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Sponsor and Chaperone Guidelines

Sponsors are responsible for the conduct of their students at all times. To ensure that they are properly chaperoned, sponsors must arrange to have one chaperone for every ten students and at least one chaperone of each gender if the group consists of students of both genders. Choose chaperones carefully and make sure they agree to enforce and observe Festival Conduct for Students as outlined in the Handbook. Chaperones must be at least 21 years old.

ALCOHOL/DRUGS

The drinking of alcoholic beverages at any time during the Festival is prohibited as is the use of illegal drugs.

CURFEW

Troupes are expected to abide by the curfews set by the State Board of Directors. Chaperones should not retire until all students have been checked in for the night. The Festival curfew is 11:00 PM.

HOTEL ROOMS

Chaperones MUST be present if students wish to visit in mixed gender groups. Mixed groups may not visit behind closed doors. Students must be in their own rooms at the designated curfew times.

PROHIBITED MATERIALS

Students are not permitted to bring fireworks, weapons, candles, incense, water pistols, toy guns, or other kinds of dangerous or distracting materials to the Festival.

RESPONSIBILITY

Persons who assume the responsibility for chaperoning a group of students on an out-of-town trip should recognize that they have assumed a 24 hour a day responsibility from the beginning to the end of the trip. Chaperones should not make personal plans unless they have the expressed consent of the sponsor.

STUDENT CONDUCT

Chaperones should attend a meeting well in advance of departure in order to review the Festival Conduct requirements. Students will not be allowed to attend the Festival unless they have agreed, in writing, to abide by the Festival Conduct guidelines and have completed the permission forms required by the school to attend an out-of-town event. Any sponsor or chaperone witnessing inappropriate behavior by a student may take the Festival badge from that student and turn it in at the registration desk for disciplinary action.

SUPERVISION

Chaperones should keep an accurate check on the students assigned to them at all times. Students are expected to remain with the group at all times unless special arrangements have been made with the sponsor in advance.

SWIMMING

There is to be no swimming in any hotel/motel pool.

TRAVEL

Students should arrive and return with the group unless other traveling arrangements are made and approved by the sponsor prior to the time of departure. No student will be permitted to visit relatives or friends while on the trip without a previous arrangement between the parent/guardian and the sponsor. Travel in private cars should be avoided as much as possible. Safety First..

DRESS

Sponsors and chaperones are expected to dress in a manner which reflects positively on their school and Florida State Junior Thespians. Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times. Every effort should be made to avoid tattered, revealing, or otherwise inappropriate clothing.

THEATRE ETIQUETTE

Beverages, food, and gum are NOT PERMITTED AT ANY TIME in the theatres, exhibit areas, other performance areas, or lobby areas. Appropriate theatre etiquette is expected of both delegates and sponsors. Inappropriate etiquette includes feet on the seats, leaving during a performance, disruptive behavior, improper language, the wearing of hats indoors – especially in the theatres or performing spaces, talking during any performance, or any discourtesy to other delegates, performers, and/or theatre personnel. Delegates are not only considered guests of the Festival, but also representatives of their individual schools. Delegates are expected to behave accordingly at all times.

BADGES

Festival badges must be worn by delegates at all times during the Festival; this includes sponsors and chaperones as well as students. If a student, chaperone, or sponsor badge is lost, the SPONSOR must request a replacement badge at the registration desk and pay the $5.00 replacement fee. No replacement badges will be sold to students or chaperones.