CODE OF CONDUCT
Participation in high school activity/athletic programs is a privilege, not a right.听 All participants are expected to demonstrate high levels of citizenship and academic performance in order to represent their school as a member of a team or club activity.
To be eligible for participation, a signed verification by the student and parent indicating they have received and read a copy of the Activity/Athletic Code of Conduct, as well as the specific rules and regulations of an individual activity/athletic program, must be submitted annually by the parent or student and kept on file in the office of the activities coordinator of the school.
The Code of Conduct must be signed each year and will be in effect for each season in which the student participates, including school sponsored summer programs.听 The appropriate sanctions, as described in this procedure, will be applied for violations that occur during the season of participation.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
- Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules must be followed in all cases of eligibility, transfer, insurance coverage, season dates, use of school equipment, etc.
- Prior to the first practice for participation in interscholastic athletics, a student must undergo a thorough medical examination and be approved for interscholastic athletic competition by a medical authority licensed to perform a physical examination. The physical examination shall be valid for twenty-four (24) consecutive months unless the physician indicates the physical is only good for less than twenty-four (24) months.听 Also, the current physical must extend through the duration of the entire sports season.听 Physicals which expire during the sports season will not be accepted for clearance.
- No athlete may quit one sport and turn out for another after the season has begun without the mutual consent of the coaches.
- Participants must travel to and from contests away from Bellingham in transportation provided by the school. The only exceptions permitted are:
- Injury to a participant which requires alternate transportation; or
- Prior arrangement between the participant鈥檚 parent/guardian and the coach/advisor for the student to ride with parent/guardian.
- Completion of the activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity鈥檚 season is required in order for the student to be eligible for letter or other team or individual awards. (Exception: injury which limits participation.)听 No awards shall be given to any student suspended for the remainder of the season for Activity/athletic/Extra-Curricular Activity Code of Conduct violations.
- An athlete who has been injured and has had medical treatment cannot participate until a signed release from the doctor is presented to the school Activities Office. The release form will be kept on file by the school administration.听 (Form provided by school.)
- Any display of un-sportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent or official or the use of profane, obscene, or vulgar language or gestures during a practice or contest will result in counseling by the head coach/advisor and/or other corrective action, including possible exclusion.
- School-owned equipment checked out by a participant in any activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity is his/her responsibility. The participant will be financially responsible for the loss or misuse of this equipment.听 Participants will not be allowed to continue competing or to receive awards until this obligation is fulfilled.
- Any student representing the school in activity/athletic/extra-curricular activities must meet the dress standards deemed appropriate by the advisor/coach and school administration. Coaches and advisors of activities will notify participants as to the standards they expect.
- A participant is expected to attend all scheduled practices, meetings, contests and performances, whether or not school is in session. If it is necessary to be absent, prior notification must be provided to the advisor/coach no less than 48 hours prior to the planned absence.听 Exceptions to the 48-hour requirement may be made at the discretion of the principal for good cause.
- A participant shall not engage in conduct detrimental to the group or to the school.
- A participant shall not steal or use another鈥檚 property without permission.
- A participant shall not use, consume, possess, transmit or sell alcoholic beverages, drugs, narcotics or tobacco (including smokeless tobacco and vaping.) Nor shall a participant use or possess drug paraphernalia.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
- A student must be in school the entire day in order to participate in a practice or activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity that day. The only regular exceptions to this requirement are funerals, pre-planned medical/legal appointments, or school sponsored events.听 A student may appeal to the principal to excuse an absence for a reason other than one of those noted above.听 The principal may grant an excuse for unusual circumstances.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
- Participation in an activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity program requires successful performance in academics. The academic standards place proper emphasis upon student achievement in the classroom to maintain eligibility.
- In order to maintain athletic eligibility, students must be enrolled in seven (7) classes in an eight (8) period class schedule or the equivalent in the immediately preceding semester.
- In order to maintain athletic eligibility during the current semester, the student must maintain passing grades in seven (7) classes of an eight (8) period class schedule or the equivalent credits in the immediately preceding semester in order to be eligible for competition during the succeeding semester.
- Running Start student eligibility for participation in activity/athletic/extra-curricular activities is determined at their high school of residence and must be in compliance with WIAA Eligibility Standard 18.27.0.
- Academic eligibility is established at least every three weeks during the extra-curricular activity season. In order to be eligible to participate in an activity, a student must be registered, attending and passing all assigned classes.听 Students who do not have passing grades will be excluded.听 The participant鈥檚 parent or guardian will be notified of such exclusion.听 Students who raise their grades to passing during the ineligible period must receive teacher confirmation of this grade in order to become eligible. Clerical errors made by a teacher may be corrected by mutual agreement between the teacher and the activities coordinator.
- Academic eligibility assessments shall begin the third week of the school year and will occur every three weeks throughout the year. Students marked as failing will be ineligible until they are passing all classes. Once passing, they are required to submit an eligibility form to the Activities Office. The ineligibility will begin the Monday following each three-week grade check and continue until the student is passing.
Eligibility slips will be marked with one of the following:
- 鈥淧鈥 (passing,) 鈥 A 鈥淧鈥 will mean the participant is eligible for competition the following week.
