Mount Horeb Middle School

Mount Horeb Middle School

Co-Curricular Handbook

2012-2013

MOUNT HOREB MIDDLE SCHOOL

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

CODE OF CONDUCT

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LOCATION

Philosophy and Purpose of Co-Curricular Activities 1

Applicability of the Co-Curricular Code of Conduct 1-2

Eligibility Rules 3-4

Conduct Rules and Consequences 5-8

Reporting and Administration of Code of Conduct Violations 8

The Appeals Process 8-9

Policy Development and Review 9

Appendix A 10

Appendix B 11

The Mount Horeb Area School District does not discriminate against pupils based on sex, race, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability/handicap in its educational programs or activities. If you believe you have been discriminated against based on a protected class a complaint may be filed the District Administrator or his/her designee by calling (608)437-2400.

Philosophy and Purpose of Co-Curricular Activities

Mount Horeb Middle School offers a range of co-curricular opportunities for students and we do so for many reasons. First, competing against each other and against other schools, performing for the public, gathering and socializing around common interests and promoting leadership opportunities have been activities sponsored by American public schools since their inception. Second, these types of activities provide healthy relief and release from the demands of the classroom and give rise to students’ competitive, creative and intellectual talents in ways the classroom cannot. Third, the human interaction that takes place on stage, field, and in exhibitions and performances contributes greatly to the personal development of students. Fourth, students and their community interact in unique ways in our co-curricular programs; ways we believe benefit both. All of these reasons justify the costs and the efforts associated with our extra-curricular program.

Yet, no one should confuse these reasons for having a co-curricular program with the central purpose of schooling - to educate children. Focusing on our educational mission sometimes means restricting or limiting students’ opportunities to participate in co-curricular programs. When necessary, we limit those opportunities.

The purpose of this code of conduct is to specify, as clearly as possible, the circumstances, which can and do lead to limitations being placed upon co-curricular opportunities for students. It is important to remember participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right. When students appear in public representing the Mount Horeb Middle School we want them to be representatives of whom we can be proud. We hope that this Code of Conduct will help us assure this happens.

Applicability of the Co-Curricular Code of Conduct

What Criteria Determine the Activities Included in the Code of Conduct?

When a student represents Mount Horeb Middle School in a school sponsored activity and that activity is public, then that activity is covered by this code as long as the students’ participation is not mandated by a course requirement and, thus, tied to a grade. Participation in a

co-curricular activity for “extra credit” is not regarded as being tied to a grade.

What Activities Are Governed by the Code of Conduct?

7th and 8th Grade

*Basketball *Cross Country *Track and Field

*Volleyball *Wrestling Dance

Forensics Science Olympiad Ski Trips

Student Council Yearbook Socials

Other school based extracurricular activities

*Events that use the weekly grade check eligibility process

6th Grade

Dance Forensics Science Olympiad

Ski Trips Student Council

Other school based extracurricular activities

Acceptance of the Code of Conduct

Students who plan to participate in co-curricular programs must attend a mandatory meeting to be held with their coach(s)/advisor(s) prior to the beginning of the activity(s)/athletic season(s) before they can begin to participate in the co-curricular activity.

The purpose of the meeting will be to review the code of conduct and to have students pledge to follow the provisions of the code. Students who cannot attend a meeting on the date(s) scheduled must set a meeting date with the advisor(s)/coach(s) and sign the pledge before the student will be allowed to participate in an event, game or activity (See Appendix A).

Students will be asked by the advisor(s)/coach(s) to take the code home and share it with their parents. Students and parents must sign pledges for each activity/sport to be eligible to participate. Pledges will be distributed and collected at the beginning of a season/activity by coaches and advisors. Signed pledges may also be turned into the middle school office.

Students participating in more general school based extracurricular activities, such as dances and socials, will not be required to, but may, attend the aforementioned meeting. Their participation will be subject to the Code of Conduct described herein.

When Does the Code of Conduct Apply?

A student is required to follow the middle school’s code of conduct on a year-round (12-month) basis. Academic eligibility is evaluated during the event/season of participation. At Mt. Horeb Middle School this means:

Academic eligibility is measured week by week.

The serious conduct rules (Rules 1 & 2) apply for a 12 month period from the

date of signature on the pledge sheet. The pledge sheet will be valid and apply

to Student / Athletes entering High School in the fall of 2012.

Other conduct, training, and participation rules (Rules 3-8)

apply during the season of that activity or event.

Eligibility Rules

Academic Eligibility

A student’s top priority in school should be to maintain the highest academic performance consistent with his/her ability. No one should confuse that priority. With this in mind, to participate in co-curricular activities at Mount Horeb Middle School, a student must continually make a commitment to pass all courses in which he/she is enrolled.

An academic eligibility check system in the form of an Assignment(s) Missing Form (Appendix B) will be applied each week throughout the activity/sport season. Since weekly homework becomes a permanent part of a student’s middle school record the eligibility standard applied in each week of the season is more demanding and the penalty of non-participation for that week of ineligibility imposed for not completing the Assignment(s) Missing Form is firm. Students must complete, at passing levels, all unfinished class assignments to be eligible for co-curricular activities. In the event a student has outstanding/unfinished class assignments, or assignments that have not been completed to a passing level as judged by the classroom teacher, he/she will not be eligible to participate for that one week grade check period.

