| Table of Contents |
COMPETITIVE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIESFor
the purposes of this section, competitive extra-curricular activities include,
but are not limited to the following;
49. ATHLETICS The
purpose of interscholastic athletics in the Ridgway Area School District is to
afford maximum opportunity for any student to participate on a team in
competition and is to promote physical, mental, social, emotional, and moral
well being of the participants. Interscholastic
competition is a natural extension on many lessons learned in the classroom.
The athlete is forced to make decisions and live with the consequences
immediately. Nowhere else in our
curriculum are decision making skills more evident.
Although
winning is not the most important objective of Ridgway sports, it should be
noted that varsity teams participate in District IX, as well as competitive
local program leagues (such as the Allegheny Mountain League) making it
necessary for coaches to field the best teams possible for league competition.
Choosing the best talent and properly preparing them for varsity
competition is one of the purposes of varsity athletics in Ridgway. According
to state law, the high school principal is the official head of the athletic
program in each high school in Pennsylvania.
He/She is ultimately responsible for smooth operation of all
interscholastic competition. The
Athletic Director handles the daily routine of athletic affairs.
His/Her responsibilities are far reaching.
They include being responsible for scheduling events, hiring officials
for matches and games, arranging for transportation to away contests,
evaluating coaches, conducting all aspects of home athletic contests,
scheduling facility use, monitoring the eligibility of all athletes,
publicizing and promoting the athletic program, and representing Ridgway at
meetings of P.I.A.A., P.S.F.C.A, P.S.A.D.A., and the A.M.L. Presently,
Ridgway fields the following separate teams.
They are listed below by season:
Any
eligible student in grades 7-12, who meets academic and attendance standards,
can participate in one of these sports. Ninth
graders are permitted to join a varsity or junior varsity team in any sport
not available at the junior high level. All
students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in a sport. A
student may not represent Ridgway Middle/High School in athletics if he has: 1.
Been in attendance more than 12 semesters beyond the 6th
grade. 2.
Played four seasons beyond the 8th grade in any one form of
Interscholastic Athletics. 3.
Completed the work of grade 9,10,11 and 12 inclusive. 4.
Student is eligible for Interscholastic Athletic Competition until
reaching the age of 19. If the
pupil reaches the age of 19 on or after July 1st, the pupil shall
be eligible to compete through that school year. Parents
should never interfere but support the high school, the athletic department,
the coaches, and you. The Ridgway
School District hires qualified coaches and personnel to run the athletic
program. Student athletes and
parents should trust and understand that everyone connected with the Ridgway
School District athletic program desires success, sportsmanship, and a good
experience at all times. We
strive towards those goals in everything we do. Parents should be reminded
that the success of the entire program and the "team concept" are
far more important than individual performances and laurels. If
an athlete has a problem with a coach, he/she should talk with that coach.
If the situation is not resolved, the athlete should consult the
Athletic Director. If the
situation is still not resolved, the athlete should bring the matter to the
attention of the Principal. An attempt will be made to fairly judge the issue
and solve the problem for the benefit of all concerned.
Parents will be notified of the solution to the problem.
We hope that parents support the Ridgway athletic program by being
supportive and by being good fans. We
thank them for their positive actions and patience. All
athletic programs at the Ridgway Middle/High School are governed by the
regulations promulgated by PIAA and school board policies. 50.
COMPETITIVE
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Please reference the 2007-2008 Student Athlete Handbook available in the high school office. Athletics
Each
prospective athlete must have a physical examination, parental permission and
show evidence of health insurance coverage before he/she may practice or play.
A pupil shall be eligible to represent Ridgway Middle/High School in any sport
only when there is on file a certificate of consent, which is signed by
his/her parent or guardian. The
Ridgway School District provides physical exams before each sports season.
This examination is given free by the school doctor or contracted agency at
stated times. School officials announce dates and times for physicals.
A student may choose to be examined by his/her family doctor, if that
is more convenient and comfortable, however the cost of this option is to the
parent/guardian’s expense. Before
and athlete is deemed eligible by the Ridgway Area School District
administration, he/she must have the following forms on record in the
appropriate offices: 1. A completed and signed PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (Nurse office) 2. A signed consent form for the student to participate in “Random Drug Testing of Students Participating in a Competitive Extra-Curricular Activity”. (AD Office) 3. A completed and signed “Authorization for Transportation and Treatment” Form (AD Office) 4. A signed “Student Athlete Handbook” Statement by the student and parent/guardian (AD office) DRUG TESTING
OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN COMPETITIVE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The
Ridgway Area School District has the responsibility to enact broad
discretionary authority to maintain safety, order and discipline in school and
during school sponsored activities. Furthermore,
the administration recognizes that substance abuse among the student
population is becoming increasingly more predominant.
