ATHLETICS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A physical education program for all students is a part of the regular school day. Calisthenics, organized play and recreational activities are under the supervision of a teacher. All pupils are to take part in the physical education program except those who are excused because of a physical disability or those who present a parental request in writing to be excused for a limited time. Children in the upper grades will need to dress for gym. This means that they need to wear shorts, T-shirts, and gym shoes. Please label these items. (100499.1) Students in grades 5-8 will not be required to take showers for physical education classes. Because of the different levels of physical development during grades 5-8, parents will determine if their son/daughter should wear a jock strap or a sports bra. (100499.2)

The school will participate in an athletic program with other schools. School athletes may participate in team endeavors so long as they maintain their scholastic standing and adhere to the discipline of the school.

Students who remain after dismissal time to participate in an athletic program that is scheduled for right after school may not leave the school grounds without permission from the athletic director or principal. If a student needs to leave, a note signed by a parent should be brought to school for the athletic director or principal to see. Students who remain are to go to a designated area and use that time as a study period. Student athletes will strive to be models of behavior, not only on the field of activity, but also in everyday activities.

Students in grades 5-8 are eligible to participate in interscholastic sports. At the present time we offer volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, and softball for girls. We offer basketball and softball for the boys. The teams or squads are limited to a certain number of players. We fill the teams by first allowing eighth graders who are interested in participating in the extracurricular activities to sign up, followed then by the seventh, sixth, and fifth graders until the team is filled. This means that some grades may not be able to participate in a sport during a given year because the teams have already been filled.

Student athletes need to have a physical examination before participating in sports. These physicals are good for two years, so it is best for your child to get a physical during the fifth and seventh grade school years. There are physical forms that need to be completed and returned to the school. These can be obtained from the school office and should be returned to the athletic director.

Please keep in mind that student athletes are allowed to participate in team practices and games as long as they maintain their scholastic standing and adhere to the discipline policies of the school.

Student athletes are expected to attend all practices, games, and tournaments in which their team at St. Paul is involved. Students are expected to finish the season. No athlete will be allowed to quit, unless he/she has met with the coach, athletic director, principal, and parents to discuss the reason(s) for wanting to do so.

ATHLETICS - EXTRACURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY POLICY (120699)

The privilege of actively participating in extracurricular activities may be temporarily denied students if the following requirements are not met.

•  Maintain a 2.0 GPA or better.

•  Have no failing grades in any subject.

•  Have taken all tests and turned in all assignments.

The student has five school days after receiving the mid-quarter report or report card to complete this work. This requirement also applies to any student receiving an incomplete.

A minimum 2.0 GPA in academic subjects must be achieved for those who wish to participate in extracurricular activities. This GPA is not cumulative over the year but is cumulative over a single quarter. It will be reviewed at mid-quarter and at the end of the quarter. Ineligibility begins upon receipt of the mid-quarter report or report card.

Mid-quarter and quarter end will be recorded on the school calendar. Mid-quarters will be marked at exactly five weeks into the quarter. After three weeks of the new quarter, teachers will be required to send out notices to all students with a D or an F. Those people to be notified in writing, are the student, parents, coach, and administrator.

A minimum of two weeks after ineligibility begins, a student with less than a 2.0 GPA or a failing grade can become eligible again after obtaining written evidence from his/her teacher(s) that he/she has regained a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

If a student is ineligible for two weeks and then becomes eligible again, he/she must keep grades above a 2.0 for the rest of the season. If he/she does not, these are the repercussions:

1. Two weeks of ineligibility (after mid- quarter/report card)

2. Four weeks out for the 2 nd offense during the season (after reinstatement)

3. Out of activity for the rest of the year

In all cases where a student is placed on a probationary status, the administrator will notify the parent, or guardian, in writing; one copy of the notifying letter will be filed in the student's cumulative record, and one copy will be retained by the administrator.

Special exceptions may be made for those students with a diagnosed learning disability upon the recommendation of the homeroom teacher to the Athletic Director, with the decision being made by the Administrator.

DUE PROCESS IN SPORTS PROGRAM

•  It is difficult to place every student into one mold as all people are different individuals.

•  The attitude of the athlete must be weighed and evaluated as well as the actions of the athlete.

•  The principal, the athlete's teachers, and the coaches will evaluate the athlete's attitude and performance.

•  These suggestions would take effect the day after the athlete's name has been placed into the Due Process File.

Athletes that reach Step One:

One week (five consecutive school days) is the probation period.

The athlete attends practices but does not play in any games during that week.

If the athlete chooses not to attend the practices during the probation week, the coach will decide further disciplinary measures for the athlete.

Athletes that reach Step Two:

One week (five consecutive school days) suspension from team.

The athlete does not participate in practices or games for one week.

Athletes that reach Step Three:

Suspended for the rest of the season for that sport

No credit is given for that sport that year.

The athlete may participate in the next sport

Athletes that reach Step Four:

Suspension from all sports for the rest of that school year

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING LENT (040603.1)

During Lent, all school-related extra-curricular activities after school and during the evenings on Wednesdays are prohibited. This does NOT include the youth group.

ATHLETIC POLICY “Everybody Plays Every Game” (020904.2)

It is the policy of St. Paul Lutheran School to get every child into every game when possible. Playing time is decided by the coach based on individual player abilities.

The sixth grade makes up the “C team”; this is our beginning level team sport. The emphasis is on “team” and every player will play. Winning is a low priority. If there are not enough 6th graders for a team, the Athletic Director has discretion to use fifth graders.

