2025-26 Handbook
Purpose Statement:
The purpose of the Brentwood Christian Lady Bellas Drill Team is to encourage quality performance, high academic standards, school spirit and to develop Godly, disciplined young ladies who serve others around them. Through the development of leadership, worship, performance technique and sportsmanship in each member, the Lady Bellas will fulfill its purpose to glorify God and benefit Brentwood Christian School and the Brentwood community.
BCS Lady Bellas Contact Information:
Lisa Warner
Brentwood Christian School
11908 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78753
Mrs. Warner
lisa.warner@brentwoodchristian.org
Rules & Regulations:
As a member of the BCS Drill Team, you must abide by all of the rules and regulations beginning on the date you successfully pass the audition and accept your position on the Lady Bellas Drill Team. In addition to the Lady Bella handbook, drill team members are required to adhere to all guidelines outlined in the BCS handbook. Membership on the team does not automatically qualify the member to dance with the team in every performance. To qualify to perform with the team, each member must be academically eligible as stated in the BCS Student/Parent Handbook, each member must conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner, each member must have mastered the routine, performed it with perfected technique and receive no lower than a 90% on performance test. Middle schoolers will perform at limited events.
Membership:
Any incoming 6th-12th grade girl may apply for the BCS Drill Team by completing an application from the Drill Team Director.
Auditions will be held in the spring semester of the school year prior to becoming a member.
Length of Membership:
Upon passing the audition stage and accepting her position, a member of the BCS Drill Team will officially become a Lady Bella and will remain a member throughout the following school year, as long as all the qualifications are met. If at any time the member decides to relinquish her position from the team, she will have 3 days after telling the director for further consideration. If after the 3 day mark, the decision is final and she will have to wait until the following year to try out for the team. Every member must re-audition for the team each year and being a past Lady Bella doesn’t guarantee a position the following year.
Each member is considered part of the spirit team at Brentwood and must also be a member of Claw Crew.
Regardless of the situation, once a member leaves the team for any reason, if she wishes to rejoin the team, she is required to audition in the spring for the following year if the Director approves her to rejoin the team.
Qualifications:
The number of members on the BCS Drill Team will vary annually. In order to be eligible to be a team member, a student must:
Submit an application to be approved by a school administrator and the director.
Pass all classes during the previous semester prior to tryouts.
Go through the audition process before a panel of judges and the director.
Abide by all school rules and regulations set forth by Brentwood Christian School and the BCS Drill Team.
Received no more than two citizenship grades of an S- during the school year.
Selection of Officers:
High School officer positions are held by returning Juniors and Seniors. If elected through the selection process and successfully completes the first year, she may continue in the same officer position the following year without going through the process. All members seeking an officer position (and have not been one the past year) must:
Exemplify leadership and commitment to her school and to the team for the entire year as an officer.
Line officers must be in the top tier of scores at tryouts.
Submit a letter of intent.
Submitted merits the previous years.
Be in good standing academically based on the BCS handbook.
Complete the Officer Essay.
Choreograph and perform a solo routine during officer tryouts
Complete the Officer Interview process.
Officers are selected by the following Rubric System:
Team Votes
25%
Director Interview & Previous Experience on team
35%
Solo
20%
Officer Essay
20%
Middle School officers - Middle school officers have a limited role and are selected by the director based on previous experience on the team, good academic standing, scored In the top tier at tryouts and exemplify leadership qualities.
Summer Dance Camp:
All team members are required to attend the BCS Lady Bellas Drill Team Camp.
MANDATORY FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS:
CAMP WEEK - August 5th-10th, 2024
MANDATORY FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS:
CAMP WEEK - August 5th - 7th, 2024
The purpose of Drill Team Camp is:
Promote BCS school spirit in a Christ-like manner
Team bonding
Learn stand chants and stand pom routines
Learn routines
Overall improvement of team technique, skill and flexibility
Drill Team Attire:
Each team member is responsible for her own uniform.
All uniforms must be kept in excellent condition.
Any lost or damaged pieces of any part of the uniform will be replaced at the cost of the team member.
The BCS uniform or any drill team attire may not be altered.
The uniform may not be worn for any activity except performances, unless specified by Director.
No jewelry may be worn with uniform, unless otherwise specified by Director.
No eating or drinking (other than water) while wearing uniform unless a cover up is worn.
Any team member missing any part of the uniform will not perform (this includes hair accessories).
Skirt length must be approved by director and not temporarily altered.