- 鈥淔鈥 (failing) 鈥 An 鈥淔鈥 means that the student is not passing a particular class.听 If a student receives an 鈥淔鈥 in any course, s/he will be excluded from participating in the activity for the following week and any subsequent weeks until the academic situation is rectified.
- 鈥淚鈥 (improving) 鈥 An 鈥淚鈥 means the student is improving in a particular class and is thus eligible for participation. This grade must be checked weekly until the grade becomes a 鈥淧鈥.
- Students who receive an 鈥淔鈥 will have an ineligibility slip circulated at each three-week grade check. The student will become eligible when they successfully submit the form with the passing grade signed by the teacher to the Activities Office.
- Forging of a signature or a grade will result in automatic exclusion for the season.
CITIZENSHIP STANDARDS
- All participants must demonstrate good citizenship in the school building, classroom, and activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity program. Conduct that materially and substantially interferes with the educational process is prohibited.
- Any participant referred to the administration for disruptive behavior will be made aware of the possible consequences of his/her actions and may be subject to appropriate corrective action.
- Upon a second referral that requires administrative action, the participant will be declared ineligible for the following week.
- If there is a third referral requiring administrative action, the participant will be excluded from the activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity for the remainder of the season.
USE OF ALCOHOL, LEGEND DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
Bellingham Public Schools recognizes that chemical dependency is a serious illness and the use of drugs may be a violation of the law.听 The principal/principal designee and coach/advisor will implement the following disciplinary action as a result of a participant鈥檚 offense for use, consumption, possession, transmittal or sale of alcohol, legend drugs, or controlled substances or for the use, sale, or possession of drug paraphernalia.
The substance abuse offenses/violations described will accumulate through the student鈥檚 high school activity/athletic/extra-curricular career and will trigger the disciplinary action described below. 听
听The following definitions apply:
- Definitions:
Proximity Offense 鈥 In the absence of physical possession, if there is knowledge that alcohol, tobacco, drugs or other illegal substances are present and/or being used by others who are present鈥攁ll students have a responsibility to remove themselves from that situation immediately. This rule does not apply to events where alcohol or drug use is permitted by law, such as at religious ceremonies or where alcohol use is restricted to adults.
Exclusion 鈥 Athletic/activity exclusion means the complete denial of the privilege to participate in the athletic/activity program for an indefinite or defined period of time.
Self-Referral 鈥 Self-referral of a violation means that the student admits to the infraction before an investigation or inquiry by any school staff or legal authority, e.g. police officer.
Self-Admittance 鈥 Self-admittance of a violation means that, when questioned as part of an investigation, a student responds honestly and is cooperative.
- Sanctions:
A. Sale of or Intent to Sell Alcohol or Marijuana
First Violation involving Sale of or Intent to Sell Alcohol or Marijuana
Any student who is found to have been engaged in the sale or an effort to sell alcohol or marijuana will be excluded from all sports or activities in the district.听 If a high school student completes drug/alcohol dependency assessment and any subsequent recommendations for treatment, he/she may appeal in writing to the District Eligibility Board to be reinstated for athletics or activities after a one calendar year suspension.听 (See Determination of Eligibility under USE OF ALCOHOL, LEGEND DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES above.)听 听
B. Use of Alcohol
(1.)听听听听听听 First Offense
| Source of Information
|
Actual Possession/Use | Proximity Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Self-referral | Suspension 鈥 20% of schedule, games or events | Suspension 鈥 20% of schedule, games or events |
| Self-Admission | Suspension 鈥30% of schedule, games or events | Suspension 鈥 30% of schedule, games or events |
| Administrative Investigation | Exclusion 鈥 60 days or length of current season, whichever is longer | Exclusion 鈥 45 days or length of current season, whichever is longer |
First Offense Sanctions
(2.)听Second Offense
A second violation o will result in expulsion from all sports or activities for one (1) calendar year in the district.听 If a high school student completes a drug/alcohol dependency assessment and any subsequent recommendations for treatment, he/she may appeal in writing to the District Eligibility Board to reduce the sanction to the first 50% of games/events for the current or next season.听 (See Determination of Eligibility under USE OF ALCOHOL, LEGEND DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES above.)
(3.)听Third Offense
A third violation will result in exclusion from all sports or activities in the district.听 If a high school student completes a drug/alcohol dependency assessment and any subsequent recommendations for treatment, he/she may appeal in writing to the District Eligibility Board to be reinstated for athletics or activities after a one calendar year suspension.听 (See Determination of Eligibility under USE OF ALCOHOL, LEGEND DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES above.)
(4.)听听Offenses Occurring at School or a School-Sponsored Event
a. First Offense during High School
- Discipline Sanctions under Policy 3200
- Athletic/Activity Sanctions as described above for first offense
b. Second Offense during High School
- Discipline Sanctions under Policy 3200
- Athletic/Activity Sanctions as described above for second offense
c. Third Offense during High School
- Discipline Sanctions under Policy 3200
- Athletic/Activity Sanctions as described above for third offense
LEGEND DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
- Definitions
Legend Drugs 鈥 Drugs obtained through prescription.
