Here is a travel overview for parents and students attending nationals next week:
Departure FRIDAY is via charter bus (Trans-Iowa Charters 515.244.4919) from Dowling Catholic. Bus will be gone by 6:15--students are expected no later than 5:45 and preferably by 5:30 at the circle drive. Keep luggage to a minimum as best as possible with the knowledge you are gone for a week.
Catherine is flying down Sunday am.
The bus is packed with policy and extemp tubs and there are 51 passengers.
It will be a LONG night...straight through with break every couple of hours.
Arrival hopefully around 11am eastern time at the hotel.
Schools: This is a joint charter effort to keep costs at a minimum...schools participating include: Dowling, Indianola, Valley, Lincoln, Okoboji and more. Keep your chatter about our "friends" to a minimum. There are a number of coaches, judges and parents on the bus. Use your heads!
Hotel: Sheraton Birmingham Hotel 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North,
Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 324-5000
Rooms: Amelia and Catherine share. Everyone else is individual.
Mirza needs to know if there is a hotel reservation mistake within the district, someone could be with you. While not likely, it has happened before.
Sunday: We are very lucky in that the registration and expo are at the hotel! This is huge for us. We will get up at a regular hour on Sunday and go to registration early to get us used to Eastern time and prepare for an very early bus call Monday. Sunday is practice day...we may choose not to attend the opening ceremonies at Samford University to get some prep work completed.
Monday and Tuesday: We are at Oak Mountain High School and a long bus ride from the hotel. We could be the last bus stop. Make sure you are eating and drinking well on this trip--otherwise you will find Monday and Tuesday to be VERY difficult days. Your coaches could be elsewhere judging. We are not in control of our destiny. We go where we are sent.
Tuesday night: Host party where breaks are announced and registration for supplementals takes place. You must attend. No exceptions.
Wednesday: If you are eliminated you begin supplementals: commentary (poetry for Amelia as well). These rounds matter and they are national championships. If someone remains in extemp, then things get interesting since your coaches could be elsewhere judging Supplementals. Or we could be judging extemp or other speech octo rounds and you will be in another building in supplementals. Your coaches are NOT in control of our destiny.
We are at the total mercy of the requirements of judging.
Thursday: If you are eliminated from supplementals you will be entered into Impromptu. This is also a national championship event.
Thursday night: Finals Begin. Great entertainment.
Friday: Finals all day. Great entertainment. Awards--huge program late afternoon. Bus will leave immediately following awards.
Saturday: Arrive Dowling around 10am.
Blog Posts: We will try our best to keep parents informed about results as they happen via the blog and mobile tele-posting.
Fun: Use your heads and enjoy the moment. You've earned the right to be at NFL Nationals. It is an opportunity to celebrate our activity as well as challenge yourself. Don't show up and get all wound up about the "National" tournament.
Remember our district is nationally competitive. We are not a bottom rung district. You have qualified in a challenging district. There is nothing to be afraid of...you belong. (As do a number of our students who didn't make it through qualifiers). You will see and hear some phenomenal performances and you will see and hear some performances and wonder how those kids got there. Be confident and trust yourselves!