Merit System:
Merits have no impact on the grade received on the report card for the drill team class. Merits will be earned by team members based on the system below. Officers and the Director will keep track of Merits. Merits may be given by the Director and suggested by the Officers. Below is the Lady Bellas Merit System:
Submitted by STUDENT during the week of occurrence
1 Merit
Membership in other BCS organization (one time)
1 hour of completed community service (3 hour max./week)
2 Merits
Leadership position at BCS (one time)
Performance in an outside dance contest, show, festival or parade
3 Merits
BCS academic OR citizenship honor roll
5 Merits
BCS academic AND citizenship honor roll
No absences per grading period in all classes
No tardies per grading period in all classes
Submitted by DIRECTOR during the week of occurrence
1 Merit
Perfect week! (no demerits, tardies, absences, hard working, good attitude)
Going above and beyond in class and at practice
2 Merits
Recognition by another teacher
3 Merits
Line member of the week (given week earned)
Merits accumulate over the course of the year and factor into future leadership positions. Lady Bella of the year Is awarded to the team member with the most merits
Members must submit merits to be considered for “Lady Bella of the Week”
Demerit System:
Demerits will have no impact on the grade received on the report card for the drill team class. This system is to help reinforce regulations set forth by the Lady Bella Handbook and the BCS Handbook. A member of the BCS Drill Team can receive demerits at any time,including evenings, weekends and holidays during her time served on the team.
The director will record and document demerits. If a team member receives consequences that cannot be served in the same semester, or during winter/summer break, the consequences will be served the next semester. Below is the Lady Bellas Demerit System:
½ Demerit
Wrong attire for practice
Wearing jewelry during practice (studs fine)
Cell phone out during practice or game
Moving or talking when standing at attention
Forgetting necessary items to practice including shoes, poms, hair accessory, water bottle etc.
1 Demerit
Tardy to a practice or performance
Leaving game or practice early (unexcused)
Not wearing correct attire to school on designated day
Not cleaning up after practice, game or event
Wearing jewelry to a performance or non-approved nail polish
Wearing incomplete uniform at performance
Forgetting necessary items to game including shoes, poms, hair accessory, water bottle etc.
1-5 Demerits
(TBD by director based on situation)
Inappropriate posting on social media or online and/or partaking in a live stream that intentionally gossips and/or slanders about others.
Inappropriate posting includes alluding to profanity, lip syncing, writing, or saying profanity, dancing or posing suggestively, inappropriate gestures, etc. (Including private accounts)
Disrespect, insubordination, lying, speaking poorly and/or gossiping about teammates or any behavior unbecoming to BCS.
Unacceptable behavior as determined by the director
2 Demerits
Public display of affection in uniform
Eating or drinking in uniform without cover up
Unladylike conduct (profanity etc.)
Unexcused absence to a practice
5 Demerits
Missing a performance without prior approval. Unexcused absence
Other classroom behavior - cheating, plagiarism, truancy, and/or any behavior unbecoming of a BCS student
Other as deemed appropriate by the Director/BCS administration.
10 Demerits
Academically ineligible for 2 grading periods in one year.
Participation in illegal underage activity.
Other as deemed appropriate by the Director
Demerits are accumulated per semester and re-start at the beginning of each semester
2 Demerits = member will be warned by Captain
5 Demerits = member will be on probation which includes attending all required practices but will sit with the Director during 1 game and not perform with the team. Member may not audition for an officer position that year and if already an officer, will forfeit her position permanently (director discretion)
10 Demerits = automatic dismissal from the team.
Ineligibility:
See BCS Handbook
All members must maintain a passing grade in all classes to maintain membership on the team. If a member fails to pass one or more classes for 2 grading periods in one school year, she will be dismissed from the team.
Probation:
The conditions, penalties and length of probation will be determined by the Director.
She will remain a member of the drill team.
She will continue to attend all required practices.
She must continue to dress out and learn all routines, unless stipulated differently by the Director.
She may not sit with the team at games, pep rallies, or activities.
She may not perform with the team.
She cannot audition for an officer position that year (director discretion)
She will forfeit her position as officer permanently.
Tardy Policy:
Tardiness to class or a performance will result in 1 Demerit.
Being tardy is defined as not being dressed out completely and in designated position when practice begins or called performance place and time. Phone calls/texts do not excuse tardiness.
More than 15 minutes late will result in an unexcused absence.
Absence Policy:
Excused absence in advance = excused
Home games, competitions, showcase and all other performances will NOT be excused after the initial deadline for approval, unless there’s an illness or injury. Excused away games will be case by case and need director approval.