In an effort to increase the level of home and school communication, and to promote collaborative efforts between home and school, we send home weekly Thursday Folders. Thursday Folders contain important information for parents to read and sign. At appropriate times Progress Reports of our middle school student academic success levels will be sent home electronically. Parents can also use Infinite Campus to monitor their student’s academic progress. The middle school’s communication of student academic progress through the use of reports and online reporting is aimed at helping parents to help students to grow and learn. Progress reports are not used to determine middle school student weekly eligibility.

The middle school uses the Assignment(s) Missing Form for students each week because we want our students to experience growth in personal responsibility and self-discipline by receiving: warnings or wake-up calls that must be heeded. If a student does not correct his/her academic deficiencies by turning in late and missing work they will not be eligible to participate for a one-week period. Students will receive the AMF on Wednesday morning. They must have the form completed and turned into the middle school office by Thursday at 3:30. When missing work is not turned in on time we assume that extra-curricular participation is too much for a student and he/she will not be allowed to participate for that one-week grade check period.

Student Study Sessions

Staff members at Mount Horeb Middle School offer study times for students who are struggling with the comprehension of educational materials, are having a difficult time turning in homework assignments, or are seeking to improve their overall skills. Mount Horeb Middle School staff coordinate these study sessions with parents and students as often as possible. The times and days when staff members offer study sessions may vary by grade level and house configuration. Whenever students are required to attend study sessions, it is their responsibility to attend as arranged or to make an alternate arrangement with the staff member hosting the study session. Failure to attend even one session may result in an office consequence. The host teacher will keep the study session attendance sheet. Students will be given credit for study session attendance when they actively work on school assignments.

The academic ineligibility period ignores the number of contests or events in a season and ignores the timing of a contest or event in relation to the period of ineligibility. When a student fails to return the Assignment(s) Missing Form, we will act immediately to refocus that student’s attention on his/her academic performance.

Each academic ineligibility period lasts one week. It extends from one Thursday noon check time until the next Thursday noon check time the following week. If a student does not turn in all missing work to their teachers, obtain a teacher signature on the eligibility form for the missing assignments, and turn the form into the office, they will be ineligible to participate in all activities for that one week eligibility period.

The middle school eligibility process is a collaborative effort between students, staff members, administration, and coaches. It is the main responsibility of the coach or advisor to monitor a student’s progress and to ensure that all students participating in that activity are academically eligible during the set week period. The middle school office will provide coaches and advisors with lists of students who are not eligible for the set period of eligibility. The student may become eligible to participate for the next period by following through on the eligibility process.

Attendance Eligibility

Students will be allowed to participate in practices, contests and events only if they are in school the entire school day. The principal, or the assistant principal, may approve individual exceptions such as family emergencies or long-standing medical appointments.

Students with an unexcused absence on the day of a practice, contest or event will not be allowed to attend or participate in the practice, contest or event that day unless they can present an acceptable excuse prior to the end of the school day.

The discovery of a violation of either of these two attendance eligibility rules after the day of an actual contest or event will result in the suspension from participation on the next event or contest date.

Special Athletic Eligibility Rules

A student may not participate in athletics (practice or competition) until the school has an examination permit card or alternate year permit card, often referred to as the physical card, on file attesting to parental permission and to physical fitness determined by a doctor. Coaches review team rules at the beginning of the season so athletes are familiar with them.

Fees

Students may not participate in any activities without first paying their activity fees.

Pledge Sheet

Students and parents should sign the pledge sheet (appendix A) prior to participating.

Conduct Rules and Consequences

Serious Conduct Rules

Rule 1 - Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco - Possession & Use

Students possessing, using, buying or selling alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs shall be suspended from co-curricular activities. Students attending an activity in which alcohol or drug use occurs may also be suspended under this rule.

Penalties under Rule 1:

First Violation - Students will be suspended for 30% of their contests or events with a pro-rated carry over to their next season or activity if the suspension is not fully served in the current season or activity period.

Second violation - Students will be suspended for 60% of their contests or events with a pro-rated carry over to their next season or activity if the suspension is not fully served in the current season or activity period.

First or second time violators who are not athletes may substitute community service for suspension from participation. First time violators will perform 20 hours of community service. Second time violators will perform 40 hours of community service. At least half of the hours of community service must be performed before the event from which the student would have been suspended and a contract will be drawn up specifying when the remaining hours will be performed. Service must be performed in a community setting approved by the principal or the assistant principal and the service must be fully documented.

Under Mount Horeb Middle School eligibility rules, athletes who possess, buy, sell or use alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances must be suspended from competition. Therefore, athletes who violate this rule will not be allowed to substitute community service for their suspension.

Third violation - Students will be suspended for a calendar year from the date of the violation. To reduce this penalty a student may enroll in an approved treatment program, complete the program, and continue to attend a support group that is willing to document that participation. If the student successfully completes these measures, he/she will be readmitted to full co-curricular participation not sooner than six calendar months after the date of the violation.

Fourth violation - The student’s privilege to participate in co-curricular activities will be revoked for the remainder of the student’s middle school career.

After every violation of this rule, the principal and the activities director will convene a conference with the student and his/her parents for the purpose of reviewing what assistance is available to the student and the family and to review the next step in the disciplinary progression. The high profile nature of this meeting is meant to underscore the school’s concern with this most serious violation of the code.

Rule 2 - Criminal Offenses