SOUTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

1. Philosophy of Athletics

The interscholastic athletic program in South Kingstown Schools is an accepted and integral part of the curriculum, which produces many benefits difficult to achieve in other areas of education. The coaches of interscholastic sports often times have a greater opportunity to achieve many educational goals because they have the advantages of more time and smaller numbers of students who are highly motivated. Under these circumstances, students on interscholastic teams can often achieve greater measures of physical fitness, motor skills, and the development of sound social, emotional and mental attitudes.

The Athletic Department will strive to develop good sportsmanship, team play, a competitive spirit and team and school loyalty in every athlete. Program participants will be expected to display the proper ideals of ethical conduct, fair play and to show respect to officials, opposing teams and fellow players. Also, the athletic program will strive to encourage a winning attitude while not losing sight of other related ideals.

The athletic program will provide instruction and encourage maximum participation in a wide variety of activities that should satisfy most of the needs and interests of the students. In administering the athletic program, every effort will be made to those activities that best meet the needs and interests of the greatest number of students; to provide the best possible facilities and equipment; and to provide the best qualified coaching personnel. The health and welfare of the participants shall be the primary consideration in conducting the athletic program.

Every student wishing to take advantage of the athletic program in the South Kingstown Schools should make certain that they are well aware of the rules and obligations they are assuming before deciding to try-out for an athletic team. The students first obligation in regards to recreation and other outside activities, is the school team . Also, parents should be familiar with the rules and regulations.

Each student and parent should realize that participating in the school athletic program is a privilege of representing himself/herself and his or her school, as long as the student is willing to accept the responsibility of adhering to all rules and regulations.

II Rules and Regulations

All rules apply to all athletes including players, managers, trainers, cheerleaders and all other students representing a team from South Kingstown School Department.

Students may not take part in any extra-curricular activity if the student was absent from school on that particular day. A student must be in school on the last day classes were in session prior to a weekend or a vacation or the student will not be allowed to participate in the activity held on the weekend. The student may participate during the vacation upon presenting the coach with a written excuse.

Any student who is not in school after 10:30 a.m. at the Middle Schools and 8:30 a.m. at the High School may not participate in a practice or game that day without the permission of a school administrator. Any high school student who has been tardy 11 or more times a semester will be excluded from athletic participation.

A student who is on school probation, on in-school suspension or on suspension from school shall not participate in practice or games during that time. When the school probation, the in-school suspension or the suspension from school ends, the student-athlete may participate the next school day or the first day of vacation excluding the weekend. Any substance abuse infractions will come under the Restorative Discipline Policy, which is School Committee Policy #5114a. (1) Athletes should notify the coach, assistant coach, athletic director or school official before the end of the school day if lateness or absence is anticipated for a practice session. (2) An unexcused absence from a game may suspend the athlete for the season or at least for the number of games equal to the number of games missed because of the unexcused absence.

Excused Absence:

1. Personal illness - to be verified by appropriate authority; if deemed necessary by the responsible school official.

2. Appointments with health professionals that cannot be made outside of the regular school day. The responsible school official may request appropriate documentation.

3. Observance of recognized religious holidays, when the observance is required during a regular school day. Required means that there is no other opportunity for the observance.

4. Emergency family situations as deemed appropriate by the responsible school official.

5. Planned absences for personal or educational purposes, which have been approved.

Unexcused Absences (Truant):

All absences that are not included as excused absences.

Miscellaneous

1. An athlete may not quit one sport and go out for another the same season, unless the athlete has the written consent of both coaches and the athletic director.

2. There are three athletic seasons: fall, winter and spring.

3. A student will be subject to the Restorative Discipline Policy #5114a (see pages 3-5) if it is determined by the Athletic Department that a student-athlete has:

A. Consumed, possessed or transported alcoholic beverages during the school sports year commencing with the first day of Fall sports practice until the last day of Spring sports or the end of the school year.

B. Used, possessed or transported controlled substances or marijuana during the school sports year commencing with the first day of Fall sports practice until the last day of Spring sports or the end of the school year whichever is later.

C. Used or possessed anabolic steroids without a prescription. It is not only detrimental to the health of an individual, it is also viewed as cheating.

D. Participated in an illegal activity.

4. If it is determined by the Athletic Department and School Administration that a student-athlete has reported for a practice or a scheduled contest while under the influence of alcohol, non-prescribed drugs or illegal substances that student will be subject to the Restorative Discipline Policy #5114a.