The A.D. will use younger grades for Intramurals when opportunities arise.

The “B team” is for the seventh grade. It is filled with sixth graders, if there is room. A greater emphasis is placed on winning. Playing time of each player will be different; this will be determined by the opposing team and St. Paul's chances of winning a particular game.

The “A team” is for the eighth grade. If there is room and abilities allow, it is filled with lower grades. Winning becomes more important.

Tournaments : “A” & “B” teams have tournaments. Winning gets a higher priority.

Parents & Coaches : Parents will never agree with the coach when their child does not get to play or does not get as much time as the parent feels he/she should. The school asks that you discuss this with the coach first, but not after the game. If your differences cannot be worked out, please submit your disagreement in writing to the athletic director, along with recommendations for correcting the difference. The athletic director will decide if there is a problem and what should be done. Remember, the St. Paul coach is a volunteer and is not paid.

ATHLETIC POLICY “Guide for Involvement with Other Teams During Season” (1996)

As a school, we cannot bar your child from getting involved with other teams. We ask that you refrain from this involvement during our season. Basketball runs all summer long, which leaves plenty of time for tournaments and camps. Teammates feel cheated when a fellow member gets involved with another team. Players have arrived tired at our scheduled games after playing in another game earlier in the day. Some have arrived with slight injuries. Because of this physical state, they did not have as much to give to our school effort.

This situation can cause feelings of displaced loyalties – a lack of loyalty to St. Paul teammates and displaced loyalty to two different coaches, not to mention subjecting an athlete to two different coaching philosophies within the same season.

We are not against extra effort or practice. We ask that you as a parent consider our school and your children's fellow St. Paul teammates' feelings before you consent and commit to another team during our season.

ATHLETIC FEES

St. Paul School charges a $10.00 per sport athletic fee with a $20.00 per year maximum, a $10.00 bus fee for volleyball season, and a $15.00 bus fee for basketball season (091994). The athletic fee is not refundable and helps to defray the cost of purchasing uniforms (061791). This fee must be paid at the time the uniforms are issued. The bus fee is a one-time fee that covers busing for athletic events. Athletes are responsible for their uniforms during the season in which they are participating. If there is excessive wear or damage to a uniform, or if a uniform is lost, an additional charge will be determined by the athletic director and principal to replace the uniform. Uniforms must be returned within one week of the end of the season.

ATHLETICS - BUS RULES FOR STUDENTS GOING ON EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

1.   Meet in the gym before the trip.

2.   Students line up according to grades...8th, 7th, 6th, and 5th.

3.   Parents and adults get onto the bus first, followed by the students.

4.   Boys ride in the back of the bus going to the game, girls are in the back of the bus on the way home from the game.

5.   There is to be no shouting, screaming, or loud singing during the trip.

6.   No standing, kneeling, or sitting on seat backs while bus is moving.

7.   No one may change seats unless directed to do so by an adult.

8.   Radios may only be played with headphones.

9.   No flash pictures are allowed on the bus while it is moving.

10.   All passengers are to be quiet at railroad crossings.

11.   All litter must be picked up at the end of the trip and disposed of properly.

12.   Students are expected to obey all of the instructions given by the driver or any adult during the trip.

13.   Any student who rides the bus to a game but returns home with a parent or other legal guardian must tell the adult in charge of the bus before leaving the site of the game.

CONSEQUENCES FOR MISBEHAVIOR ON EXTRACURRICULAR BUS:

First - Warning

Second - One trip - no bus

Third - No bus privileges for the rest of the season

INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL GUIDELINES (011093)

1. Participation is limited to grades five and six.

2. All participants must have a physical.

3. No uniform fee will be charged.

4. Limit of two practices per week.

5. Limit of one game per week.

6. Limit of ten games per season.

7. No limit on number of players eligible.

8. Try to give all players equal playing time.

9. Fundamentals are stressed.

10. Good sportsmanship is promoted.

11. Co-ed teams may be used when numbers   warrant.

ATHLETES' CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP

Athletes and their parents are also asked to abide by our CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP, thereby being Christian representatives of St. Paul School. The code reads as follows:

I will consider all athletic opponents as guests and treat them with all of the courtesy due to friends and guests.

 

I will accept all judgment decisions of officials without question.

 

I will never boo a player or official nor show any other sign of disrespect.

 

I will not utter abusive or irritating remarks from the floor or sidelines.

 

I will applaud opponents who make good plays or show good sportsmanship.

 

I will seek to win by fair and lawful means, according to the rules of the game.

 

I will love the game for its own sake and not for what winning may bring to me.

 

I will win without boasting and lose without excuses.

 

I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

 

I will stick by the team through the good times as well as the bad times.

 

I will encourage my friends to uphold this code, as I will uphold this code.

 

ATHLETICS – HYDRATION USE (040603.2)

In all school situations, each student is responsible for his/her own hydration supply. For health purposes, no sharing of hydration supplies is to take place.

GYM SHOE POLICY (101788)

1.   Clean gym shoes must be worn in the   gym during recess, physical   education, and after school.

2.   Gym shoes may not have black or colored soles that leave scuff marks.

3.   It is the parents' responsibility to check to see that the soles on the gym shoes do not leave a scuff mark.

ATHLETICS – CHEERLEADING (101094.2)

Only eighth graders are on the A-team and seventh graders are on the B-team, with no more than eight girls on a team. When there are insufficient numbers, it is left to the Athletic Director to make exceptions to this policy.

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