SD45 (West Vancouver)
SECONDARY ATHLETICS
SEASONAL SPORTS/ATHLETIC EVENTS
Student Expectations
Dear West Vancouver School District Student Athlete (Parents please read with your child),
Congratulations on your selection to participate on an athletic team at your secondary school. The benefits
of participating on a school team are many and include improvements in health and fitness, development of
teamwork and leadership skills, and the personal satisfaction that is derived from hard work and
commitment to a team. As you are representing a secondary school in West Vancouver, the expectations
for behaviour and conduct are the same as indicated in your school code of conduct and as outlined in
school and district policy (refer to your student agenda for details). Outlined below are specific areas that
need further clarification. Please read these expectations carefully with your parents, and address any
questions you may have to your Coach, the Teacher Sponsor for your team, or to the Athletic Director.
Attendance and Commitment
Your teachers and coaches give their time voluntarily, and you are expected to attend all practices and
competitions. Failure to comply with the above may result in suspension or expulsion from the team,
depending upon the severity of the infraction. It is the direct responsibility of the student athlete to inform
his/her coach of any conflicts between school athletics and other activities; in situations where a conflict
arises, students must inform their coach/sponsor of the absence. In situations of illness or injury, the student
is expected to maintain their attendance at practices/competitions unless otherwise indicated by the
coach/sponsor.
You are expected to commit to a team for the entire season; ‘dropping out’ of a team or competition may
lead to disciplinary actions including ineligibility from further participation in school athletics for the
remainder of the year. Student athletes and their parents need to communicate immediately with a
coach/sponsor if any situation arises that may require being excused from a team. Athletic fees will not be
refunded to students who are unable to complete their commitments for the season except under special
circumstances and following discussion with the coach and athletic director.
Above all, the key to success in our school athletic programs is continuous communication between
yourself, your parents, the coach/sponsor and school athletic director.
Playing Time
Coaches will do their best to ensure a fair allocation of playing time. However, due to the nature of sport,
this seldom translates to equal playing time. When registering for a team and paying the associated fees,
student athletes and parents must understand that no amount of playing time is guaranteed. Concerns
regarding playing time should be addressed to the Coach first. If one does not feel that their concerns are
adequately addressed, it is recommended that they contact the Teacher Sponsor and/or Athletic Director.
Citizenship and Academic Performance
West Vancouver school district student athletes are expected to maintain a high standard of behaviour and
conduct. Any involvement with drugs and/or alcohol will be considered a violation of school district policy
and students will be subject to disciplinary action by the School and Athletic Department.
As a member of West Vancouver school team you are expected to conduct yourself in an appropriate and
responsible manner at all times. Coaches/sponsors may regular communicate with your teachers regarding
your performance and behaviour in their classes. If a teacher feels that you are not meeting the expectations
set out for their class (with regards to attendance, attitude, and performance) a meeting may be called
between the yourself, the coach, your parent/guardian, the teacher, and a counselor and/or administrator to
discuss your commitments. If it is determined that you are not meeting expectations in the classroom, you
Student Expectations – Secondary Athletics
Athletics - Secondary
July 2008
REV: July 2008
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may be, at the discretion of the Athletic Director and Administration, suspended from your athletic team
until those expectations are being met.
Attendance and Missed School Work
You must attend classes on the day of practice or competition (which includes participating in Physical
Education), unless you have been given permission to leave early (i.e., an early dismissal slip) by your
team’s sponsor teacher. You are required to present early dismissal slips to your teacher prior to the
beginning of the class you are missing and request permission to leave early. It is your responsibility to talk
to your teacher regarding any work that you may miss. If a quiz/test is missed due to an early dismissal, it is
the direct responsibility of the student to meet with the teacher to arrange an alternate time to complete the
necessary assessment. It is expected that you will make every attempt to communicate with your teacher
ahead of time if you know you will be missing a quiz or test. In cases where a student does not
communicate an absence to his/her teacher, they may lose the opportunity to write the quiz/test and receive
no credit for the assessment.
Athletic Fees
A minimum athletic fee is required in order to participate in a school sport. This fee includes but is not
limited to, BC School Sports membership fees, North Shore Secondary School Athletic Association
membership fees, first aid supplies, tournament entry fees, equipment purchase support, banners, trophies,
Athletic Banquet support, and incidentals. Base athletic fees for each team is published in the school
agenda, however, depending on the team and program, the actual athletic fee may exceed this base amount.
In certain instances, a team may choose to purchase uniforms that then become the property of the student.
The uniform purchase fee is above the general athletic fee charged for participation on a team. A detailed
team budget can be requested from the Teacher Sponsor at any time.
We look forward to having you as a member of your school’s athletic programs
.
Sincerely,
Sentinel Secondary School Athletic Directors
Student Expectations – Secondary Athletics
Athletics - Secondary
July 2008
REV: July 2008
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