JH/HS CO-Curricular Handbook Information
All students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities during their
six years of junior high and high school. We encourage all students to get involved in
Bennett County Jr. / Sr. High School co-curricular activities.
Bennett County Jr. / Sr. High School offers a wide range of co-curricular activities.
Please refer to the front on the student handbook for a partial list of activities and the
activity director/coach. Co-curricular activities are an extension of our academic
classroom.
Jr. High and High School activities can be a positive influence on the academic programs
at the Jr. and Sr. High School as well as the community of Bennett County. Life-long
lessons are not only taught in the academic classroom, they are also taught in these vital
co-curricular programs.
Results of surveys about the value of high school activities reveal the following:
1. Grade point averages of students involved in co-curricular activities rank well
above students who do not participate in school activities.
2. Co-curricular activities teach valuable lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship,
winning and losing, hard work, dedication, self-discipline, and the skills to handle
competitive situations.
3. Students who participate in school activities have better attendance records in
school than students who do not participate.
4. Students who participate in school activities are more likely to stay in school.
5. Students who participate in school activities are generally happier about school
and incur fewer discipline problems than non-participating students.
6. School activity participants have fewer instances of drug or alcohol abuse.
7. Students who participate in school activities are involved in fewer cases of
juvenile delinquency than non-participants.
The number one reason girls and boys participate in high school activities is to have fun.
Conversely, lack of fun is the leading reason for dropping out of participation. Winning
is not seen as a major reason why students participate. Skill development is considered a
crucial aspect of fun—it is considered more important than winning even among the best
participants.
Academic classroom learning and co-curricular participation should go hand in hand.
With proper guidance by high school personnel, it can all become a positive experience
toward good character and citizen development. Again, the major purpose of high school
activities is to serve as an extension of a student’s academic education and a positive,
wholesome event for after-school hours.
Objectives of the Bennett County Schools Activity Program:
In attempting to reach goals stated in the School and Athletic Philosophies, the Bennett
County School District has established the following objectives:
A. The district will insure that each student has opportunity to participate throughout
the school year by making available at least one sport for both boys and girls (in
grades 6-12) during each sport season.
B. The district will hire coaches who:
1) are an appropriate role model,
2) know the skills and strategy of the sport,
3) know how to teach these skills.
C. In order that the athletic program be as beneficial as possible, those who
administer it will:
1) Attempt to involve as many participants as possible by:
a) encouraging participation in athletics,
b) making an effort to give each participant an opportunity to be involved in
significant interscholastic competition,
c) not eliminating participants on the basis of skill,
d) making the activity enjoyable to the participants.
2) Promote physical fitness by:
a) encouraging good health habits (diet, exercise, rest, cleanliness, etc.),
b) making conditioning a significant part of each activity,
c) discouraging the use of harmful substances (i.e. drugs, alcohol, and
tobacco),
d) teaching students to take care of their minor injuries (scrapes, bruises,
strains).
3) Take the necessary precautions to minimize injuries by:
a) providing proper equipment,
b) teaching correct techniques,
c) not allowing athletes with suspected or confirmed injuries to participate
when their participation may lead to more serious injury,
d) making certain that athletes with suspected injuries get the necessary
medical attention.
4) Attempt to build each participant's feeling of self-worth by:
a) focusing on positive reinforcement,
b) being careful to not belittle the participant, especially during competition
and in front of spectators,
c) not allowing participants to criticize each other and encouraging an esprit
de corps on the team
5) Encourage athletes to be responsible in the academics by:
a) setting minimum achievement standards for participation,
b) setting attendance standards for participation,
c) expecting athletes to be "good citizens" in the classroom
and other areas within the school.
6) Endeavor to minimize the loss of school and study time by:
a) scheduling teams in close proximity, to the degree possible, (over 160
miles one way must have board approval),
b) keeping practices a reasonable length,
c) scheduling events at times and on days so as to minimize school time lost,
d) not leaving for scheduled events earlier than necessary and by returning as
soon as feasible.
