Mesa High School Home of the Jackrabbits

 

DRAMA I—STAGE RIGHT

Course Description:

This is a performance-based class.   Being a member of the theatre arts program at Mesa High is a unique and wonderful opportunity.  Students will be working alone, in pairs, and in small groups in preparation for classroom performances. Students are also provided the opportunity to compete in tournaments if they so choose. Each student is expected to attend class daily and must be present on the day of performances.  Each student is important and depended upon by peers. Excess absences will affect final grade. Unexcused absences and loss of rehearsal points due to SWEEP may not be made up.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the policies of the theatre arts program, please contact Mrs. Stones as soon as possible. 

 

Class Objectives:

1.      Students will develop confidence in themselves and their ability to present material in front of an audience.

2.      Students will understand that theatre is a complex collaborative art form that requires actors and technical staff to function in harmony with all theatrical elements of design and production.

3.      Students will broaden their abilities and understanding including, but not limited to the following areas:

·         Vocal health and technique

·         Proper breathing

·         Dramatic literature

·         Auditioning skills

·         Characterization

·         Scene Work

·         Improvisation

·         Appropriate audience behavior

·         Stage Presence

·         Leadership

·         Teamwork

·        Responsibility/Accountability

 

Required Performances:

Please put the following dates on your calendar:

            Center Stage Drama Performances

·         Improv Smackdown—

o   Dress Rehearsal Monday Sept. 26      3pm-9pm

o   Performance  Tuesday Sept. 27          3pm-9pm

§  Actual Performance at 7pm

·         Performance Final

o   Dress Rehearsal:   Monday           Nov. 28            3pm-9pm

o   Performance:         Tuesday          Nov. 29            3pm-9pm

§  Actual Performance is Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 7:00-9:00pm

§  Students must remain after performance to clean up

 

***Students are also encouraged to compete at 2 tournaments a semester:

1^st Semester--

·        *Saturday, Oct. 1      6:30am-10:00pm        Glendale Community College

·        *Saturday Oct. 15       6:30am-10:00pm      Desert Vista Classic

·         Saturday, Dec. 3      6:30am-10:00pm        Winter Trophy

Optional:

·          Sat., Nov. 5               6:30am-10:00pm       Toro Mt. View Classic

2^nd Semester—

  Sat., Jan 7 6:30am-10:00pm Red Mountain HS

·         *Sat., Jan. 28           6:30am-10:00pm        Valley Christian Invitational

·          Sat., Feb. 4            6:30am-10:00pm       Central HS Bobcat Bonanza

·          *Sat., Feb. 18          6:30am-10:00pm        Copper Canyon HS

·           Sat., March 17        6:30am-10:00pm        AIA 5A State Tournament

 

Expectations:

Put downs, disruptions, distractions, inappropriate and/or rude behavior are not acceptable in class.  Students are expected to use discretion, judgment, and respectful and/or appropriate language when expressing themselves.  Failure to comply with district guidelines, school policy and/or class expectations, rules, procedures may result in disciplinary action.  Students who join and compete on the Forensics team must remain eligible (No D’s or F’s) at all time.  Students on probation have four weeks to improve and meet standards. 

 

Students will:

• Choose to enter the classroom with a positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Choose to work hard and use time wisely
• Choose to be to class on time and be in your seat before the last bell rings.  Late students will go to SWEEP; no exceptions.
• Wear clothing that is school appropriate and modest (no low-cut tops, pants worn above hips) for movement—if a skirt or dress is worn, please bring shorts to put on under clothing.
• Please leave all colored drinks, gum, and food out of the drama room.  Only bottled water will be allowed during class time.
• Leave only with permission from the instructor.
• Choose to be courteous and respectful to all others in the classroom and during performances.

 

 

 

 

Consequences:

Behavior problems will be handled individually according to the district guidelines in   the 2006-2007 District Information and Guidelines for Student Behavior.  You should have received one in your homeroom at the beginning of the school year or when you enrolled in Mesa High School. 

Any of the following discipline measures may be employed in my classroom:

1. Verbal or non-verbal warning and loss of daily points
2. Student/Teacher conference
3. Phone call home or parent-teacher meeting
4. Administrative referral—In-school discipline/suspension/or expulsion

Note: If a single infraction is a serious violation, a student can expect to be immediately referred to step #4. 

 

Required Materials for Class:

1.      Pencil

2.      Notebook

3.      Notebook paper

 

Classroom Requirements:

·         Students are required to attend their final dress rehearsal and final performance.  This is a large portion of their grade and they will have been working most of the semester toward this performance.

·         Students are also required to attend a Mesa High mainstage production or other classroom performance.

·        Students are required to compete in two tournaments a semester.

