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HELLO, HELLO FELLOW SPEECH AND DRAMA ARTISTS, 

 

The Valley High School Speech and Drama Family is honored to welcome your presence and your artistry at the IHSSA Southwest State Contest on February 4 and 5 in West Des Moines.

 

Please check out the tools and info throughout this website to assist you.

 

LOCATION

Valley High School, 3650 Woodland Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265

MASKS

Masks are encouraged to be worn by the IHSSA--especially in hallways and in performance centers.   Students may perform in them.

 

COACHES  

The media center will serve as our headquarters and will be open at 7:00 A.M.  Ratings will be posted OUTSIDE of the media center. Contest centers will begin at 8:00 A.M.

 

Please introduce yourself and check in with me. Please leave your cell phone # with me in case of emergency.

 

Too, make sure you are supervising your students in/out of centers. It takes all of us working together and supporting each other fully.  

 

SCHEDULE

If you can’t determine your school code, email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you.

 

YES! The completed schedule is now available.  Head Directors: Please email WEDNESDAY by 3:00 PM if there is an issue with the schedule.   Click here for schedule. 

 

Please have your students at their centers early!  Inform audience members who might be attending that centers sometimes run early and can't wait for a family member to arrive before starting.

 

If there are problems with the schedule (conflicts, I blew a special request, etc.), please email me at hansens@wdmcs.org   (Don’t call.  I am teaching this week, just as you are.) I will try my best to work it out.  There will be a chance I’ll ask you to wait until Saturday when we have drops and such to consider.

 

Additionally, a reminder that ALL special requests must be submitted to CRAIG IHNEN at the IHSSA State office by telephone at 515.401.1834. Please do not make special requests to me, as I will only ask you to contact Mr. Craig Ihnen.

 

Please make schedules available for the parents, etc. of your students. Complete schedules will be available for $5 purchase for spectators if interested.

 

If you are need of a substitution, you’ll fill out the online WHITE SUB CARD. Please inform me in the media center on the day of contest before the performance.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE SUBSTITUTION FORM. 

 

COMMENT SHEETS

You may pick up your comment sheets after all your ratings are posted.  If you wish to leave before your ratings are posted, leave a self-addressed, heavily stamped envelope for me to send them on.

 

Please remember your three (3) comment sheets for each category. If you forget, extras will be available at the office for .25 cents.

If you need assistance finding comment sheets, CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE COMMENT SHEETS. 

COVID PROCEDURES FOR SUBBING

CLICK HERE FOR IHSSA COVID PROCEDURES FOR SUBBING

RULES AND NUTS/BOLTS

Coaches should be with students and supervising. Please impress upon your students this is a contest and not a sleepover, party, or a carnival. The small gym will serve as one large “homeroom” for all schools.  Please leave all video game devices at home. Misbehavior will not be tolerated. We are very proud of our school and we would like to keep it clean and tidy. Ultimately, we are all on the same “team”—the  IHSSA Family. We must all work together.

 

Weather related information will be on WHO-AM radio and WHO-TV.  I will not make any decisions until 6:30 a.m.

 

If your group is using any type of prop weapon, look-alike alcohol or tobacco prop, you must contact me for permission. Additionally, make sure you contact your own administrator. Thanks for your understanding and concern to keep all students safe.

 

A NURSE will be available IN THE MEDIA CENTER all day.

 

Additionally, an administrator will be available all day should a special concern arise.

 

TSHIRTS

IHSSA State tshirts/sweatshirts/swag will be available for purchase. The goods are completely customizable with each category/name/etc.  Bring your $$.  

ONE ACTS 

All one acts will be performing in the Staplin Performing Arts Center. Please impress upon your students the importance of treating it as well as all spaces with kindness, respect and cleanliness. Please consult the Valley PAC stage diagram by clicking here.

 

READERS THEATRE/CHORAL READING

If you are in need of risers, please email me ASAP!

hansens@wdmcs.org

 

SHORT FILM/TV NEWS/RADIO NEWS 

Per the IHSSA Constitution, every individual school is responsible for providing their own individual projector/dvd player/computer/devices/cords/speakers etc. for SHORT FILM/TV NEWS/RADIO NEWS.  Make sure you bring your own equipment and test it before contest day. Again, each individual school is responsible for bringing their equipment. Does your equipment currently work? Do you have a back up plan?

 

BUS PARKING

Please inform your bus drivers to drop off students on the north side of Valley in the bus concourse.

 

Please instruct your bus drivers to park their buses on the south side of the schools by the baseball fields.

CLICK HERE FOR VALLEY BUS PARKING and BUS DROP OFF LINK.

 

It will be your responsibility as coaches to inform your bus driver where to park at Valley by the baseball fields.

 

There will be a bus drivers’ lounge available. Please inquire in the media center.

 

GETTING AROUND VALLEY

As advised by my administration and security, maps of Valley High School will NOT be posted on the web site.  The school will be heavily “signed”. We will also have ample volunteers in bright orange t-shirts throughout the school to provide directions/assistance.

 

Please do not leave campus for eating.  We depend on your $$$ to make our contest profitable.  Without it, we (and probably no one else) cannot afford to host. We are offering an extensive menu option for patrons with low, low prices.  

 

ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES will be permitted outside of the cafeteria or student center.  FOOD IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE GYM!!

 

PLEASE REMIND PARENTS/GUARDIANS

  • Donation boxes will be at all entrances.  Suggested donations are $3/person.

  • No photography or video of performances without the permission of the IHSSA STATE OFFICE.

  • All cell phones and pages should be turned off while attending performances.

  • They should arrive at least 33 minutes prior to any competition.  The rooms often run ahead of schedule and cannot wait for spectators.

  • VHS is completely handicap accessible for all performers and patrons.

 

Please come into the office and introduce yourself and say, “Hello, hello!”  I'm looking forward to seeing you all! And, I'll know who you are if you have to come back with a concern.

 

I am looking forward to our day together!  See you Friday, February 4 for the first session of One Acts and Saturday, February 5 for all events!

 

In the spirit of speech and theatre education,

Stacy S. Hansen, Valley High School Speech/Drama Director

 

Valley High School Drama Department

3650 Woodland Avenue

West Des Moines, IA 50266

PHONE: 515. 633.4222

EMAIL: hansens@wdmcs.org

Reservations for VALLEY FALL PLAY: www.MIDWESTIX.com
 

VALLEY DRAMA

Welcome to our Valley Drama Family web page, where you can find everything you need from the year's schedule to volunteer opportunities. Check back often and see what we're up to!!

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CONTACT US!

Didn't find exactly what you were looking for? Contact us now!

Mr. Aaron Westrum, Valley Drama Director

westruma@wdmcs.org

 

Ms. Samantha Melz, IHSSA Head Large Group Speech Coach

melzs@wdmcs.org

Ms. Amanda Pichler, Valley Technical Director

pichlera@wdmcs.org

Mr. Timothy Brown, Baker's Dozen Sponsor, CAMP Director

tim.brown500@msn.com

Mrs. Liz Kruger, Valley Southwoods IHSSA Director

krugere@wdmcs.org

Jennifer Throckmorton, Drama Booster Club President

krysaj28@gmail.com

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