Team Meeting Agendas

TEAM WARMUPS 

2-5-25:  

• • OUTSTANDING JOB IN DULUTH LAST SATURDAY!

  • 5th place out of 38 schools- biggest tournament our program has ever attended.

  • Congrats to everyone who made a final round and earned honorable mention!

  • CONTINUE TO WORK ON IMPROVING YOUR PERFORMANCE

  • Carefully read your critiques each week and sincerely consider suggestions you are receiving

  • Practice on your own time. Record yourself and critique yourself.

  • SHOW UP to your scheduled coach practice time! We've had too many no-shows. -Continually missing coach practices may force me to remove you from the competitive roster for tournaments until you start practicing. If you are worried about your speech and think you may need to change something, STILL SHOW UP! Coaches are there to help you in any way possible.

  • If you are going to miss your coach practice- you need to let us know. Make sure it is for a legitimate reason...

  • INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE SCHEDULE WAS SENT OUT THROUGH EMAIL AND IT IS ALSO ON THE MAIN PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE. (Show where to find this.)

    • You will see color-coding indicating who practiced and who missed practice

    • We are tracking attendance.

    • Our formula for figuring out who earns a varsity letter will be changing since we now have weekly scheduled practices. The number of required coach practices will be going up.

  • TEAM MEMBER HIGHLIGHT! 

    • We've seen more and more of you earnestly practicing with each other in the halls AND speaking to the walls by yourselves. Keep it up!!!! Keep practicing!!!

  • SATURDAY AT MILLE LACS H.S. IN ONAMIA

    • Much smaller tournament than the past few. Still some very strong competition! Some small teams who regularly send speakers to state and have All-State speakers every year.

    • Go over important information for Saturday as sent out in email.

    • We NEED to be a respectful, friendly team at this tournament (and all others), but very important at this one.

    • Answer questions.

  • M.O.S.S. TOURNAMENT SERIES- FOUR Online tournaments with very limited roster. NIETOC BIDS

    • If you are interested in applying to be on that limited roster, you must complete the application form TODAY! It was sent out yesterday. We need to make decisions on the roster tomorrow. No application, no opportunity to participate in any of them.

    • If you end up competing in the M.O.S.S. tournaments. Here is what you need to know about your video recordings.

      • -Videos must be publicly accessible. Please make sure video links are set to "Anyone with the link can view".

      • -Videos can be posted on YouTube, Google Drive, etc. as long as links are viewable. YouTube does work better with fewer glitches.

      • -Videos may not be altered in any way. All recordings must be single-take.

      • -Students may not physically touch/alter their camera/recording device during the performance.

      • -Any video that can not be viewed during judging will be marked as a no-show.

1-29-25:  

• • Congrats to the One Act Team- Section Finals on Saturday at Duluth!

  • Team picture for high school students only - tomorrow in gym. Get out of class at 11:00 and head right there. It's for the high school yearbook.

  • Great job last Saturday at the Medieval Melee! Without several speakers we still took 6th out of 30 teams, had multiple finalists, and had several speakers earn a bid to nationals. Well done!!!

  • What did we learn? How do you improve?

    • You've now seen some of the very best speech teams in the state of Minnesota, including Mounds Park Academy who is nationally recognized. Learn from the speakers you compete against in rounds at tournaments like this. What do they do well?

    • One thing is guaranteed- speakers like that work very, very hard to prepare every week.

  • TEAM MEMBER HIGHLIGHT! 

    • We witnessed some incredible team preparation on Monday from a group of middle school ladies who were performing for each other out in the hall and sharing notes about each other's performances. THAT is what it takes to get better week by week. THAT is what good speech team members do to guarantee improvement. Way to go!!!!!

  • Fill out the updated speech script title/topic form. There have been a lot of changes (which is normal). We need an updated speech list with topics/titles and authors where appropriate.

  • It's still early in the season, but things are already heating up. If you have dreams of doing well at the conference, section, state, or national tournaments- it's time to really get it together and start practicing with intention. Record your practice sessions on your phone- watch yourself to see what you can improve. Use practice time when you aren't in a coach practice to do this.

  • Practice Change Discussion - Email

  • NIETOC bid tournaments. We have 3 more, including Saturday at Duluth. You need two bids to qualify for nationals. There is an option to join online NIETOC bid tournaments later in the season where you record your speech in one take, following specific recording rules. If this is something people are interested in, let me know.

  • ROSTER FOR THE DULUTH DENFELD MEET ON SATURDAY- NIETOC BID TOURNAMENT

    • Go over important information for Saturday as sent out in email

    • Answer questions.

  • Practice time

1-22-25:  

• • CONGRATS ON 1ST PLACE AS A TEAM FOR OUR FIRST MEET AGAINST SOME VERY GOOD TEAMS!

  • What did we learn? How do you improve?

  • JUDGING- Don't be critical of judges' comments. Look at them for ways YOU can improve. 

  • ROSTER FOR IRONDALE MEDIEVAL MELEE ON SATURDAY- NIETOC BID TOURNAMENT

    • Go over important information for Saturday as sent out in email

    • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h_rgPX5u1QxC2TuBg078bUYW5nG6CnA2LIloV3VJc4Q/edit?usp=sharing

    • Answer questions.

  • Practice time

1-15-25:  

• • ROSTER FOR OUR FIRST MEET @ ST. FRANCIS- JAN. 18TH

    • Go over all expectations for the first speech meet.

    • Answer questions.

  • Discuss new practice restrictions.

  • Getting to know you activities led by the captains.

1-8-25:  

• • OUTSTANDING NEWS- You raised 8,336.80 for our team!!!!! Overall, you raised $10K- Vertical Raise receives fees for using their services and program.