Evidence of the predominance of substance abuse among the student
population includes the increase in drug policy violations in the school
setting and the increase in drug related crimes within the community
environment. A student’s abuse
of a substance prior to, during, and/ or after school adversely impacts the
school district’s ability to enact broad discretionary authority to maintain
safety, order and discipline in school and during school-sponsored activities.
The
Ridgway Area School District considers a student’s participation in
competitive extra-curricular activities to be an important part of the
educational experience. Likewise,
administrators, teachers and coaches recognize that drugs have a deleterious
effect on the motivation, memory, judgment, reaction time, coordination, and
performance of students participating in competitive extra-curricular
activities; that students participating in competitive extra-curricular
activities increase their exposure to intense physical demands on their bodies
and intense mental strain on their minds; and that students who participate in
competitive extra-curricular activities generally do so in close proximity to
and with other students. The
interaction between students, that typically occurs in extra-curricular
activities, is often times, though not always, intensely physical in nature.
Therefore it is reasonable to assume that students participating in
competitive extra-curricular activities not only risk harm to themselves, if
they participate under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, but also risk
harm to teammates and/or their opponents.
Students participating in competitive extra-curricular activities must
endure the responsibility of taking an active role in ensuring their personal
health, safety, and welfare, as well as the health, safety, and welfare of
their teammates with whom they engage in extra-curricular activities Both
the Ridgway Area School District’s responsibility to enact broad
discretionary authority to maintain safety, order and discipline in school and
during school sponsored activities and the students need to maintain optimal
physical and mental health while participating in competitive extra-curricular
activities, in order to ensure that the students, their teammates and their
opponents are participating in a safe and secure environment, have constituted
the development of this policy. Every
member of a competitive extra-curricular activity within the Ridgway Area
School District Athletic must consent to random urine test(s) during that
period of the school year, in which the competitive extra-curricular activity
in which they are participating is in session.
All costs associated with the testing shall be paid by the district. Each
year, the athlete and their parent/guardian will sign a contract authorizing
the school district to have the athlete participate in a random urine test(s)
during that period of the school year, in which the competitive
extra-curricular activity in which they are participating is in session. Two
percent of the student population participating in each competitive
extra-curricular activity shall be selected via a computerized random
selection program. The numbers
identified by the program will be compared to the list of student i.d.
numbers. The student i.d. numbers
will be compared to the list of corresponding names of students participating
in the activity. Two percent of the total number of students participating in that activity will be selected one time per week prior to a competition, game, event, meet and/or match. In addition, activities that do not have weekly competitions will have a random student selection for urine screenings every Monday morning, two percent of the population of all students who are participating in all competitive extra-curricular activities will be selected and expected to participate in a random urine screen. The
selection process will occur by 8:00 am on Mondays and 8:00 am of the day
before any given competition. Students
and parent/guardians will be notified by 12:00 pm on the given selection day.
Students must sign a testing consent form or be dropped from the
activity. Students must report to
med express by 10:00 pm on the given selection day. Med
Express will notify the school administration or athletic director of the test
results within 24 hours of receiving the results.
If the initial screening results are positive, the original sample will
be sent to an off site lab and a confirm test will be completed.
Results shall never be turned over to law enforcement authorities.
If
the initial test results are positive the parent/guardian is notified and the
student shall be ineligible to participate in competition, however the student
may dress out for the event. If
the confirmation test is negative, the student may resume his or her status of
active participation and the parents are notified.
If
the confirmation test is positive, the student’s parents/guardians are
notified and the student remains on the inactive participation list (can dress
out, but cannot physically participate).