7) Promote a health perspective of competition by helping athletes:
a) deal with the joy of winning and the disappointment of defeat,
b) realize that preparation and doing your best is all that can be expected,
c) understand that, even though winning is fun and losing is painful, we can
learn from both experiences,
d) cope with the pressure to win that is sometimes brought to bear on the
athlete by peers, parents, or community members.
8) Teach sportsmanship both by example and setting high expectations of
sportsmanship for those who participate by:
a) insisting that both coaches and athletes refrain from vulgar language
during competition, practice, and in the locker room,
b) expecting both coaches and athletes to show respect to officials,
c) being courteous to opposing teams and coaches.
Eligibility Policy Grades 9-12
A student must be passing in all his/her classes to be considered eligible for extracurricular participation in a school-sponsored event. In the event the student is not
passing in one or more classes, the following procedures will be in effect:
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Starting with the third week of each semester, student academic progress is evaluated
each week with an academic progress report. A progress report is sent to the parents
of students with grades of 69% or lower. If the grade falls below 60%, the student
will be placed on academic probation from extra-curricular, school sponsored events.
The student may continue to practice and participate throughout the probation period.
If the student is still below 60% as reported by the academic progress report upon
commencement of the third week, he/she will be suspended from participation in
extra-curricular, school-sponsored events until such reporting period as the grade is
raised to passing (60%) status. He/she may, however, continue to practice but will not
be allowed to participate. Students will be granted a (1) one-week waiver for each
semester should the student’s grade drop below 60%. This waiver grants the student
one week’s time to get his/her grade to passing (60%) status for the next week. If the
student is still below 60%, that student will become ineligible to participate, but must
continue to practice.
The student will be allowed to resume participation in school-sponsored events when
the grade is again passing, provided he/she has regularly attended practices. If again
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grades should drop below passing, the student will be suspended from participation in
school-sponsored events.
Students who have un-served detention will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities until the detention has been served.
Coaches and advisors have the discretion to set higher standards, but cannot lower the
standard.
South Dakota High School Activity Association Student Eligibility Rules
Bennett County High School is a member of the South Dakota High School Activities
Association (SDHSAA) and our school abides by its guidelines and regulations. The
student eligibility rules apply to all SDHSAA and Bennett County High School
sanctioned co-curricular activities.
1. Age: The student must be under 20 years of age at the time of participation.
2. Eight Semester Rule: A student shall be eligible for four first semesters and four
second semesters of interscholastic competition. Once a student enrolls as a ninth grader,
all semesters must be consecutive unless verified in writing by a physician that
withdrawal from school is necessary due to a serious illness or injury.
3. Scholastic/Academic Eligibility Rule:
a) Preceding Semester: The student, unless entering high school for the first
time, shall have successfully passed twenty hours of high school work per week, for
which academic units of credits earned are used in the issuance of a diploma, for the
preceding or for the most recent semester of attendance in any accredited high school.
This means a student must pass in at least four regular subjects each semester. Failure to
pass twenty hours the previous semester causes the student to become ineligible the entire
following semester. Only credits accepted by the school for graduation may be used in
determining whether a student has passed the twenty hours.
b) Current Semester: The student shall be enrolled in an accredited high school
and attend a minimum of twenty hours of high school work per week during the current
semester for which academic units of credits earned are used in the issuance of a diploma.
Twenty hours is equivalent of four full time academic subjects for which the student
earns 2.0 credits that will be used in the issuance of a diploma. One unit of credit is the
equivalent of 10 hours. One-half unit of credit is the equivalent of 5 hours. One-fourth
unit of credit is the equivalent of 2.5 hours.
c) Physicals: All students participating in athletics and cheerleading must have a
current SDHSAA physical on file with the Activities Administrator before they are
allowed to begin practice in any sport. The student must pass their physical and the form
needs to be signed by the doctor and parent/guardian. Physical forms are available from
the principal’s office or activity administrator’s office.
