Logos Protocol

Purpose: The purpose of the Protocol Program at Logos High School is two-fold. The first purpose is to provide a formal social event for the students that is consistent with our desire to teach a thorough Christian world view. In this case, it is applying Christianity to culture. Secondly, in a culture that despises authority and submission, we want to teach our students the importance of manners and deference. After teaching some etiquette techniques, we want to create an enjoyable social event in which the students can apply and become comfortable with what they have learned. The goal is to equip them for social events in the future, so they know how to behave in a manner worthy of the gospel. This is in keeping with the Logos School Vision Statement.

Description: Protocol is normally a spring event, usually taking place in April (although, depending on some theater opportunities, we have held the high protocol - 11th/12th grades- event in early winter). Logos uses class time (five class periods) to teach fundamentals of etiquette. This training is not optional for the students, but participation in the Protocol evening is voluntary (due to the costs paid by the individual families). The freshmen and sophomores enjoy an evening out in the local area (lower protocol, semi-formal attire). The juniors and seniors spend an evening out of town (higher protocol, formal attire), e.g. Spokane or Coeur d'Alene. The evening includes eating dinner at a fine restaurant and then attending a play or concert. Sometimes it includes an hors d' oeuvres hour with invited adult guests, or a dessert at a home after the dinner or concert. The protocol director makes all the arrangements and seeks to plan an event that will be suitable (formal in tone), affordable for all the students, and pleasant for everyone.

Costs: The students and chaperones pay for the evening.  The school does not budget any money for the event.  The protocol director must keep the budget within reason.  High Protocol costs more because of the caliber of restaurant and event.  It ranges from $50-75 per person, depending on the menu choice selected by the student.  Junior Protocol runs $30-45 per person, also depending on the events.  The director may make arrangements for some students to receive scholarship help if cost is a problem.  The director oversees the collection of money (and can ask the school secretary to receive and record payments) and also pays the bills.

Costs include the following: transportation ( if a bus is chartered), dining, concert or play tickets, any catering costs, and place cards.  The school does pay for postage for any letters to parents regarding details of the evening.  Most restaurants require an exact count for dinners, so it is best if money is collected early.  Tickets usually need to be purchased early, so as soon as the event is scheduled, it is wise begin collecting money needed.  In determining costs, the director must remember to add tax and gratuity to the total cost of the meal.

Scheduling: The protocol director should make plans for the evening as soon as possible, even over the summer if possible.  Special care must be taken to avoid scheduling conflicts with track, mock trial, church retreats, etc. The director must work with the secondary office to ensure a proper date.  Friday nights are difficult for Seventh Day Adventist families.  Thursday nights are sometimes possibilities, and the school makes arrangements to dismiss school early so the students have ample time to get ready.  Students and parents appreciate knowing early how much Protocol will cost and when it will be.  We avoid events that would cause any division among the parents.  For example, we avoid rock concerts and church-sponsored events.

Dress: Senior Protocol is a formal event so tuxes for the boys are encouraged (but not required).  If a student chooses not to rent a tux, a suit or jacket and tie is necessary.  The girls should wear formals (preferably long).  They should avoid dresses that are too bare (i.e. spaghetti straps or low cut), too tight, etc., and they should avoid outlandish attire.  The evening should be enjoyable for all, and dressing appropriately insures that everyone has a good time.  Junior Protocol is semi­formal so tuxes are not allowed.  The boys should wear coats and ties and the girls should wear dresses that would be suitable for church, nice but not formal.  Boys do not buy corsages for the girls.  However, some parents do buy corsages or boutonnieres for their students.

Suggested activities for Junior Protocol:

  • Hors d'oeuvres hour at a home to meet some community people.

  • Dinner at a local restaurant, bed and breakfast, or catered at a home or other location.  A play or concert at U of I or WSU

  • Dessert at a home after the play, etc.

Suggested activities for High Protocol:

  • Meet at the school (on a Saturday, or at the Best Western on a school day) at 3:00 or 3:30 for pictures. (Check with the Best Western first to see that they don't mind.)

  • Leave around 3:30 or 4:00

  • Go to dinner in Coeur d'Alene

  • Take a cruise around the lake (weather can make this a chilly event) Or, go to dinner in Spokane and attend an event at the Opera House

Protocol Training: The following is suggested to be covered in the five, one-hour training sessions.  Various older women in the Christian community who are known for graciousness have volunteered their time to do the Protocol training.  Mrs. Mickey Adams taught this course for the first nine years.  Others who have instructed the younger students are Mrs. Sharon Adams and Mrs. Sandi Boswell.  The protocol director goes over the schedule and the material to be covered with the women who are doing the teaching.  The director then sits in on all the training sessions.  The freshmen and sophomores meet together for their training, and likewise, the juniors and seniors meet together for theirs.  Four days for the older students and five days for the younger students are recommended to cover the material.  One period a day is set aside for the instruction. (Some years we have had two hours on two days.) The protocol director should make arrangements early with teachers who will be losing a class period.  Every effort should be made to keep one class from losing too many days.  The schedule and the protocol teachers should be approved by the secondary principal.  One session for the chaperones is recommended so the parents are comfortable for the evening and know what has been emphasized in the training.

