Athletics Parent & Athlete Meeting

1. AthleticsParent &AthleteMeeting

2. Spartan Athletic Mission • The Sossaman Middle School Athletic Program is committed to uphold a positive culture in which coaches, parents, fans, officials, and athletes work together to create a learning environment that emphasizes discipline, service, hard work and team work.

3. Why do we do this… • Develop skills and physical abilities • Increase resilience to overcome challenges • Build relationships with teammates • Learn from positive adult role models • To become champions in the game and in life

4. Governing Policies • Expectations of play outlined in EVC constitution. • Rules not specifically stated in the EVC constitution are covered by aiagame play rules. • Students/parents are required to complete registration process through RMA. • Parents and students should be aware of the risks of being involved in sports as well as other information provided by husd.

5. Overview of Sossaman Athletics • We are members of theEast Valley Conference (EVC). • For schedule, standings, and maps to away games: www.eastvalleyconference.org • The conference includes a total of 11 schools from Queen Creek, Higley, and Chandler.

6. Their motto is “Better Athletes, Better People” We are partners with the Positive Coaching Alliance www.positivecoach.org

7. Double Goal Coaches • Primary Initiative of the Positive Coaching Alliance: • Our coaches have the goal of winning but even more important- the goal of teaching life lessons through sports

8. 7th – Peter Klimas Peter.Klimas@husd.org Baseball • 8th – Theron Martineau • Theron.Martineau@husd.org

9. Football coaches • Brent Brandenburg Brent.Brandenburg@husd.org • John Madura Johnathan.Madura@husd.org • Brian Winstead bwinstead09@gmail.com

10. 7th – Alex MathieuAlexandria.Mathieu@husd.org 8th – Wendy Schmidt Wendalynn.Schmidt @husd.org Volleyball

11. CHEER • Gianna Bartolomei Gianna.Bartolomei@husd.org

12. Boys basketball • 7th grade – Jesse Brown Jesse.Brown@husd.org • 8th grade – Brent Brandenburg Brent.Brandenburg@husd.org

13. SOFTBALL • 7th grade – theron Martineau Theron.Martineau@husd.org • 8th grade – Alexandra hoyt Alexandra.hoyt@husd.org

14. Cross Country • Lisa burke lisa.burke@husd.org • Troy Emenecker Troy.Emenecker@husd.org

15. Girls basketball • 7th – brucepotts bruce.potts@husd.org • 8th – lena Dibartolomeo lena.Dibartolomeo@husd.org

16. BOYS SOCCER • 7th – Brent Brandenburg Brent.Brandenburg@husd.org • 8th – Jonah Skoog jonahskoog@gmail.com

17. Wrestling • Jeff tidd jeff.tidd@husd.org

18. Track & field • Brent Brandenburg brent.Brandenburg@husd.org • Jesse brown jesse.brown@husd.org • Kristen nash Kristen.nash@husd.org

19. Boys Volleyball • 7th – wendy Schmidt Wendalynn.Schmidt@husd.org • 8th – Melissa ross Melissa.ross@husd.org

20. Girls soccer • 7th – alexhoyt Alexandra.hoyt@husd.org • 8th – corydunn cory.dunn@husd.org

21. What to Expect • Season schedule includes home and away games, playoff, and championship game. • All students who “suit up” will have game time. • Coaches are responsible for determining the duration of play. • Coach will give a contract with team expectations for the season.

22. Student safety • Coaches are first aid/CPR trained. • First Aid kits are at every game/practice. • Water is provided. • Heat guidelines are followed. • Accident reports are filed for serious injuries. • Emergency action plans are in place.

23. Responsibilities • There is a $100 non-refundable athletic fee per season, with a $350 family cap per year • Please take it upon yourself to track the amount you have paid in athletic fees for the current school year. • Uniforms are loaned from the school and must be returned in good condition at the end of the seasonor you will be charged to replace it • Stay a positive leader on campus.

24. Eligibility • The first grade check will be run at 4 ½ weeks. (Coaches may choose to conduct their own grade check prior to this date). • After that, grade checks will be run every Friday, to determine eligibility for the following week. • Any student who is ineligible will not travel with the school to away contests. • Any student who is failing a course will be ineligible until the following occurs: • Student misses at least one athletic competition • Grade is raised to a passing mark in all classes • Form must be submitted to Mr. Keeling indicating such. • Week to week proposition

25. Eligibility Continued… • Students with behavior concerns at school may not be eligible for participating in games as determined by the coach and athletic director. • Students who serve ISS during the school day may not be allowed to participate in any GAMES that day. • Students must be present at least 3 class periods to be eligible to participate on a game day. • Allowing your student to play without attending 3 class periods may result in a forfeit of the game regardless of outcome.

26. Transportation • Transportation for athletic competitions: • Busses depart from SMS before dismissal • Team must travel to athletic events together • Parents may pick up at the away location but must sign out the student • You can only transport YOUR student from away athletic competitions. • No transportation is provided to practices. • Off campus practices will have transport to the destination, but still will need to be picked up there.

27. How Can You Help? • Carpool for practices • Coordinate sale of concessions at home events • Support a positive team culture • Be a good example of sportsmanship • Cheer for our players without coaching • Stay positive about coaches and players • Honor the game and the officials • Address concerns with coaches first • Please wait 24 hours before discussing concerns with the coach. • Do not approach coaches at or immediately after an athletic competition

28. Help students succeed in sports and in life • BE A DUAL GOAL PARENT • Encourage your child to give maximum effort • Use sports as a learning experience • Help your child get past mistakes • Be an example- respect the rules, opponents, officials, teammates, and self • Encourage your student to self-advocate for their athletic and academic needs.

29. Athletic Recognition • Pep assemblies • Team Pictures • Coach and weekly school newsletter will announce dates • Please help student to remember their uniform • Morning announcements • Quarterly athletic banquet • Typically the last Tuesday prior to break • MVP • Most Improved • Spartan Strong • Scholar Athlete • Participation

30. Fundraising • Encourage friends and family to donate to Sossaman Middle School • Fancloth orders (spirit gear) • Community Donations • Banner Sponsorships • Tile Sponsorships • Tax Donations

31. SMS Athletic Boosters • The Spartans have a highly successful booster organization which promote school spirit and pride. • The PTSO can help raise money to support transportation costs, replace or upgrade equipment, provide awards/recognition, provide desserts for banquet and other needs that may arise for the athletics programs and SMS as a whole.

32. Fees $100 non-refundable athlete participation fees go towards: • Transportation • Officials • Equipment • Training Supplies • First/Aide and medical supplies • Coaches • Participation fees can be paid using tax credit donations • Tax credits can be $200 individually or $400 per family • Any tax donation monies paid will be reimbursed by the state at the end of the tax year.

33. Communication • Follow us on Twitter • @sossamansports • @SMS_Spartans • Information and Forms can be found on our website • http://www.husd.org/domain/2503 • Constant Contact • District Website  Bottom of the page  Click “E-mail Communication” • Receive immediate updates when information is added/changed on the SMS website.

34. Athletic Director • Brandon Keeling – Athletic Director/Assistant Principal • Brandon.Keeling@husd.org • 480-279-8513 • Angie Marqueling – Administrative Assistant • Angie.Marqueling@husd.org • 480-279-8513