Mission Statement

This Activity Code is an attempt to state expectations and help influence positive behavior of those students representing IVC School District 321. The Board of Education believes the activity programs are a means for developing wholesome attitudes, positive human relations and offering participants enhanced learning opportunities. The Board of Education recognizes that participation in all extracurricular and co-curricular activities is a privilege and not a right. Students participating in extracurricular activities are ambassadors of the school and community; therefore when they choose to participate in an activity, the expectations of the students will be higher, both while in school and out of school on a year-round basis.

Covered Activities

The Board of Education recognizes that students participating in the following activities are representatives and ambassadors of the school and community, and as such are subject to the Activity Code:

All Interscholastic Athletic Activities

Baseball Lacrosse – Boys and Girls co-op with Dunlap

Basketball – Boys and Girls Soccer – Boys and Girls

Cheerleading Softball

Cross Country – Boys and Girls Swimming – Boys and Girls co-op with Dunlap

Dance Track – Boys and Girls

Football Volleyball

Golf – (girls participate on boy’s team) Wrestling - (girls participate on boy’s team)

Performance-based Activities

Band – Competitions, Jazz, Marching, Pep

Choral – Competitions, Madrigals, Swing Choir

Color Guard

Scholastic Bowl

Theater – Fall Play, Spring Musical

Elected or Selected Positions in Student Clubs and Organizations

Art Club National Honor Society

French Honor Society S.O.A.P. Club

German Honor Society Student Council

H.O.P.E. Club Tri-M Music Honor Society

J.O.I. Club Yearbook Club

National Honor Society

*Please note that any other officers of student clubs or organizations that may be added to the extracurricular activities will also be subject to the Activity Code.

Requirements for Participation in the above Covered Activities

A student must meet all academic eligibility requirements and have the following fully executed documents on file in the school office before being allowed to participate in any of the above covered activities:

1. A current certificate of physical fitness issued by a licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse or physician assistant is required for all athletic activities, color guard, and marching band. The preferred certificate of physical fitness is the Illinois High School Association’s “Pre-Participation Physical Examination Form.”

2. A permission slip to participate in the specific activity signed by the student's parent/guardian.

3. Proof that the student is covered by medical insurance.

4. A signed agreement by the student not to ingest or otherwise use any drugs on the IHSA’s most current banned substance list (without a written prescription and medical documentation provided by a licensed physician who performed an evaluation for a legitimate medical condition) and a signed agreement by the student and the student’s parent/guardian agreeing to IHSA’s Performance-Enhancing Substance Testing Program.

5. A signed agreement by the student and the student’s parent/guardian authorizing compliance with the School District’s Extracurricular Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy; and

6. Signed documentation agreeing to comply with the School District’s policies and procedures on student athletic concussions and head injuries.

Infractions

A student will be subject to discipline under the Activity Code if he/she commits any of the following infractions a) whether on or off school grounds and b) regardless of the time of year:

1. Uses or possesses tobacco in any form (including e-cigarettes, personal vaporizers, JUUL pods, etc…); this includes a violation of the IVC Random Drug Testing Policy, as applicable.

2. Use, possesses, buys, sells, offers to sell, barters, or distributes a beverage containing alcohol (except for religious purposes). This includes a violation of the IVC Random Drug Testing Policy, as applicable.

3. Uses, possesses, buys, sells, barters, or distributes any illegal substance (including inhalants, mood-altering and performance enhancing drugs or chemicals) or paraphernalia (this includes look alike items). This includes a violation of the IVC Random Drug Testing Policy, as applicable.

4. Attends a party or other gathering and/or rides in a vehicle where alcoholic beverages are present without parental/guardian supervision.

5. Attends a party or other gathering and/or rides in a vehicle where controlled substances are present.

6. Hazes or Bullies other students.

7. Uses, possesses, buys, sells, offers to sell, barters, or distributes, on School District property, any object that is or could be considered a weapon or any item that is a look alike weapon. This does not include the legal use of weapons in cooking and in athletics, such as archery, martial arts practice, target shooting, hunting, and skeet.

