Recent emails 08-09

11/23

Ok - THIS EMAIL CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFO

1.  We are going to have practices on both Monday and Wednesday this week. I usually try to avoid the Wed before TG break, but we have a short week before the North Hills tournament - and PFers, this is a new topic so do not miss this.

2. The roster has been updated.  We have gone from 99 kids on the team to 68.  While I am happier with this number, I do not like having to remove students for attendance issues.  If you cannot come to a tournament, you must let me know.  I've been very lenient - as usual - with beginning of the year tournaments - but starting at the North Hills tournament, the $50 fee for missing with be imposed to cover judging expenses. A week. I need a weeks notice.

3.  Even though I just wrote something that would cover this, I want to emphasize this - I have to register for North Hills on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to guarantee our slots.  Look at the judging list. Do you have a parent judging?  Look at the registration list. Do you have something else planned? I must know by Saturday at noon.

4.  On Tuesday - we do not have a practice scheduled, but we are going to have a meeting. If you want to be considered for the Harvard tournament in February, you need to come to this meeting. 3 pm in my room. We will be done at 3:30. I'll have a handout for you to take home to your parents. Please note that this is THE most expensive regular-season national tournamet of the year (CFLs is the priciest tournament that students coverr - and NFLs costs in excess of 1000 a person but the team covers it).  It may cost 500 per person. Fundraising will be available. 

5. Speaking of fundraising, dues are due on 12/10, and this is the same day as the pizza / cookie dough orders are due.  By noon for the orders so I have time to get them all together by my 3 pm deadline. Remember that if you are selling the dough, assume that you profit $5 per pizza kit / cookie dough kit.  If we end up selling more, and the profit goes up to 5.50 a kit, I will make sure that you get money back.  So, if you sell 20 pizzas, they are about 18 a pop, you'll give me the check(s) for all the pizza orders (about 360), and you have $100 credit to your dues, so you'll also give me a check for the remaining 100 in dues. REMEMBER THAT ANY CHECK THAT YOU GIVE TO ME MUST BE MADE OUT TO NASH. 

6.  Finally - Every year, a few of the seniors will make me laugh when they say, "I just don't know about how good this team will be when we leave." Then at the end of every year, someone will say, "We have some really good younger kids. I'm not so worried any more."  There has never been a year that this hasn't happened.  The first line was said to me months ago.  Usually I don't hear the second line till May, but I actually had a senior say it to me yesterday. We are so good. Our underclassmen are so good.  Now that they have the skills, I need them to stop wearing tennis shoes (which is grounds for corporal punishment under state law. I'm sure that I read that somewhere) and wearing t-shirts that have writing that can be seen through their dress shirts and acting like goofballs in the cafeteria where judges can see them and ticking off the parent volunteers at the tournaments because we make messes - all would be good. I'll have all of the awards that we got yesterday posted sometime soon.

7. So many parents need to turn in the parent meeting information. If you didn't attend the parent meeting, I sent information to you that you really need to sign and return!!!! 

8. I need medical forms from the following - immediately:

Sujaya Balachandran

Stacey Chen

Alan Dai

Jeff Daye

Marina Fang

Kevin Fu

Thomas Helgerman

Jen Lee

Aidan MacDonagh

Timmy Makkar

Cole Minahan

Lili Peng

Eliana Rabinowitz

Brandt Scheidemantel

Jessica Schwab

Morgan Shaber-Twedt

Willie Suhrie

Divya Tumuluru

Al Wang

Liyang Yu

Kevin Zhang

11/8

Congratulations - and a reminder -
 
For those parents whose kids don't speak all that much at home (I can't imagine it's many of your children. Phew. They can talk) -
 
But congratulations are in order.  We rocked today.
 
I haven't received all the results yet - but I think that I have most of them -
 
We took the top FOUR places in Public Forum debate. 
David Masters and Bryan Hogg
Anis Adnani and Kevin Zhang
Richard Bochicchio and Lili Peng
Doug Kulchar and Nate Keen
 
Usually the freshmen in debate struggle through every Saturday and I am ecstatic that we keep a few who don't get discouraged and quit because they aren't winning.  All of our freshmen are doing so well.
 
In extemp - Andrew Bergman and Connie Yuan took first and second.  We even had our first time novice extemper Abby Stevenson got an award.
 
In duo - Annie and Bonnie (the Yan sisters) - got 2nd in duo interp with 1-1-1-2.
 
In congress - new sophomore Akshaya Arjunan took top honors in congress. 
 
There may be more.  These will all be posted on the awards section of the web site.
 
