Student Activities, Clubs, & Programs

Definition of co-curricular activity:  Any school sponsored event NOT carrying academic credit, and not a part of the regular school day or an extension of the school program.  

Activities that make up the BFMS co-curricular and sports programs may include:  soccer (6-8), field hockey (7,8), basketball (7,8) baseball (7,8), softball (7,8), cross country, track & field (5-8), band (5-8), chorus (5-8), and student council (7,8)

All required paperwork must be passed in before students can start practicing.

 

Middle School Student Eligibility

In order to be eligible for participation in extracurricular activities, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. You must have a current physical exam on record with the nurse before being allowed to practice or play in games. This exam is good for two years from the date of the physical.  
2. Eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities will be based on learner characteristics. Students with 2’s and higher are eligible to play and participate. Any student receiving a 1 in a learner characteristic will have two weeks to work with teachers to improve the situation. 
3. Any student responsible for a Tier 3 or repeated Tier 2 infraction as identified by our Behavior Matrix  may be ineligible to participate for three school days. Further consequences could be implemented by coaches and/or the athletic director. 
4. Ineligible players may NOT participate in games or practices.
5. After school study and other academic activities will take precedence over co-curricular activities to the discretion of the coach of individual teams.

Given that a procedure rarely covers all contingencies adequately, and acknowledging the importance extracurricular activities have in the education process, the necessity of waivers to various parts of this procedure may arise on very rare occasions. 

All school policies and rules remain in effect for after school sports and co-curricular activities. Please refer to procedures distributed at the time of the activity.

 

Middle School Student Responsibilities

• All paperwork must be completed and handed in before you can practice.
• Maintain learner characteristics of 2’s and higher.
• Be on time. Be dressed and ready when the practice or game begins.
• Students are not permitted to wait at school for a late practice. Parents may make arrangements for their child to be with a teacher after school or to participate in the after school program. Students are not allowed in the building unsupervised.
• Let the coach know if you are going to be late or miss a game or practice so the coach can plan accordingly.  Missed practices and games can affect playing time.  
• Any student who is medically excused or sits out (due to illness) from P.E. or an academic class may not participate in practices or games. 
• In order to participate in any co-curricular activity, a student must attend at least half the school day on the day of the activity.  Exceptions may be approved by the Principal or Assistant Principal.
• In order to go home with a parent or guardian from an away game, you must give a signed permission form to the coach.
• Make sure you listen to announcements at the end of the day as practices and games can change quickly due to inclement weather or other factors. 

 

BFMS Co-Curricular Academic & Behavioral Eligibility Expectations

As a participant in co-curricular activities at the Bellows Falls Middle School, students not only access voluntary learning experiences that involve opportunities beyond the traditional classroom setting, they also become ambassadors for BFMS. Whether on-site at BFMS, during class time, on our own playing field, or when visiting another school, the behavior and spirit displayed by our students is a direct reflection on our school and community.

Therefore, BFMS acknowledges the need for specific behavioral expectations for students participating in co-curricular activities. Compliance with these expectations is required of participants in order to maintain their status as a member of that activity, group, club, or team. Failure to meet these behavioral expectations described in the following paragraphs will have the direct impact on the student’s participation in co-curricular activities. The intent of this procedure is to help encourage the best possible efforts from our students who desire to participate in co-curricular activities.

Cell Phones & Personal Devices 

As outlined in the WNESU policy, we will be following a “no cell, bell to bell” procedure, which explicitly restricts use of the following during school: 

• Cell phones (both phones that connect to the internet and non-internet connected phones that send and receive text messages, and make phone calls);
• Personal electronic devices such as electronic tablets and video games;
• AirPods, earbuds, Bluetooth-connected headphones, and smartwatches that connect to the internet.

Device restrictions also extend into our after-school programming: 

• Devices are NOT permitted to be utilized from the start of practice until the coach/ activity coordinator dismissal. Additional guidance on device usage will be provided by coaches/activity coordinators as it pertains to potential use or restrictions during transportation to/from games/programming and other events. 

Per the WNESU policy, exceptions for this policy are limited, and the school shall require documentation from a licensed medical professional to support an exception for conditions such as diabetes or seizure monitoring. The exception is specific to the need only and still prohibits cell phone use for any other purpose. Exceptions are required to be documented within an IEP, 504, and/or individualized health plan (IHP) and explicitly recommended to the team, in writing, by a licensed medical professional. 

Enforcement

This policy will be strictly enforced by all administration, faculty, and staff.

 

Parent/Guardian/Student Communication

If a parent/guardian or student needs to communicate during the school day, a phone will be available in the main office.

• The school day includes before and after school, passing periods, lunch, after school activities, loading and unloading of buses and field trips.
• If a student needs to use their phone at dismissal to contact parents/guardians, they are to seek permission from the administration.
• Using a cell phone/device to record or videotape activities during the school day is not allowed.
• Please refrain from texting or calling your student during the school day. Please call the school to leave any messages for your student.
• Please see the district policy C30 for a complete copy of the district’s Phone and Electronic Device Policy.

School Social Functions

• At least two weeks prior to the date of the scheduled event, petitions for any school function must be submitted to the main office and approved by the principal or assistant principal.  
• Special forms must be used and are available in the main office. 
• Social functions for the school year will be scheduled on the Master Calendar in the main office.