  1. Day 1: Table manners
    • The placement and proper use of each utensil, glass, napkin, etc.
    • Eating all the courses, from the soup to the nuts.  Toasting.
    • General restaurant etiquette including buffets.
  2. Day 2: Introductions: Meeting new people, introducing people, working a room, shaking hands, proper conversation.  Handling the appetizers.
  3. Day 3: Getting in and out of jackets, cars, seats: The men receive training on helping the ladies out of their coats; they practice seating them and receive instruction on getting them in and out of the vans or cars.  This includes seating at restaurants and concerts, etc.  Theater and concert protocol included here.
  4. Day 4: Good grooming: Suggested tips for formal wear.  The boys and girls can be split up for this one (half hour each).
  5. Day 5: A practice session: In the auditorium the students practice seating, and have a paper plate set up for practice and review. (This is primarily needed for the freshmen and sophomores.)

The Protocol Director's Duties:

  1. Select an event and a date and submit for approval to the secondary principal.
  2. Make any reservations needed for restaurant and event.
  3. Write a letter to the parents explaining the event and announcing costs, etc. (See attached sample letters.) Include date that fees are due.  If a menu selection is required, include the choices on the form that can be returned with the check.  Solicit any chaperones at this time.  Make a general invitation and allow a certain number of parents to attend (first come, first serve).  If you think there may be too many parents, you may want to invite all the parents (for a small fee) to attend a social hour before the event.  You may also invite parents to come when they drop off their students so they can have pictures taken.  Parents are encouraged to participate as much as possible without having them outnumber the students!  Have the secondary principal read over any letters before they are sent.
  4. Remind students of fees and arrange for collection of fees.
  5. Set up the training times, arrange for speakers, and oversee the training (all with approval of the secondary principal).
  6. Set up transportation: charter a bus, or arrange for parents to drive vans, etc.
  7. Arrange seating in the vans and at the tables.  Buy some place cards and on the outside of each card put the name of one boy, and on the inside write the name or names of the girls he will be escorting.  Because the number of girls usually exceeds the number of boys, some of the boys will be escorting two young ladies.  On the inside of the card you may write the driver's, name of the van the students will be riding in.  When the students gather before they leave for Protocol, pass out the cards to the young men, or have them on a silver tray where they can pick them up.  It is then their responsibility to let the girls know they will be escorting them.  The boys will be responsible to help the girls into the vans and on with their coats.  This does not mean they must sit together at dinner, but it does keep it simple if you don't vary things too much.  You want to put students together who will enjoy one another's company, but that does not necessarily mean putting best friends together.  If any two students are in a "relationship," be sure to seat them as far away from one another as possible.  Never put couples together for Protocol.  This is not a dating situation but a civil event, an official Logos function.  If we begin to put couples together, Protocol in essence will be destroyed.  It is an event for everyone, not for couples.  If jockeying for position or complaining about escorts becomes a pattern, we may want to consider eliminating the escort arrangement for something else.  The students should understand that this is not a date.  At Senior Protocol, if there is a head table, it is nice to keep the seniors at the head (or even the student-body president and senior class president).  Usually, it is best to keep classmates together and not overlap too much.  I generally select one student who is reliable and check to see if there are any problems I should avoid in putting people together.
  8. In arranging seating at the restaurant, make place cards with names.  Some restaurants may want you to also note the menu choice on the card.  This can be set up with the restaurant in advance.  You should get to the tables before the students so you can arrange the place cards.  If cards are not used, the boys may not spread themselves out as well as you would like.  Usually each class has had fewer boys, so they are placed where they can seat as many girls as possible.
  9. Confirm all plans ahead of time.  Count tickets, etc.  If tickets are needed for an event, arrange them in envelopes with the names of the escorts to be handed out on the way to the theater.
  10. Send home a letter with any reminders.  Announce when and where everyone will gather to board the buses.  If you arrange for students to arrive thirty minutes early, then parents can take pictures and see how lovely everyone looks.  Professional pictures take too long, so stick to snapshots.
  11. Give the parent chaperones\drivers sufficient information so they know what is expected of them.  Arrange for one protocol session with just the chaperones to go over etiquette.  That way the parents will be able to reinforce all the students are learning and not feel awkward themselves.
  12. Pay any bills due during the evening.  The director is essentially the hostess for the evening.  It is the director's job to see that everyone is accounted for and having a nice time.
  13. Finally, see that the students write any thank-you notes that would be appropriate.  This would include the protocol teachers or any who hosted part of the evening in their home.  If a class secretary would like to send one on behalf of the class, this would be fine.  Freshmen and sophomores should write individual thank you notes (the school provides these notes).  The upper classmen may choose to sign a card together.
  14. If a student cancels at the last minute, no refund is guaranteed.  However, you may be able to sell his spot to another chaperone so you can refund the money.  Only staff or parents are used for chaperones, not siblings or relatives of students.
                                                                                                               
Copyright 2008 Logos School