Athletic Transportation Policies Page

DMCS ACTIVITY TRANSPORTATION POLICIES

THESE POLICIES ARE THE SAME FOR ATHLETIC TEAMS, CHEERLEADERS, BAND MEMBERS, CHORUS MEMBERS, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH OUR STUDENTS AT DMCS PARTICIPATE WHICH INVOLVE SCHOOL BUS OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

PLEASE NOTE: These School Board approved policies have been designed under the guidance of our attorney, and are necessary to protect the safety and liability of DMCS, our students, and our families.

If you have questions, please contact our Transportation Department for clarification at 252-2499 (Paul Nelson).

ATHLETIC TRANSPORTATION POLICIES

Des Moines Christian School will provide transportation to athletic events designated by the Athletic Director. Students may drive to games, matches, or meets ONLY when transportation IS NOT provided by the school. In such cases, the school is no longer liable for the actions of the driver, and the student and family take full responsibility for the actions of the driver. Parents will be notified when transportation will not be provided by the school, thereby allowing their student to drive to the activity.

When Des Moines Christian School DOES provide school bus transportation to an event, these policies apply:

All team members and cheerleaders are to ride the bus to and from the game.
If a team member or cheerleader misses the bus, they MAY NOT drive their car or borrow a car to drive to the event. However, a parent may drive them in this case. Either way, the student will be subject to discipline by the coach.
To promote team unity, each team should sit together and not intermingle with another team that may be riding the bus. Each coach will supervise the behavior of his own team members or cheerleaders on the bus.
A student may drive himself to an event only with written parental permission and the appropriate coach's consent under the following circumstances: doctor's appointment, work schedule, student living near the game site. The permission slip signifies that Des Moines Christian School is no longer legally responsible for that student in case of an accident. Team conduct rules apply.
A student who has permission to drive to an athletic event CANNOT provide transportation for a friend or another team member. If this occurs, each student shall be suspended from practices and games for a period of time designated by the Athletic Director.
Radios with headphones may be allowed on the bus on athletic trips at the discretion of the coach.
If a parent wants to take their own student home from the game, that parent must sign the Parent Release form. That parent may not sign out another parent's student without written permission of the other parent. The Parent Release form states: "Parent Release Signature indicates that the student will be riding with his/her parent and relieves DMCS of all liability concerning their son or daughter. Parents cannot give authorization for students other than their own."

When Des Moines Christian School DOES NOT provide school bus transportation to an athletic event, these policies apply:

The coach will inform team members, cheerleaders, and parents that each student must find his own transportation to the event. By thus informing parents and students that the team will MEET at the game site, Des Moines Christian School is relieved of any legal responsibility for the actions of each student driver.
Team conduct rules apply at all times when students are driving themselves, and students are subject to discipline when necessary.

GUIDELINES FOR FOOD & BEVERAGE ON DMCS TRIPS

We want you to enjoy your trip and have permission to eat or drink on your way. We also want clean buses. So please observe the following guidelines:

Use common sense. Be courteous! Don't treat the bus like a garbage truck!
Drinks must be in cans, plastic bottles or juice boxes. No soft sided containers like fountain drinks from QT or McDonalds, etc.
Bring food that is not messy. Popcorn, chips, sunflower seeds, and pistachio nuts for example, are very messy.
Please put paper and garbage in the proper container on the bus. Pick up after yourself and other team mates.
If the bus comes back trashed, the team responsible will lose food and drink privileges in the future.