Guard Your Fine Arts Eligibility
The following are SDHSAA eligibility requirements for students participating in any
contest or festival involving music (band and vocal), journalism, debate and speech, oral
interpretation, and drama activities.
You are eligible if:
1. You are under the age of 20.
2. You have not attended more than 4 first semesters and 4 second semesters of
school in grades 9 through 12. Enrollment in school for 15 school days of
participation in an inter-school contest shall constitute a semester. Once a student
enrolls as a ninth grader, all semesters must be consecutive unless waived due to
illness, injury or other circumstances of a similar serious nature which must be
verified in writing by a licensed health professional or other professional
personnel if requested by the SDHSAA.
3. During the preceding semester you must have passed a minimum equivalent of
four full time subjects for which you earned at least 2.0 units of high school credit
that will be used in the issuance of a diploma.
4. During the current semester you are enrolled in and attend a minimum equivalent
of four full time subjects for which you earn at least 2.0 units of high school credit
that will be used in the issuance of a diploma.
5. You have enrolled by the 16th school day of the current semester. Date of regular
entry into classes is considered the date of enrollment.
6. You have a copy of your transcript on file in the principal’s office prior to any
competition after transferring schools.
7. You have not been absent from school more than 10 consecutive school days.
(Illness of the student or death in the immediate family accepted.)
8. You have not participated in a fine arts competition under an assumed name.
9. You have not graduated from a regular four-year high school or institution of
equivalent rank.
Consult your principal, activities administrator, or fine arts coach/director for additional
information.
Guard Your Athletic Eligibility
The following are SDHSAA eligibility requirements for students participating in any
athletic contests.
You are eligible if:
1. You are under the age of 20.
2. You have not attended more than 4 first semesters and 4 second semesters of
school in grades 9 through 12. Enrollment in school for 15 school days or
participation in an inter-school contest shall constitute a semester. Once a student
enrolls as a ninth grader, all semesters must be consecutive unless waived due to
illness, injury or other circumstances of a similar nature which must be verified in
writing by a licensed health professional or other professional personnel if
requested by the SDHSAA.
3. During the preceding semester you passed a minimum equivalent of four full time
subjects for which you earned at least 2.0 units of high school credit that will be
used in the issuance of a diploma.
4. During the current semester you are enrolled in and attend a minimum equivalent
of four full time subjects for which you earn at least 2.0 units of high school credit
that will be used in the issuance of a diploma.
5. You have enrolled by the 16th school day of the current semester. Date of regular
entry into classes is considered the date of enrollment.
6. You have on file in the activity administrator’s office a signed physical
examination and parent’s permission form.
7. You have not transferred from one high school to another without a corresponding
change in the residence of your parents. (Exception made for students who
transfer pursuant to the open enrollment by-law.)
8. You have a copy of your transcript on file in the principal’s office prior to
competition.
9. You have not been absent from school more than 10 consecutive school days.
(Illness of the student or death in the immediate family accepted.)
10. During a high school sport season, you do not compete on an unattached basis as
an individual or as a member of a non-school team.
11. You have not participated in an athletic contest under an assumed name.
12. You have not participated in athletics in any institution of learning of higher rank
than a secondary school.
13. You have not violated your amateur standing.
14. You have not graduated from a regular four-year high school or institution of
equivalent rank.
Consult your principal, activities administrator, or coach for additional information
INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY
5-38
Training Rules
A. During the season of practice, play or rehearsal, a student shall not:
1. Use or have in his possession, vehicle or district accommodations a beverage
containing alcohol.
2. Use tobacco.
3. Use or consume, have in possession, buy sell or give away marijuana, or any
controlled substance. It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a
legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student's own use by his
doctor.
4. Use or consume any steroid hormone which alters body growth.
B. Each sponsor of an activity will have a form on file which is signed by the student and
parent/guardian. The signature indicates that they have read and will abide by the
District's training rules policy, sponsor's training rules and sponsor's rules of conduct.
Each sponsor's training rules and rules of conduct must be approved by the activities
director.