 

Grading Policy:

In order to succeed in theatre arts, the student is required to attend all rehearsals, performances and student-selected tournaments listed in this packet. The students will be assessed on the following::

1. Daily Participation—must be actively engaged in classroom activities 
2. Oral, written and hands-on exams-
3. Students must arrive ON TIME to class and all assigned rehearsals and performances
4. Students must follow all safety procedures
5. Students must attend all rehearsals, performances and student- selected tournaments.

            A         =          90-100%

            B         =          80-89%

            C         =          70-79%

            D         =          60-69%

            F          =          00-59%

 

 Make-up Work:

All make-up work must be completed within five school days of an absence.  Make-up work will be assigned at the discretion of Mrs. Stones and may include:

• Make-up quiz or test
• Make-up written report or assigned research paper
• Reading a play and writing a report
• Writing a performance critique of a play other than the ones required

 

 

 

 

Money Matters:

 

Fund-raising for theatre arts expenses is considered a part of the responsibilities of being a member of the theatre arts program.  We do not receive any funds from the district and are responsible to cover the costs of all programs, paper, advertising, costumes, travel, awards, building materials and supplies, scripts, clinicians, festival participation, social activities, etc.  The drama account receives money in three ways:

• members earn funds (through fund-raising)
• members deposit for themselves
• donations from outside sources

All money collected goes through student funds or ECA.

 

DRAMA BOOSTERS:

The Mesa High Drama has been fortunate to have an active parent’s organization.  The Mesa High Drama Boosters Association is made up of parents who support the drama program here at Mesa High. All parents of drama students are members of the booster organization.  Parents will help with decorating lobbies, collecting money and taking tickets at performances, help with events, support drama students, and help at special fund raising activities.  There will be more information provided at the Drama Orientation on Thurs., Aug. 18 at 7:00pm. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS TO ATTEND.

 

Calendar of Theater Arts Activities for 2011-2012:

A calendar of important events including competitions, auditions, plays, one-acts, open-mic nights, etc. will be sent home next week. Please review together. 

 

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

Entering Classroom and Beginning Class:

1.      Students must be seated and ready to work when the bell rings.

2.      All personal electronic equipment should be turned off and put away. PLEASE NOTE: If a parent or guardian must contact a student during class, he/she must go through the office and not make a personal call on students’ cell phone during class time.  This is school policy.  All cell phones are to be turned off during class.

 

Tardy Policy:

1.      Students arriving in class after the tardy bell has rung are required to go to sweep.

2.      Sweep students must meet with instructor the next day prior to the beginning of class to get daily assignments or make-up a test.  Please understand that if you do not take this responsibility, you lose credit for work assigned on that day. 

 

Class work/Test Make-up

1.      Students with excused absences may be allowed as many days as they were absent to make-up assignments.

2.      Make-up tests must be completed within 5 days of absence. 

3.      5 rehearsal points are earned each day during the rehearsal period.  When one person is missing it is detrimental to the entire group; therefore, rehearsal points may not be made-up. Rehearsal points are a reward for being present and working hard the entire rehearsal time.  Loss of points occurs when a student is not engaged in their work.

 

Food and Drink in the Classroom:

1. Departmental policy dictates that students are not allowed to bring food or beverages into the classroom.  Bottled water is allowed.
2. Students may use the drinking fountain in hall or have bottled water if it is opened in front of the instructor and kept capped when not in use.
3. Please no gum…you are performing, thank you!

 

Leaving the Classroom:

1. Students must remain in class the first 10 minutes of the hour except in an emergency.  This is a school policy.
2. Please be polite and do not interrupt direct instruction to request a hall pass.
3. Student must have a hall pass and ID at all times when leaving class!
4. Student must sign-out (legible, full name, date, time of departure, and destination).
5. The teacher, not the bell, excuses the students.

 

CELLULAR PHONES, I-PODS, ETC:

1. Cell phones and electronic equipment must be turned off and put away during class!
2. Devices heard or seen during class will be confiscated until the end of the day.
3. If the devise is seen or heard a second time, a parent must meet with me to retrieve the device. 
4. PLEASE NOTE: Please be courteous and do not interrupt valuable classroom instruction.  If a parent or guardian must contact a student during class, he/she must go through the office and must not make a personal call on students’ cell phone during class time.  This is a school policy.  All cell phones are to be turned off during class.

           

CONTRACT:

Please take a moment to sign the contract on the inside cover of the syllabus and return it to me no later than Thursday, August 16th. By signing the form, your son/daughter agrees to abide by all class guidelines mentioned in this Guidebook, and you as a parent support them in their success.  Returning the contract is the first assignment of the year and is worth 20 points.  

 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER: 

Trust is a key word in this classroom.  Please keep in mind that trust is a delicate and valuable thing.  Each person in this classroom is valued and important and will be treated as such.