Lola

In your FACE!
This only happens with girl mascots- Lola gets her hair done at the ArWeVa game by Sasha

Blonde Joke

Tumbling lessons and camps since age 3: $30,000


Annual cost of attending USC: $50,000


Annual cost for staying just the right shade of blonde: $10,000





Cheering when the other team scores: Priceless

Gmail - New comment on 1/23/2006 03:29:00 PM

Hey Coach just letting you know that the Winston Churchill saying is in the West Monona gym, not West Harrison - easy mistake though.

~Kelli

CLASSES FOR MEN

yeah, your coach is a guy, but I can still laugh at myself.

WINTER CLASSES FOR MEN AT
THE LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY Monday, Jan. 16,2006

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.


Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks! , Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and
Avoid ing The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub? --- Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.


Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor ---
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM

Class 6
Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other. Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places
And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing .
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques..
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.


Class 14
The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses,
diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Age Gauge:

Age Gauge:

This will really make you feel old.......

Put your birth date in the pop up window after
you click on the below link. What happens is
pretty interesting. It's also amazing how
quickly it computes!! Very cool. Send it on to
all you think might like a bit of trivia!! Click here:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html

I'm not crazy about West Harrison, their fans have thrown rocks at our mascots, but I've always liked this saying that they have painted in their gym.

To those doing well, it says to me that if you think you're successful, you'd better think again and don't stop working your hardest. Too many people think they're "good enough" and then just do enough to get by instead of constantly challenging themselves to improve.

To those who're discouraged because things haven't gone the way they wanted them to, it says that you should never give up, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." ~another Churchill quote. That's why they called him a bulldog!

Pyramid

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

~John Wooden

Competitive Edge
Poise - Confidence
Condition - Skill - Team Spirit
Self Control - Alertness - Initiative - Intentedness
Industriusness - Friendship - Loyalty - Cooperation - Enthusiasm

Click on any of the links above to re-read any part of John Wooden's pyramid of success! Obviously I have one more block to write about. I'll try to do that later this week.

I want to remind you of the pyramid and repeat it's lessons over and over again. Last week I had a new cheerleader confide in me that old cheerleaders are trash talking the current squad. Listen, I absolutely love and am proud of the Football Squad- don't believe me, click here to read what I wrote about them. But let's face it the Basketball squad knows more chants, they're more synchronized, they've even developed new chants and borrowed chants from other schools, they're stunting.

I am sorry if this hurts anybody's feelings, but Football squad, even the BEST two out of six, has no place putting down the Basketball squad. It has nothing to do with being "popular" kids or having the right last name, it has to do with being positive and trying to build up school spirit. Sure, I wish that I could have had 7 cheerleaders, and if her grades had been higher and her teacher-reccomendation scores had been higher, there's one candidate who I might have bent the rules to (click here for back story) but there's no reason, ever for any cheerleader or former cheerleader to bad-mouth the current squad. It's disloyal (not only to the rest of the current squad, but to the program, the school, and especially to me your coach), it's negative (the complete opposite of what cheerleaders are supposed to be), it shows a lack of poise, a lack of team spirit, and a lack of self control and it dammages friendships.

The Pyramid is not just something that will help build a stronger squad, but it can help each of you to get along better in life, to build your success in life/carreer/family/relationships on character and maturity. Please, PLEASE. read these, think about them, maybe even pray about them, remember them and try to make decisions based on them- unlike these old cheerleaders who'd rather complain about change and remain angry about things not going their way.

St.John LYF, Charter Oak

Click HERE (St.John LYF, Charter Oak) for pictures of cute guys from COU

We had a Church Volleyball Tournament this weekend. I know that Cassie & Angie at least know Jason, James, and Jake or "Animal," "Frow," and Jake as they're known at Charter Oak-Ute

IKM pics

Hey hey you, get out of our way, today is the day we will blow you away! Kayla kisses the hawks goodbeye.
Our biggest fan, little Nicky shakes his booty with us durring a quarter break
Dan the man "Rosie" tries his hand at playing "Cujo," and Angie makes sure he gets on the blog too.