  • ROSTER FOR OUR FIRST MEET @ ST. FRANCIS- JAN. 18TH

    • You received an email from me yesterday with the roster. Look it over and let me know immediately if you are registered for the wrong category. I need to submit our registration, pay for all of our entrants, and hire judges based on this roster number. Getting the number correct is extremely important.

    • The first meet is a GREAT opportunity to learn how speech works. Do not worry too much. This will be the first speech meet for A LOT of people from the schools there. We want you to do your best, but we also want you to treat this as a learning experience. We will be talking more about everything you need to know to feel prepared. First off- Have your script ready!

    • Black Paper

    • How to dress- business interview style

  • REGISTRATION/PAYMENT/ELIGIBILITY FORMS: NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. 

    • High School- go to the Activities Office

    • Middle School- go to your main office

    • OR - go to the Cambridge-Isanti High School Activities Department website to pay and register there. https://cibluejackets.org/registration/

    • If finances are an issue, talk to Robin in the office to see if arrangements can be made.

  • Individual Coach Practices - part of the normal routine now

    • You received an email earlier this week with the link to the sign-up for for coach practices. The link is also found on the main page of our team website. Sign up for your 25 minute individual coaching session at least one time during every two weeks. REMEMBER: You need SEVEN coach practices before the conference tournament on March 25th if you want to earn a varsity letter. 

    • We have seven coaches for you to work with: Orvik, Faust, Peikert, Sende, Dunnick PLUS LeAnn Snidarich and Charisse Schlueter

      • LeAnn Snidarich has 30 years of experience directing children's theatre in Anoka. She already helped out this past Monday and gives wonderful suggestions

      • Charisse Schlueter will be meeting with Discussion people. You will have regular REQUIRED PRACTICE DISCUSSION ROUNDS. The first one will be next Wednesday. This is how you will earn YOUR individual coach points for lettering.  We have MANY practice discussion tasks to help you prepare.

      • You MUST be completely registered for the speech team to have full individual coach practice sessions. 

        • Payment and eligibility forms must be submitted. 

  • Next Wednesday we will have a getting to know each other activity led by our captains. We will also be meeting with our category groups.

12-11-24:  

• • REGISTRATION/PAYMENT/ELIGIBILITY FORMS: We have now reached the point where you need to officially take care of your activities fee and your eligibility forms. This needs to be done ASAP. I will be receiving updates from the Activities Department about who is not registered starting this week. Not being registered means you cannot practice or be signed up for speech tournaments.

    • High School- go to the Activities Office

    • Middle School- go to your main office

    • OR - go to the Cambridge-Isanti High School Activities Department website to pay and register there. https://cibluejackets.org/registration/

    • If finances are an issue, talk to Robin in the office to see if arrangements can be made.

  • Regular Individual Coach Practices

    • Once you have had your 10-minute individual coach meeting, you may start signing up for full individual coach sessions. You will need 7 of them this season. They typically last 20-25 minutes. At these sessions, you will present your speech and talk about it with a coach- looking for ways to grow as a speaker.

      • You MUST be completely registered for the speech team to have full individual coach practice sessions. 

        • Payment, and eligibility forms must be submitted. 

    • FUNDRAISER KICK-OFF

12-4-24:  First Official Team Practice

• • Fundraiser Information

    • Fundraiser- Parent Letter Handout

    • Discuss Fundraiser- more important than ever.

  • Primary Category Choice and Preparation

    • Need to choose a category today. You may change later if needed.

    • Go over speech vault info 

    • Speech Proposal Document - Show how to Access

      • Discuss what needs to be done.

  • Divide into groups. Veterans- be available to answer questions and offer guidance.

    • Groups - Work on proposal docs. Find scripts. Start Researching. Start Writing

      • 144: Duo, Creative 

      • 145: Discussion, Ext. Speaking - RESEARCH

      • 146: Poetry, Prose, Drama

      • 147: Informative, Original Oratory, Great Speeches

      • 148: Ext. Reading, Storytelling, Humorous

    • PEIKERT, SENDE, ORVIK - circulate, check in, answer questions, etc.

11-26-24:

• • First Team Meeting of the 2024-25 season!!!

  • Introductions - Coaches and Captains

  • Team Information

  • Category Information

  • Schedule

  • Choosing/Developing a Script

4-8:

• Final Full team meeting. 

• Congratulations on a record-setting season!

• Vote for team awards- ballots have been emailed to you.

• Vote for 2025 team captains- ballots have been emailed to you.

• Speech Awards Banquet Information.

  • Banquet will be May 15th in CIHS Cafeteria starting at 6:00.

  • More information will be sent to you-  check your email.

4-3:

MISSISSIPPI 8 CONFERENCE CHAMPS! BACK TO BACK!!!

RECORD-SETTING 9 CATEGORY CHAMPIONSHIPS! 26 STUDENTS EARNING ALL-CONFERENCE AND ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION!!!

Don't rest on your laurels! You have all done an outstanding job, but we aren't finished yet.

SECTION 7AA TOURNAMENT AT PRINCETON ON SATURDAY

• Limited entry tournament- 39 entrants max. 

• We can't bring spectators on the bus, only students who are competing.

• Check the roster emailed to you today to make sure it is correct.

• Those on the roster, be at CIHS at 8:10 a.m.

• The bus will leave at 8:20 a.m.

• Other information for Saturday will be sent to you when I receive it.

CORRECTLY FORMATTED AND SHARED SCRIPTS IN SCRIPTED CATEGORIES NEEDED ASAP!!!!!

• I sent an email earlier this week about script submission for sections for those who are on the section roster who are competing in a scripted category.

• I need those ASAP and they must be formatted correctly. If they are not shared and not formatted correctly, you will be disqualified from the section tournament.

COACH PRACTICES

• Coach Guptill is now available today, so some of you who are competing at sections will be practicing with her.