Standard of Conduct.
Students taking part in extra curricular activities shall not violate any laws, or
commit any conduct deemed unsuitable to a person who is representing this
school.
Traffic violations shall not be included as a violation of this policy unless
alcoholic beverages, dangerous drugs or controlled substances are also involved
or the violation is a Class I misdemeanor, i.e. reckless driving, eluding a police
officer.
Administrative Note:
If a student is to become ineligible due to misconduct, the following procedure
must have occurred prior to issuing the ineligibility:
1.
The teacher or other personnel has submitted to the principal a disciplinary
referral.
2.
The principal will determine if disciplinary action is needed.
Determination of Violation.
It shall be deemed that a student has violated this student conduct policy, or
training rules if any of the following occur:
1.
A student has been found guilty in any Court of Law or has admitted to
any Court of Law, Magistrate, Tribunal or school personnel that he/she
has violated any of the standards of conduct
2. It is determined by other competent evidence that a student has committed
any offense listed in the standard of conduct.
Penalties-Mandatory guidance intervention will be required of any violation.
*When a student comes in and admits their violation before the principal
is
Notified their penalty will be cut in half.
Violators of the alcohol, drug and tobacco policies will be placed in the following
matrix that specifies steps that will occur with violations of the policy. This
matrix would begin as a 6th grade student begins participation in activities at Bennett
County and would accumulate throughout their entire activities career. This matrix
includes participation in all activities and would involve violations during the school
calendar year.
Stage One: Two contests missed.
Stage Two: Four contests missed.
Stage Three: Six contests missed.
* Stage One: One contest missed
* Stage Two: Two contests missed
* Stage Three: Three contests
missed
Stage Four: Removed from all activities. * Stage Four: Removed from all
activities
Once a stage is reached, the remaining infractions will be handled with previous
violations being accountable. An example would be, if a seventh grade student
achieves Stage One they would be at Stage Two if in violation again at any point
during their remaining years of participation.
South Dakota Codified Law 13-32-9.
SDCL 13-32-9 SUSPENSION FROM EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE VIOLATIONS
Any person adjudicated, convicted, the subject of an informal adjustment or courtapproved diversion program, or the subject of a suspended imposition of sentence or
suspended adjudication of delinquency for possession, use, or distribution of controlled
drugs or substances or marijuana as defined in chapter 22-42, or for ingesting, inhaling,
or otherwise taking into the body any substances as prohibited by § 22-42-15, is
ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity at any secondary school accredited
by the Department of Education for one calendar year from the date of adjudication,
conviction, diversion, or suspended imposition of sentence. The one-year suspension may
be reduced to sixty school days if the person participates in an assessment with a certified
chemical dependency counselor or completes an accredited intensive prevention or
treatment program. If the assessment indicates the need for a higher level of care, the
student is required to complete the prescribed program before becoming eligible to
participate in extracurricular activities. Upon a subsequent adjudication, conviction,
diversion, or suspended imposition of sentence for possession, use, or distribution of
controlled drugs or substances or marijuana as defined in chapter 22-42, or for ingesting,
inhaling, or otherwise taking into the body any substances as prohibited by § 22- 42-15,
by a court of competent jurisdiction, that person is ineligible to participate in any
extracurricular activity at any secondary school accredited by the Department of
Education. Upon such a determination in any juvenile court preceding the Unified
Judicial System shall give notice of that determination to the South Dakota High School
Activities Association and the chief administrator of the school in which the person is
participating in any extracurricular activity. The Unified Judicial System shall give notice
to the chief administrators of secondary schools accredited by the Department of
Education for any such determination in a court proceeding for any person eighteen to
twenty-one years of age without regard to current status in school or involvement in
extracurricular activities. The notice shall include name, date of birth, city of residence,
and offense. The chief administrator shall give notice to the South Dakota High School
Activities Association if any such person is participating in extracurricular activities.
