the entire nation will debate for a complete school year is actually quite sophisticated and steeped in research and analysis. (It’s debate – of course it would be!)
Because all states use the topic, the National Federation of High School Associations coordinates the process. NFHS hosts an annual meeting that allows the debate community to gather to discuss potential topics. It is open to debate coaches, students and the representative from each state association.
A Letter to Theatre Students
By Luis Muñoz, Theatre Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 10:23 AM
Many of you have requested that we reprint this letter to our students from the March 2007 issue of The Leaguer. I have updated a few things but the message remains the same.
Dear Student,
I hope that you are having a wonderful time preparing for this year’s contest play. I can assure you that your director worked hard to find the right play and to choose the best cast members. Sometimes those choices are very hard and as theatre students we don’t always understand how and why certain casting decisions and crew assignments are made. Trust your director and make sure that you deliver. They have the best intentions. Sitting around for six weeks feeling bad about the role you were assigned never helps your ensemble. Neither does boasting about the lead. Accept what you are given with humble appreciation and make the most of what you get. Give it your all in rehearsal and performance. The play’s the thing!
Tips for Preparing for Computer Science Contest
By David Trussell, Assistant Academic Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:48 AM
Spring Meet district competitions are only about six weeks away, so plans should be well underway for your meet. For the Computer Science contest, here are several important reminders and items for consideration:
• Like many of the academic events, Computer Science includes individual and team components. A school must have three or four contestants to participate in the team component. It’s perfectly okay to enter only one or two contestants; in that case the contestant(s) would compete for individual honors only and take only the written exam.
• Computer Science is one event with two parts, a written exam and a hands-on programming test. The same contestants from a school participate in both parts. There are NOT separate entries for the written exam versus programming.
Ode to the Drama Teacher
By Samantha Bennett, Guest Column | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:40 AM
(Permission was granted by the author for the reprint of this column. You can find her work at: http://www.TheOrganizedArtistCompany.com)
I am not exaggerating when I say that I owe my very life to the teachers, coaches and camp counselors (yes, I went to theatre camp – Camp Harand, anyone?) who taught me how to act and, in the process, taught me how to live.
This past October I was delighted to be asked to present two days worth of workshops for CETA (California Educational Theatre Association: http://www.cetoweb.org) at their annual retreat at Asilomar, CA. We had a blast. o honor them and the extraordinary work of teachers everywhere, I wrote this poem.
Ode To The Drama Teacher
And as you stand there: Aghast
Because we’re three days from Opening Night and
Scholastic Journalism Week: Celebration Time
By Jeanne Acton, UIL Journalism Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:28 AM
It’s time to party.
Or at least celebrate.
Feb. 19-25 is Scholastic Journalism Week.
Too often, advisers and students forget to celebrate and honor themselves. Deadlines rule the roost in journalism rooms — especially in February.
Computer Application Contest Changes with Evolving Technology
By Linda Tarrant, State Computer Applications Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:23 AM
Since the Computer Application Contest is based on Microsoft Office, we will continue to make incremental changes to keep abreast of the evolving technology. This year, the competitors will be using only Office 2007 or Office 2010. The format of these two versions of software is fairly consistent.
Access seems to have the most differences, including the following:
• Access 2010 has a new File ribbon that replaces the features found on the Office button of Access 2007.
• Access 2010 report wizard has no Style element, so tests primarily use the "None" style in Access 2007 to produce similar reports.
Rules Changes for 2012-13
By | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:55 AM
All amendments are effective for the 2012-13 school year, unless otherwise noted.
Constitution
• Section 1208 (z) – Alters the UIL Concussion Management Protocol regulations to be in compliance with state law.
• Section 301 (d) – Changes the notice requirements for proposed rules by requiring the notice to include a statement of potential fiscal impact of a proposed rule to member schools.