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The varsity members already do this - but new people - please keep an eye on your points for the National Forensic League.
 
Go to www.nflonline.org. 
 
Under resources, you'll see Membership Reports. Click this.
 
Enter your first name and your last name and do a search for yourself.
 
Here's the deal. Some coaches wait till the end of the year to enter points. Some wait and do the job once a month. I like to enter points Saturday night or Sunday morning because I am scary-competitive with NFL degrees and members.  I currently want all freshmen to strive to get 250 points this year. 
 
Remember that if you don't see me at a tournament, I probably won't get the ballots till Monday or Tuesday. The moment that i get them, I'll put them on the site. Keep an eye on your points to make sure that I haven't messed anything up.
 
-----------------------
 
Finally - There is a festival on Wednesday at North Catholic (Excused from NAI at 1:40. Bus leaves at 1:45. Nash excused at 1:55, bus leaves at 2. Back around 6:30)  I have seen kids get 50 points at these things.  There are schools bringing debaters just because I asked them to do so because I want our younger kids get as many points as possible in case we get really hit by event limits in January and February.  Please - come.  When you aren't debating, you can try impromptu (or for lots of points, extemp). I don't care what event you do. Come and get points.  There is also going to be a mini-congress (Usually at an after school event, people will only get about 12 points in congress). It's up to you!
 
ALSO NOTE - WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FESTIVAL - DEBATE AND CONGRESS ONLY - AFTER SCHOOL ON TUESDAY THE 18TH. 
 
You need to email Jess immediately if you want to go on Wednesday and let her know what events you are going to do. Older kids - PLEASE JUDGE.  Email Bryan if you want to participate in the 11/18 festival at our school. Older kids - please judge at this!
 
Bryan Hogg <thenextsteinbeck@yahoo

 

11/6

Congratulations to all of you who contributed to the Bickel and Brewer essay - all returning members were required to submit essays to remain on the team.
 
Read below to see the rules and who we are going to debate.  ALL VARSITY MEMBERS OF THE TEAM ARE GOING TO MEET AT 2:30 ON MONDAY IN MY ROOM TO WORK ON THE FIRST ROUND DEBATE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SUBMIT ON TUESDAY MORNING.  Stacey and Doug are going to take the lead on this.  They will show you what we currently have, and after you all read it, you will fight over what we need to update. What we need to change. Whatever.
 
PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW THIS YEAR - You are going to meet in room 369 on Monday to work on congress research and on speeches. Remember - even if you are not going to the congress next week, you still need to submit research. 
 
Again - congratulations!
 
-----------------------------------------------------------
 
NPPF Participants:
Thanks so much to all of you for submitting essays to the 2008-09 Bickel & Brewer/NYU National Public Policy Forum (NPPF). 182 schools participated, representing 38 states and 17 countries. The competition was very close, and the scores were our highest ever. The judges were impressed with the quality and creativity of your submissions. Congratulations to all of you!
 
1. REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL AT ONCE. In the reply message, please confirm that you agree to compete in the NPPF's Round of 32. BE SURE to indicate the name of your school and list at least one phone number where someone on the team (preferably your coach) may be reached. YOUR SELECTION FOR THE ROUND OF 32 IS NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL YOU REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL.
2. REMEMBER THAT ALL PAPERS IN THE ROUND OF 32 MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL. Be sure that your submissions are on time (more about the schedule below) and sent to sem@bickelbrewer.com as ATTACHED Microsoft Word or Adobe documents. Since your opponent in this round must receive your submission in a timely manner, it is critical that everyone pay careful attention to the submission process. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone or e-mail.
3. The top 32 schools have been seeded and matched for competition accordingly. Seedings will not be disclosed during the competition.
4. Sides for the Round of 32 were decided by lot. In the quarter finals, teams will be asked to reverse sides whenever possible.
5. The pairings for the Round of 32 are listed below. They are not in seeding order and are subject to the agreement of all schools to participate in this round. If any school chooses not to participate, a reserve school will be notified, and a new pairing will be sent to you via e-mail. (Remember that all schools will remain anonymous before the
judges.)
Winters Mill High School (Affirmative) vs. Durham Academy (Negative)
Trinity High School (Affirmative) vs. Bellaire High School (Negative)
The Bronx High School of Science (Affirmative) vs. Mountain View High School (Negative)
Del Valle High School (Affirmative) vs. Oakhaven High School
(Negative)
Glenbrook North High School (Affirmative) vs. Coppell High School
(Negative)
Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy (Affirmative) vs. Henry Clay High School (Negative)
Colleyville Heritage High School (Affirmative) vs. University High School (Negative)
North Allegheny High School (Affirmative) vs. Fremont High School
(Negative)
Weston High School (Affirmative) vs. Anglo-Chinese School (Negative)
Plano Senior High School (Affirmative) vs. Dowling Catholic (Negative)
La Salle College High School (Affirmative) vs. Vestavia Hills High School (Negative)
Temasek Junior College (Affirmative) vs. Harlandale High School
(Negative)
The Harker School (Affirmative) vs. Cheongshim International Academy
(Negative)
Ozark High School (Affirmative) vs. Suncoast High School (Negative)
Lakewood High School (Affirmative) vs. Clear Brook High School
(Negative)
Plano East Senior High School (Affirmative) vs. Deer Park High School
(Negative)
6. Schedule for the Round of 32 ( ALL ESSAYS ARE DUE BY 12 PM CST):
Nov. 11
Affirmative Constructive Paper Due - Round of 32
Nov. 25
Negative Constructive Paper Due - Round of 32
Dec. 3
Affirmative Rebuttal Paper Due - Round of 32
Dec. 10
Negative Rebuttal Paper Due - Round of 32
Dec. 11-Dec. 17
Judges’ Reading Period
Dec. 17
Elite Eight Pairings Announced
7. Teams may use all or any part of their Qualifying Round papers in this round. For example, if a team is assigned to the Affirmative in the Round of 32, and its Qualifying Round paper took the Affirmative side, that team may (1) submit that same paper as its First Affirmative,
(2) write a new paper, or (3) modify its original paper to build upon the original arguments.
8. Remember to review the NPPF Guidelines at www.bickelbrewer.com/debate. These have also changed slightly from last year, so pay close attention to the Elimination Round Section.
Again, congratulations on behalf of Bickel & Brewer and New York University. Please reply to this e-mail immediately, and good luck in the first elimination round of the competition.
 

 

11/4

1. If you are not coming this weekend to Quigley, you need to email me by noon tomorrow (Wednesday) - If you have already emailed me, please don't do so again!
 
2. If you want to go to North Catholic's after school tournament on 11/12 (times will be sent later), you need to email Jess by Sunday at noon.
 
3. If you are not going to go to the congress next weekend, you need to email me by Friday.  The research assignments will be posted soon.
 
4. Parents - the judging schedule will be posted soon. If any of you would like to go to Quigley this weekend to get the job done, email me asap, please!
 
5. I have posted the team roster. Some of you aren't linked to events yet.  check this on the stie then email me!  If you want to claim a partner in pf (look at the site before you start randomly sending me messages) - do so soon.  If I don't hear from people shortly, I will match people up.
 
6. Practices this week are going to be incredibly organized.  I will see you there.

 

10/23

Because the roster still isn't set yet - if you want to go to McDowell on 11/1 - and it is a long day but it's a good beginning to the year because not many schools are attending - you need to email Jess Schwab. jschwab22591@msn.com
 
Also -
 
Vote for our band asap - www.naband.org/vote - They are up for top quad A band.

 

10/ 19
First of all -
For those of you who were at the meeting on Saturday - Good Job. I thought that it went well.
 
For those of you who weren't there (and for those who were there but didn't get the job done) - MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO TO THE WEB SITE TO SEE WHAT YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS!!! IT IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY.  THIS IS FOR EVERY KID ON THE TEAM, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO OFFICIALLY START TILL FALL SPORTS ARE FINISHED!!!
 
Next - Go to student registrations (also on the site) - you will see that the entire team is registered for the congress this Saturday.  Check to make sure that your name was removed if you emailed me already to tell me that you are not going to attend on 10/25. Remember that you must pay the judging fee if you just blow off this tournament - so LOOK AT THE SITE. EMAIL ME IMMEDIATELY.
 
A few other things - make sure that you use this email account - NOT my NorthAllegheny.org account for forensics stuff.  That one gets too full, and this yahoo acct is for forensics.
 
Please do not email me "reminder" emails if you have not looked at the web site first (I get bogged down with emails like, "I told you already but I didn't look at the site yet to see if you removed me - I can't go on Saturday." Look first.)
 
Remember - special practice on Tuesday.
Remember - no practice on Wednesday because practice debate at Bethel.
Remember - if you want to go to the congress at Bethel on Wednesday, email Bryan Hogg by Monday at 8 pm
Remember - if you don't have your papers turned in soon, you will be removed from the roster. 
 
Some of you have just been added to the roster.  Welcome.  You may not have an assignment.  We'll get you next time.

 

 
10/15
Change in time for meeting this Saturday -
  - Yahoo has a wonderful system that only allows me to send a certain number of emails per hour and per day. Apparently, I was busy today. I apologize to those getting this on Thursday.
 