8. Criminal acts (excluding minor traffic tickets).

9. Behaves in a manner that is detrimental to the good of the group or school.

10. Violates any of the school rules and district policies on student discipline.

11. Falsifies any information contained on any permit or permission form required by the extracurricular or athletic activity.

Consequences

A student involved in the infractions listed above shall incur the following consequences:

Athletic or Performance-based Activity Club or Organization

First Infraction ¼ of the season ¼ of the school year

Second Infraction

(within 1 calendar year 1 calendar year 1 calendar year

of the 1st Infraction)

Second Infraction

(after 1 calendar year ¼ of the season ¼ of the school year

of the 1st Infraction)

Third Infraction Suspension from all activities, clubs, and organizations covered by the IllinoisValley Central School District Activity Code for the remainder of the student’s middle or high school career.

Note: This suspension due to a third infraction may be reduced to one calendar year provided that within that calendar year the student satisfactorily completes 100 hours of community service that is approved by the school administration. This option may only be used once by a student.

**Self-Reporting Reporting by a student, parent, or guardian of an infraction within three business days of the occurrence and before initial questioning by school personnel. Self-reporting will only be available for the first infraction. The consequences for a self-reported infraction is:

Athletic or Performance-based Activity Club or Organization

First Infraction 1/8 of the season 1/8 of the school year

Second Infraction 1/4 of the season 1/4 of the school year

The following definitions and conditions apply to these consequences:

1. A student who violates infraction 1, 2, or 3 regarding the use, possession or distribution of alcohol, tobacco (including e-cigarettes, personal vaporizers, JUUL pods, etc…) or illegal substances is required to meet with his or her school counselor, and complete a drug education program provided by the school. (high school only)

2. A student who violates infraction 4 or 5 is required to meet with his or her school counselor, and complete a drug education program provided by the school. (high school only)

3. A season for athletic or performance-based activities is defined as the first scheduled event of the activity to the last scheduled event of the activity. A season for clubs and organizations is defined as the school year.

4. For an athletic or performance-based activity, if a first infraction occurs in season and enough events remain to meet the ¼ season consequence, the student will be suspended from ¼ of the remaining season events. For a club or organization, if the first infraction occurs during the school year and at least ¼ of the school year remains, the student will be suspended from participation for ¼ of the school year.

5. A second infraction within a calendar year of the first infraction will cause the student to be suspended from all activities for a period of one year from the date of the second infraction. A second infraction after a calendar year of the first infraction will result in the same penalty as a first infraction, but will still be recorded as a second infraction.

6. For an athletic or performance-based activity, if a first infraction occurs in season and enough events do not remain to meet the ¼ season consequence, the student’s suspension will carry over into post-season events. If the ¼ consequence still is not met, the suspension will carry over to the next activity in which the student participates. For a club or organization, if the first infraction occurs during the school year and less than ¼ of the school year remains, the student will be suspended from participation for the remainder of the school year, and carried over to the next school year until the ¼ consequence is met.

7. If a first infraction occurs out of season, the student will be suspended from ¼ of the season events of the next activity in which he/she participates. If a student quits after ¼ of the events have been completed, but before completion of the season, then he/she has not satisfied the suspension and it will be carried over to the next activity.

8. A third infraction during a student’s middle school career, regardless of the date of occurrence, will cause the student to be suspended from all activities for the remainder of that student’s middle school career. A third infraction during a student’s high school career, regardless of the date of occurrence, will cause the student to be suspended from all activities for the remainder of that student’s high school career.

Procedures

The student and his/her parents or guardians must sign the Activity Code form verifying that they have read and understood the Activity Code. Once the signed form is returned to the athletic office, the form will be kept on file and the Activity Code will apply to that student for the duration of his/her school career in I.V.C. District 321. A student may not participate until the signed form is on file.

1. Reports of infractions of the activities code are to be made to the coach/sponsor, the high school athletic director, or the administration.