The administration will convene a meeting with the student and his/her
parents/guardian. Students who
test positive for drugs will complete the following:
Should
any student, who participates in competitive extra curricular activities, at
any time, refuse to submit a urine sample for testing, it shall result in the
student’s suspension from the activity for the remainder of the time that
the activity is in session. A
positive test result, does not reasonably lead the administration to believe
that the student was in possession of and/or distributing the unauthorized
and/or illegal substance in school and/or at school sponsored activities or
events. Therefore it would be
arbitrary and capricious to implement any disciplinary sanctions (strikes,
discipline referral, suspension, and/or expulsion) upon a student for a
positive test result. School Board Policy No.227, “Drug Awareness”, concerning the use, possession, or distribution of illegal and/or unauthorized substances on school premises shall remain unaffected by this policy. ACADEMIC
ELIGIBILITY (all Competitive Extra-Curricular Activities) Since extra curricular activities are a privilege at Ridgway, a student must maintain a satisfactory academic standing in order to participate. To be eligible for interscholastic competition, a student must maintain a satisfactory attendance and academic record. He/She must maintain a weekly average of 75% and cannot be failing more than one (1) subject. An incomplete (I) grade will be interpreted as a 60% unless otherwise notified by the instructor. The athletic department issues weekly scholastic eligibility lists to all teachers during the sports season. Teachers will complete athletic eligibility each week using the school’s computer network. Any student not meeting the above requirements will be automatically ineligible to practice/participate for a period of one (1) week. The suspension lasts from Monday thru and including Saturday. Ineligible High School students must attend Campus Center after school during their ineligibility period. Ineligible middle school students must attend Homework Club after school during their ineligibility period. He/She may resume practice and participation if academic progress has improved by the next report. If the student is deemed ineligible at the end of a grading period the student will not be permitted to practice or participate for a period of fifteen (15) school days from the day report cards are mailed/issued. At the end of the school year if the student has not met requirements to go on to the next grade, the student will not be permitted to practice or participate for a period of fifteen (15) school days after school begins and then the student must have had five (5) days of practice before he/she is eligible to participate in a contest. Please reference the Student Athlete Handbook that is available in the High School Office. 52.
SPORTSMANSHIP 53.
STUDENT MANAGERS 54. OTHER
ACTIVITIES As a part of the basic philosophy of Ridgway Middle/High School, students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities associated with the school. Clubs are an important segment of these activities. In order to determine requirements, activities and functions please check the club list that is available at the beginning of the school year. New clubs may be formed providing there is enough student interest and a faculty advisor is found. New clubs must be approved by the administration. 55.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES,
ATHLETIC CONTESTS AND FIELD TRIPS ATTENDANCE: All
students participating in competitive extra-curricular should have excellence
in their attendance habits. A
student may not represent Ridgway Middle/High School in an athletic practice,
athletic contest, extra-curricular practice, extra curricular event if he/she
has not been in attendance for the full day of school on the day the event is
scheduled. Permission to deviate
from this policy may be obtained from the Athletic Director or Principal. (Ex:
student has a medical appointment the day of a game).
If you cannot be in school and get there on time, you should not be
representing Ridgway. Any
unexcused late or absence from the school the day of an event will result in
the student not participating in the activities, event or contest that day.
Every effort should be made to attend school each and every day and to
always make practice and events. Participation
in two (2) sports at the same time is most difficult.
Head coaches are as understanding as possible; however, if a student is
not at practice the day prior to an event, the athlete may still be permitted
to play, but he/she will not start. Students
must inform the coaches, directors, advisors, etc ahead of time if unable to
attend practice. Family and
school obligations should take precedence over athletics; however, many
appointments can be taken care of other than during practice times.
Habitual absence or tardiness will result in your being declared
ineligible. Three (3) unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the
team. The P.I.A.A. states that a student who has been absent from school
during a semester for a total of twenty or more school days, shall not be
eligible to participate in any athletic contest until he has been in
attendance for a total of sixty school days following his/her twentieth day of
absence. A student
should report to school and each class on time.
Students who have been assigned out-of-school suspension may not attend
or participate in extracurricular activities. Students
who participate and travel to any out of District extracurricular activity,
sport, or field trip are expected to be in school on time the following day.
If the student comes in to school late, they will be considered tardy
unexcused unless a medical excuse is provided.
The only exception will be when students involved in a scheduled event
arrive at the school after midnight. In such situations, the sponsor/coach
must request and receive prior approval from the principal for the students to
arrive late to school. If such
prior approval is not obtained, then the students will be listed as tardy
unexcused. BEHAVIOR
When
you become a member of any Ridgway Area School District competitive extra
curricular activity; you automatically assume the role of representative of
our school at every event you attend. By
playing by the rules and by demonstrating good sportsmanship and appropriate
behavior, everywhere you travel, your actions will positively reflect upon the
school district and you. This
proud tradition is being passed down to you today.
This is a great responsibility and you should take it seriously. Students
representing our school at home and away events are expected to behave in a
calm, rationale manner at school, at practice, on buses, during games and
matches, at program, at activities and in general. Expected student behavior
at school activities or athletic contests is the same as during the school day
and students will be disciplined as indicated by school procedures and
policies. All negative actions reflect on Ridgway Middle/High School and are
personally degrading to you. The
High School Principal and/or Athletic Director will address all inappropriate
behaviors by implementing the student discipline policy.
Some of your fondest memories of high school will undoubtedly center on
your participation in the athletic programs and competitive extra-curricular
activities. So make the most of
it. Have a great time.
Do your best. Wear the
maroon and white proudly and represent us well. An
educational activity that takes place outside the school environment can be an
integral part of and a complementary accent to the school district’s
curriculum. Field trips are
utilized as instructional tools to enhance the meaning of instructional
activities. Field trips give
students the opportunity to experience activities that cannot be offered in
the regular instructional setting of the classroom.
Field
trips require the chaperones, advisors, and school personnel to be responsible
for students in an environment that is often times less controlled and less
structured than the school setting. As
a result, chaperones, advisors, and school personnel must exercise a
heightened sense of professionalism and due care in order to ensure the
safety, security and welfare of all students in their care.
Although students are responsible for their own behaviors and actions,
chaperones/advisors are responsible for establishing the environmental
antecedents that will increase the opportunity for students to engage in
appropriate and acceptable behaviors while they are participating in the
school sponsored field trip. In
order to set the stage for a successful field trip, chaperones, advisors, and
school staff are responsible for implementing district discipline policies and
all school board policies relating to student behavior.
Chaperones, who are not a parent of a child participating in the field
trip and who are not school district employees, are required to submit Act 34
and DPW clearances prior to being approved as a chaperone. The chaperones and
advisors have been given the authority, by the school board and Superintendent
of the Ridgway Area School District to implement all policies and procedures
of the Ridgway Area School District. Failure
to comply with chaperone directives will result in disciplinary action for
insubordination (minimally). Chaperones and advisors are reminded that
consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or use of tobacco products while acting
as chaperones of the RASD are prohibited.
Chaperones and advisors are not permitted to give students medications.
The nurse or nurse designee will provide such services. Parents
of students participating in a school-sponsored field trip can expect the
following information, well in advance of a field trip:
Once
the school board has approved the field trip proposal, parents of students
participating in a school-sponsored field trip can expect a field trip
contract. The field trip contract
must be completed and presented to students and their parents.
Each student and his/her parents must sign and return the contract
prior to the student being eligible to participate in the field trip. While participating in the field trip, students are required to comply with the student handbook regulations, school board policy and all Public School Codes related to student discipline and behavior. These are all specified in the field trip contract. General
Information: Students
may confer with the chaperones at any time to converse, express concerns
and/or to report injuries or policy violations.
Luggage
must be brought to the designated school area 24 to 48 hours in advance of the
departure time. All luggage will
be searched by chaperones prior to being loaded on to the buses or vehicles.
All carry on luggage will be searched prior to the students boarding
the bus. No luggage will be
permitted on the bus if it has not been searched. Only administration,
faculty, staff, chaperones and advisors are permitted to search luggage. Only
sealed items will be permitted on the bus.
No glass items will be permitted.
Only factory sealed items can be brought by the students. Any
contraband found in a student’s luggage or on a student’s person will
result in the student being suspended from the trip, with no refund being
provided to the student or his/her parents, disciplinary actions being taken
by the district, which may include suspension.
Transportation
information must be clearly written and presented to the students and their
parents prior to departure. When
transportation is involved, a “Parent Consent Form” shall be signed by the
parent or guardian and on file with the student’s building principal prior
to the day of departure. This
form is available on the website. Medication:
For
Students who must take long-term and/or short-term medication a
parent/guardian must bring the medication to the school on the day of the
trip. All medication must be
brought in its original container with a physician’s authorization for
dispensing the medication. The
original container must include the name of the physician, the student’s
name, medication name, medication dosage, and the time to be administered.
The parent/guardian must provide the school with written authorization
for designated school personnel to administer the medication. At the discretion of the nurse designee, approved, over the counter
medications listed on the standing orders provided by the school physician,
may be dispensed for the following: headache/body
ache, upset stomach, heartburn, superficial skin wounds, irritations, minor
eye irritations. Students who are
prone to motion sickness should make arrangements with their doctor before the
trip to receive medication for such sickness. This medication should be incompliance with the specifications
previously identified and given to the nurse designee prior to departure.
A student’s failure to comply with these expectations regarding
medication will result in the implementation of disciplinary action, after an
immediate conference with the administration. A more thorough investigation will be conducted by RASD administration
upon the student’s return the school.
Behavioral
Expectations (while off campus): Students
are expected to comply with the timelines set forth by the chaperones with
regards to departure times from the hotel and sights, as well as check-in
times while at the sights. Failure
to comply with the time lines will result in disciplinary actions. Students are expected to be in assigned rooms no later than 10:30 pm.
