HINSDALE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

2009-2010 ACTIVITY CODE
 (Please click here to access the permission form that needs to be signed and turned in at Registration)

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

1. A Code is a system of guiding principles and rules that communicate norms and values and helps individuals distinguish between what is right and what is wrong.  This Code outlines Hinsdale South’s expectations for students who choose to be involved in our extracurricular program.
2. Hinsdale South High School offers an extensive and diverse extracurricular program to provide additional learning opportunities to students who wish to develop special interests, skills, and talents to a higher level.  Involvement in these activities is voluntary and a privilege; students choosing to participate take on extended responsibilities as representatives of their school and community.  These extended responsibilities justify holding students who choose to participate in the extracurricular program to a higher standard of conduct as a condition of participation.
3. Students who choose to participate in the extracurricular program are responsible for behaving in accordance with this Code.

 SPONSOR EXPECTATIONS

1. The individual sponsor will be responsible for discussing with all club members the specifics of the new Code at the beginning of the year (if a club starts meeting in November, the sponsor is expected to discuss the Code in November).  Sponsors must be clear with their club members as to what is expected of them, which includes setting clear rules and expectations for club leaders.  Students are encouraged to discuss any questions regarding the Code with sponsors.  Interaction must exist between sponsor and members/leaders.  Sponsors will discuss the Code in order to open lines of communication and can help students realize what we value as a community.
2. The sponsor may be asked to sit in on an Activity Code Panel to review infractions.
3. All sponsors are to keep accurate attendance at meetings for the purpose of club rosters, eligibility, and accurate information for transcripts.

 STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

There is a distinct difference between leader(s) and member(s) of any club or activity.

1. CLUB LEADERS/PRESIDENTS:  Leaders in the student activities program are also role models for others, and, in addition to meeting the same academic criteria as other leaders in athletics, activity leaders are bound to a code of EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR; therefore, a high standard is established for club leaders. Leaders are governed by an additional stipulation that states that they must uphold the Code because they are role models and have been elected, been granted, or assumed leadership roles.

Consequences for lack of exemplary behavior are REMOVAL FROM THE LEADERSHIP POSITION if there is one infraction.  Leaders may continue membership in the club but cannot hold office.  This EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR expectation becomes active the day students become officers/leaders and have read the Code, and this continues until the final day of their respective leadership positions (when someone else becomes the Club President or leader).

2. CLUB MEMBERS must:

a)        Realize the importance of academic excellence.  (The IHSA and Hinsdale South require the participant to receive passing grades in at least four classes.)

b)        Not use or possess tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs.  (“Possession” as used in this Code shall mean having any knowledge of, and any control, over an item.)

c)         Practice good citizenship in all environments by respecting the property and rights of others (including stealing, cheating, vandalism, and other illegal acts).

d)        Realize the existence of and be held accountable for the individual rules as outlined by the coach or sponsor, other than those outlined in the Activity Code.

Conduct of all students involved in extracurricular activities will be of the highest caliber in the school, in the community, and during practices and games. Students who do not represent Hinsdale South in a becoming manner or whose habits, conduct, or character IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL are such as to reflect discredit upon Hinsdale South, shall be subject to disciplinary measures.  This commitment begins with the first day of participation in the club until the club meetings end.  If the club meets over the summer, then these expectations apply.

ACTIVITY CODE INFRACTIONS AND/OR VIOLATIONS

Should code expectations be violated, the following happens:

1. Officers/Presidents/Leaders – are asked to resign their leadership positions. In order to remain a part of the club or activity, the Officer/President/Leader must accept responsibility for his/her actions and make a public apology to the general club membership.
2. Club Members – will be disqualified from any and all participation in club activities until assigned community service is completed.  Community service will be assigned by the Activity Code Review Panel.
3. A second infraction will require more extensive community service assigned by the Activity Code Review Panel.
4. A third infraction will constitute an exemption from the club and membership in all Hinsdale South High School clubs/activities for the remainder of his/her high school career.

ACTIVITY CODE REVIEW PANEL

The Activity Code Review Panel will handle infractions of the Activity Code.  The panel will consist of the Activities Director, Club Sponsor, President of the Club from which the “offender” is a member, a police liaison, and one student or faculty member from the Activity Code Committee.  The panel will convene within a designated number of days of the infraction to discuss the severity of the infraction and decide, incident by incident, the appropriate consequence.  Consequences for an activity infraction will occur as a result of direct observation by a school official and/or the result of an investigation by the school administration.  Reports of infractions from non-school sources will not be acted upon unless school officials (activity sponsor or administration) substantiate the report through investigation.  The student should be informed of the investigation and given an opportunity to speak about the accusation prior to the decision by the panel and the administration.  All cases, except self-confession of an offender, are subject to an Activity Code Review Panel appeal.  This appeal is an opportunity to present extenuating circumstances.  Notice of an appeal must be made to the Activities Director within three days of the consequence being assigned.

Infraction consequences will be in the form of service hours.  Service hours must be completed immediately in order to allow the student to return to his/her club.  (There will be a minimum time period for the service hours to be completed.)  The committee will decide what, where, whom, and which resources to use for community service.  The student will not be able to work with a family member, for instance, in order to have hours “signed off on.”  Service work will be done outside of the school day.  There will be a minimum number of service hours designated by the committee, as well.

Students who are involved in a “guilt by association” circumstance will receive consequences deemed appropriate by the Activity Code Review Panel.

NOTE: Information contained in this document pertains to participation in clubs and activities only.

The Athletic Code of Conduct can be found in the Athletic Handbook. Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook or see the Athletic Director in room 268.