AISA LINK January 8

HEADMASTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

STATE BOARD MEETING:
The State Board Meeting has been moved to February 3, 2001.

ACADEMIC HANDBOOK:
Please make and distribute a copy of the Academic Handbook to all faculty members responsible for Academic competitions at your school.

ATTENTION:
AISA MANDATORY TESTING GRADES ARE 2,5,7, AND 9. This includes OLSAT testing.

TESTING MATERIALS REMINDER:
If you have not received testing registration materials for use in April of 2001, please call Mrs. Rebecca Wicketts at 1-800-228-0752, Ext. 5629, IMMEDIATELY!

IMPORTANT SGA REMINDER:
Don't forget to get involved in the state wide AISA SGA Can-a-thon! Please contact, John Lindsey, SGA President, at Abbeville Christian. For more information call (334) 585-5100.

ATTENTION HEADMASTERS: WANTED! - BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
A Blue Ribbon school exemplifies excellence in teaching, student performance, school life, and school and community interaction. A Blue Ribbon Award will be given by the AISA to schools that meet certain criteria. Click on Blue Ribbon Schools on our Newsletter page for the Criteria and Application.

ATTENTION HEADMASTERS:
Blue Ribbon Criteria - Add to #3 Criteria AISA Complete Battery overall average score is higher than the school's local ability overall average.

2000-2001 REVISED ACCREDITATION VISITING TEAM SCHEDULE. SEE OUR ACCREDITATION WEB PAGE.

ACCREDITATION VISIT:
Sumter Academy's visit will be Monday, March 19, 2001.

ATTENDANCE REPORTS - Due monthly!

ACADEMIC NOTES:

ATTENTION CHORAL AND BAND DIRECTORS:
There will be a very important Music Association meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, at Huntingdon College, Russell Hall, Large Private Dining Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

SPELLING BEE TIME IS NEAR!

ATTENTION SPELLING BEE:
District Spelling Bee Host/Contact (January 30, 2001)

STATE SPELLING BEE - February 6, 2001 - Huntingdon College Flowers Chapel

ATTENTION:
Art Teachers: Change in Academic Handbook
p.74-4. Each district will enter only the first place winner in the state competition.
p.81-90 Only submit one (1) entry to the State Art Competition.

ATTENTION:
Academic District Coordinators/Host School Academic Coordinators/Local School Sponsors.
Please read p.3-6 in the Academic Handbook and the section that covers your Academic Competition/Festival/Show/or Contest. It is very important that you know and understand rules and regulations of each Academic event. Call Don Oswald, AISA Academic Director, if you have a question.

ACADEMIC HANDBOOK:
You may review/copy academic competition rules. Go to Academic page of AISA web site. Click on Academic Handbook.

ATTENTION CHORAL DIRECTORS:
Choral Music Festival Coordinator is needed. Please contact Don Oswald @ AISA Office, 263-9115. If you have questions about coordinator responsibilities, contact David Ayers, Alabama Southern Community College, 334-575-3156 Ext. 296.

ATTENTION HEADMASTERS AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS:
Sportsmanship must become a priority at every AISA school. Stress the qualities of good sportsmanship to your coaches, players, and fans. Appoint a game monitor or handle it yourself.

ATHLETIC COMMITTEE MEETING:
The AISA Athletic Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 10, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. in the AISA office.

ATTENTION AD'S, PLAN AHEAD:
The participation format for the following State Tournaments is as follows:

Final Four Basketball Tournament
February 15 & 16 - Class AAA Schools
February 16 & 17 - Class AA Schools
February 15 & 17 - Class A Schools

Final Four Baseball Tournament
May 9 & 10 - Class A Schools
May 10 & 11 - Class AAA Schools
May 11 & 12 - Class AA Schools

West Regionals will be held in Selma on February 9-10.
East Regionals will be held at Faulkner University in Montgomery on February 9-10.

GO TO THE ATHLETIC NOTES PAGE FOR THE BRACKETS.

WRESTLING
WRESTLING GATE PRICES:
Maximum - $3.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Tournaments - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students

WRESTLING SEED MEETING:
The State Wrestling Tournament Seed Meeting will be held in the AISA office on Wednesday, January 24, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. All wrestling coaches must attend and bring season scorebooks.

STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT:
The State Wrestling Tournament will be held January 27, 2001, at Hooper Academy.

BASKETBALL
There will be a $25.00 fine if the coordinator is not notified two weeks in advance of a change in your basketball schedule. This will be paid to the coordinator. This will take effect on December 4, 2000.

ATTENTION AD'S:
Cheerleaders may not perform along the end lines during live ball play in basketball. Please enforce this policy. Reference rule 1-G, page 40, in the AISA Athletic Handbook.

ATTENTION JUNIOR HIGH BOYS' BASKETBALL COACHES:
The Junior High Boys' Basketball Tournament will be held at Hooper Academy on Saturday, January 20, 2001. Interested participants must have their final records into Coach Robert Andress by noon on January 10, 2001.