I'm proctoring the PSATs and originally, they told me that we wouldn't be done till about 1 (Oh, dear, I was dreading this) - but now they are telling me that it will be done at 11. 
 
I want to change the time of the meeting so that I can get you out earlier.
 
From 11:30 till 12:45 - research for congress.
12:45 till 2:00 - congress practice and pizza
2 till 3:30 - debates and recorded rehearsals. 
 
Congress added to schedule
 
WEDNESDAY Oct 22nd - You need to email Bryan Hogg BY SUNDAY if you want to come to this congress.  If you are a junior or senior with 250 or more points, I may ask you to judge. 
 
Easy 24 points - and we need new members to start raking the points in!!!
 
The attire for this is dressy-casual (no t-shirts, no jeans, no tennis shoes. Dress in nice slacks, nice shirts, nice shoes - No suits though.)
 
Location - Bethel Park
Leaving NAI at 1:50 - you'll be excused at 1:45.
Leaving NASH at 2 - You'll be excused at 1:55.
Debating till 5:30. We'll be home at 6:30.  No stop for dinner so bring snacks. You are responsible for seeing your last period teachers before Wednesday.
 
Congress Next Saturday, 10/25
 
Remember that the entire team is registered for this event.  You need to email me if you cannot attend - and you need to email me this week!!!!!!!
 
PFers
We are going to run our debates on Friday AND Saturday.  Look over the list below and tell me if (1)  you are on the list and shouldn't be or (2) You should be on the list and aren't.
 

October 13, 2008

Seniors -

For a few of you, this is the last email you will receive. If I haven't received your required beginning-of-the-year information / assignments, I'm taking the hint and removing you from the roster.
 
Re: the band trip. I understand that it is at the same time as the state tournament.  It is your call - and I will not be upset with you for choosing the band trip. 
 
Remember also that I rallied for honor cords and I rallied for the rules that go with them. It took me years to get the administration to agree to allow forensic kids to wear cords and these were the rules that all of us agreed to at the time - knowing that a conflict similar to this would eventually arise. Those who choose band are going to put themselves out of the running for honor cords - but this is a choice that I am putting into your laps.  Again - I won't be upset with whatever decision that you make!!!!!!
 

Honor Cords

To wear honor cords at graduation, all of the following criteria must be met:

  • Have a GPA of 3.4 or higher
  • Have a minimum of 250 National Forensic League (NFL) competition points, with at least 100 competition points earned during senior year
  • Have participated in 6 of the regular season tournaments.  Regular season is defined to be trophy tournaments (not practice tournaments or qualifying tournaments) during the year.  In order for a student congress to count as a regular tournament, see the pre-established rules for earning a varsity letter. 
  • Participate in both the state and NFL qualifying tournaments and the student is expected to perform to the best of his / her ability
  • If the student qualifies to the state or NFL tournament, he / she must compete there to the best of his / her ability
  • Followed all the rules of the North Allegheny Speech and Debate constitution
  • Each student who competitively speaks and / or debates and earns 100 competition points during his / her senior year will receive an NFL seal for his / her diploma.

10/9

Don't forget - if you are a returning member - the essays are due tomorrow.  Please put them on the side table in room 322. Remember that I want to see your draft and I should see the edit marks that a teacher or A VERY SMART peer makes, and I want the corrected copy AND I want an emailed version as a Word attachment.
 
1.  Email your shirt size to Bryan - thenextsteinbeck@yahoo.com  This is for the team shirt, not the district shirt. 
 
2.  If you want to get a district shirt, money is due by 12/1.  They are green tie-dyed and the front reads "Pittsburgh District National Forensic League" - The back "Speaking and Debating since 1925"
 
Sizes are M to 2XL (M - XL is 16 and 2XL is 17)
  
4. If you were at the summer picnic, Mrs. Chen is still missing FOUR serving spoons.  Please look through your drawers to see if you have any non-matching big spoons.

10/6

Once agan - North Allegheny received recognition for two HUGE events -

 
We are (again) one of the largest teams in the country.  Yay!!!
 
But more importantly - based on our performances - we are (again) in the TOP 100 TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY!!!!  Out of 2700 teams, we really need to congratulate ourselves for this.  (and I need to apologize publicly to Richard B because he was the only one around and he had to see me do the "We are in the top 100" dance when I got the letter Friday afternoon.  If I were at all athletic, I would have done cartwheels because I was so excited).  THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU!!!
 