• Talk to any of us to see if there is a time that might work for a coach practice this week if you don't have one today.

LAST OFFICIAL PRACTICE ON MONDAY

• Come to practice on Monday to make sure your voice is heard. We will be voting on team awards and on captains for 2025.

• ALSO- if you are done competing, you will need to turn in your extemp. reading books and your informative cases and stands

3-6-24:

• Holy Cow, Bluejackets! 1st Place out of 20 schools at Fridley!!! Back to Back Grand Champions at Large Meets!!!!!!!

MILACA TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY 

• Be here at 7:05 a.m.

• Bus load time is 7:15 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 4:30 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

No Speech Meet on the second weekend of Spring break.

OUR HOME TOURNAMENT IS MARCH 23RD- THE FIRST SATURDAY AFTER SPRING BREAK

Sign up to bring food for our home tournament on March 23rd. We have to feed 150 judges, coaches, and bus drivers. Every year our students provide the food to do so. The sign-up was sent to you via email.

Your parents/guardians received an email from the booster club today - sign up to volunteer to help sell concessions and provide food for concessions.

Our home tournament is HUGE - bigger than ever before. 27 schools and 500 students. We need your help!!!!! 

SIGN UP FOR COACH PRACTICES:

• There aren't that many practices left before sections. Remember you NEED a minimum number of coach practices to qualify for a varsity letter. If you don't meet the minimum, you may not earn a letter.

• You don't get credit for coach practices you signed up for but were a no-show.

• WARM-UPS

2-28-24:

• Great job at Princeton, Bluejackets! 1st Place out of 32 schools!!! Grand Champions!!!!!

FRIDLEY TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY 

• Be here at 7:00 a.m.

• Bus load time is 7:10 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 4:30 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

SIGN UP FOR COACH PRACTICES:

• We have reached the heart of our competitive season. We ALL need to keep improving and giving our best efforts to have a chance to do the best we can at these challenging meets leading up to the conference and section meets.

• WARM-UPS

2-21-24:

• Great job at Forest Lake, Bluejackets! 4th place out of 35 teams!!! Scoring was based on finalists, honor finalists, and honorable mention- very tough to score as high as we did against such talented competition. Way to go!!!

• We need ALL of you to compete and do your best to keep our team strong. Last week we were only a few points away from third place. Every speaker counts. The Princeton meet this week scores every person on the team every time you speak. Your attendance and participation truly make a difference!

PRINCETON TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY 

• Be here at 7:10 a.m.

• Bus load time is 7:20 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 4:30 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

SIGN UP FOR COACH PRACTICES:

• We have reached the heart of our competitive season. We ALL need to keep improving and giving our best efforts to have a chance to do the best we can at these challenging meets leading up to the conference and section meets.

• WARM-UPS

2-14-24:

• What a great day at Onamia!!!! 33 people earned individual honors! 1st place out of 12 teams. Way to go!

• FOREST LAKE TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY 

• Be here at 7:05 a.m.

• Bus load time is 7:15 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 4:45 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

• WARM-UPS

2-7-24:

• Congratulations One Act!!!! Break a leg on FRIDAY AT STATE!!!!!

• Great Job Speech Team - 5th place out of 18 mostly large metro-area schools at Champlin Park!!! You represented our program very well! Scoring for that tournament was a little different - based only on finalists and honorable mentions. That same scoring system is what is used at the Section tournament and a few others.

• Once again, you were professional and wonderful. Keep that up!

• This week we get our One Act Play members back. YAY! 

• If you truly want to get better, make finals, earn all-conference, have a chance to make it to state- you truly need to practice a lot. If you look at our most successful team members over the past few years, the ones who have accomplished their goals and earned high honors, they practiced A LOT. They signed up for a lot of coach practices. They practiced on their own. They looked to critiques for suggestions that could help them improve. Being great takes MUCH preparation.

• If we want to have the opportunity to repeat as conference and section champions, it will take a lot of hard work and dedication from you. Our conference and section teams are very, very talented and getting constantly better! We're offering more individual practice opportunities than we ever have. Take advantage of them. Keep our Bluejacket Speech tradition strong!!!

• MILLE LACS TOURNAMENT (AT ONAMIA) ON SATURDAY 

  • sounds like there won't be finals - so an earlier day- yay!

• Be here at 6:50 a.m.

• Bus load time is 7:00 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 2:30 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

• PRACTICE SESSIONS- When you sign up for a practice session. You need to show up to that appointed time. You have taken that time slot away from other people who were looking for a practice session. 

• Check your email for the form. Search Speech Scripts.  Here is the link as well. https://forms.gle/Zr9MweH3Pz2RytxF9

• WARM-UPS

• Clothing Orders - distribute

1-30-24:

• Congratulations One Act!!!! Break a leg on Saturday at Sections!!!!!

• Congratulations Speech Team - 1st place at St. Francis!!! We had 33 finalists! Several finalists were rookies. Outstanding work.

• You were professional and wonderful. Keep that up!

• Every week will get more difficult. You have to keep working on your speech and your performance because each meet will bring progressively stronger competition.

• Practice Sign In- Make sure you sign in at practice. If you don't, we don't have record of your being here, and you won't get points towards earning your varsity letter.

• Practice area rules - After our meeting, you need to stay in the North House area or the hall directly outside the North House- between the North and South House. If you are leaving, you need to leave the building. We were informed of students wandering the building and hanging out in parts of the building where they should not be. Security camera footage shows students going into questionable places. There was also a report of possible vaping in the building by speech students. We don't want to hear any more reports like this. Such activities may result in removal from the team. I say this a lot because I want to make sure expectations are clear. You are supposed to enjoy hanging out with your friends at speech, but we can't have reports of inappropriate behavior, or else we will have to enforce much stricter rules.