Controlled Substances 鈥 Includes all illegal drugs and substances (including marijuana), as defined by state or federal law.
听
Controlled Substance Analog 鈥 Includes all substances in which the chemical structure is substantially similar to that of a controlled substance.
听
- Sanctions for the possession, use, or sale of legend drugs and controlled substances:
A. First Offense
- A participant shall initially become ineligible for all activities or athletic competition for the remainder of the season. However, a participant who seeks and receives help for a problem with use of legend drugs, controlled substances, or controlled substance analogs shall be given the opportunity for assistance through the school and/or community agencies.听 In no instance shall participation in a school and/or community approved assistance program excuse a student from subsequent compliance with this regulation.听 However, successful utilization of such an opportunity by the student may allow him/her to have eligibility restored in the program, pending recommendation by the school A minimum penalty shall be in effect, no less than that of a 1st offense for alcohol. (below)
| Source of Information | Actual Possession/Use | Proximity Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Self-referral | Suspension 鈥 20% of schedule, games or events | Suspension 鈥 20% of schedule, games or events |
| Self-Admission | Suspension 鈥30% of schedule, games or events | Suspension 鈥 30% of schedule, games or events |
| Administrative Investigation | Exclusion 鈥 60 days or length of current season, whichever is longer | Exclusion 鈥 45 days or length of current season, whichever is longer |
First Offense Sanctions/caption>
B. Second Offense
- A participant who commits a second violation shall be ineligible for competition for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of the second violation.
C. Third Offense
- A participant who commits a third violation shall be permanently ineligible for all athletic/activity participation.
听
USE OF TOBACCO/VAPING
Bellingham Public Schools recognizes that the use of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco and vaping, is a health hazard and is addictive in nature.听 The district will not tolerate the use or possession of tobacco by an athlete during the activity season or any student participating in the activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity program while on school property or at a school activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity function.听 Participants who violate this regulation will be subject to the following actions:
A. First Offense
- The student will be restricted from participation in the activity for one game, performance, contest, competition or event.
B. Second Offense
- The student will be restricted from participation in the activity for two games, performances, contests, competition or events.
C. Third Offense
- The student will be excluded for the remainder of the activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity season.
D. Fourth Offense
- The student will be excluded from all activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity programs within Bellingham Public Schools for the remainder of his/her high school year.
听
OTHER UNACCEPTABLE STUDENT BEHAVIOR
Unacceptable student behavior not covered above, including, but not limited to, violations requiring administrative action as established in the 鈥淩ules and Regulations for Students in the Bellingham Public Schools鈥 (Policy 3200), will be dealt with as follows:
A. First Offense 鈥
| Source of Information | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Self-referral | Suspension 鈥 20% of schedule, games or events |
| Self-Admission | Suspension 鈥30% of schedule, games or events |
| Administrative Investigation | Exclusion 鈥 60 days or length of current season, whichever is longer |
Other Sanctions/caption>
B. Second Offense 鈥 Exclusion for full calendar year from date of violation.
DISCIPLINE/GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The grievance procedure for any sanction involving an activity/athletic/extra-curricular activity program is provided within Bellingham Public Schools Policy 3200.
- Any student, parent or guardian who is aggrieved by the suspension or termination of extra-curricular privileges under these rules shall have the right to an informal conference with the building principal or his/her designee for the purpose of resolving the grievance. During such conference, the student, parent or guardian shall be subject to questioning by the building principal or his/her designee and shall be entitled to question school personnel involved in the matter being grieved.
- If the grievance is not resolved at the informal conference, the student, parent or guardian, upon two (2) school business days鈥 prior notice, shall have the right to present a written and/or oral grievance to the superintendent of the district or his/her designee.
- If the grievance is not resolved at the superintendent鈥檚 level, the student, parent or guardian, upon two (2) school business days鈥 prior notice, shall have the right to present a written and/or oral grievance to the school district鈥檚 disciplinary appeal council. The council shall notify the student, parent or guardian of its response to the grievance within ten (10) school business days after the date of the meeting.
- The exclusion or termination of privileges shall continue during the grievance process.
ADVISOR鈥橲/COACH鈥橲 STANDARDS
Any additional, specific rules or regulations established by the advisor/coach regarding a specific activity that are not covered within the Activity/athletic/Extra-Curricular Activity Code must be consistent with the Code and must be approved by the principal and activities coordinator in advance.听 Any additional rules and regulations must be in writing and kept on file in the school office of the activities coordinator. Each participant must be informed of such rules and must sign a copy indicating that they have reviewed them.听 The signed copies will be kept on file in the school office of the activities coordinator for the duration of that athletic or activity season.
Bellingham Public Schools implemented later high school start times to better match teen鈥檚 biological clocks. This is in accordance with medical, health and wellness experts and the mounting evidence of improvements in student learning, health, mood and attendance associated with a later start in the school day. To support this effort, advisors and coaches are not to hold practices before the school day commences. Exceptions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis with prior approval by the corresponding high school athletic coordinator and a school administrator, with prior notification to the superintendent or designee.