I have a meeting this week at Penn State with other coaches, and in the recent newsletter that was sent, the editor made it clear that people should talk to me to find out as much as they can about our team so that they can emulate all that we do!!!! Cool!!!!
 
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9/29

Add to your calendar – Team Practice on 10/18. 1 till 4:30 . If you cannot attend, you better give me a good reason. We’re going to do the congress research, a congress practice, and an event practice. For those taking SATs that day, we will have snacks for you.

Congratulations to Stacey Chen who came in 2nd place at Yale yesterday!!! So cool!!! A few of you are going to be invited to attend Glenbrooks. You will be notified this week and you must talk with your parents / make a commitment immedately.

1. Remember that bills / resolutions for returning members are due tomorrow. Please use my yahoo account and not the school account (For those of you who don’t know – the yahoo address is my email for all speech and debate letters from both students and other coaches)

2. Your (long) essay – also for returning members – is due on 10/10. Info is at www.nppf.net.

3. For those of you who requested fund raising info, it is in. Deadline for orders is 12/5 at noon . Orders will need to be picked up on 12/19 at 3:30 pm .

4. Parent meeting tomorrow at 6:30 . For those of you who cannot come, the make-up meeting in on 10/7 at 6:30 . Seniors – you are responsible for snacks for this. Each of you should plan to bring a dozen cookies. Officers – you are responsible for setting up the snacks and for bringing drinks / ice.

5. Dues are due on 12/5. For those selling pizza and cookies, plan to make $5 per pizza / cookie dough kit. If we sell quite a bit, we’ll get more than this. When you pay the balance that you owe on 12/5 and if it’s determined that we get more than $5 per kit, you will have money reimbursed to you.

6. Contracts and Medical Forms are due by 12/1 or before your first tournament.

All parents are required to judge two tournaments. We’ll talk about this at our upcoming meetings. If you want to attend a judging workshop so that you’ll feel more comfortable doing this, there will be one offered at Shady Side Academy on Sunday, 10/26 at 11 am. (Reason for this time: You can still see the game which starts at 4).

I am still in need of info for the following: Griffin Caruso, Amira Corson, Cwalina, Sebastian Fischer, Kevin Fu, Grese, Kara Jewel, Alysia Libby, Kayla Madler, Mehra, Mistick, Sarver, William Scheerbaum, Shaber-Twedt, Stephanie Smyers, Span, Caroline. Claire Weiss, Scheidemantel, Wu. The General Information form is on the web site under beginning of the year information.

Right now we have 98 kids on our roster. Eee gad. Note: If you are the parent of a senior who is friends with a parent of a 9th grader and you need to talk to each other about something in an email that I send out, it may take 4 or more hours for everyone on the list to get the email because of Yahoo limitations (for spam).

We start taking attendance at meetings this week. I know that some of you will not be joining us until fall sports are over. Relax. We’ll deal with you when you can come. I am upset with some of the varsity members who haven’t shown up for anything yet…

 

Post meeting email -

You are probably going to receive this email twice. Do not panic. I’m just setting up accounts, and it will take a few tries.  I’ve attached my notes from the meeting.  READ THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE TEAM that is online!!!

I’ve attached the current phone / address list.  Please look and see what is missing and / or incorrect.  New people – see below.  Do not print this out yet!!!

If you missed the meeting on Friday, you will see what we covered below.  Most importantly – if you missed the meeting, you need to hand in some things –

All forms are on the web site – teachers.northallegheny.org/svolpe

1. The medical form.  Even if you were a member last year, you need to get a new form submitted to me by 12/1 or your first tournament before 12/1.
2. The contract by 12/1 or your first tournament before 12/1.
3. If you are new – the information form immediately  Many of you will see that you are not on the attached spreadsheet!!! No big deal – just get the info to me.
4. Returning members – you need to get a bill / resolution submitted by 9/30
5. If you were on the team last year, the Words contest hasn’t started yet.  So, in lieu of this – You need to submit (a minimum 2000 word) essay as described on www.nppf.net. Deadline 10/10. 
a. Submit your draft that was proofread by another team member or teacher.  I want the person who proofread this draft to sign it (I should be able to see all that they suggested that you fix)
b. Submit your final copy to me as both a hard copy and as an electronic copy (via email).

THE MANDATORY PARENT MEETING IS ON 9/30.  I understand that this is a holiday for some of you. Please email me if you haven’t already done so and I will set up an alternate date.  We will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

I made this very clear at the meeting – the beginning of the year is hard. We are working to get new members to just learn the basic rules. We are finding pieces and writing our first cases and speeches.  It is NOT easy. If you survive the beginning, the rest is smooth sailing.