• How to assess and use your speech critiques, scores, and rankings - what they mean

• Hand out gift certificates earned from our fundraiser! This is the list of names Sam gave me saying who met the criteria to earn the $10 gift cards. 

1. Ava Hilger

2. Alexia Walbridge

3. Merlyn Zortman

4. Josiah Schlueter

5. Joy Mcdeid

6. Samantha Brekke

7. Annika DeRushia

8. Jacob Pauly

9. Xavier Stevens

10. Ainsley Doom

11. Rae Charlebois

12. Kirra Altermatt

13. Abby Pudwill

• Congratulations to our top three fundraiser earners! 3rd Place- Abby Pudwill, 2nd Place- Joy McDeid, 1st Place - Rae Charlebois. $25 gift certificates for 2nd and 3rd place. $50 gift certificate for 1st place.

• TODAY - EVERYONE except Discussion, Extemp. Reading, Extemp. Speaking, and Storytelling- You need to fill out the Script Form, submit it, and share your script with Mr. Orvik - lorvik@c-ischools.org

• Check your email for the form. Search Speech Scripts.  Here is the link as well. https://forms.gle/Zr9MweH3Pz2RytxF9

• The script form needs to be submitted today before you leave.

• CHAMPLIN PARK TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY

• Be here at 6:45 a.m.

• Bus load time is 6:55 a.m.

• Estimated return time is 4:30 p.m.

• Info document on website main page and sent to you via email.

• PRACTICE SESSIONS- When you sign up for a practice session. You need to show up to that appointed time. You have taken that time slot away from other people who were looking for a practice session. 

• WARM-UPS

1-23-24:

• Team Picture For Yearbook Next Tuesday- Peikert Info. Just high school students because it is during the school day.

• St. Francis Meet on Saturday 

• Roster: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19rdpkGmVTx4KDBzqwsRaNIjhUOkEUrPz/view?usp=sharing

• People who have not yet taken care of the activities fee or eligibility questionnaire may not be on the roster for Saturday.

• Be here at 7:05. Bus load time is 7:15. Estimated return time is 3:30.

• Here is the schedule sent by St. Francis.

  • Draws for round 1- 8:30

  • Round 1 at 9

  • Round 2 at 10:15

  • Round 3 at 11:45

  • Finals at 1:15

  • Awards as soon as we can after finals.

• There are usually concessions available at meets, so bring money. However, it is always a good idea to bring snacks and possibly pack a lunch. Bring water as well.

• Make sure you have your script, your book (ext. reading), your computer if needed for research, your case and stand (info.).

• Make sure you are dressed up in clothing worthy of an interview for a business/office job

• LIVE.SPEECHWIRE.COM: Log in to live.speechwire.com TODAY. If you are new, you should have received an email from SpeechWire when I added you to our roster. Search your inbox for an email from SpeechWire and follow the directions on that email.

• If you can't remember your password. Once you get to live.speechwire.com and type in your email, click on "forgot password" to reset your password.

• TEAM POLICIES FORM - Complete it today if you haven't yet done so. https://forms.gle/xXHgmHusESpL9z758

• No matter what- just show up and do your best on Saturday. If you are nervous, that is okay! Being nervous is normal. The best way to learn about how to be a good speaker is to participate in competitions and watch what others do. You will learn A LOT just by participating. If you are new, no worries- people will understand that you are just learning. All you can do is stand up and perform to the best of your ability. 

• Team clothing orders are due Friday. You only have two days left. Get them in. https://www.customink.com/g/cxf0-00ct-z7d9

• COACH PRACTICES- There are a lot of times available yet next week. Sign up for them, even if you have already had a coach practice. Your goal is to have at least one coach practice every two weeks, preferably one coach practice every week. https://forms.gle/AZ35nMwFv2mPv56k9

• Discussion- You are expected to participate in a practice discussion round on Wednesdays. Show up to the room assigned and stay there until the practice round starts. Attendance will be taken by Coach Schlueter -marking who shows up for the practice round.

• Coach Guptill is holding practice sessions tomorrow (Thursday). Sign up if it works for you.

• PRINTING YOUR SCRIPTS- High School Students: These instructions come from the media center website. High school students- "Students can print to the “CIHS Secure Print Cloud” and release their projects from the Media Center computer by logging into it with their username and Lunch PIN." Do this during the school day. If you have questions, ask someone in the media center.

• PRINTING YOUR SCRIPTS- Middle School Students: Ask one of your teachers to show you how to print from your Chromebook at your building.

1-17-24:

• Clothing orders are due in a little over a week. Go to the main page of our team website and click on the link to order. You can order through Friday, Jan. 26th. Get it done soon! We must meet a minimum order number for the order to be processed.

• Once again, if you need to find our team website just Google CI varsity speech. It will usually be the first thing that pops up on the results list.

• Fundraiser - people who earned gift cards for their participation in the fundraiser will be receiving those gift cards next Wednesday at practice.

• ACTIVITIES FEE PAYMENT AND ELIGIBILITY FORMS. Anyone who has still not turned these in will be removed from the roster this week. You can't practice or compete until all is turned in.

  • Hand out forms with names on them.

• Our first meet is on Saturday, Jan. 27th at St. Francis. Bus load time that day will be 7:15 a.m. You have less than 1.5 weeks to prepare. Just have your script on black paper and practice it multiple times before the tournament. It's early. You'll be fine.

• If you have not yet had a coach practice in January, I will be talking to you at the end of the meeting. You must have ONE coach practice this month to be allowed to compete.

•  Check your email to make sure you are registered correctly for that tournament. I sent an email with the current roster. If there is an error, let me know. I need to start officially registering our team for tournaments. 

