Registration:
Registration for the next competition year opens during the month of May for new families. Space is limited.
ROC is open to any homeschooling family that home schools 51% of the time. However, there is a membership cap. There are two classes of membership, senior members and junior members. Senior members are ages 12-18 by January 1 of a competition year. Senior members are required to compete in one tournament per year.
Junior members are ages 8-11 by Sept. 1st. and must have an older sibling participating as a senior member in the club. Junior members are not required to compete at tournaments, but are encouraged to do so when the option is available.
Membership is also contingent on new member families agreeing with and signing the club's Statement of Faith, Code of Conduct, Medical Release, and Release of Liability, as well as affiliating with the NCFCA league.
Costs:
Participating in Speech and Debate does carry a significant cash outlay for each family. Tournament fees and traveling expenses should be considered when choosing your families involvement.
Club Fee: Annual and nonrefundable $75 for the first child, $25 for each additional child, $100 family maximum.
Childcare: See Childcare below.
Mandatory Debate Camp Costs: Debate Camps available in the summer months (Mandatory for all Debate Students): $50 - $120
Speech Camps: There are voluntary Speech Camps during the summer months.
Please contact us for more information on camps.
Tournament Costs:
Approx. total costs for one tournament = $350 - $525
You can estimate travel expenses at $400 for a family of four including two nights in a hotel. Most tournaments are in Texas. You choose the tournaments in which you would like to participate. Note: Expenses can be lowered depending on where you stay, taking your own food, carpooling options, and optional free “Host Housing” provided by the families where tournament is hosted.
NCFCA Fee: 2011-2012 affiliate fee is $30 per family prior to Sept. 15th.
Tournament Fees:
- Approximate Speech entry fee is $25 - $55 (depends on # of
speech events you compete in)
- Approximate Debate entry fee is $25/team member for Team Policy
and $35 for LD.
- Tournament Clothes: All competing students are required to wear
Professional Business Attire (Gentlemen:suits/sport jackets + tie,
Ladies: suits, dresses, skirts) at every tournament. see NCFCA
- Traveling Expenses/Tournament: You will need to also add travel
expense to the above costs.
Membership Requirements:
All students are responsible for coming prepared to Club Day with completed assignments in order to benefit fully from what is being offered. Assignments are designed to help students produce finished works and be ready for competition by January.
All club members are to exhibit a kind, polite and respectful attitude toward others at all times and to behave in a manner that brings glory and honor to God. Public display of affection at any club event (including tournaments) is cause for dismissal from ROC. Your behavior directly affects club members and we ask that you please forego flirting and romantic relationships.
For the safety of all member families, all club members are required to stay within the geographical boundaries set by the administration of the facilities we use and are to strictly adhere to all established rules/regulations. Students must be in a classroom with other students being instructed by a parent/coach at all times during club. No loitering in halls or hanging out in empty classrooms. Also, members must obtain permission from ROC leadership to bring a guest/visitor to a club meeting at least forty-eight hours prior to club meeting. Parents are financially responsible for any damage to the facilities caused by their children.
Negative attention brought to the club by any student will not be tolerated because it reflects on the coaches, families and your teammates of ROC. If a student is disrespectful, uncooperative or disruptive, the student will be given one warning. If the behavior continues the leadership will consult with the parents. Habitual problems will result in dismissal from the club.
Mistakes will occur, but how they are dealt with is important. Conflicts will be resolved according to Matt 18:15-17, whereby the offended goes “directly" to the offender to resolve the issue, refraining from gossip and rumor. If necessary, one or two board members will assist to resolve the matter.
Parental requirements:
Teaching speech and debate skills is labor intensive. Club meetings will include instruction and practice. We need parents to coach: that is, to listen to the students and offer helpful advice, depending on what was taught that day. For this reason, every child must have a parent present at Club. If you think you have no skills to share, do NOT despair! You can learn along with your child. We’re in this together! You will learn by doing and by observing others.
* Parents with students in speech are required to participate during
speech sessions.
* Parents with students in debate are required to participate during
debate sessions.
* Parental time and support in judging and serving is mandatory for
all tournaments and Round Robins that the student attends.
* Parents are responsible for making sure their students are
completing their assignments. With junior aged students it might be
necessary for you to help them write their required speech(s) for
Club Day participation.
Juniors:
The Junior program may be available (depending on parental involvement) for younger siblings of Senior members who are age 8-11 by September 1, and it's purpose is PURE FUN!!!
We will be offering the Junior program for the 2011-2012 season which includes Beginning Public Speaking for Juniors during speech club, and for the first time, Intro to Debate, which runs during debate club. This is a no pressure, no high expectations activity, that we want them to ENJOY as they learn speaking skills.
Junior students may have separate instruction, assignments, practice and critiquing during Club days or join the senior division for activities, drills and helping to time their events. Memorization of speeches is occasionally required. Parents may help their students with speech writing assignments. We also ask that parents of junior students participate in the snack rotation.
Juniors may have the completely optional opportunity to compete at NCFCA tournaments if being offered.
Club Communication:
All announcements including club meetings, assignments, tournament information and other events will be communicated through the ROC website and email. Families are responsible for checking the ROC website and email regularly to stay informed.
Childcare:
ROC will provide childcare for younger siblings during Speech and Debate, if necessary, and is dependent on parental involvement. Childcare needs are determined annually dependent on the needs of the club for a particular year. If it is determined that paid sitters are needed, there will be an additional cost based on the number of children of childcare age. Speech/Debate club meetings are for registered participants and their families only. Siblings that are not participating in club meetings must be supervised by their parent at all times while in the facility.
Dress Code:
The spirit of the dress code is modesty and professionalism with the intent to glorify Christ. The goal is to minimize the focus on the body or outward appearance and maximize the focus on the development of ideas and communication skills. Students should wear modestly fitted clothing. No short shorts allowed. No t-shirts with offensive slogans, no tank tops, no midriffs showing, no low-cut blouses, no short skirts.
Release of Liability:
Rockwall Oratorical Club is released from all liability in the event of accident or injury while participating in speech/debate club meetings or activities.
Club Information & Policies
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge" Psalm 18:2
ROCKWALL ORATORICAL CLUB
