Middle School Code of Conduct

A. The Appleton Area School District (AASD) sponsors co-curricular activities to provide students with additional opportunities for personal growth, self-discipline, skill development, cooperation with others, exploration of personal interests, creativity, self-advocacy, time management skills, and fun. Although the co-curricular program is a valuable part of the total educational experience and equally accessible to every student, participation in co-curricular programs is not a right. As such, all participants must abide by all rules and responsibilities outlined in the code in order to continue participation in these activities.

B. This code includes provisions for support, intervention, and referral in order to help students achieve their full potential. Participation in co-curricular opportunities fosters important life experiences that help students prepare for life in and beyond high school. Ultimately, the co-curricular code is a tool meant to encourage students to make healthy life choices.

A. The co-curricular activity program is an important part of the educational experience. It provides opportunities for learning experiences difficult to duplicate in regular school activities. When participants and their parents/guardians fully commit to a co-curricular activity, the following objectives can be achieved:

1. To develop leadership skills that seek to promote goal setting, work ethic and personal resolve. This can be accomplished through hard work, overcoming challenges, communicating effectively, understanding commitment, navigating adversity and appreciating success.

2. To teach attitudes of responsibility and cooperation and to help students realize that participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege with accompanying responsibilities.

3. To help students learn and develop good habits of health and safety.

4. To provide activities that help to create school unity, a sense of connectedness and self-confidence. 5. To provide activities for learning self-discipline, loyalty, team play, personal pride, pride in the organization, respect for the rights of others, and the will to be successful.

6. To provide students with opportunities for competition in their areas of interest and skill.

7. To provide students with opportunities to place the unit, team, squad, class, and school above personal desires.

• Activities where involvement occurs primarily outside of the regular school day
• Activities that may be connected to a class
• Activities where the public is the primary audience
• Activities in which members are elected or appointed
• Activities where students choose to participate voluntarily

 ***(Examples of co-curricular activities in the AASD include but are not limited to athletics, student council, school play, talent show, forensics, ski club)

A student will be eligible if he/she has a passing grade (defined as a grade of D- or better in all areas of Academics and a score of 2 or better in all areas of Career and Life Skills) at each eligibility check point (defined as the beginning and the midpoint of each season).

If a student is not receiving passing grades in all areas of Academics and Career and Life Skills at either academic checkpoint, the student may be expected to attend practice but will not be allowed to perform or compete until all grades are considered passing.

Students with special needs shall be evaluated on an individual basis.

Unless an absence has been pre-arranged (doctor/dental appointment, court, funeral, etc.) or administratively approved, a student must be in school for the entire day to participate in any practice or contest

• Abide by all school rules as defined in the Parent/Student handbook, Student Agenda, and Board Policy.
• Refrain from possessing, using, and/or being under the influence of controlled substances or intoxicants (including, but not limited to, alcohol, non-alcoholic beer or wine, tobacco, or electronic cigarettes). This does not include drugs prescribed to students by a person licensed to do so.

Students Using/Possessing/Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs, or Tobacco

Students who do receive a co-curricular code violation for use/possession of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco will be required to take part in an assessment by a medical professional and agree to follow any recommendations that come out of the assessment before being given consideration to return to their co-curricular activity. Student must have a clean drug screen in order to become eligible to participate in any activities.

Consequences for not abiding by all school rules (as defined above):

• Any OSS (out-of-school suspension) or ISS (in-school suspension) will result in the loss of participation for at least the duration of the suspension and may include additional events or performances that occur after the suspension is complete.
• Other misbehavior while at school or off school grounds may also result in a loss of participation from co-curricular activities.

Student, coach and parent will be notified of any student misconduct that results in a loss of participation from co-curricular activities. A meeting may be held with the associate principal to discuss the situation. A family may also refer to the Complaint and Grievance Procedures found in the Family Handbook. A student remains ineligible while a Complaint and Grievance Procedure is in process.

As a student in the AASD, you are volunteering to represent your school community. The honor of this privilege sets you above the rest. We will expect you to model school and AASD values at all times (Respectful, Responsible, Safe). Our goal is to help students make better choices and learn to be the best person they can be!