INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES
Interscholastic
activities shall be defined as all student activities that have
performances outside the normal school day, except those for which a
grade is assigned (i.e. golf, football, basketball, baseball,
softball, track, cross country, volleyball, tennis, wrestling,
pompoms, jazz band, cheerleading, etc.).
The Board encourages students to participate in
after school activities and recognizes the value of such
participation. However, the highest priority must be for a student to
demonstrate satisfactory academic performance in the classroom.
The current MHSAA eligibility rules will be in
effect at all times. In order to be eligible to participate a student
must be passing at least four courses each semester. All seventh (7th)
and eight (8th) grade students are required to have and maintain a 2.0
grade point each semester to be eligible to participate in
interscholastic activities.
Students coming into the seventh grade shall be
eligible to participate in interscholastic activities if they have
been promoted, but may not have a 2.0 grade point average, until such
time as they may establish a GPA (at the end off the first nine
weeks). If a student does not obtain a 2.0 at the end of the first
marking period, said student shall be ineligible to participate for
the remainder of that semester.
Benton Harbor High School shall require ninth (9th)
and tenth (10th) graders to maintain at least a 1.8 average at the end
of each nine week marking period to maintain eligibility. Eleventh
(11th) and twelfth (12th) graders must maintain at least a 2.0 average
in order to maintain eligibility.
Any student athlete who fails to earn a 1.8 or 2.0
average (per grade requirement) shall at the end of a nine-week
marking period be placed on a one week probation. During this one week
probationary period the student athlete cannot play in any contest,
but will be allowed to practice. If at the end of one week period the
student athlete still does not have the acceptable average, the
student athlete shall be placed on another one week of academic
probation.
When a student enters the high school for the first
time, either as a freshmen of in-coming transfer, said student will be
allowed to participate until the end of the next nine week marking
period when their average shall be computed.
Transferring students must meet all MHSAA eligible
requirements as far as grades and residency.
A physical examination must be on file in the
Athletic Director's office verifying that a student is cleared to
participate.
The principal or designee of each secondary building
shall determine, on or before the first day of each semester, those
students that are eligible to participate in any activity and furnish
such information to the respective coaches in a timely manner.
Eligibility shall be determined on the basis of the previous
semester's grade point average.
If a student is placed on academic probation, the
principal or designee shall hold a conference with the student,
parent, and coach prior to granting the probation and documentation of
this meeting shall be provided to the student's counselor.
Any student who is placed on probation shall be
required to have their grades monitored on a weekly basis and teachers
must indicate they are currently earning the required grade point
average and the probationary student must attend a daily tutorial
study hall program which shall be arranged by their respective coach.
If the probationary student does not fulfill all of
the conditions of probation, said student shall become immediately
ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the
remainder of the current semester and shall turn all issued uniforms.
All students participating in interscholastic
activities shall be required to obtain proof of their continued
required GPA in the current semester by carrying a progress card to
each teacher at least seven days prior to the first scheduled event.
As a continuing requirement, all students shall carry progress cards
to their teachers every three weeks during the current semester.
If a student falls below the required GPA in the
current semester, as determined by the progress card said student
shall miss the next scheduled performance or contest and after having
a conference with the principal or designee and coach shall be allowed
to take a progress card to teachers prior to the next scheduled
performance or contest after which a decision shall be made by the
principal or designee as to the student's continued eligibility for
participation.
Coaches are encouraged to make arrangements for
after school study hall participation by all interscholastic students
and monitor their participation. The Superintendent or designee shall
be responsible for establishing a system to record secondary school
semester grade point averages and monitor current eligibility records
for all students who participate in interscholastic activities and
inform coaches of the procedures to followed. These records shall be
maintained for every student for the entire period said student
remains enrolled at Benton Harbor High School.
