2023-2024
Limestone Middle School
ATHLETIC & ACTIVITY POLICY

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Congratulations on your child’s participation in an extra-curricular opportunity at Limestone Middle School. The staff and students take great pride in positively representing our school and community in competition as well as in daily life. Participating students are expected to maintain high standards of attendance, academic performance and behavior. The rewards of involvement and competition also include responsibilities. As a parent/guardian, please read the following expectations carefully, review these expectations with your child, and complete the parent/guardian and student signatures indicating an understanding and acceptance of the expectations.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE
Participants are expected to attend all scheduled week day practices/meetings and weekend tournaments/events. Weekend/Holiday practice times are scheduled only as needed and will be considered optional in support of family time. A student who is absent from school for more than one- half day is not eligible to participate in practice or event. To assist parents in coordinating transportation, a practice schedule will be provided. In general, all after school practices will end no later than 5:00PM. Scheduling space for multiple activities in the gymnasiums means each group/team may need to alternate some early morning and early evening practices. Practices may be conducted before school from 6:15-7:45AM or late from 5:15-6:45PM as directed by the coaching staff.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ACADEMICS
As a member school, Limestone Middle School upholds the IESA requirements for eligibility. A student who is failing any subject will be prohibited from participation including (practices, meetings, competition, and other related events) for the following week; a weekly grade report is generated through the school information system on the last school day of each week and applies to participations for the following Monday through Saturday. The weekly report calculates a cumulative grade for the current quarter.

•	Any participant who is ineligible three weeks (consecutive or nonconsecutive) throughout the season will be dismissed from the team. The season begins with the first day of try-outs. In the event there are no try-outs, the season begins the first day of practice.

EXPECTATIONS FOR BEHAVIOR
If during the school year a student is known to use, possess, purchase, distribute, offer sale of  drugs,  alcohol, tobacco, nicotine in any form, mood-altering, performance enhancing drugs, look-alike substances, paraphernalia, or any other illegal substance that student will be suspended from extra-curricular competition.  

•	 Upon a first-offense suspension, the student will be allowed to practice, but will not be permitted to participate in all remaining games/events.
•	  A second offense at any point during the student’s remaining years at Limestone Middle School will result in removal from the team/group. 
•	 A third offense at any point during the student’s remaining years at Limestone Middle School prohibits a student participation in any and all extra-curricular activity for the remainder of the school year. 

The Herscher CUSD2 K-8 Student Handbook will also apply to such incidents as described above.

EXPECTATIONS FOR PROCEDURES

UNIFORMS
Some groups/teams may issue uniforms or related apparel to participants. Students are expected to take care of any uniform issued to them. Uniforms are expected to provide several seasons of wear. Therefore, in caring for this clothing be sure to follow the washing directions on the label, using  cold water and line drying. Damage to or loss of uniform or related apparel will result in a fine in the amount necessary to cover the cost of replacement. Please be aware that this cost can be $50.00 or more per piece. Uniform purchases are costly and replacements are even more expensive when purchased on an individual basis. The condition of our uniforms and the appearance of our teams is one of the ways we positively represent ourselves and our community.

MEDICAL & INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
All students are required to have a current physical, birth certificate and proof of insurance on file in the office prior to any athletic practice including a try- out.

SCHOOL FEE COMPLIANCE
Students must pay all school fees in full or have an established payment plan in good standing prior to trying out. Those students on payment plans must maintain payments according to the plan timeline. A late or missed payment revokes the privilege of participation.

TRANSPORTATION

All participants are required to be transported by the school to competitions/events. Student participants may ride home with a parent/guardian only if signed out by the parent/guardian from the event. A student participant may ride home with another parent/guardian only if the coach receives prior written permission from the parent/guardian of the student indicating the specific date, event, and adult who will be transporting. Students who do not have the written permission of their parent/guardian including the specific information stated above, will not be released and will be required to ride the bus to return to the school. A written and signed statement is required for the protection of our school and assists us in providing the safest possible setting for your child. Students should be picked up promptly following practices and events. Our staff thanks you for respecting their time with punctual pick-ups and will give careful attention to ending practices/meetings as scheduled in return.

ASD: Disciplinary Detention
Participants are expected to represent the school favorably in all settings within our community and particularly within the school setting. Participants whose choices and actions result in the consequence of an ASD (after school detention) are subject to the following rules:
•	Participants will not attend or participate in practice or an event on the same day they serve an ASD.
•	An ASD will not be changed or rescheduled in order to allow a student-athlete to participate in practice/competition/related event.
•	Any participant who earns three detentions throughout the season will be dismissed from the team. The season begins with the first day of try-outs. In the event there are no try-outs, the season begins the first day of practice.
•	The above pertains to all participants in an extra-curricular. Individual coaches/sponsors may have additional guidelines or consequences that apply. Any additional guidelines are provided to participants and parents in writing at the start of the season.

We thank you for supporting our students in positively representing our school and community!
Ms. Chavers, Principal
Mr. Taylor, Assistant Principal
Mr. Schwarzkopf, Athletic Director

Agreement Contract
I have read and reviewed the Limestone Middle School Athletic & Activity Policy with my child. I understand that my child’s participation in extra- curriculars is subject to compliance with this policy.

Student Name	 	

Student Signature	 	

Date	 	

Parent/Guardian Name	 	

Parent/Guardian Signature	 	

Date	 	

Verification of Insurance

My child 	has parent/guardian  permission  to participate in extra-curricular activities at Limestone Middle School during the 2020-2021 school year.

                                             _____         We will provide a copy of our insurance card to the LMS     			 office prior to tryout or first practice.

 	_	We have our own insurance and assume responsibility in case of injury.

(Parent/Guardian Name)

(Parent/Guardian Signature)

(Date)