Advisors and chaperones will be conducting room checks at 10:30 pm and
at least two times thereafter. Students
are expected to have “lights out” no later than 11:30 pm. RHS advisors and chaperons will be conducting room checks at 11:30 pm.
Chaperones and advisors may conduct random room checks at any time
during the field trip. A
student’s failure/noncompliance with a room check will result in the
advisors having reasonable suspicion to conduct a more thorough room check and
search of the student’s possessions and person. Female students, chaperones, advisors are not permitted in male
student’s rooms with the doors closed. Male students, chaperones, advisors are not permitted in female
student’s rooms with the doors closed. Only those students assigned to the rooms may occupy the room between
11:30 pm and 6:30 am. Violation
of these room expectations will result in immediate disciplinary action by the
advisors, with a more thorough investigation being completed when the student
returns to school. Students are
not permitted to leave the sight or hotel grounds, unless accompanied by a
chaperone or advisor. Failure to
comply with this expectation will result in the student being suspended from
all trip activities for the remainder of the trip. Students are expected to comply with the dress code policy as specified
in the student handbook. Students
are expected to comply with behavioral code of conduct and the discipline
policy and procedures as specified in the student handbook on pages 28-32.
There will be no drinking of alcohol, no use of tobacco products and/or
no use of illegal substances on the trip. This is a rule of the Ridgway Area School District and will be strongly
enforced. ANY STUDENT
VIOLATING THIS RULE WILL BE DISCIPLINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RASD SCHOOL POLICY
AND MAY BECOME INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN RASD FIELD TRIPS FOR THE REMAINDER
OF HIS/HER ENROLLMENT IN THE RASD. THE
STUDENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FROM ALL TRIP ACTIVITIES AND THE PARENTS
WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. THE
STUDENT WILL BE SENT HOME AT PARENT EXPENSE.
THE STUDENT MAY BE SUSPENDED UPON HIS/HER RETURN TO SCHOOL.
Students are
expected to keep the bus clean and students are expected to keep their hotel
rooms clean. Vandalism and damage
to either will result in the students who are assigned to the room being
responsible for paying for the damages in addition to disciplinary action
being taken. Inspect your hotel
room upon arrival. Report any
damage to the chaperone immediately. Inspect
your hotel room prior to leaving; remember to check that you have all items
and belongings. The only excuses accepted for not attending the school sponsored educational fieldtrip to Gettysburg are medical or parental refusal. In the event a student does not attend the Gettysburg fieldtrip for the excused reasons given, he or she will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the contents of the trip by creating a culminating experience selected by the sponsoring instructor(s). Students
participating in competitive extra-curricular activities are required to ride
to and/or from away events via the transportation provided by the school
district. Students are NOT
permitted to drive themselves to and/or from away events.
The school district does not provide transportation to and/or from
athletic practices, home athletic events, or other home practices/programs.
Any student who violates this directive shall face serious disciplinary
sanctions. Students may ride home with a parent/legal guardian if the Event Transportation Permission Slip, in possession of the head coach, is filled out and signed by the parent/legal guardian at the event. Violation of this policy will result in the student being assigned a Saturday remediation on the first occasion and removal from the team/squad for any subsequent violations. Students may not ride home with someone else’s parent/legal guardian. 58. ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL DANCES Middle
school students are not permitted to attend high school dances. Students in
grades 10, 11 and 12 will be permitted to attend the Prom and Snoball.
All other dances can be attended by those in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. Only
students in grades 10, 11and 12 will be permitted to invite guests to the Prom
and Snoball. Students in grades
9, 10, 11 and 12 will be permitted to invite guests to Homecoming and other
school dances, except for the Prom and Snoball.
Invited guests must be at least in the 9th grade. Guests who
have graduated may be invited as long as they are under the age of 21.
Students must fill out a Guest/Sponsor
Agreement form and have it returned to the techer in charge of the dance
at least 3 days prior to the dance. Students and guests must arrive at the dance by 9:45 or they will not be admitted. 59.
ALCOHOL POLICY AT SCHOOL DANCES The
Ridgway Area High School has taken a proactive position against alcohol. Each
student/guest who attends a school dance will be randomly tested for alcohol.
A student/guest who attends the dances and does not use alcohol will not be
affected by this policy. It is
the desire of the administration that, with the cooperation of the
students/guests attending, school dances will be enjoyable evenings to
remember. The Borough Police Department will provide the security for the dances as they do for all extracurricular activities at the high school. In matters involving legal enforcement, the principal and other school officials will defer to the police. If a student/guest acts in a manner that indicates intoxication, the police may advise a different course of action. |