Unexcused from performance = 5 demerits
Unexcused from practice = 2 demerits
2 absences (excused or unexcused) during a performance week will result in not performing that week and may be permanently removed from the dance.
More than 15 minutes late to practice, game or event will result in an absence.
Performance and Competition Week Policy:
It should be every member of the team’s top priority to make sure she has mastered that week’s routine that will be performed during the pep rally/ football game/ basketball game/event/competition.
During a performance/competition week, all members will be required to attend all practices and possibly extra before/after school practices.
All unexcused absences from practice during a performance/competition week will result in that member not performing that week.
All excused absences will result in that member being in jeopardy of not performing (Director discretion). If competition week, the member will not perform at competition (Director discretion).
If a member is absent from 2 practices during a performance week (excused or unexcused) she will be removed from that routine permanently. (Director discretion)
If a member is absent the day of or the the day before a performance, she will be unable to perform that week.
If a member receives below an 90 on a performance test, she will not perform the routine with her team.
Middle school will perform at limited events.
Attendance and Rehearsal Policies:
All members of the BCS Drill Team must be present at ALL rehearsals and performances scheduled by the Director, regardless of whether or not they are performing, unless previous arrangements are made with the Director.
Required rehearsals consist of summer practice, camps, daily practice during the school year, and scheduled before & after school, evening or Saturday rehearsals.
When a member misses a rehearsal, she is responsible for all choreography and announcements she has missed. She should contact her officer for information.
Attendance is required for the full length of practice unless approved by Director.
Showcase rehearsals are mandatory.
All members are required to be dressed in proper attire for practice. NO CROP TOPS. Cover ups MUST be worn to and from practice.
Work cannot interfere with scheduled practices, activities or performances.
Notice of college visits should be given 2 weeks in advance to the Director.
Doctor and Dentist check-ups should not be scheduled during class time, practice or events unless approved by director.
A note explaining the need for the absence, signed by the parent or guardian, must be presented to the Director in advance if possible, or upon member’s return to receive an excused absence.
Missing a performance (unexcused) will result in Probation.
If a member is absent (excused or unexcused) when an entire routine is taught, then she will not perform in that routine. (Director discretion)
It is expected that the Lady Bella member communicates with director regarding absences.
Participation in other BCS Sports/Programs at Brentwood:
We encourage Lady Bellas to participate in other sports and activities at Brentwood and coaches/directors will determine the best schedule for each participant to ensure they benefit from everything they do.
Middle School Jr. Lady Bellas will not conflict with any sports/activities at Brentwood.
Because Varsity sports at Brentwood are demanding, and to ensure the team members don't get overwhelmed, the team members will have a modified performance schedule as follows:
Volleyball/Cross Country players who are also Lady Bellas will learn 2 less dance routines during football season (director discretion).
Basketball/Soccer players who are also Lady Bellas will compete in 2 dance routines for competition (director discretion)
Softball/Track players who are also Lady Bellas will perform 2 less dance routines at the Spring Showcase (director discretion)
Injury Policy:
Any member that becomes injured or ill and misses two practices during a performance week, will not perform that week.
When injured, the member will continue to participate and practice to the best of her ability and according to doctor’s orders even if not in the formation.
Sitting out during practice due to illness or injury will not result in demerits but will be counted as absences for performance purposes (2 days sitting out = not performing that week) (director discretion)
Performance/ Game Policy:
Members must arrive on time in full uniform
No cover ups are to be worn at games, unless stated by the Director.
Members will sit with the team during the entire event/ game/ pep rally. Any bathroom breaks will follow the buddy system and members must get approval from an Officer.
Any members that are needing to leave the game/event early, must get approval from the Director minimum 1 day before the event..
Members must stay attentive and positive during the entire game.
Members are to take lead from the Cheerleaders and Band when it comes to stand chants and pom routines.
Members will be at full attention during pre-game and halftime line-up.
Members will be above reproach with a positive, Christ-like manner, showing only good sportsmanship toward the opponents.
Harassment and Bullying Policy:
See BCS Handbook
HANDBOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
Every team member is required to sign and return the Handbook acknowledgment form to the Director by the last day of school.
Lady Bellas
Handbook Acknowledgement Form
I, ________________________________________(Lady Bellas name) have read the Lady Bella handbook and understand the expectations set forth and agree to abide by the terms and conditions in the handbook.
Student Signature______________________________________Date______________________
Parent Signature_______________________________________Date______________________