Parent/Student Resources
Students interested in participating in athletics should complete an updated health checklist form prior to the start of each new season. This form may be completed by selecting Athletic Health History below.
If you have questions about the form, please contact School Nurse Mrs. Divine at 315-826-0208. The History Checklist is also available on the Nurse's Office page.
For information from the NYS Education Department about concussion management and traumatic brain injury look here.
Athletic Participation Contract
Athletic Process and Fitness test A description of fitness testing begins on page 20.
Sudden Cardiac Prevention Act
The Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act is a new law as of July 1, 2022. This law requires schools, students, and parents/guardians to have information on sudden cardiac arrest risks, signs, and symptoms. Please note that sudden cardiac arrest in children and young people is rare. The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) on the playing field is 0.61 in 100,000 according to an analysis of deaths in young competitive athletes conducted by Maron, Doerer, Haas, et al in 2009.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an emergency that happens when the heart suddenly stops. SCA can cause death if not treated immediately, and even with treatment death may occur. Immediate treatment is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED). All public schools must have a staff member trained in the use of CPR and AED in school and at all school athletic events. Preventing SCA before it happens is the best way to save a life 1 . Both your family health history and your child’s personal history must be told to healthcare providers to help them know if your child is at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Ask your child if they have any of the symptoms listed below and tell a healthcare provider. Know your family history and tell a healthcare provider of any risk factors listed below.
The signs or symptoms are:
- Fainting or seizure, especially during or right after exercise or with excitement or being startled
- Racing heart, palpitations, or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or extreme fatigue with exercise
- Chest pain or discomfort with exercise
- Excessive shortness of breath during exercise
- Excessive, unexpected fatigue during or after exercise
Student’s Personal Risk Factors are:
- Use of diet pills, performance-enhancing supplements, energy drinks, or drugs such as cocaine, inhalants, or “recreational” drugs (as noted by epsavealife.org)
- Elevated blood pressure or cholesterol
- History of health care provider ordered test(s) for heart related issues
Student’s Family History Risk Factors are:
- Family history of known heart abnormalities or sudden death before 50 years of age
- Family members with unexplained fainting, seizures, drowning, near
drowning or car accidents before 50 years of age - Structural heart abnormality, repaired or unrepaired
- Any relative diagnosed with the following conditions:
- Enlarged Heart/ Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy/Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Heart rhythm problems, long or short QT interval
- Brugada Syndrome
- Catecholaminergic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Marfan Syndrome-aortic rupture
- Heart attack at 50 years or younger
- Pacemaker or implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD)
SCA in students at risk can be triggered by athletic activities. To decrease any chance of SCA in a student, the Recommended NYSED Interval Health History for Athletics must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian before each season unless a physical examination has been conducted within 30 days before the start of the season. This form has questions to help identify changes since the last physical examination or health history was completed. School personnel may require a student with health or history changes to see a healthcare provider before participating in athletics.
Finally, the law requires any student who has signs and symptoms of pending SCA to be removed from athletic activity until seen by a physician. The physician must provide written clearance to the school for the student to be able to return to athletics.
Please contact the State Education Department’s Office of Student Support Services for questions at studentsupportservices@nysed.gov or 518-486-6090.
Eligibility Process from Contract
Student Academic Eligibility
1. Expectations are for each student to have a primary responsibility for his/her successful academic performance and achievement to the best of their ability. Athletic and extracurricular participation is a privilege and should not detract from academic achievement. The Student Eligibility Policy is intended to provide all students with an opportunity to maintain academic success.
The student is responsible for remaining in good scholastic standing by maintaining a passing average in all subjects.
2. Procedures for Determining Eligibility
a) Every student will be evaluated each week the school is in session. Receipt of an “S” (satisfactory) or “U” (unsatisfactory) is based on whether or not the student is passing or showing significant academic improvement in each course in which the student is enrolled. A passing grade is 65 or above.
b) On Thursday afternoon, a grade book report will be generated to identify students who are failing. Teachers can remove students from his or her failure list no later than Friday at 12:00 pm.
c) Any student who receives two “U”s in any single week becomes ineligible to attend or participate in all extracurricular activities and events during the following week from Sunday through Saturday. Students should continue to attend practice, but may not participate in contests, matches, shows, etc.
d) Any student who receives a “U” in the same course for three consecutive weeks or more loses the privilege to participate in all extracurricular activities and events during the following week from Sunday through Saturday. Students should attend practice, but may not participate in contests, matches, shows, etc.
**Any student who becomes ineligible three (3) times under section “c” above and/or section “d” above will be required to attend after school study hall for the remainder of the time the extra-curricular activity occurs or until significant academic improvements have been displayed by the student as deemed by the Principal or Assistant Principal in consultation with the student’s teacher(s).
e) If the classroom teacher is absent on Friday and cannot evaluate the need to discontinue the student’s name on the failure list, the teacher will be able to alter the gradebook report as soon as the teacher returns to school.
f) Communication (verbal, written or electronic) will be given to students and parents indicating the courses the student is failing as soon as Friday, but no later than the next scheduled contest. A progress report for each course a student is failing will also be provided.