PHILOSOPHY

The West Fargo School District believes that participation in extracurricular activities constitutes a privilege and not a right.  Learners who participate in extracurricular activities represent the learners, school district, and community on the state and national level.  As such, behavior of these learners is a reflection on the entire community. 

The District will enforce the requirements placed on extracurricular participants by the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA), which govern both on- and off- campus behavior.  In addition, the district has established the following extracurricular participation requirements.  

ACTIVITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY

Activities affected by this policy shall include extracurricular activities as listed in the Learner handbook, including those not sponsored by NDHSAA. 

No middle school or high school student shall participate in any competitive extra-curricular activity or any co-curricular public performance representing the school if such student shall at the same time have any unsatisfactory record of scholarship. However, academic eligibility requirements will not be applied to public performances that are considered part of the requirements of an academic or curricular course.

Every week, behavior grade reports (compassion, collaboration, and responsibility) are run to determine eligibility. If a student has a CCR grade of ‘1’ in two or more classes, they are not eligible to play in any competitions or performances during that week, but are expected to attend practice.

Summer school grades cannot be used for eligibility purposes.

TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, & OTHER DRUG USE

Off-Season Violations

In athletics and fine arts, a violation during the off‐season, including summer, will result in a six‐week suspension. However, since the learner is not actively participating in an activity sponsored by West Fargo Public Schools, a subsequent four‐week suspension, or two interscholastic contests / activities including scrimmages (whichever is greater) will go into effect during the learner’s next season. A learner must report on the official first day of practice and meet all team expectations and criteria or they will be dropped from the team.  The learner will be ineligible for any West Fargo School District sponsored awards or letters and may not hold a leadership position for that affected activity season. A learner will not be able to join a new activity while under suspension for a second offense. Learners in other school related activities will be affected by the policies as related to possession or use of tobacco, alcohol or controlled substances if and when the date of the violation and subsequent suspension period occurs during the time of the learner’s competitive and/or performance date(s). 

Multiple Violations

The following is a summary of the length of suspension for a West Fargo Public School learner found in violation of this policy: 

First Offense

A learner will be suspended for a minimum of six consecutive school (activity) weeks from the time of notification of the violation. The learner may be allowed to practice and travel with their respective teams (with the approval of the coach and team). However, suspended learners will not be allowed to miss school time to travel with the team and will not be able to participate in any competitions or performances of his/her activity during the period of suspension. The learner will be ineligible for any WFPS sponsored awards or letters and may not hold a leadership position for that affected activity season. If the violation occurs in the off‐season, see off‐season policy above.

Second Offense

A learner will be suspended for a minimum of 18 consecutive weeks from the time of notification of the violation. If the second offense occurs during the same school year as the 1st offense, the suspension will be extended for the remainder of the school year or 18 additional weeks, whichever is longer. The learner may be allowed to practice and travel with their respective teams (with the approval of the coach and team). However, suspended learners will not be allowed to miss school time to travel with the team and will not be able to participate in any competitions or performances of his/her activity during the period of suspension. If following the 18‐week suspension, the suspension does not cover a minimum of six weeks or four interscholastic contests / activities including scrimmages of the learner’s affected season, the suspension will be extended until a minimum of six (activity) weeks has expired.

Third Offense

Loss of eligibility in all activities for the remainder of a learner’s high school career.

SUSPENSION PROCEDURE

When the principal or Activities Director, as a result of his/her investigation, concludes that a violation of this policy or NDHSAA bylaws has occurred, s/he shall issue notice to the learner of this suspension. 

PERIOD OF ENFORCEMENT

This policy shall be in effect 12 months per year, including those days and months when school and extracurricular activities are not in session.  It shall be in effect for all extracurricular activities including those of middle school learners. 

Adopted: 01/15/74

Reviewed:

Revised: 09/09/86

08/24/87, 05/14/90,

10/24/11, 11/01/16,
08/10/23

Students participating in North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) sanctioned programs are required to file a health history screening and physical examination form with the activities office prior to their participation each year. Per NDHSAA, physical exams may be done by a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner (MD, DO, PA, or NP). The health history screening and physical examination form are valid for one school year and the physical evaluation must be completed on or after April 15 to be valid for participation in the following school year.