• Roster: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z38Z0FVONe83EfD_kfHsQ4i_Hz8xt5NM/view?usp=sharing

• I am officially submitting our roster for St. Francis tomorrow and paying our team registration of $7 per student. PLUS- I will be officially hiring enough judges to cover our roster: 1 judge for every 6 students. Once we commit to a tournament, there is a lot of money involved. If you drop after this point for any reason, including illness, you will owe the $10 drop fee.

• IMPORTANT- run through team policies. You must complete the form emailed to you by the end of the week. Just click on the box at the end of each section after reading the policies in each section.

• Informative People - example boards

• I need to speak with the following 14 people after this meeting: Lydia Boettcher, Konnerjames Brownlee, Norah Gibbons, Rhyan Golyer, Andrew Jaques, Alexis Meyer, Violet Nelson, Lilia Osei-Dankwah, Veronica Pardo, Jacob Pauly, Paige Schwartz, Iza Scott, Chase Shimon

• We have THREE coach practice spots available tonight for anyone on the above list. If you can't get in today, sign up for a Monday or Wednesday practice next week before the St. Francis tournament.

  • Coach Guptill has the following times available for a coach practice: 3:50, 5:30

  • Coach Faust has a 3:50 available today.

1-10-24:

• Clothing orders are live. Go to the main page of our team website and click on the link to order. You can order through Friday, Jan. 26th.

• Time to get down to business. Our first meet is on Jan. 27th at St. Francis. That means we have two weeks to prepare.

•  Check your email to make sure you are registered correctly for that tournament. I sent an email with the current roster. If there is an error, let me know. I need to start officially registering our team for tournaments. 

• If you are not going to attend a meet, I need to know immediately. Absences need to be excused if you wish to earn a varsity letter and remain on the team. We have to pay a registration fee for every student we register. We also have to pay for part of a judge for every student we register. It is expensive for the program if people don't show up to meets. Not showing up to a meet for which you are registered results in you having to personally pay a $10 drop fee. This is common on speech teams. This is to help offset the costs incurred for registering you and paying for a judge. The team still ends up losing money- it costs more than $10 for each student to participate in a meet. 

• The tournament directors of the first two meets are not allowing Discussion people to double-enter.

• Double entries need to be approved by me. If you are hoping to double enter, but you're not listed as doing so on the St. Francis roster, talk to me.

• ACTIVITIES FEE PAYMENT AND ELIGIBILITY FORMS. I have contacted everyone who is still missing either or both of these things. You need to get this done THIS week if you want to remain on the speech team. Talk to me privately if there is a problem or concern.

• We have the exact same number of tournaments this year that we did last year. Last year St. Francis didn't host so we created our own meet to fill that date - the Picnic Meet. This year St. Francis is hosting. I had originally wanted to add yet another in-house-our-team-only practice meet on Jan. 20th, but we had to drop it. SO- we have the exact same number of tournaments we have had the past two years - which is still one more than we ever had before 2022.

• Informative People - Talk to me today so you can get your stand and case.

1-3-24:

• First practice of 2024 - Get to know your team.

•  You NEED to officially sign up for the speech team and pay your activities fee through the Activities office for high school students or through your student office at the middle schools. Your activity fee needs to be paid, and your eligibility questions/forms need to be completed and submitted. You can do these things online, or you can do them in person in the designated office. Click here to complete these tasks online.

• At the end of this week, we will start contacting people who have not yet paid their activities fee and/or completed their eligibility questionnaire. 

• The activities fee for speech and other arts programs is $155. There are reduced fee options for people who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Contact Robin Schulz in the activities office if you have questions about finances. She is amazingly helpful.

•  We have three new coaches who will be helping us coach all of you wonderful people. You will be introduced to them over the next few weeks. They all have extensive experience as speech team participants and speech judges. They are:

  • Raeann Goetz

  • Melissa Carle

  • Meagan Guptill

  • Charisse Schlueter

• We now have SEVEN coaches available for coach practices. You need to sign up for ONE coach practice with just ONE coach during each two-week practice period. Once everyone has had a chance to sign up for ONE coach practice, we will open the schedule up for anyone who wants a second coach practice in that two-week practice period. DO NOT sign up for more than one coach practice TOTAL until I tell you that you can do so. This is to make sure ALL TEAM MEMBERS have the opportunity to get a coach practice time that works for them.

• Click here to schedule your Coach Practice Session (again- just one with one coach TOTAL). 

• Monday Practices- Format from here on out. Show up and sign in to get your practice point. Then do one of two things. 1) Go to your individual coach practice. 2) Go work on your speech and/or practice by yourself or with a teammate.

• Fundraiser- We met our goal and more! Later this month we will receive our check from Vertical Raise and we will distribute awards to those who earned them.

• You NEED to get your script chosen and/or written ASAP. It's time to start practicing an actual speech. Our first speech meet will be here before you know it!

• We need categories for the following people:

  • Dean Benson

  • Norah Gibbons

  • Henry Keillor

  • Violet Nelson

• Informative people. You should have your speech written very soon. You will be receiving cases and stands next Wednesday. Start developing your visuals / info. boards.

• Extemp. Readers- The Minnesota State High School League has listed the poems and stories you will be reading from this season. Check out those lists. Prose readers- we have book version B. Page numbers are based on the version B column found on that list.

• Etemp. Speakers- You should be ABSORBING news right now. Researching various news topics and collecting links to resources. It is best to have access to files by downloading them in case the wifi is out during a tournament. It has happened.

• Discussion people- You should be researching like crazy right now so you can have solid evidence to back up your opinions and suggestions.

• Storytellers- you should be reading through the stories and coming up with outlines for each story to assist your retelling or rewriting the stories in your own words to memorize. Remember you can NOT use notes or a script in this category. You must do everything from memory.

• Prose, Poetry, Drama, Humorous, Duo - you should have a script chosen and you should be practicing your delivery.