5. Any member of an athletic team using tobacco products during the sports season will be subject to the Restorative Discipline Policy #5114a.

6. Athletes are expected to be neatly groomed and attired when traveling to a contest according to the coach's instructions.

7. General conduct in and out of school, before, during and after the season, shall be such as to bring no discredit to the athletes, his parents, school or team.

8. The athlete will assume responsibility for all issued equipment and clothing and will be assessed for any loss or damaged items. All equipment must be turned in no later than one week after the last contest, or the student may be barred from all extracurricular activity until it is returned or replaced.

9. No athletic equipment or clothing will be used or worn except when participating in a practice, game or other designated function.

10. An athlete who has been injured and treated by a doctor will not be permitted to practice or play until he/she submits a written note from that doctor concerning the status of the injury.

11. All squad members will abide by any additional training regulations as set forth by the coach with the approval of the athletic director. Additional training regulations will be posted in the locker rooms.

12. Coaches shall have the right to take reasonable disciplinary action pertaining to any problem that may arise that has not already been reviewed in this handbook.

13. All athletes are required to travel to and from out-of-town contests with the team. Permission may be granted by the coach to allow an athlete to be released to his/her parent or guardian if such a request is received in writing or in person from the parent or guardian prior to such release.

RESTORATIVE DISCIPLINE POLICY - SUBSTANCE ABUSE Policy No. 5114a

1. GENERAL

A. The South Kingstown School Department strongly opposes the illegal use of drugs and alcohol by our students because it is:

(1) in fact, clearly prohibited by law;

(2) potentially lethal to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

(3) detrimental to academic and extracurricular performance;

(4) a cause for disruptive, violent behavior that can create an unsafe environment for our students; and

(5) the potential cause for a connection by our students with a criminal subculture characterized by violence and harsh jail terms.

B. This policy is an extension of Policy 5114 that establishes penalties for student possession and sale of illegal substances.

C. This policy supports the South Kingstown School District's strategic goals, especially the goal of insuring our schools are protected from violence.

D. Implementation of this policy will require the support not only of teachers and administrators, but also of parents and other members of the South Kingstown community.

2. APPLICATION: This policy applies to any student, in any grade, who illegally uses alcohol or drugs:

A. on school property,

B. while participating in or attending a school-sponsored activity either on school property or away from school, or

C. before school or a school-sponsored activity to the extent that the student arrives under the influence of the substance.

3. PURPOSE: This policy intends to:

A. establish consequences that will deter any student who considers illegal use of alcohol or drugs while participating in school activities,

B. Maintain a safe school environment free from the illegal use of alcohol or drugs, and

C. Help students make decisions about drugs and alcohol that promote emotional and physical health as well as academic success.

4. DEFINITIONS:

A. Restorative Discipline: This policy uses the term "Restorative Discipline" to describe the application of various consequences that will deter students from initial or repeated use of alcohol or drugs.

B. Restorative: The word "Restorative is taken from "Restorative Justice," a process based on the notion that when a person does harm, it affects the person(s) they hurt, the community and themselves, and that the harm done must be repaired so that order is restored for everyone. All involved individuals come to terms with the harm done and play an active role in the process. By applying restorative measures in schools, school personnel have another tool to use with students to repair harm done and play an active role in the process. By applying restorative measures in schools, school personnel have another tool to use with students as resources rather than problems, and changes our approach to violations from punitive to restorative.

C. Discipline: The word "Discipline" is used to reflect the policy's use of consequences to punish and to deter. However, the word is also used to emphasize discipline as a learning process, as "instruction and exercise designed to train to proper conduct or action." The School Department will use consequences as deterrents a well as a means to help the student learn from the mistake and discourage recurrence.

D. Restorative Justice: As described in 4B above.

E. Principal's Advisory Disciplinary Committee: A non-voting advisory committee convened by the principal to recommend to the principal the consequences to be administered under the policy of Restorative Discipline. Members of the Committee act as officials of the School Department.

Restorative Discipline Policy Continued:

5. IMPLEMENTATION:

A. The student responds to Restorative Discipline consequences during a period of mandatory probation. Consequences during this period of mandatory probation may restrict the student from participation in selected actives, may require the student's participation in certain activities, or may involve both restriction and involvement. Probation begins when administrators confirm the violation.