Go Drillies!

We're not the only ones who fly. Angie took this picture of Becky while Drill Squad performed at halftime.

AIRBORNE

Here are some shots just to proove that we can jump and kick!

Vicki's awesome purple-gingham socks! What spirit!

Working the crowd against IKM

Japanese Horoscope

This is one of those REALLY corny email forwards that somebody sent me, but since I'm an Art teacher- the color/personality thing was interesting to me. Take it with a grain of salt, but enjoy it. No good luck if you forward it, no curse if you don't. That's the difference between forwarding spam and posting it on a blog:

Japanese Horoscope

Take this test & see what happens! If you are honest
this tells the truth -
it's pretty good. Write your answers on a piece of
paper, and NO cheating!!

The answers are at the bottom...

1. Which is your favorite color: red, black, blue,
green, or yellow?
2. Your first initial?
3. Your month of birth?
4. Which color do you like more, black or white?
5. Name of a person of the same sex as yours.
6. Your favorite number?
7. Do you like California or Florida more?
8. Do you like a lake or the ocean more?
9. Write down a wish (a realistic one).

When you're done, scrol l down. Don't cheat.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1. Color
Red - You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black - You are conservative and aggressive
Green - Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back
Blue - You are spontaneous and love kisses and
affection from the ones you love.
Yellow - You are a very happy person and give good
advice to those who are down.

2. If your initial is:
A-K - You have a lot of love and friendships in your
life.
L-R - You try to enjoy your life to the maximum and
your love life is soon to blossom.
S-Z - You like to help others and your future love
life looks very good.

3. If you were born in:
JAN - MAR: The year will go very well for you and you
will discover that you fall in love with someone
totally unexpected.
APR - JUN: You will have a strong love relationship
that will not last long but the memories will last
forever.
JUL - SEP: You will have a great year and will
experience a major life-changing experience for the
good.
OCT - DEC: Your love life will not be too great, but
eventually you will find your soul mate.

4. If you chose...
Black: Your life will take on a different direction,
it will seem hard
at the time but will be the best thing for you, and
you will be glad for the change.
White: You will have a friend who completely confides
in you and would do anything for you, but you may not
realize it.

5. This person is your best friend.

6. This is how many close friends you have in your
lifetime.

7. If you chose:
California: You like adventure.
Florida: You are a laid back person.

8. If you chose:
Lake: You are loyal to your friends and your lover and
are very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.

That's HOT!

Top: How cool is our school? That's Principal Chad Straight and Dean of Students Amy Bemus participating in the wheel-barrel races at today's pep-rally!
Above: F-I-T-E Fite, W-I-N Win! We put Kristen up in a spits-mount for the first time at the pep-rally. We also had fun teaching fans our new "hustle, hustle, use your muscle/Boogie on Down" chants. They really got into it!

An open letter to Junior High Cheer

An open letter to the Junior High Cheer Squad

Okay ladies,

In the aftermath of the whole Brianna-Tanisha drama I think we need to regroup.

I want to be able to say at least one thing to each of you and I thought that I'd just as well do it this way 1) so I don't forget and 2) because not only do I think it's okay that everyone else know what I say to each of you, it might even be good that they do.

First off, I know this is only JrHi and you may decide that you want to participate in VB, BB, Drill, XC or no sports at all next year, that's your choice, life changes a lot right now- but I'd LOVE to be able to retain each and every one of you- but who knows what parents, schedules (and Varsity Tryouts in the case of 8th graders) will hold. We still should work on being LOUD, being sharp and some other stuff. I have some ideas for how to change practice to do that starting Tuesday. (Don't forget we have another game this Monday)
'Kay, here goes...

Brittany- You have awesome potential, when you're on you're really on, we need to re-teach and review with you and you'd help alot if you can memorize the motion 8-count drill and then work on it on your own all the time.We need to work on your confidence level and your volume. I really hope you stick with cheer and that you like it well enough that you'll work you butt off to stay off the D/F list from now on.

