WILLISTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #1

EXTRA CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE POLICY

THIS POLICY IS IN FORCE TWELVE MONTHS PER YEAR

The use or possession of tobacco, alcohol, non-prescription anabolic steroids, inhalants or any controlled substance as defined by North Dakota Law is prohibited. Any extra curricular participant /attendee who is in violation of the foregoing shall be suspended from participation in or at interscholastic contests or activities for a minimum period of six weeks for the first offense and a period of eighteen weeks for a second offense, and up to permanently for a third offense, in the sole discretion of the Principal.

Any student who is violation of the code of conduct shall be suspended from participation in, or attendance at interscholastic contests or activities for a period of time up to six weeks for the first offense, and up to eighteen weeks for any subsequent offenses, in the sole discretion of the Principal.

I. Administration of Rule:

1. It is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to immediately notify the school (activity director, principal or assistant principal) in writing via United States Postal Service or similar parcel or mailing agency, of the violation of the aforementioned rule(s).   Upon the day of receipt of this officially mailed and receipted letter of the violation, the period of suspension from activities will begin (6 or 18 weeks).   In the event that the violation occurs during the summer non-school months, any penalty assessed will begin on the first day of school unless the violator is an active participant in a fall activity, upon which time the suspension shall begin on the first day of practice.

2. In the event that a possible violation is reported to school authorities by a representative of law enforcement or a school coach and the student/parents have not apprised the school authorities by written correspondence of the violation, the following procedure will be utilized.

1. The student and their parent will be sent a written notification of the alleged violation. The notice will contain the allegations, the potential punishment, as well as an outline of the procedure to be utilized in the event the student denies the violation.

2. The student and parents will be required to attend any meeting regarding allegations of violation of the code of conduct, or NDHSAA policy. Failure to attend may be deemed an admission that a violation did occur.

3. If student admits the violation, the activity director, Principal, or assistant principal will immediately institute the required penalty. The principal shall immediately notify the parents in writing of the official action.  The suspension begins as of the date of the admission.

4. If the student does not admit guilt, the school shall set a hearing time, place and date to include:

A. The Accuser:

B. Student:

C. Parents:

D. Other representatives the student wants present:

E. Activities Director:

F. One of the student's coaches/ activity instructor :

G. Principal:

H. Assistant Principal (Administrative team=EFGH)

No public activity participation or attendance , will be permitted until the guilt or innocence is determined by the hearing or by the courts if that course of action is requested by the student/parent (NDHSAA Rule, Article13, Section 12).                                          

5. The activity director, with the advice and recommendation of the Assistant Principal, Principal, and Coach/Activities Instructor, will determine whether the student committed the alleged violation.

6. The Principal or activity director will inform the student and parents of the decision within three school days of the hearing .   If the decision is that a violation has occurred, t he suspension will begin as of this date of the notice to that effect, mailed to the parents and student.

7. During the six/eighteen week suspension the individual will not travel with any activity or team nor be present or on the bench or sideline during any contest.

II . Sports, Cheerleaders and Extra Curricular Participants:

1. Suspensions are six weeks long for the first violation and eighteen weeks for each violation after that.  A student who is an active participant in activities and whose suspension is not during their current activity participation will be required to sit out a minimum number of performance(s)   (as per the attachment) upon which time their active participation begins in his/her next historical activity or those events occurring during the six or eighteen weeks of suspension .  All other students who are under suspension will not be allowed presence at any high school activities which are not held during normal school hours or days.

2. Academically, a participant must maintain a passing grade in at least four high school subjects with a credit value of one-half unit per semester.   Grades must always be computed from the beginning of the semester.

A seventh or eighth grade student must be passing in 75% of his or her classes in order to be eligible to participate in activities.

Students who are academically ineligible will not be allowed to dress, participate, be part of the bench, nor will they be allowed at, or to travel to away events during their time of ineligibility.                        

III Alcohol, Illicit Drug, and Smoking Rehabilitation

(Accumulative over 4 year high school eligibility)

1. For the first alcohol or drug offense, attendance at a Drug Awareness class is required. For smoking or chewing tobacco, attendance for ten hours at a Smoking Cession class is required. Rehabilitation/attendance at a licensed addiction center program and successful completion of the same will substitute as the requirement to attend the Drug Awareness or Smoking Cessation Class before re-entry into any WHS Activity (as long as the 6/18 suspension period has been served) .

2. The second offense requires attendance at the “Kids at Risk” program sponsored by Mercy Recovery Center or a similar program provided by a licensed addiction center. Depending upon their recommendation, an addiction evaluation may be required at student 's expense.

3. The third offense and all subsequent offenses require the successful completion of a rehabilitation program before attendance at any activity and/or program.

IV. Code of Conduct:

1. All extra curricular activities participants or attendees will be covered by a Code of Conduct.

2. Any student involved in theft, assault, or damage to school property or referred to juvenile or adult authorities for theft, assault or damage to property shall be subject to a six or eighteen week suspension.

3. In addition, all student participants or attendees of an activity will adhere to the “Code of Conduct and Sportsmanship”. The code will be clearly printed in each student handbook and failure to adhere to the expectations of the code will result in up to a six or eighteen week suspension from attendance or participation in extra-curricular activities, or those held beyond normal daily school hours.

4. Classroom misconduct will not be tolerated. Any misconduct will result in disciplinary action

V. SCHOOL CAREER PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.

All student participants and/or attendees at extra-curricular, or activities beyond the scope of the normal school day and time will be under the Three Strikes Provision.

1. Upon receipt of the first six week suspension for a violation of the aforementioned policy violations, students will receive their first “strike”.
2. In the event they are suspended for any of the aforementioned policy violations for the second time, they will receive their second “strike”.
3. In the event they are suspended for any of the aforementioned policy violations for the third time, they will receive their FINAL and third “strike”.
4. Upon receipt of their third and final strike, they will be banned from any or all school activities beyond the normal school day or time for the remainder of their school career.
5. In the event that the student reaches his or her third strike prior to high school graduation, AND they are able to maintain appropriate behavior as per this policy for the remainder of their school career, AND are not subject to any of the aforementioned violations for the last six weeks of their high school career, they will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremonies.
6. As part of the activities policy, each participant is required to sit out a minimum number of events if found to be in violation of the alcohol/tobacco/drug or code of conduct portion of this policy.

The minimum number of events is one to four depending on the number of events scheduled for that activity. This is a list of activities and the number of events to sit out.

NOTE: For High School events, please contact Williston High School .

ATHLETICS:

ELIGIBILITY: Each student must meet all requirements of the North Dakota School Athletic Association, pass a physical exam given by a licensed physician during each year of attendance and maintain passing grades in five solid subjects for each grading period, for the present and preceding semesters. Failure to do so may result in loss of participation (“benched”). Each student must meet all school requirements as they pertain to conduct, attendance, etc.

OFFERINGS: The following sports programs are available: Boys - Football, Cross Country, Tennis, Wrestling, Basketball, and Track. Girls - Cross Country, Golf, Volleyball, Swimming, Basketball, Tennis, and Track and Cheerleading.

EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS and ACTIVITIES:

ELIGIBLITY: All students are encouraged to be involved in activities at WMS. These activities make school not only enjoyable but also fine-tune your talents and strengths for future involvement.

OFFERINGS: The following clubs or activities are available: Annual/Newsletter Staff, Art Club, Chess Club Math Club, Science Club, Music- Band; Choir; Jazz Band; Swing Choir, Ping-Pong, Student Council, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Studio 2-B (formerly GAP (Girls Are Powerful) ) .