B. The specific period of mandatory probation's:

(1) First offense: Six months, with review after three months.

(2) Second offense: Twelve months, with review after six months.

(3) In both cases: Follow-up evaluation meeting with the student after one month. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss with students any problems that may have developed with regard to the administration of or the conduct of the consequences. Refinements and adjustments will be made at this meeting, but in any case, minimum probation still remains at three months.

III Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct

A. All students will adhere to the following expectations as recommended by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL).

Expectations

…..of Student-Athletes

1. Must appreciate and understand that their behavior is observed and emulated by many that are younger.

2. Live up to the high standard of sportsmanship established by our League.

3. Accept and understand the seriousness of your responsibility, and the privilege of representing your school and community.

4. Live up to the standards of sportsmanship established by the school administration and coaching staff.

5. Learn the rules of the game thoroughly and discuss them with parents, fans, fellow students and elementary students. This will assist both them and you in the achievement of a better understanding and appreciation of the game.

6. Treat opponents the way you would like to be treated, as a guest or friend. Who better than yourselves can understand all the hard work and team effort that is required of you sport?

7. Refrain from taunting, trash talking, or making any kind of derogatory remarks to your opponents during the game. Refrain from intimidating behavior.

8. Wish opponents good luck before the game and congratulate them in a sincere manner that you would like to be greeted with following either victory or defeat.

9. Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials. The officials are doing their best to help promote you and your sport. Treating them with respect, even if you disagree with their judgement, will only make a positive impression of you and your team in the eyes of the officials and all people at the event.

10. Win with humility; lose with grace. Do both with dignity. Avoid excessive celebrating after a play or the end of a game.

11. All athletes ejected from a contest must meet with the Athletic Director or Principal the following day. The student/athlete may not attend the next contest even as a spectator and not until the proper sportsmanship ejection forms have been sent to the RIIL.

….of Spectators

1. Remember that you are at a contest to support and yell for your team and to enjoy the skill and competition; not to intimidate or ridicule the other team and its fans.

2. Remember that school athletics are learning experiences for students and that mistakes are sometimes made. Praise student-athletes in their attempt to improve themselves as students, as athletes and as people as you would praise student working in the classroom.

3. Remember that a ticket to a school athletic event is a privilege to observe the contest, not a license to verbally assault others and be generally obnoxious.

4. Learn the rules of the game, so that you may understand and appreciate why certain situations take place.

5. Show respect for the opposing players, coaches, and spectators and support groups. Treat them as you would treat a guest in your own home.

6. Refrain from taunting or making any kind of derogatory comments of ethnic, racial or sexual nature.

7. Respect the integrity and judgement of game officials. Understand that they are doing their best to help promote the student-athlete and admire their willingness to participate in full view of the public.

8. Recognize and show appreciation for outstanding play by either team.

9. Refrain from the use of controlled substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.) before and during games and tailgating).

10. Use only those cheers that support and uplift the teams involved.

11. Recognize and compliment the efforts of school and league administrators for their efforts in emphasizing the benefits of educational athletics and the role of good sportsmanship to that end.

12. Be a positive behavior role model through your own actions and by censuring those around you at events whose behavior is unbecoming.

IV Rules & Regulations (High School)

Extra-Curricular Activities

Students are encouraged to attend social, sporting and other events offered by the school. However, proper decorum is expected at all times. Any student determined to be causing a problem or exhibiting inappropriate behavior shall be subject to the Restorative Discipline Policy #5114a.

Examples of inappropriate behavior include, but are not limited to: a)insubordination to a staff member; b)fighting; c)acts of vandalism; d)possession of illicit drugs or alcohol on the person, clothing or automobile; or e)determination that the student has been drinking any amount of alcohol or using any amount of illicit drugs in the hours prior to the beginning of the activity or during the activity. The building Principal or an assistant Principal shall make determination of such use based upon discussions held with the student or other individuals who may have knowledge of the situation.

Extra-curricular activities shall include all school dances, proms, concerts, banquets, picnics, class trips, plays, SK Pades, athletic events on school property, or other similar activities.

Students should understand that violation of any school rule or School Committee policy at one of these activities shall result in the imposition of penalties as established in this handbook in addition to penalties noted above. Imposition of the above penalties shall be made without consideration to a student's previous record.