Taryn- You're phenomenal. You're such a natural that it might even make other kids jealous. You're good at this. You're sharp, you can be loud, you have an awesome low pitch. and I bet that you're sturdy and stiff enough to stunt well. I've noticed that you review and practice on your own, you remember chants well enough to be able to teach them, you take initiative by calling chants both at games and you can focus and work durring practice when we need to- all those things are real leadership qualitites. This is why I say, you're good at this. Seriously, if you want to and you apply yourself, you could not only really help our program for the next 5 years, but you're one of the few kids who could probably even get scholarships and cheer in college. We need to challenge you to stay sharp and work hard and not get lazy or complacent. We also need to help you to be a lot louder.

Megan- Girl, you've always been our "Steady-Eddie." Look at pictures of the last 4 seasons and billions of people are in and out because of grades or committment, but you're still there. You're respectful and patient and you'll work when it's time to work instead of screwing around. You know most every chant on our list. That all leads me to believe that Cheer is your thing and you're sticking with it, tryout/parents/grade permitting- if that's so, we need to work on being sharper and getting your energy level up at games. (notice I left you aloan about being louder, but there's that too). I'm serious about you trying mascot whenever you want because everyone else on squad says you're really funny & do a good job- and guess what, you don't have to talk. But we should start working now because all of a sudeden there's competition. Chelsea still wants it, if he ever got his grades up so would Bradley- Brett may want it back and if her parents let her so might Kaylie, not to mention Dan Rose and Mike Wingrove and I have to warn ya, that Kyle Ahart is awesome.

Sasha- You have school spirit oosing out your pores. No one else wears as much purple in as crazy of ways as you do. I wanted you for cheer, I nagged you and finally I got ya. You're fun and funy, you're creative and smart. I like you well enough that if you must leave to play volleyball &/or basketball I'll let you go and try really hard not to nag you more or make you feel too guilty, but if you want to stick with cheer I want to help you get the most out of it and not just take you're talent for granted. Sure you've got leadership up the wazzoo, but we have to work on you not becoming bossy. We also have to make sure you don't just sit and direct 7th graders, but actually work and get the most out of every practice. We need to work on getting you sharper and louder if you're going to make it through Varsity Tryouts. You know everything you need to know, but it doesn't come always come out. We need your fun and your ideas in either Student Council &/or Cheer so we have to keep you positive and we ought to tap into those ideas instead of taking them for granted.

Christine- I am really proud that you're grades/math aptitude are pushing you academically. I'm proud that you're as involved/committed to music as you are even though we really don't have the most exeplary music programs in the world either at the elementary or MS/HS levels. I appreciate your Mom's wanting grades to come first. Be all that as it may, I also admire and appreciate how seriously you took cheer, especially last summer when I sent you a DVD and you taught yourself SO much! I will try to keep you on my email & mailing lists. Don't be afraid of Varsity tryouts, but to be aware that judges do look for high energy, sharpness, and volume- so if/when you have any free time at all, keep working, keep practicing, focus on precision. Know chants well enough to teach them.

Kenzie- I'm so sorry about your back. I've had lots of cheerleaders over the years with scoliosis and other back issues. In lots of ways cheer can aggrivate it, but it lots of ways cheer was easier for those girls than other sports. I would LOVE for you to still be able to come to practice even if you can't work as hard as everyone else & have to take it & even if you're not able or allowed to cheer at games (there's only 2-3 left anyway.) I know you're the type who likes VB, BB, & Track but you did a great job last year and did pretty good this year too (when you rememberd the chants and weren't dealing with back pain).

All of you- Please keep in mind & encourage 6th graders you know who would be good. Please don't be mean or rude to Brianna on purpose, please don't trash talk her or Tanisha/Caitlin/Kelsey. Please let Tanisha/Caitlin/Kelsey feel like they'll be welcomed back as Eighth graders- so long as they can handle being mature enough to be more responsible and focus and not fight or get so into drama. IF (big if) Jessica or someone else wants to practice durring Track season, please stay positive and work at being able to cooperate and get along with others (there will ALWAYS be SOMEONE like Brianna- that's just the way life is.) and Finally- Please keep in mind the Morningside University Mustang Cheer Clinic this summer. It's just one day and just $25- $35 if you want a t-shirt, it's usually in July. It will make you all a ton better and will be a lot of fun.