• Creative, Original Oratory, Great Speeches- You should have your piece written or mostly written so you can start practicing your delivery.

• Duos- next Wednesday we will be requiring you to show us your backup script/category.

• The clothing order form will be handed out next week. 

• Peikert- explain what will be happening the rest of today.

12-13-23:

• One more practice in December - Monday, Dec. 18th. No practice next Wednesday- last day before winter break.

• Script Vault 2 - We have purchased over 100 new scripts for you to explore and possibly use. They are being added to the link "Script Vault 2." Many are already in that vault; more are going to be added tomorrow.

• Poetry people - I have ordered 19 books of poems by new/contemporary poets. Those books will be here early next week. I will let you know when they come in so you can come to my room to check them out.

• Fundraiser Information  - We really need to reach our goal so we can keep this program running with such a wonderfully large team. An email was sent to members with low participation so far. Read the info. sheet attached to the email to get your fundraiser account going - it's very simple.

• Officially choose a category today. EVERYONE fill out the space for a category after your name on the attendance sheet TODAY. We need to know your primary category. Upperclassmen, if you are planning on double entering, indicate your secondary category. DUOS- You NEED to prepare for a second category or you won't be allowed to participate in Duo.

• You should have a speech chosen or written by the beginning of January so you can get some quality practice sessions in before our first speech tournament.

• Reminder - officially sign up to be a member of the speech team through the Activities Department. You need to answer the questions on the eligibility questionnaire and pay your activities fee by Jan. 5th. Find the link to the Activities Department on the main page of our team website.

• If you have a coach practice, go practice. If you don't, work on your speech, choose a speech, practice a speech, do speechy things.

• Warm-Up

12-6-23:

• Here we go!

• Fundraiser meeting starts at 4:10

• Middle School students will be joining us today.

• You need to go to the Cambride-Isanti Activities Office website and officially sign up for speech and pay your activity fee. We have already started getting weekly reports from the Activities Office listing who has and hasn't paid for speech, who has and hasn't submitted their eligibility forms - all can be found on that website.

• You NEED to sign up for a coach practice in December- TODAY. Choose just ONE time slot with only ONE coach, not one with each coach.

• Today we will be breaking into smaller groups for you to discuss categories and ask questions about categories, how to prepare, how to find or write a script, what a speech in that category looks like, etc.

• Today is a no-coach practice day. Use today to go figure out which category you want to compete in, to help answer questions about categories, find a script, write a script, research, etc.

• Next week we will have you fill out a form stating in which category you intend to compete. You can change your mind later, but we need to start getting initial roster numbers and ideas.

• Keep in mind that at the Mississippi 8 Conference Meet and the Section 7AA meet, we have a limited number of entries allowed. We have a maximum of six competitors allowed in each category, and an overall limit of 52 entrants at the conference meet and 39 entrants at the section meet. 

• Keep that in mind as you decide on a category. We will set caps on categories that are getting too large and encourage people to join smaller categories so you have a better chance at competing.

ROOMS FOR MEETING TODAY:

Discussion- North House Commons

Duo - Room 146

Ext. Reading, Ext. Speaking, Storytelling- Room 148

Drama, Prose, Poetry- Room 149

Great Speeches, Original Oratory, Informative- Room147

Creative, Humorous- Room 145

3-22:

• Keep up the great work! You are a record-setting team. Cambridge-Isanti has never taken first-place trophies at five tournaments in one season. Keep going- only a few more tournaments left.

• 1st place at Milaca! 1st place trophies at Onamia, North Branch, Princeton, Fridley, and Milaca. DON'T STOP!!!!!

• MSHSL ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT - Emails were sent out yesterday. URGENT- REQUIRED!!!!

• HOME MEET ON SATURDAY. Be here by 7:30. Discussion Subpoints: Section 4, Subpoints A, B, C, & D.

• This is a BIG MEET - biggest one our school has ever hosted. Lots of teams from our conference and section will be here along with other strong competition.

• FOOD SIGN-UP AND DELIVERY

• We need people to help get rooms ready after school on Friday.

• We could still use some parent help with concessions.

• SCRIPTS - YOU NEED TO SHARE YOUR SCRIPTS WITH ME THIS WEEK - I NEED TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE SECTION.

• COACH PRACTICES - To letter you need a minimum of 8 coach practices. If you are in need, SIGN UP TODAY. Come to practice on Monday. Sign up again next week. Talk to a coach or a captain about getting individual practices.

3-8:

• You are doing an outstanding job!!!

• 1st out of 22 teams at Fridley! 1st place trophies at Onamia, North Branch, Princeton, and Fridley so far this season. KEEP IT UP! DON'T STOP!!!!!

• MSHSL ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT - Emails were sent out today.

• Milaca meet on Saturday. Bus load time is 7:15. Discussion Subpoints: Section 3 – A, B, C, & D.

• The Milaca meet is always a tough one as well. There will be teams from all over the state there. Let's see what we can do!

• Looking ahead. We have Saturday, March 18th off.

• Our home meet is Saturday, March 25th. It is a very good and tough meet- a real test for us.

• Check your email for the food sign-up. We need to provide food for judges, coaches, and bus drivers.

• We host the Mississippi 8 Conference Meet on Tuesday, March 28th. It starts right away after school. Middle School students will get a pass to get out of school early, and a bus will bring you here by 3:00.

• If anyone in a large category wants a very real chance to earn All-Conference or All-Conference Honorable Mention, there are currently only 6 people total from all the conference teams registered to compete in drama and 6 in extemp. speaking. The top four earn conference honors. Please talk to me if you are interested.

• We will be talking today to people about finalizing our conference roster - only 52 can compete with a maximum of 6 in a category.

• Of those people who make it on the conference roster, only 39 can compete at sections.