These regulations pertain to student behavior during all extra-curricular activities of the High School in addition to behavior by the student immediately before and following the activities while the student is on school property.

V Eligibility for participation

To be eligible for interscholastic athletics, students must meet all the requirements set up by the Rhode Island Interscholastic Principal's Committee on Athletics as well as those of the South Kingstown School Department.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

TRY-OUT ELIGIBILITY

Before any student may participate in tryouts, the student must:

1. Have passed a physical examination during the current school year.

2. Have signed an agreement to abide by all rules.

3. Have taken out school insurance or have turned in a waiver form signed by the parent/guardian indicating the medical coverage in force for the student.

4. Have turned in an Assumption of Risk form if such a form is not already on file.

5. Have turned in a medical history form.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

1. The academic eligibility of students to participate in interscholastic activities will be reviewed subject to the following five marking periods: first quarter, first semester, third quarter, final grade and summer school. It is the established rule of the school department that eligibility may begin or end, depending upon the circumstances, on the day report cards are issued.

2. If a student fails more than one subject during a quarter he or she may not participate in athletics the following quarter. A grade of unsatisfactory is considered to be an F.

3. A student who is academically ineligible may try out for a team. Once the team has been selected, that student must stop all participation.

4. If the student has been selected to the team, he or she may practice with the team two weeks before the end of the quarter provided they are passing all subjects with at least a C average. A form must be signed by the student's teachers and presented to the Athletic Director or Principal.

5. A student with 2 (two) incompletes, or 1 (one) F and 1 (one) incomplete must sign an agreement with those teachers as to when they will make up the incompletes. The student must obtain this form from the Athletic Director.

RHODE ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY RULES

1. A student is eligible for eight semesters after he/she first enrolls as a freshman in any high school. There is no semester rule for Jr. high or middle schools.

2. A high school student becomes ineligible if his/her nineteenth birthday occurs prior to September 1^st. A Jr. high or middle school student becomes ineligible if his/her fifteenth birthday occurs prior to September 1^st.

3. Be aware of the 50% Rule. Ask your coach or Athletic Director.

4. All transfer or exchange students must meet with the Principal or Athletic Director before participating.

5. During a sports season an athlete who is on the varsity eligibility list may not participate on a team outside of school in that same sport.

VI Hazing

The South Kingstown School Department is committed to maintaining a safe positive, environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the district and are prohibited to all.

Hazing is not acceptable in any form as defined by Rhode Island law. Any student who willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person, including a teammate or like member of any other school activity, will be suspended from that team or activity for the remainder of the year and reported to the police department.

Rhode Island Hazing Law

11-21-1 Penalty for Hazing

(a) Any organizer of, or participant in, an activity constituting hazing as defined in subsection (b), shall be guilty of misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or punished by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one year, or both.

(b) The team "hazing" as used in this chapter shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which will fully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student or any other person, or which subjects the student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Every person, being a teacher, superintendent, commandant or other person in charge of any public, private, parochial, or military school, college or other educational institution, who shall knowingly permit any activity constituting hazing, as defined in 11-21-1 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) or more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Building administrators shall investigate promptly all complaints of hazing and administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy.

Students, administrators, coaches, sponsors, volunteers and district employees shall be alert to incidents of hazing and shall report such conduct to the building principal.

The district shall annually inform students, parents, coaches, sponsors, volunteers and district staff that hazing of district students is prohibited, by means of:

. Distribution of written policy

. Publication of handbooks

. Presentation at an assembly

. Verbal instruction by the coach or sponsor at the start of the season or

program

. Posting of notice/signs

Guidelines

Complaint Procedure

1. When a student believes that he/she has been subject to hazing, the student shall promptly report the incident, orally or in writing, to the building principal.

2. The principal shall conduct a timely, impartial, thorough and comprehensive investigation of the alleged hazing.

3. The principal shall prepare a written report summarizing the investigation and recommending disposition of the complaint. Copies of the report shall be provided to the complainant, the accused and other directly involved, as appropriate.

4. If the investigation results in a substantiated finding of hazing, the principal shall recommend appropriate disciplinary action, as circumstances warrant, in accordance with the law. Additionally, the student may be subject to disciplinary action by the coach or sponsor, up to and including removal from the activity.

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS