2. Director-Mrs. Hannah Gassett *Next year will be my 2 nd year at MNHS, & my 16 th year teaching dance *Married to Daniel Gassett for almost 2 years *Have 2 dogs, Princess and Toby, and 1 cat, Grayson.

3. What are the Northstars about? GOALS  Improve our dance technique as a whole  Work diligently together as a team  Have fun while representing our school with pride WHAT ALL DO WE DO?  Varsity football games  Pep rallies  Basketball games  Trips (In-State or Out-of-State)  Competitions  Spring show and winter recital  Various Fundraisers & Social Events

4. How do I get ready to tryout?  Step 1- Read ALL of the handbook and attached documents.  Go to http://departments.mckinneyisd.net/finearts/secondary- drill-team/ http://departments.mckinneyisd.net/finearts/secondary- drill-team/  You will find links to the MISD handbook, MNHS drill team addendum and application to tryout instructions.  Please read all of these documents in their entirety.

5. How do I get ready to tryout?  Step Two- Apply Apply- go to: www.tinyurl.com/NorthDrillTeamTryouts2016 www.tinyurl.com/NorthDrillTeamTryouts2016  Please note that all information you enter needs to be the most recent and correct contact information for the candidate and family members. The e-mail addresses, phone numbers and other information will be used to contact you and keep records.  You will also be electronically signing that you agree to the guidelines and procedures set forth in the handbooks and documents that you read in Step One.

6. How do I get ready to tryout?  Step Three- Proof of Residency  Scan and email to hgassett@mckinneyisd.net a current copy of the candidate’s proof of residency. Examples of Proof of Residency are a utility bill with the address of the home that you live in on it, a copy of an employee transfer approval from the district or a lease that includes the address of the home that you live in.hgassett@mckinneyisd.net  Please save a copy of this to your computer  Please put in the subject of your e-mail the name of your candidate and Proof of Residency.  The date of the bill or lease needs to be either February or March 2016.

7. How do I get ready to tryout?  Step Four- Physicals  Please scan and e-mail a current copy of the candidate’s completed physical form to hgassett@mckinneyisd.net.hgassett@mckinneyisd.net  Please save the document with your student’s name on your computer.  Please label the subject with the candidate’s name and physical.  The physical must be dated between April 1, 2015 and March 20, 2016  If you have a physical on file because you are in athletics or another school related activity that requires a physical, email me at hgassett@mckinneyisd.net with the student’s name and ID number. hgassett@mckinneyisd.net

8. How do I get ready to tryout?  Step Five- Workshops/Clinics  Please attend all workshops to learn our tryout dances on Monday- Wednesday March 21 st – March 23 rd 2016 at 4:00-6:00 in the MNHS gym.  The audition dances will be taught on Monday & then perfected the remaining workshop days- it is highly recommended that candidates attend all 3 days of workshops  Please bring water in a water jug and be prepared to dance the entire time.  Candidates will learn a kick, jazz and a uniformed way to do the splits.  You can wear dance shorts, yoga type pants, capris, jazz pants, sports bras, form fitting shirts that cover the belly and dance shoes for workshops. Black or tan jazz shoes are preferred.  You will want to practice in the same shoes that you will be auditioning in.

9. How do I tryout?  Step Six- Audition- Thursday March 24th  We will be meeting at McKinney North HS Gym at 4:15- you will receive a # and stretch at this time. You may arrive earlier, but please do not arrive late.  The North audition will begin at 4:30 in the MNHS Gym  There will be a panel of 3 judges, who will take a break in scores  Candidates will be scored on showmanship, technique, overall presentation and memory.  Everyone who falls into the first break will be on Varsity, everyone who falls into the second break will be placed on Junior Varsity.  Each candidate must wear all black form fitting dance attire. We will have a mock tryout during workshop on Wednesday to answer any questions/concerns you may have about the acceptability of your black attire. Each candidate will be assigned a number.  We will post the numbers of the candidates who made Varsity and Junior Varsity on our team website at www.mckinneynorthstars.weebly.com after the tryouts are completed.www.mckinneynorthstars.weebly.com  All Candidates must have someone to pick them up at McKinney North High School by 6:30pm on March 24 th.

