Please read and review the following overview of rules and regulations for participation in extra-curricular activities for Lake Pend Oreille School District #84 and Sandpoint High School:

School Activities Philosophy

Extra-curricular activities are an important part of the overall educational program.  Activities provide additional learning experiences, which are not readily provided in the classroom.  The major emphasis shall be on teaching our young people.  We do not subscribe to the “win at any cost” theory.  Activities shall be primarily for the benefit of the students who participate.  The activities and contests shall be psychologically sound by being tailored to the physical, mental and emotional maturity levels of youth participating in them.

Participation in activities is a privilege granted to those students who meet the minimum standards of eligibility adopted by the Idaho High School Activities Association and those set by Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84; Board Policy Code 507.6AP.   The purpose of this Activities Code is to provide for equitable and consistent administration of various programs.

  Eligibility Requirements

1.       To be academically eligible for athletics, a student must be enrolled full-time at Sandpoint High School, on target to graduate based on State Board of Education graduation requirements, and have successfully  completed the preceding  semester with passing grades and earned credits in six out of eight available classes.    Alternate enrollment eligibility is based on the following criteria:

o        Attending Sandpoint High School part-time and LPOHS part-time or attending LPOHS on a full-time basis. (Please provide LPOHS class schedule and grade report from last semester).

o        Attending Home School (Please provide class portfolio, grades and ISAT Grade Level Proficiency Scores.)

o        Attending a private school. (Please provide grade report from last semester and the ISAT Grade Level Proficiency Scores.)

o        A student not having the necessary number of credits to graduate with their class through the normal school day program, must have a graduation plan that provides for receiving a diploma by the end of summer following their senior year in order to be eligible for activity participation.  This item will become effective for the class of 2010.

o        Students participating with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 must have an academic improvement plan in place.  This plan must include monitoring, additional assistance, time provided for assistance, and an appropriate timeline. 

2.       Each participant in competitive athletic programs must have proof of insurance.  If they do not have private insurance, they may purchase student accident or health insurance through Myers-Stevens & Toohey &Co.

3.   Each participant must have completed the Interim Questionnaire form in full and have it on file in the Athletic Office.

4.   Each participant in a competitive athletic program must have passed a physical examination by a doctor of his/her choice upon entering high school and then again prior to their junior year.  This physical examination is at the expense of the student and may not be taken prior to May 1 of the year the student is entering their 9th and 11th grade years.  The examination is to be done by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner under optimal conditions.  If the student is participating in a sport for the first time during their 10th and 12th grade year an examination will be required.  Also, if a student has a physical during their 10th grade year they will be required to complete another examination prior to their 11th grade year.  The original, completed Idaho Health Examination and Consent form must be on file at Sandpoint High School prior to the first day of practice.  This physical examination form is available on website, www.idhsaa.org.

 

Transportation Rules

1.   Students shall travel to all school sponsored activities on the school bus, as a group, except in extreme circumstances such as bereavement or student testing.  Requests for any deviation shall be in writing by the parent/guardian of the student and shall be pre-approved by the school principal or designee a minimum of 48 hours prior to the event to be effective.

2.   Students are to travel home from all school-sponsored activities on the school bus, as a group, unless picked up at the event by a parent or guardian only.  In that event parent/guardian MUST sign student out in person with the coach (teacher) to VERIFY that they are taking student home.

3.   Requests for students to be dropped off the bus at specific stops along the route home, or to walk home from the school after being let off the bus following the event, shall be in writing.  The “Extra Curricular Alternate Transportation Request” form, available from the coach or teacher in charge of the event, shall be completed and signed in its entirety, and given to the coach prior to the event.  The bus will let students off only at the following designated en-route sites:

a.            Texaco Station at Athol

b.            Westmond Store

c.          Sagle Post Office

d.          Shell Station at Pack River

e.          East Hope Marina

f.              Hope Peninsula

g.            Trout Creek Road

Parents and/or guardians are strongly urged to pick up students dropped off at these sites rather than have student drive home in a car left at the site.

4.   A violation of these transportation rules may result in the student being suspended from further participation in extra curricular activities.

5.   Lake Pend Oreille School District is not responsible for students whose parents or guardians have chosen alternate means of transportation.

Conduct Rules:

Violation of the following rules WILL NOT be tolerated from the beginning of the fall sports season until the end of the school year in the junior and senior high schools of Lake Pend Oreille School District # 84.

Major Rules:

1.   In the event of use, possession, sale, distribution of drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco, please refer to Board Policy 504.7BP.

2.       No conviction of criminal law and chronic or flagrant violations of civil law.  For the purposes of this Policy, conviction shall include an actual conviction, whether or not the same is appealed, and admission of guilt, an Alford Plea, and a plea of guilty with a withheld or suspended sentence.  Violations of civil law shall include, but not be limited to a judgment entered against the alleged offender in civil court for injury or damage to person or property, or an admission of an act constituting a violation of another’s rights or property, but shall not include civil infractions as the same are defined by Idaho Code.

Minor Rules:

1.   To participate in practice or in any activity, each student must be in attendance for more than half the day of such practice or contest.  Any partial absence in that day must be an excused absence.

2.   A participant will not skip class (truancy).  If the student skips, he/she will automatically forfeit the privilege of competing in the next scheduled activity.

3.   Suspension (in-school or out-of-school) will result in the participant automatically forfeiting the privilege of competing in the next scheduled contest after the completion of the suspension, as well as all contests and practices during the suspension.

4.   Other minor rules will be specified by individual coaches for their sport season.

Penalties for Major Rules:

1.    First Violation – There shall be two options available for the first violation.

            a.    Elimination for the remainder of the available sports season.

      b.    Two (2) weeks suspension from games and the participant will be required to attend all practices but not be allowed to suit up or travel with the team.  (The principal, with the advice of the Activities Code Committee, will decide if a more serious penalty is required.)

2.        Second Violation – The student athlete who violates the code for the second time in any school year will forfeit the privilege to participate for the remainder of that sport season and the next two consecutive seasons.  For example, if a participant falls under this penalty in May, they will remain out of the sport until the next spring season.

Penalties for Minor Rules:

The coach will determine all penalties for minor violations except those specifically covered by the Activities Code or School District Policy.

Major Rules Investigation:

1.   All rumors of suspected violations of the Activities Code will be investigated by the principal of the building involved.  The principal will make every effort to arrive at the truth.

2.    Information concerning violations can come from many places.

a.   Coaches will be required to report all violations or rumored violations of the Activities code to their principal.  The coach will then be encouraged to conduct an investigation of their own.  Information received will be turned over to the principal.

b.   Parents are strongly encouraged to report violations or suspected violations of the Activities Code to the high school or junior high school principals.  Without parental cooperation, this Activities code will not be effective.

c.       Interested patrons and students are also encouraged to report violations or suspected violations of the Activities Code. 
 

Minor Rules Investigation:  The coach involved will handle investigation of minor rule violations.

Major Rules Enforcement:

The Activities Code Committee will be made up of the building principal, the building athletic director and a designated coach.  The coach will serve on the committee for a full year.  This group will review the findings of the investigation.  The principal, with the help of the committee, will make a final determination.

Minor Rules Enforcement:  The coach involved will handle enforcement of minor rules violations.

Due Process:

Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84 herewith reaffirms its commitments to the fundamental principles of justice, due process, equal protection under the law, and redress of grievances.  Therefore, no student will be denied these fundamental rights by any statement or rule contained within this activities policy/procedure.

 

Note:  Each Head Coach will hold a meeting and go over this activities code, as well as his/her program rules, with parents and participants in the program.