SUB-SECTION VI - ORGANIZATIONS, CLUBS, & ACTIVITIES


PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (4.74WF)

Participating in extracurricular activities as a student is a privilege and a very demanding one at that. Most extracurricular activities have highly involved and time-consuming practice and competition schedules; however, research does show that extracurricular activities are an integral part of the educational curriculum and experience. Benefits of participating in extracurricular activities include learning about time management and prioritizing things; building character; making contributions to one’s team allowing the student to grow as a person; raising one’s self-esteem; building relationship skills; learning a work ethic; gaining self-discipline to name a few benefits. Research also shows that increasing student involvement can translate into improved academic performance as well as provide a training field for future leaders.

While there are many excellent benefits to participating in extracurricular activities for a student, one must consider how much is too much. Getting involved in a few different activities can be a great choice, and is definitely beneficial, but too many activities can end up having negative effects. Students involved in too many activities often end up having academic problems, or they may not get the rest and recreation that they need.

The West Fork School Board and Administration strongly encourage parents to allow their teens to participate in extracurricular activities if they want to get involved. At the same time, the Board and the Administration also encourage parents to talk to their teens and set some limits to participating in multiple extracurricular activities to make sure they can handle them.

The district will make every effort to afford its students the opportunity to participate in multiple activities as long as the master schedules allow students to do so; as long as the students can meet the requirements and time demands of those activities; and as long as the students maintain their academic eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, there will be numerous scenarios that will not allow or will limit students’ participation in multiple activities. One such scenario could be when two activities have overlapping seasons, which could place a student in a position to choose one competition over another. Another scenario would be a student missing multiple practice times for one activity to attend a competition in another activity.

Should a student want to participate in multiple activities that are not currently allowed, a committee made up of at least one building level administrator and the coaches/sponsors/directors affected will meet and determine if the student’s request to participate in multiple activities simultaneously will be allowed. Scenarios, like the two mentioned above, will be considered as well as any other possible conflicts. Any appeals to the committee’s decision will go directly to the Superintendent, whose decision will be considered final.

Dropping an Activity While Participating in Multiple Extracurricular Activities

If a member of a squad/team/other quits or is dismissed from one or more of their activities after the season has begun while participating in multiple extracurricular activities, he/she will not be allowed to participate in the other activity/activities until the end of the current season. Any exceptions to this rule must go before the committee mentioned in the preceding paragraph and all committee members must mutually agree. Any appeals to the committee’s decision will go directly to the Superintendent, whose decision will be considered final.

HOLDING OFFICE

A student may only hold offices in two organizations. This is intended to allow more students to participate actively in organizations.

ORGANIZATIONS

Fire Marshalls Junior Bank Board Student Council FBLA
NHS Yearbook AR Model U.N. FCCLA
Skills USA Class Officers FFA Foreign Language Club

 Note: (The following organizations do not typically have student officers: Athletics, Band, Cheerleading, and Choir.)

Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN)

The AMUN is a multi-disciplinary, educational program with the primary goal of providing high school students with a unique opportunity to enhance their communication skills, improve their critical thinking skills, and increase their understanding of diplomacy and international politics. The annual AMUN Conference provides a setting in which students are able to simulate representatives of various countries throughout the world in the decision-making bodies of the United Nations.

Athletics

West Fork High School sponsors nine major sports in which interscholastic competition is scheduled. The sports are football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, golf, cross country, cheerleading, and track. The beginning and end of a season are determined by the Arkansas Activities Association. In order to be eligible to participate on a varsity team, students must meet the eligibility rules of the Arkansas Activities Association.

Band

The West Fork High School Band functions as The Tiger Marching Band, The Tiger-Dome Philharmonic Pep Band, and The Symphonic Winds concert band. Band is a yearlong course and students are normally enrolled both semesters. In rare instances, a student may only be able to enroll in only one semester and these situations are handled on a case-by-case basis with permission from the director. Students who are members of the marching band color guard and have no instrumental skills should enroll for the first semester only. If they desire to learn how to play an instrument they should also enroll in Band Methods I. The purpose of the West Fork Band is to provide the finest musical experience available, act as musical ambassadors for the school and community, present quality entertainment at all major athletic events, act as a catalyst for school spirit, and provide a solid training ground for those who plan to continue in band or as a music major at the college or university level.

Cheerleaders

The Senior High Cheerleaders are chosen in the spring from a panel of judges consisting of cheerleader sponsors from the area schools and/or cheerleaders from the University of Arkansas.

  1. Cheerleaders are to lead cheers at athletic events and at pep rallies.
  2. There is a Cheerleader Constitution plus other rules and regulations a cheerleader has to abide by.
  3. Cheerleaders are required to go to camp during the summer.
Class Officers

Each class will elect the following officers:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer

Class elections will be held during the second week of the school term and the election of officers shall be by a majority of the votes cast. The duties of officers are as follows:

  1. The president shall preside over all class meetings and is an ex-officio member of all committees.
  2. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall assist the president in all other duties.
  3. The secretary shall keep an accurate record of all business conducted by the class and be prepared to report when requested.
  4. The treasurer will receive and disburse all funds and will keep an accurate account of receipts and expenditures.

Class dues need to be paid each year. Class records will be kept by class sponsors. Dues for classes are:

  1. Freshmen - $3.00
  2. Sophomores - $5.00 
  3. Juniors – $10.00
  4. Seniors - $10.00

Dues are used to help fund the following items:

  1. Purchase materials to build class floats each year
  2. Juniors dues help fund expenses of Prom
  3. Seniors dues help fund graduation expenses such as flowers, decorations, and programs
  4. Donations for class approved charitable activities
  5. Flowers for tragedies
  6. Other projects approved by the class
Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

This is a national organization that functions in connection with Home Economics. Members must be currently enrolled or have had at least one semester of Home Economics. This organization gives emphasis to individual growth as indicated by the various degrees of achievement such as Junior Homemaker, and Chapter Homemaker. The motto of the organization is "Toward New Horizons".