• At sections, the top 3 in a category go on to state. Right now there are only 9 entrants in extemp. speaking... another opportunity for anyone wanting to have a shot.

2-15: 

• Outstanding job last Saturday! 1st out of 11 teams.

• Don't start fading away. Good teams have all members consistently show up; they don't miss meets.

• Every week there will be more difficult competition. Princeton, Fridley, Milaca, Cambridge-Isanti meets are big and have large, extremely competitive teams from all over the state.

• Remember to stay humble and work hard, or you will end up being humbled. Don't start thinking you are too good to improve and take advice. That will lead to a downfall, guaranteed.

• North Branch on Saturday, Feb. 18th

  • Talk to me TODAY if you are listed on this roster incorrectly. https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rj-0FLJmJ8Le6oVKDnzfuCCwjZZHfqK/view?usp=sharing

  • Bus load time - 7:25 a.m. BE HERE BY 7:20 a.m.

  • Estimated return time - 3:30 p.m.

  • There will be finals.

  • DRAWS: paper draws. Draws start at 8:30 a.m. in the media center

  • DISCUSSION SUBPOINTS: Discussion Subpoints: Section 1 B & C; Section 2 A & C 

  • You will need to be ready to use SpeechWire for this tournament.

  • If you run more than 30 seconds beyond time limit, your rank may be dropped.

  • There will be concessions so bring money if you wish to purchase food and beverages there. Bring your own snacks, food, and beverages as well.

• Coaches Olson, Sende, Watson, and Ella Orvik will be available around 4:00.

• Policy- you can only sign up for ONE coach practice on a Wednesday - don't sign up for multiple with different coaches. When you do this, you are taking time away from others who need to see a coach.

• Today - you can practice out loud speaking to lockers or a wall - it's a thing speech people do. When you do so, time yourself.

• Warm-Up

2-8: 

• Onamia on Saturday, Feb. 11th

  • Talk to me TODAY if you are listed on this roster incorrectly. https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rj-0FLJmJ8Le6oVKDnzfuCCwjZZHfqK/view?usp=sharing

  • Bus load time - 6:55 a.m. BE HERE BY 6:50 a.m.

  • Estimated return time - 4:00 p.m.

  • There will be finals.

  • DRAWS: paper draws. Draws start at 8:30 a.m. in the media center

  • DISCUSSION SUBPOINTS: Section 2 – A, C, D, E 

  • You will need to be ready to use SpeechWire for this tournament.

  • If you run more than 30 seconds beyond time limit, your rank may be dropped.

  • There will be concessions so bring money if you wish to purchase food and beverages there. Bring your own snacks, food, and beverages as well.

• Coaches Olson, Sende, Watson, and Ella Orvik will be available around 4:00.

• Policy- you can only sign up for ONE coach practice on a Wednesday - don't sign up for multiple with different coaches. When you do this, you are taking time away from others who need to see a coach.

• Today - you can practice out loud speaking to lockers or a wall - it's a thing speech people do. When you do so, time yourself.

• Warm-Up

2-1: 

• Champlin Park on Saturday, Feb. 4th

  • Talk to me TODAY if you are listed on this roster incorrectly. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1weVmjJLG7zRwQP3oak8GajSYRxb0vt5G/view?usp=sharing

  • Bus load time - 6:50 a.m. BE HERE BY 6:45 a.m.

  • Estimated return time - 4:30 p.m.

  • You will need to be ready to use SpeechWire for this tournament.

  • If you run more than 30 seconds beyond time limit, your rank will be dropped.

  • Draw categories- Draw Meeting at 8:15 in the media center

  • There will be finals in most, if not all, categories

  • Storytelling: Stories 1-10; Extemp Reading: Stories 1-15, all poems

  • Discussion: subpoints 1B, 1D, 2A, 2D

  • There will be concessions so bring money if you wish to purchase food and beverages there. Bring your own snacks, food, and beverages as well.

• Coaches Olson, Sende, and Ella Orvik will be available around 4:00. Coach Watson will not be available today.

• Policy- you can only sign up for ONE coach practice on a Wednesday - don't sign up for multiple with different coaches. When you do this, you are taking time away from others who need to see a coach.

• Today - you can practice out loud speaking to lockers or a wall - it's a thing speech people do. When you do so, time yourself.

• Warm-Up

1-25: 

• Home Meet on Saturday

  • Be here at 7:30 a.m.

  • Round-robin format with four teams: Chisago Lakes, North Branch, Onamia, and Cambridge-Isanti

  • Three rounds - no finals

  • Judge gives you an A or a B and comments

  • Can earn an award for AAA or AAB at the end of the day.

  • Each judge will also give an award for the best speech that judge saw all day.

  • Make sure you have your script backed with black paper

  • Draw categories - Come with your first draw chosen and ready to go.

  • Discussion will not be round-robin

  • Bring food - there will not be any concessions available - it's a small scrimmage-style meet.

  • Extemp. Readers, Extemp. Speakers, and Storytellers -see me for info about your first round draw. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PiwZyPMQY-EMwMvBkU4-os2XWfENqGm-cgS1B_jQmaI/edit?usp=sharing

• Today we are missing multiple coaches. Watson, Peikert, Sende, and I will not be available for a coach practice.

• Policy- you can only sign up for ONE coach practice on a Wednesday - don't sign up for multiple with different coaches. When you do this, you are taking time away from others who need to see a coach.

• Today - you can practice out loud speaking to lockers or a wall - it's a thing speech people do. When you do so, time yourself.

• Warm-Up

Discussion - Practice Task for 1-25

 I C: According to the International Panel on Climate Change, “About a quarter of the Earth’s ice-free land area is subject to human-induced degradation.” Land degradation is a growing issue within the international sphere of environmental crises. You are a group of independent American environmentalists looking to publish an article on land degradation. Your publication should include facts and a comparison of national and international rates of degradation. Also include facts on the causes of the degradation and potential future impacts and solutions for both scales. Use this basis to compile a list of facts and data to support your ideas for potential paths to deter this crisis. 