I guess that's it. Tuesday we have a lot to talk about. I'll see you then if I don't see you for at least part of the game Monday. Thank you each for working so hard, taking Cheer so serious and sticking with it as long as you have.

I'm proud of you,
Coach

Middle School

The 2006 Middle School Basketball Cheer Squad (after WWIII): Chelsea (as Lola) Megan, Taryn, Brittany, and Sasha in front. Above: Sasha's stylin' shoes! (also notice her spirited sox!)

Cujo is back!!!

Top: Kyle Ahart makes his debut as Cujo; like the matador in the hall leading to the ring- between games Tuesday night against ArWeVa.
Above:Puppy Luv; Aw, Cujo gives Cassie a smooch. Cassie sat out tonight because she had an allergy attack.

I finally caught up with Kaylie and found out what was up. No big, or as Kiom Possible would say "So NOT the drama!" Anywayz, we're good and there's always next year. Meanwhile, Kyle BEGGED me to try being Cujo. Since I caved, I only thought it was fair to have him alternate with Daniel Rose, since Dan had actually tried out and lost to Kaylie. Yesterday I had already asked Brett, or previous mascot, if he'd be open to doing a couple of games. He said he'd see. So now we might have 3 in the rotation- but wait, there's more... Mike Wingrove, Kyle's best bud had been asking me last week and I shut him down, so now... now since I caved on Kyle I didn't have a leg to stand on with Mike, so we negotiated that Mike will try the girls' game next Friday and Dan will do boys-

But I hate to tell all three of those boys- Kyle was the BOMB! we haven't had anybody that funny or with that much energy since Kenny Kahl back in 2000-2001! Wow. Phenomenal. Unfortunately, he's on JV Basketball and will probably be on Varsity Football next fall. Kind of like Angie will no doubt go back to volleyball and basketball- sometimes the BEST spirit squad members would rather be athletes for "ball" sports.

PS- Kyle's little 5 year old nephew (nephue? I can never spell that) Nicholas Ahart is Cujo/Lola's BIGGEST fan. Brett had the kid practically GLUED to him all season during football.

Gotta go back and watch the last quarter- it's only fair that I give Daniel half a chance.

Cassie starts a kartwheel after the quarter-break at West Monona Saturday night

Poundin' the floor for a rebound
Let me hear you scream and shout, make those Panthers cry and pout!

Vicki gets caught in a cradle catch Friday night in Logan

A few flies in the ointment

Well, while it seemed to be pretty smooth sailing there for a while, there do seem to be a few flies in the ointment.

First, out of the blue, our Varsity mascot leaves a phone mesage with my babysitter that she has to quit. Never have gotten to the bottom of it, if her Mom was making her or if it had to do with her asthma or what. It is a hot, difficult job. I just wish she'd talk to me in person once she gets a chance.

Then all hell broke loose at a junior high game. It's a new semester so we got back 3 seventh grader girls who had been on the D/F inelligible list for several weeks. Appearently two of them got into it at last Thursday's game. As rusty and/or inexperienced as they are they both kinda buck under the leadership of the 8th graders. From what the guidance counsellor and I have pieced together, one called the other a racial slur and that girl then started threatening to choke herself to death and someone else tried to repremand the first girl who then proceded to punch and/or shove the rest of the girls from behind the curtain on stage.

Comes down to me having to kick somebody off of squad. The other girls would love for me to kick them both off, I'm just not sure how that's gonna play with their parents.

Say a prayer for my wisdom, Cheer Alumni

Thanks!