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a national organization designed to provide students additional opportunities in business and office education, as well as students interested in careers in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Membership is open to any West Fork High School student who is now currently enrolled in any business class, or has had at least one semester of any business class or classes in marketing, management, or entrepreneurship within the last two years.

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

The FFA is a national organization for students enrolled in vocational agriculture classes. Members gain leadership development, community involvement, and decision-making skills. FFA members are eligible to participate in leadership, educational, recreational, and judging activities.

Yearbook

Students in this class work both semesters to create the yearbook for all the buildings in the district.

Junior Bank Board

JBB is composed of juniors and seniors. JBB members are "ambassadors," for the Farmers & Merchants (Arvest) Bank by representing The Bank in various community functions. The goal of JBB is to gain knowledge of the banking industry and business in general by attending monthly JBB meetings featuring guest speakers from various departments in the Bank and local businesses. Meetings are once a month.

National Honor Society (NHS)

According to the constitution, the purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of American secondary schools. Students who are in the 10th through 12th grades are selected for consideration on the basis of a 3.50 grade-point average and are voted on by a faculty council, who makes its selection by considering character, leadership, and service.

Starting with 2021-22 inductees, a member must maintain a 3.5 GPA at the end of every semester of membership. Furthermore, an NHS member must maintain no lower than a “B” in any courses taken each semester.

If an NHS member falls below a 3.5 GPA or has a “C” at the end of any semester he/she will be given the next semester to bring the GPA back to a 3.5 or higher and make no less than a “B” in any given course taken. Failure to do so or a second drop below a 3.5 GPA and/or making a second “C” after having been on probation will result in permanent removal from the NHS.

Skills USA

Skills USA is open to students who are interested in learning and expressing their interests in learning a vocational skill and pride in workmanship. Activities include monthly meetings, fundraisers in the form of building and selling a furniture project, field trips to businesses in the area, community or school-related projects of importance, and competition in April in Hot Springs.

Foreign Language Club

Present and former students that have taken or are taking any foreign language can come together and maintain/improve their language skills, learn more about the people/culture(s), and have fun at the same time.

Student Council

The Student Council is an important organization in West Fork High School. The Council seeks to develop leadership, a sense of responsibility and plays an active part in making our school a better place. It offers a place where any student may be heard. It serves as the student organization that maintains an active schedule of co-curricular school activities, promotes school pride and spirit, scholarship, leadership, and supports community activities. Student Council activities include, but are not limited to the following: organizing Renaissance Rallies, running a blood drive twice per year, assisting with honors assemblies, Homecoming, Colors Day, and serving as student ambassadors for new students. In addition to these activities, they do many in-house service projects throughout the school year. The Student Council Constitution provides detailed procedures for its operations.

Election for the new officers and representatives is held in April. Students running for the office of President must give a speech before the entire student body. To become an elected member or an officer of the Student Council, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 and maintain exemplary conduct. In case of a tie for any Student Council officer position, a tiebreaker election will be held to break the tie. In case of a tie for any Student Council representative, the tie will stand and both students would become a part of the Student Council. Student Council meets every day for one class period.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS/EQUAL ACCESS (4.12)

Non-curriculum-related secondary school student organizations wishing to conduct meetings on school premises during non-instructional time shall not be denied equal access on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings. Such meetings must meet the following criteria.

  1. The meeting is to be voluntary and student-initiated;
  2. There is no sponsorship of the meeting by the school, the government, or its agents or employees;
  3. The meeting must occur during non-instructional time;
  4. Employees or agents of the school are present at religious meetings only in a non-participatory capacity;
  5. The meeting does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school; and
  6. Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups.

All meetings held on school premises must be scheduled and approved by the principal. The school, its agents, and employees retain the authority to maintain order and discipline, to protect the well-being of students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

Fraternities, sororities, and secret societies are forbidden in the District’s schools. Membership to student organizations shall not be by a vote of the organization’s members, nor be restricted by the student’s race, religion, sex, national origin, or other arbitrary criteria. Hazing, as defined by law, is forbidden in connection with initiation into, or affiliation with, any student organization, extracurricular activity, or sports program. Students who are convicted of participation in hazing or the failure to report hazing shall be expelled.

HOMECOMING/COLORS’ DAY ELECTION GUIDELINES

  1. The sophomore class will elect two sophomore maids.
  2. The junior class will elect two junior maids.
  3. The senior class will elect one senior maid.
  4. The entire school will vote for the queen and maid of honor for both Homecoming and Color’s Day. The football players will elect the Homecoming Maid of Honor and the Queen.
  5. Any young lady elected as a member of the court is not eligible to be chosen again until her senior year at which time she is eligible to be chosen as queen or as maid of honor only.

BLACK AND GOLD AWARD QUALIFICATIONS

  1. There will be a Black and Gold award presented to one male athlete and one female athlete. The recipient must be a senior.
  2. The student will have played at least 2 sports for each of their three years at WFHS while at the same time maintaining at least a B average for each of their three years at WFHS.
  3. The student must show both leadership and citizenship qualities (should not have been Suspended or be a discipline problem).
  4. Cheerleaders may be eligible for this award-they are athletes, too, and have put in as much time and practice as the athletes-but they must meet the same criteria. Their 2 sports would automatically be football and basketball season.
  5. The recipient must meet all criteria. It is possible that we may not have anyone eligible for this award in any given year.