10. I made Northstars! What now?  Register for drill team with your course request  Attend a Mandatory Informational New Team Meeting & Uniform Fitting April 12 th at 6pm in the MNHS Cafeteria You will order practice & performance clothes and be fit for a uniform This meeting is mandatory for all 2016-2017 Northstars Both the dancer AND parent MUST attend

11. What are the Starlettes about? GOALS  Improve our dance technique as a whole  Work diligently together as a team  Prepare to audition for Varsity team next year  Have fun while representing our school with pride WHAT ALL DO WE DO?  4 JV home football games  1 Varsity football game (pregame and in the stands)  JV Basketball games  Spring show and winter recital  Various Fundraisers

12. How do I sign-up for Starlettes?  Step 1- Read ALL of the handbook and attached documents.  Go to http://departments.mckinneyisd.net/finearts/secondary- drill-team/ http://departments.mckinneyisd.net/finearts/secondary- drill-team/  You will find links to the MISD handbook, MNHS drill team addendum and application to tryout instructions.  Please read all of these documents in their entirety.

13. How do I sign-up for Starlettes?  Step Two- Apply Apply- go to www.tinyurl.com/NorthDrillTeamTryouts2016 www.tinyurl.com/NorthDrillTeamTryouts2016  Please note that all information you enter needs to be The most recent and correct contact information for the candidate and family members. The e-mail addresses, phone numbers and other information will be used to contact you and keep records.  You will also be electronically signing that you agree to the guidelines and procedures set forth in the handbooks and documents that you read in Step One.  Please select that you are only interested in JV

14. How do I sign-up for Starlettes?  Step Three- Register for Drill Team  Register for drill team on your schedule request  Email Mrs. Gassett at hgassett@mckinneyisd.net and tell her that you want to sign-up for JV Starlettes. Please include your participant’s full name and Student ID #. hgassett@mckinneyisd.net

15. How do I sign-up for Starlettes?  Step Four- Attend Uniform Fittings & Make your 1 st Payment  Attend an Informational Meeting & Uniform Fittings on April 12 th at 6pm in the MNHS Cafeteria  You will order practice wear, be fit for a uniform, and make your 1 st payments at this time  This meeting is required for all 2016-2017 Starlettes  Dancer and at least one parent MUST attend!

16. Frequently Asked Questions  What does it cost? The required cost for new Northstars is approx. $1,338. For Veteran Northstars the cost is approx. $584. The required cost for new JV Starlettes is approx. $553. For Veteran Starlettes the cost is approx. $260. See the handout for details about the payment plan and what exactly is covered in your payments.  I don’t have my splits. Do I have to have my splits in order to make the team? No. You will do your splits for the judges, and you do earn points based upon your splits. However, just because you do not have splits does not mean that you will not make the team. We have had many girls become Northstars who did not have their splits completely.  I heard that there were not many spots available on the Northstars. How many people are able to make Northstars? We bring in three judges to adjudicate Northstar tryouts. They will choose as many candidates that they feel are capable of being a Northstar. There is not a set number.

17. Frequently Asked Questions  I heard that if you are a Northstar you can’t be involved in anything else. How much time is required to be a Northstar? Being a part of the Northstars is an honor, and it does require commitment. However, we encourage and celebrate that we have Northstars that are multi-talented. We have Northstars who are active in National Honor Society, theatre, choir, and the list goes on and on. We do discuss the prioritizing of time and the importance of scheduling.  What is the Northstar elite company? The elite team is a group of Northstars that audition to perform more technically advanced routines. This audition is held in August. This group pays an additional fee of $200 that covers the cost of choreography and costume rental and meet once a week outside of school for an additional rehearsal. This is something new being added to Northstars for 2016-2017.

18. Frequently Asked Questions  When is camp and is it required? Line Camp is June 20-25 Uniform Day is June 17 Team Pictures are June 18 Yes, it is required Email hgassett@mckinneyisd.net if you have a conflict with camp and she can address your individual situationhgassett@mckinneyisd.net

19. We are excited that you are interested in a dance team at North! Welcome to the most prestigious organization in McKinney!