You are invited to attend the Millard West Wildcat Middle School Invitational. Any student enrolled in 5th through 8th is eligible to compete. We are hosting on Friday, April 17th.

 

We will be using online ballots and running a paperless tournament. Extempers may have open internet access. **All students in a draw event - IMP and EXT - must have an activated student Speechwire account before registration so they can participate in electronic draw**

 

Events: I will allow triple entries this year, but PLEASE only enter a student who is experienced, and you trust can make all three events. I strongly discourage you from entering extempers in three events. If they cannot make an event in the time given, we will not hold the round for them.

 

Events: HI, DI, Poetry, Oratory, Declamation, Duet Acting, Extemp, OID, Informative, and Impromptu.

 

Time Limits: HI, DI, OO, DEC, POE, INF time limit is 8 min max. Duet is 10 min max. EXT and IMP max is 5 min max. OID is a 15-minute max

 

Extemp Prep: We will be allowing computers in extemp prep per the high school NSAA rules. We will also allow open internet. Internet access cannot be promised, of course - we do our best, but some school devices just do not work. Please have a backup plan - if your school has a hotspot please check it out and bring it. We will have ours as a backup, but it has limited access. 

 

Format: We will be hosting three preliminary rounds of competition and then awards. There will not be a finals round.

 

Awards: Trophies will be awarded to the first and second place overall finishers, and medals for third through sixth. If an event is very large, we will give awards to the top 10 or 12. There will also be a team sweepstakes award for the top two finishing teams.

 

Judging: We ask that you bring one judge for every SIX entries. (6 entries you owe one judge, 8 entries you owe two) Judges may be qualified varsity members from high school teams, but please make sure you train them on how to judge every event, how to correctly use online ballots, and stress the importance of lots of positive feedback and constructive criticism. Many high school coaches would be happy to help you fill judging requirements with their students. If you need contact information for coaches, please email me at rkvanengen@mpsomaha.org. Coaches are always welcome to judge. I know many of you use parents, so please make sure they are trained on the norms of the event and understand how to judge. You are welcome to bring extra judges if you have any. Millard West competitors will also judge. 

 

**We will be hosting a paperless tournament with online ballots. All judges must have an iPad or laptop of their own to judge from. Students will receive their sectioning via text or email and on Speechwire. We will post paper copies of schematics outside the library, but electronic notification will be significantly faster. 

 

Fees: Entries at $8.00 per entry (OID is $10 due to high awards cost), and judge fees are $10.00 per uncovered entry/slot (you pay per uncovered, individual entry).

 

Entry Deadlines: Registration will close at 6:00pm on Tuesday, April 14th.

 

Food: There will be concessions available for purchase at the school concessions stand throughout the evening.

 

Arrival: You MUST arrive no later than 3:00pm for the tournament. If you arrive after that, you will not only be stuck in school traffic, but you will also cause our lot to be worse than normal. Please plan ahead and be parked by 3:00pm. If you are on a bus, it will need to leave the lot until 4:00pm; then, there should be space out front to park. You should be able to enter directly into the auditorium through our auditorium doors; just hang a right as you walk towards the front entrance. DO NOT let students stay in the cafeteria or leave things there - everyone in the auditorium, please.  

 

***Note: Parents will be setting up for post-prom in the commons during the tournament. PLEASE preface this to your competitors and stress the importance of being respectful of the space and the barriers they set up so we don't interfere with their decorating process!***

 

If you have any questions, please email Rachel VanEngen at rkvanengen@mpsomaha.org

(vr24)