ATTENTION JUNIOR HIGH GIRLS' BASKETBALL COACHES:
The Junior High Girls' Basketball Tournament will be held in Camden at Wilcox Academy on Saturday, January 20, 2001. Interested participants must have their final records into Coach Buddy Sumner by noon on January 10, 2001. Call Buddy Sumner if you have questions at 334-682-9619 or fax him at 334-682-2107. Tournament brackets will be mailed out on January 12th.

PUBLICITY:
Attention Basketball Coaches - Call your game results into the Montgomery Advertiser at 1-800-488-3579, The Birmingham News at 1-800-283-4024, and/or your local media. Try to get scores on the wire service.

ATTENTION BASKETBALL COACHES:
Ron Ingram of the Birmingham News requests that you call your games in on a regular basis and update him every Monday a.m. He needs your record, scores, etc. for state ranking and outstanding player purposes.

You may:

Call at 1-800-283-4024
FAX at (205) 325-2425
Email to RIngram@BhamNews.com

Coaches, let's publicize our programs and players. Thanks!

OFFICIALS' PAY:
Any six (6) minute quarter game - $22.00 per official
Any eight (8) minute quarter game - $30.00 per official
Mileage - Twenty-five (25) cents per mile for one car (both ways) will be paid.
NOTE: Unless a special assignment is being worked, mileage will be held to a maximum of $50.00

ATTENTION ATHLETIC DIRECTORS (TENNIS-BASKETBALL-GOLF & SOFTBALL COACHES):
The AISA office has information for you on room rates for playoffs and championship games in Montgomery.

BASKETBALL GATE PRICES:
AISA Maximum charges for admission to AISA basketball games are:

Varsity - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Below Varsity - $2.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Varsity Tournaments - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Jr. High Tournaments - $3.00 Adults / $2.00 Students

ATTENTION BASKETBALL COACHES AND AD'S:
AISA Policy - The following procedure will be followed by all AISA schools when four or more basketball games are scheduled on a game day/night:

Junior High girls - start at 4:00 p.m. - allow 4 minutes only for halftime. If 2nd half starts after the half hour, then limit 3rd and 4th quarters to 5 minutes each.

If starting on the hour is a problem, cut warm-ups to a maximum of eight (8) minutes.

Note: Policy applies to regulation play only. If overtime occurs, play it out.

THE OFFICIAL BASKETBALL:
The Spalding 1000 wide channel is the adopted basketball that will be used for the state tournament and the All-Star game. Local schools can determine the use of any basketball for their home games as long as it meets the National Federal Rule.

BASEBALL
Macon-East Montgomery Academy will host a baseball and softball tournament on April 7, 2001. If interested in participating, call Coach Glynn Lott at (334) 277-6566.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elliot Hopkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 31, 2000) - Several clarifications in pitching motions were approved by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee at its meeting here July 15-17.

The committee defined the "time of the pitch: in the windup position as occurring when the pitcher (a) first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) after stepping onto the pitcher's plate with his hand already together in front of his body; (b) with both arms at his side, first starts any movement with both arms or leg(s) prior to the pitch; (c) with either hand in front of the body and the other hand at his side, after bringing his hands together, first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) prior to the pitch.

In the set positions, the "time of the pitch" occurs the instant the pitcher, after coming to a complete and discernible stop, starts any movement with arm(s) and/or leg(s) prior to the pitch.

In addition, the committee clarified Rule 6-1-4 regarding the position of the pitcher's glove in the set position as follows: "He shall come to a complete and discernible stop (a change of direction is not considered an acceptable stop) with the ball in both hands in front of the body and his glove at or below his chin."

Elliot Hopkins, director of educational services for the NFHS and staff liaison to change in language was meant to clarify the intent of these pitching rules.

Although the NFHS Board of Directors already had approved a new bat rule, which take effect January 1, 2001, the Baseball Rules Committee approved this change as a part of its official rules change for the 2001.

The new bat rule in effect for the 2001 season will state that the diameter at the thickest part of the bat should be no greater than 2 5/8 inches, and the bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat. For example, a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces. Previously, the maximum diameter was 2 3/4 inches and the unit differential was five.

Regarding bats, the committee noted that bats that are altered, that deface the ball o r that do not meet the rule specifications are illegal. Bats that are broken, cracked or dented shall be removed upon discover without penalty.

In Rule 1-1-5, the committee agreed to delay the implementation of the catcher's helmet and mask combination meeting the NOCSAE standard from January 1, 2001, to January 1, 2003. Also, in Rule 1-1-5 the committee voted to give state high school associations the flexibility to allow commemorative or memorial patches (not to exceed 2 1/4 square inches) on jerseys in an appropriate and dignified manner without compromising the integrity of the uniform.