Upon placement of the person in an informal adjustment or court-approved diversion
program, the state's attorney who placed the person in that program shall give notice of
that placement to the South Dakota High School Activities Association and chief
administrator of the school in which the person is participating in any extracurricular
activity.
As used in this section, the term, extracurricular activity, means any activity
sanctioned by the South Dakota
High School Activities Association.
REVISED 2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
AMENDED 2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Other Guidelines for school activities:
1. As a general rule, a student must be in school the whole day to be eligible to
participate in after school activities or school sponsored evening activities that are
conducted on that day, subject to administrative (principal and activities administrator)
discretion. Student absences for various appointments (doctor, dentist, legal, etc) will not
affect a student’s right to participate.
2. Practice Sessions. All co-curricular practices will be completed at a reasonable
hour. Any deviation from the stated rule must be approved in advance by both the
activities director and building principal.
3. Participation by 6th graders. 6th grade students may participate in Junior high
athletics in the sports of football, wrestling, volleyball, track and basketball. Coaches
will determine how athletes will be divided into teams.
4. 7th and 8th grade participation at the high school level. Seventh (7th) and eighth
(8th) grade students may participate in activities at the high school level if participation
would be beneficial to the student and the activity; and/or when the activity is not
generally available at the 7th and 8th grade level. High school activities in which 7th and
8th grade students may participate, (only if invited to do so by a sponsor or coach), are
(1) cross country; (2) track., and (3) wrestling. All other activities must be approved
through the waiver procedure.
a) Administrative Procedural Note: Before a 7th or 8th grade student is invited
by an athletic coach to participate in any of the above-stated athletic events, the coach
shall seek the approval of the activities director, who, in turn, will gain the approval of
the Board of Education.
b) Board Consideration of Waiver: The Board of Education may consider a
"waiver" of policy request for an individual student only if the student's parent or
guardian initiates the request for a waiver of policy to the Board during a regular school
board meeting. The Board and administration will discuss said request in executive
session with the parent or guardian, after which the Board's decision is final.
5. No mandatory practices for 6th, 7th and 8th. There will be no mandatory
practices for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade activities on Wednesday's after 3:55 p.m. 7th & 8th
grade students who have been approved to participate in a high school activity will not be
penalized for attending a religious activity after 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday.
1. No practices or activities will be scheduled on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day,
Christmas Day or Easter Day without the prior approval of the Board of
Education.
2. Special Awards and Recognition. There will be special award nights for
recognition of student achievements. Activity coaches will explain lettering
requirements at a team meeting prior to the beginning of the sport season.
8. Warrior Award Criteria
1. The Senior athlete must have completed in 3 sports for 4 years. This includes
sports recognized by the SDHSAA and also club sports (baseball and rodeo). All
coaches including club sports and their sponsors will be required to fill out the
annual SDHSAA book and or turn in a roster of participants and any significant
awards the athletes earned.
2. The athlete must be nominated by 1 of the coaches on the BC staff.
3. Staff will consider exceptions due to medical hardships.
4. Starting with the 2014-2015 school year we will phase in the guidelines in the
following manner:
A. By the year 2014-2015, the athlete must have competed in and completed in
good standing 3 recognized sports over their senior year
B. By the year 2015-2016, the athlete must have competed in and completed in
good standing 3 recognized sports during each their junior and senior years.
C. By the year 2016-2017, the athlete must have competed in and completed in
good standing 3 recognized sports during their sophomore, junior and senior
years.
D. By the year 2017-2018, the athlete must have competed in and completed in
good standing 3 recognized sports during their freshman, sophomore, junior
and senior year.
HANDBOOK AWARENESS STATEMENT
My signature below indicates that, my student/athlete and parent
has received and read the JH/HS CO-Curricular Student
Handbook.
STUDENT’S NAME (Print)___________________________
STUDENT’S SIGNATURE___________________________
DATE and GRADE__________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE______________________________
Please return this page, signed by both parent and student, to
the Bennett County High School Office as soon as possible.
Failure to sign and return does not release student from the
handbook rules, expectations and consequences.