1-18: 

• SCHEDULE CHANGE: Feb. 4th - We will be going to Champlin Park instead of Cannon Falls. It's MUCH closer.

• Missing Paperwork.

• Official roster check for the first TWO meets - I have to submit our registration this week for these meets. 

• Sign your initials by your name on the rosters if everything is correct. Circle your name if something is wrong and talk to me TODAY. 

• Speech Attire- make sure you have something appropriate for our first meet next week. Go shopping if needed.

• CHECK THIS TEAM WEBSITE - STAR IT, FAVORITE IT. This will be the easiest place to access important information about speech meets and results.

• YOU MUST JOIN REMIND if you haven't done so yet.  text @cispeech to the number 81010

• We will be using Remind a lot to get announcements to you quickly.

• Limited entry meets. We have three limited entry meets that we attend. Onamia, Mississippi 8 Conference, and the Section Tournament. With a team our size, not every team member will be able to compete on those days. You will have to be one of the top speakers in your category for large categories. If you want to get the best chance to speak at every meet and earn a varsity letter, you should consider joining a category that has smaller numbers if you are in a huge category. Some to consider: Original Oratory, Prose, Poetry, Great Speeches, Ext. Reading, Extemp. Speaking, Storytelling. At limited entry meets we are often limited to a max of 6 entrants per category.

• Script Vault Scripts vs. Cutting your own. FYI The Script Vault Scripts are proven winners. Cutting your own is a fine thing to do, but if you are struggling with that, don't be afraid to use the Script Vault. We had a speech team member a few years ago who loudly shared some misinformed opinions about categories. One opinion was that scripts from the vault weren't any good. That same person went to state in 10th grade with a script from the vault and never made it back to state again when choosing to find and cut pieces on her own. Don't be afraid to use a script that is already cut for you. It's a very viable option.

• Look over the rules for your category on the MSHSL website. Also, look up speeches in your category on YouTube. You can find some great examples from college tournaments.

• Extemp. Reading Rule for Poetry - posted on main page of this site

•  Today we are short-staffed due to illness.  Coaches Faust, Ella Orvik, and I will be available at the start. Coaches Olson, Watson, and Sende will be available around 4:00.

• Anyone who has not yet had a coach practice will be meeting with a coach today. Everyone else will come after those people have had an opportunity. 

• You can schedule individual coach practices with coaches throughout the week - just give us adequate advanced warning that you are interested so we can fit you into our schedules.

• Introduce Coach Sende

• Warm-Ups

• Practice/Work-Time/Coaching

• Discussion in Peikert's room - wait for the middle school students to get here- research until 4:00.

Discussion - Practice Task for 1-18

 I B: As the southwestern United States enters another year of what can best be described as a mega-drought, the amount of water used for homes, yards, and similar purposes has come under increased scrutiny.   You are community leaders in a major metro area in that region. Your goal is to develop ways to incentivize residents and businesses to lessen their water use and increase conservation. You are keenly aware of the political risks inherent in such actions, but feel it needs to be pursued.

1-11: 

• Discuss Fundraiser Success!!!

• Hand out Gift Cards to the winners with 20 quality emails

• Another new coach - Carly Sende will be joining us next Wednesday

• First speech meet is coming quickly- Saturday, January 28th at CIHS (home event)

•  Payment, Eligibility Questions/Forms, and Permission Papers with Schedule - Need to get turned in ASAP - You can find the Activities Website on the main page of our speech team website.

• Go over list of those who need to turn in paperwork on the board.

• If any of these things are missing at the start of practice next Wednesday, 1-18, you will not get to have a coach practice or participate in the first meet.

• If you haven't turned in the permission sheet with the schedule, grab one and turn it in today. You still need to take one home to get signed.

• Squad Leaders - to help us keep track of the roster and to help you find someone to directly ask questions

• Must be ready to present your speech to a coach between today and next Wednesday, Jan. 18th. If we haven't had a coach practice with you, by then, you will not be allowed to participate in the first speech meet.

• Schedule coach practices individually with coaches- talk to us ahead of time to see when we are available. I'm available quite often in the morning for one practice and after school for one practice on days we don't have team practice sessions.

• Divide into groups to meet with coaches and squad leaders - coaches/squad leaders check to make sure everyone has a script and/or research ready to go - chosen/written/researched. Mark progress down on designated sheet.

• Check attendance for each category so we can see who wasn't here today. Check to see a script or research. Remind those with a NO by their names to get a coach practice by next Wednesday.

• Orvik: Poetry, Prose

• Peikert: Info., Discussion

• Faust: Creative, Drama

• Olson: Humor, Ex. Speaking, Great Speeches

• Watson: Duo, Storytelling, Ext. Reading

• Warm-Ups Warm-Up Doc. 

• Practice/Work-Time/Coaching

12-14: 

• Discuss Fundraiser - note from Zack about our participation

•  "You're nowhere near hitting the potential of what this group could achieve. Only 7% of the kids have done 20 emails. Only 48% of them have a donation. All numbers that are extremely low. Today is a good day to send a text reminder to anyone they’ve texted who maybe hasn’t donated yet. They can see on their pages who’s donated to them."

• Roster Check- fix any errors, make any changes on the sheet at the meeting

• Be ready to present your speech to a coach by January 11th

• Introduce Coaches - Olson, Watson, Orvik

• Warm-Ups

• Practice/Work-Time/Coaching

12-7: 

• Team Announcements

• Practice/Work-Time/Coaching

• Zack from VerticalRaise here to discuss our fundraiser

• Pizza

11-30: 

• Intro to Speech

• Sign-Up

• Coaching