As is being done with rules in other high schools sports, the Baseball Rules Committee adopted language in Rule 4-2-3a to address sportsmanship. The umpire-in-chief is to receive verification from both coaches that all participants are properly equipped and emphasize to the coaches and captains that all participants are expected to exhibit good sporting behavior throughout the game(s).

Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level with 455,305 participants during the 1998-1999 season, according to the athletics participation survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations. In terms of school sponsorship it ranks third with 14,486 schools nationwide offering the sport. In addition, there are 1,331 girls in 136 schools across the country who participated in baseball during the 1998-1999 season.

MEDIA CONTACT: Bruce Howard or John Gillis, 317-972-6900

GOLF
ATTENTION GOLF COACHES:
The AISA State Golf Championship will be held on April 30 and May 1, 2001, at Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery. The AISA office will put motels and phone numbers for reservations later in the Link. The Arrowhead Pro Shop number is 1-334-272-7188 / 272-7180.

The AISA State Golf Tournament will play the next three years on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses.

Policy of the AISA: Spectators will not be allowed to use golf carts at the State Golf Tournament.

A checklist which was published in 1998-99 by the State Department of Education in the Alabama Education News has been modified and supplemented in developing this suggested guide for AISA teachers. Please remember that ALL OF US must assume responsibility for ensuring that every skill that is tested has been TAUGHT before testing!

	Yes/ No
1. I have a positive attitude regarding SAT/OLSAT testing, and model this attitude for my class.	___ ___
2. Specific SAT objectives are worked into my lesson plans and into my "working paper" curriculum guides. Therefore, I have ensured, through my short range and long range plans, that all skills that are to be tested this April will be taught for mastery before the testing date.	___ ___
3. Skills on which my students will be tested in the next grade will, at least, be introduced by me before the end of this academic year.	___ ___
4. My students and I set achievement goals, and we celebrate success in meeting those goals with activities jointly agreed upon.	___ ___
5. I am implementing classroom management practices that maximize student time on task and student engagement in learning.	___ ___
6. I integrate the three types of reading (recreational, textual, and functional) and the three levels of comprehension (initial understanding, interpretation, and critical analysis) and process strategies in all content areas that I teach.	___ ___
7. I am asking questions in oral discussions, on written assignments, and on classroom tests that require application of skills and knowledge and the use of higher order thinking skills.	___ ___
8. I am incorporating the use of tables, charts, and graphs in my instruction in each subject for which I am responsible.	___ ___
9. My students and I have studied the SAT practice tests already this year, and we will use them for simulated testing at the time my headmaster and I deem most appropriate (shortly before the testing dates at my school).	___ ___
10. I am confident that all students who scored in the lower or middle stanines on the Stanford in my classroom are receiving instruction they need to improve their performance this year and that those who scored in the upper three stanines on the Stanford will maintain or improve their status.	___ ___
11. I communicate high expectations to my students for improved achievement.	___ ___
12. I am implementing a motivational program in my classroom to enhance preparation for and performance on SAT.	___ ___
13. I am implementing teaching strategies that allow every student to become actively involved in mastering SAT objectives/skills before testing.	___ ___
14. I help to motivate my students by "charting" their progress in mastering SAT skills/objectives.	___ ___
15. I am using all available "test prep" materials that I can locate so that my students will have optimum "test sophistication" at the time of testing.	___ ___
16. I provide extra time, attention, and support to students who scored in the bottom 5 stanines on the Stanford 9.	___ ___
17. I regularly motivate students to perform well on classroom tests. For example: I help students set individual achievement goals; I help each student prepare to meet his/her goal; Students evaluate how close they come to meeting their goals; and We celebrate and reward individual successes.	___ ___
18. I pat myself and co-workers on the back regularly. I understand that we cannot motivate others if we are not motivated ourselves!	___ ___

9	Morgan Academy Accreditation Visit
10	Council Meeting
	Athletic Committee Meeting
15	Spring Sports Practice May Begin
18	State Drama Festival
20	Jr. High Basketball Invitational Tournaments
22	Baseball, Softball, Track, Tennis & Golf Eligibility into State Office
23	Shoals Christian School Accreditation Visit
24	Riverhill School Accreditation Visit
27	State Wrestling Tournaments
30	District Spelling Bee

I	Riverhill School	Cindy Davis	(256) 764-8200
II	South Choctaw Academy	Marcus Ann Dempsey	(334) 843-2426
III	Greenville Academy	Anita Halacker	(334) 382-3800
IV	Escambia Academy	Julie Johnson	(334) 368-2080
V	Lowndes Academy	Joyce Harrell	(334) 278-3366
VI	Calvary Christian Academy	Debbie Adams	(334) 281-9633
VII	Jefferson Christian Academy	Zelan Ellison	(334) 956-9111
VIII	Edgewood Academy	Gloria Dean	(334) 567-5102
IX	Ashford Academy	Lisa Till	(334) 899-3286