Coaches
Dear speech coach,
Welcome to Johnston for district large group speech contest!
Reminder: Contest will be held at Johnston Middle School not the High School. The address is 6501 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston IA 50131. Also, please let your parents know that the only entrance to this contest is through door 21. The other doors will only be used to let One Act people through the north end of the school. This door has a ramp for anyone that needs to use it.
Parking: Please review the parking section of this website to find information about parking this year.
Schedule: The schedule will be emailed to you and posted by Monday January 16th.
Sub Form: Click here to go to link for any changes you have within your groups.
Email: If you have not emailed me, per IHSSA directions, please do so right away (tyler.stough@johnston.k12.ia.us)
Be ready early: Please have your students be at their centers early. Since this is a district contest, there will be drops. Inform audience members who might be attending that centers sometimes run early and they should plan accordingly. There will be drops! PLEASE have your performers & parents to the centers EARLY!
Noise: We know that speech participants are the best kids in the state but they can get noisy at times. Hall noise has been a problem from the perspective of performers, coaches, and spectators. Be considerate and be quiet in the hallways.
Cell phones: They must be on silent, not on vibrate.
Donation: Remind your supporters about the $3 suggested admission donation for the contest site. We will have greeters at the entrances collecting the donation and with schedule information.
Headquarters: The front office will serve as headquarters. Stop by and provide a cell phone number we can use to contact you if there are issues during the day. (Texting can be our friend.) Ratings will be posted in the small gym.
Schedule problems: If there are problems with the schedule, please send an email to tyler.stough@johnston.k12.ia.us. And we will fix it as quickly as possible. Send drops our way as well by noon on Thursday, January 19. There will be an IPAD set up in the main office for any last min drops/substitutions you may have.
TV News, Short Film and Radio Broadcasting: We will provide a projection surface and speakers along with a media cart. All other technological needs are up to your team to bring. Prep will be in room 211 with performances happening in 209 or 213
As per SWIFT, “Please read your constitution – you must provide your own media formatted presentation. The contest site will have a backup just in case something happens to your projector or computer, however, it is your responsibility to bring your own equipment. DO NOT PLAN ON USING THE CONTEST SITE EQUIPMENT IN SHORT FILM and TV NEWSCASTING.
Each school should bring their own projector to show the Short Film and TV Newscasting. The contest sites will have speakers for you to plug into but you need to bring your own equipment to show the Short Film and TV Newscasting. If you bring your own equipment you will have no problems showing those events. We had some issues with these last several years and a rule change to the constitution was made that you bring your own equipment to show those events. That way you will know how to run it and you will have it set up ready to go when you enter the room. Each contest site will also let you know about this procedure in presentation.”
Note on timing of the Short Film….credits ARE A PART OF THE TIME. If you show credits they count as part of the time!!
One-acts: I will have a person in the lighting booth the entire time for one act. The plan is to have a headset on the stage and in the booth so you can communicate with the lighting booth. We will only be able to have full stage lights. There will be no left or right. Our sound board isn't working right at the middle school. I apologize for this. NO SOUND WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH AUDITORIUM SPEAKERS. Please make sure to bring your own speakers and your own way to project your music/sound effects. You can still call up to the lighting booth if you want 1/2 lights. All one acts will enter through door 15 (north end of the building) and enter through stage right. Once done, you will exit stage left (towards back of auditorium) (Stage manager will show groups were to exit) and exit through door 17, 18 or 19 at the north end of the building. Due to our Administrative policy, no look alike or stage prop weapons are allowed in any events. If you are unclear, please contact Tyler Stough. NO SET PIECES WILL BE AVAILABLE DURING ONE ACT.
Risers: If you are in need of risers for your group, please let me know tyler.stough@johnston.k12.ia.us.
Comment sheets: Please wait to pick up comment sheets until all ratings are posted. If you wish to leave before they are posted, leave a self-addressed, stamped envelope for us to send them to you. If you forgot your comment sheets, stop by the office and we will assist you.
Results: Results will be posted on both sides of the small gym.
It’s Iowa in January: After what happened in the past, we know weather can be a major factor with speech season! Weather related information will be on our website, WHO-TV and radio, KCCI-TV, and the IHSSA website. No decision will be made until at least 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The make-up date will be .
Smile, You’re on Candid Camera: Photography and or videotaping are expressly forbidden without the written permission of the IHSSA.