2. All reported infractions will be investigated as deemed necessary by the administration.

3. The student will be questioned by the Principal, Assistant Principal, or Athletic Director. If a satisfactory conclusion is not reached at that time, the student’s counselor may be called in to discuss the matter with the student and the administrator. Parents will be notified as soon as reasonably possible.

4. The school administration will decide whether an infraction has been committed and the consequences for that infraction. The high school athletic director will be included in this process when the infraction involves high school athletics.

5. A student will be advised of the charges against him/her and be given the opportunity to respond to the charges before a decision is made or penalty imposed.

6. The student and his/her parents or guardians will be advised in writing by the administration of any disciplinary action taken as a result of the charges and their right to appeal.

7. The student or parents or guardians may appeal the disciplinary action by responding in writing to the Principal within one calendar week of the date on the notice of disciplinary action. The Principal’s ruling during the appeal process is final.

8. Random student drug testing will be administered in accordance to Board Policy, as applicable.

Coaches and Sponsors

Coaches or sponsors may have additional rules above and beyond the Activity Code (provided these rules are deemed appropriate by the principal). A copy of these rules along with consequences shall be given to each participant at the beginning of the activity. The coaches’ or sponsors’ rules will be enforced only during the season that the student participates in that activity.

Coaches or sponsors are expected to handle violations of the Activity Code and/or Random Drug Testing Policy with the highest level of confidentiality. The discussion of suspensions must be limited to a need to know basis.

Because students cannot be academically punished for violations of the Activity Code and/or Random Drug Testing Policy, coaches or sponsors of activities for which a student receives academic credit shall provide an alternative assessment opportunity or exempt a student from an assignment or event missed due to a suspension imposed under the Activity Code after a student has been found in violation of the Activity Code and/or Random Drug Testing Policy.

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship must be displayed by students, athletes, parents, family members and all guests to any and all IVC school events due to the fact that we all represent the IVC community. The administration reserves the right to remove violators from an event and/or withhold entry into events if an infraction occurs. Examples of infractions include, but are not limited to, confronting a coach before or after a game without an appointment or profanity toward a coach or referee.

Academic Eligibility

High school students who participate in activities that are regulated by this Activity Code must be passing at least 2.5 graduate credits at all times during the school year. Those students who are found to be academically ineligible to participate will remain ineligible for at least one week, until they meet those eligibility requirements. At the end of each semester, every student must have accumulated at least three graduation credits. If a student fails to accumulate three graduation credits, he/she will be ineligible to participate in activities for the entire next semester.

Middle school students who participate in activities that are regulated by this Activity Code must be passing all subjects at all times, as specified under IESA guidelines.

Absence from School on Day of Extracurricular or Athletic Activity

A student who is absent from school after noon is ineligible for any extracurricular or athletic activity on that day unless the absence has been approved in writing by the principal. Exceptions may be made by the designated teacher, sponsor or coach for justifiable reasons, including: 1) a pre-arranged medical absence; 2) a death in the student's family; or 3) a religious ceremony or event.

A student who has been suspended from school is also suspended from participation in all extracurricular and athletic activities for the duration of the suspension.

A student who is absent from school on a Friday before a Saturday event may be withheld from Saturday extracurricular or athletic activities at the sole discretion of the designated teacher, sponsor or coach.

Travel

All students must travel to extracurricular and athletic activities and return home from such activities with his or her team by use of school approved transportation when provided. When district-provided transportation is not available, parents may complete a “Consent to Non-District Transportation Waiver of Legal Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement” to waive this rule and transport their son/daughter as specified. Oral requests will not be honored and oral permissions are not valid. At the coach’s or sponsor’s discretion, a student may be signed-out to travel home with his/her parent/guardian following the event.

Adopted: June 23, 1998

Revised: August 10, 1999

Revised: November 23, 1999

Revised: July 25, 2000

Revised: May 25, 2004

Revised: July 24, 2012

Revised: May 5, 2016

Revised: December 2017

Revised: April 2023