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	Welcome back to our web site! After a lengthy hiatus, it's nice finally to be back online. While the circumstances which created the lapse were well beyond anyone's control, I want to apologize for the interruption in service. As always, many thanks go to my wife, who helped once again in making this possible, both from a technological and emotional support basis.

	The first marking period has officially ended, and that sets into motion series of checkpoints that will lead to our first practices in just under two weeks. It is vitally important that students have all the proper information prior to the beginning of practice to avoid any confusion and lost time, both on their part or on the coaches' parts.

	First, all student must be academically eligible to try out for either team. Academic eligibility is defined as a GPA of at least 2.0 without two failing grades. Any two failing grades, despite GPA, makes a student ineligible. A GPA of under 2.0 without a failing grade also makes the student ineligible. For our purposes, incompletes and missing grades are treated as failing grades until the student has written proof of something to the contrary. Report cards, which will be distributed next week, will clearly state if a student in eligible. We will also receive a list from MCPS stating which students are eligible. Again, students who are not eligible to try out now will not be allowed to try out later in the year. To do anything other than that would be unfair to the students who are eligible at the time the season begins.


	Next, students must have the proper paperwork completed to try out and to practice. The two pieces of paperwork needed are a current physical form and a parent permission form. Both of these forms are required and can be found on the school web site. If a student played a fall sport then that physical should be good for tryouts. All students will need a specific parent permission form to try out for basketball. Students should turn those forms in as soon as possible to the respective coach.
	Tryouts begin on Saturday, November 14. Each team will practice twice that day, and students should plan on attending both practices. All ninth and tenth grade students, unless otherwise directed by one of the coaches, will try out at 10 with the JV team. All other students should report at 8 for the varsity practice. Attendance at try outs and practices is not optional; it is a mandatory expectation.
	We continue our work after school, but in the weight room and in the class room. The weight room is open every day after school from 2:30-4 pm. It's a great, free opportunity for students to get in shape prior to tryouts and for them to meet other students with similar interests. We also continue to support students academically with study halls twice a week during the preseason. We will continue both the weight training and study halls as the season goes.
	Anyone interested in purchasing commenerative gear from Blair's 75th anniversary weekend should contact John MacDonald in the boys PE office for inventory and prices. There is also a select number of retro jerseys and other athletic wear available for purchase.
	Coach DeStefano November 3, 2009