Meanwhile my Varsity girls are talking about competition! For the first time I really feel like this is a group who has what it takes 'cept for a couple of things- MAJOR time commitment for a coach with 3 little kids who (along with his wife) is already spread pretty thin. And two- How's their committment level? Talk of not coming back out for Cheer so they can dedicate more time to Cross Country or go back out for Volleyball won't win any competitions- neither will kicking in your heels on belly-button rings and hair styles.

We'll see. Interest (and ability) to compete is a NICE problem to have! :)

The World's Easiest Quiz

The World's Easiest Quiz


(Passing requires 4 correct answers)



1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?



2) Which country makes Panama hats?



3) From which animal do we get catgut?



4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?



5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?



6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?



7) What was King George VI's first name?



8) What color is a purple finch?



9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?



10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?



All done? Check your answers below! Scroll Down










ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?

116 years



2) Which country makes Panama hats?
Ecuador



3) From which animal do we get catgut?
Sheep and Horses



4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
November



5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
Squirrel fur



6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
Dogs



7) What was King George VI's first name?
Albert



8) What color is a purple finch?
Crimson



9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
New Zealand



10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Orange, of course.



What do you mean you failed?

Bishop Heelan

Sometime during the second game, Kristen and Vicki mugged Kermit the frog and stole some of his clothes!
Crusaders are the team that we wanna defeat, so come on everybody it's the Bulldog beat!

Here are a few shots at the jv/v girls' game v. Bishop Heelan last night, (Tue Jan 10)


I think this one is just the instant before they kick or jump- I can't seem to catch them in the air this year.
Angie & Vicki really make Cheer look fun

Tanisha kicks like a superwoman!
Listen to the sound of our beat, listen to the sound of the Bulldog beat!
"Lolitta" spells out exactly what she wants

Megan tries a reindeer backstage at the Jr Hi girls gamve v. Wst Harrison Tues Jan 10
Briana & Megan at halftime
Chelsea as "Lolitta," shakes her booty

Yo yo yo- Sasha and Taryn lay it down in a Gansta-Cheer way yo!
Brittany, "Lolitta" (as played by Chelsea), and Tanisha cop a 'tude at practice Tuesday before their game.

PYRAMID

" Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

"Courage is being scared to death- but saddling up anyway."

~John Wayne

"You must have confidence," writes Coach John Wooden, "You must believe in yourself if you expect others to believe in you. However, you can't have poise and confidence unless you've prepared correctly. (remember that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.) Every block is built on the others. When all are in place, poise and confidence result. You don't force them to happen. They happen naturally from proper preparation. "

Webster's Dictionary explains that it is "a state of mind or a manner marked by easy coolness and freedom from uncertainty, diffidence, or embarrassment... faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance confidence that comes from long experience>...an ease or coolness under stress that reflects perfect self-control and command of one's powers... a manifest self-possession in trying or challenging situations."

Some kids bring confidence to cheerleading. Generally cheerleading gives kids confidence.
Flying, basing and spotting in stunts. Leading chants; shouting, jumping and kicking in front of hundreds of people. Leading pep-rallies... practice, practice, practice... being LOUD and PROUD...

And as Coach Wooden explained, working on industriusness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, self-control, alertness, initiative, intentness, conditioning, skill, team-spirit, and poise- these are going to give you REAL confidence.

Only one brick left!

Coach's Blog

Angie & Cassie share a smile durring a chant.

That's the way we like it! Celebrating a basket.

A different point of view. I'm excited because we're trying new material. I still can't seem to steer them into floor cheers/routines (although several of them keep talking about entering competing at State next fall) BUT yesterday in practice we added like four new chants. One from a COA video, one we "borrowed" and changed from another school, one is from my LA Lutheran files, and one a couple girls took off the internet and coreographed ourselves. This season has been AWESOME. I'm gonna miss whoever leaves to play volleyball next fall.

Vicki is queen of all she surveys...

Angie Up!
Bases Rena and Cassie give their squadmates a leg-up in the world as the Bulldogs take on West Harrison in Mondamen last Friday night.

A rare shot of Rena actually smiling!A rare shot of me NOT smiling...

Okay, I guess it's not THAT rare.