Athletics
Code of Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship can be defined in one word: RESPECT. Respect for ourselves, our schools, and guests to our schools helps
build a positive image not only with the community, but also with all those who participate in competitive activities in our
schools.
Responsibilities of participants and parents/guardians:
- Use appropriate language.
- Treat opponents with the respect due them as guests or hosts. Exercise self-control at all times.
- Respect the officials’ judgment and interpretation of the rules. Respect the coaches’ judgment and authority.
- Accept the responsibility of representing your school in a positive manner.
- Act in a manner that will create a positive attitude in the audience.
- Failure of parents/guests to behave in a civil manner can result in the parent/guest being asked to leave the event
and/or prevented from attending future events.
Eligibility for Athletics
All scholar athletes and their parents must sign the Athletic Waiver and Consent Form as well as the scholar/Parent Concussion
Awareness Form.
Scholars must have a certificate of an annual physical examination on file at the school prior to participating in any athletic try-
outs, practices, voluntary workouts or games that indicate the scholar is physically approved for participation. A physical
examination is good for twelve (12) months from the date of the exam. (EXCEPTION PER GHSA: Any physical examination
taken on or after April 1 in the preceding year will be accepted for the entire next GHSA school year.)
Scholars must be passing six of eight subjects at the end of the grading period prior to the playing season. Coaches will check
academic progress throughout the season. Scholars MUST exhibit good character at all times!
Scholars must adhere to all rules and regulations outlined in the Athletic/Extracurricular Code of Conduct and/or specific written
guidelines developed by the coach and/or school administration.
Scholars must also be eligible according to the attendance policy. They must not be on attendance probation, or have more than
10 unexcused tardies or early checkouts.
Additionally, ALL Furlow scholar athletes are expected to be on their best behavior at all times when representing Furlow on the
competition field. Any negative or rude behaviors will result in the athlete being removed from competition for the duration of the
game/match/event and potentially the season. Scholar athletes must be present at school on the day of a competition, match, or
event.
Gender Equity Requirements
In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-315, and in addition to Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, Furlow Charter
School does not discriminate based on gender in interscholastic or intramural teams. Whether offering interscholastic or
intramural sports, teams must take all reasonable steps to ensure an equal athletic opportunity for members of both sexes.
State law requires that Furlow Charter School establish a grievance procedure and appoint an employee to coordinate
compliance efforts. For information regarding the coordinator of these efforts, and grievance procedures, please see the Title IX
section of this handbook.
Furlow will designate interscholastic competition teams as male, female, or coed. Males are prohibited from participation on
teams designated for females, while females may only compete on male-designated teams if no corresponding female team is
available. Scholars are allowed to participate in coed teams regardless of gender. The statute does not restrict males from
practicing or participating in exhibitions with female-designated teams. Additionally, Furlow is prohibited from verifying a scholar’s
sex through a visual inspection but may rely on medical records or standard school medical procedures for confirmation.
Furlow will adhere to specific guidelines regarding the use of restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters in interscholastic
competitions to ensure privacy and safety. Furlow is prohibited from allowing males to use female-designated facilities and vice
versa during competitions. Each multiple occupancy restroom, changing area, and sleeping quarters must be designated
exclusively for males or females, with reasonable accommodations provided—such as single-occupancy facilities—for those
unable or unwilling to use the designated spaces.
Exceptions are permitted for custodial, emergency, and official duties. Additionally, schools must ensure that scholars on
overnight trips are assigned sleeping quarters with members of the same sex or provided single-occupancy accommodations,
except when staying with immediate family members.
Extracurricular Activities List
The following list is not meant to be exhaustive, nor does it guarantee that every extracurricular will be offered every year.
Literary Competition: The GHSA Literary Competition is held every Spring. Area schools compete in Quartet, Trio, Boys Solo,
Girls Solo, Personal Essay, Rhetorical Essay, Argumentative Essay, Oral Presentation- Humorous, Oral
Presentation- Dramatic, Oral Presentation- Duo, Extemporaneous Speaking-International and
Extemporaneous Speaking-Domestic.
The Mummers Drama Club/One Act Play: Furlow’s drama club, The Mummers, competes in the GHSA One Act Competition each year.
Key Club: Key Club is an international, scholar-led organization that provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership.
Sewing Club: The Furlow Sewing Club is open to scholars in third grade and above. The club meets throughout the
year to create things such as pillowcases and stuffed animals for foster children.
Math Team: Scholars interested in participating in math competitions meet regularly to practice.
Chess Club: The Furlow Chess Club meets bi-weekly and competes in various competitions in the area.
Odyssey of the Mind: Odyssey of the Mind is a worldwide academic organization open to all of our scholars. OM is an
organization that exercises the brain, teaching scholars creative problem solving skills through even
more creative team exercises. The Furlow OM team has been recognized internationally, moving on to
the 2017 & 2018 World Championships.
Millennium Falcon Club: This recognition program is for our scholars that score 1000 or higher on the SAT.
Reading Bowl: There will be three grade level teams (4-5, 6-8, 9-12) that read books from the Georgia Book Award
and Georgia Peach Award Nominations lists and compete in local meets to determine their knowledge
of the books on their lists. Each team will be composed of 5 members and 5 alternates.
Cross Country: Open to middle and high schoolers, our Cross-Country team competes in local and regional meets.
Cross Country trains runners to navigate open air courses on various terrains.
Art Club: The Furlow Art Club is a chapter of the National Art Honor Society, as well as the National Junior Art
Honor Society. The club meets weekly and works not only on art projects, but service projects to
benefit the community.
Multicultural Society: The Multicultural Society takes learning foreign language one step further, offering field trips and
various projects for members, all focused on understanding and immersing scholars in different
cultures around the world.
Beta Club: The Beta Club recognizes those scholars that exemplify excellent academic achievement, helps
develop a strong moral character, helps and prepares today’s scholars to be tomorrow’s leaders, and
teaches members to live by the National Beta Club motto: “Let us lead by serving others.” The Beta
Club is divided into three clubs: Elementary, Middle School and High School.
FCA: The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a club devoted to encouraging scholars to explore FCA and
improve their leadership and athletic skills.
Quiz Bowl: The high school and middle school quiz bowl teams practice after school to compete in local
competitions.
Basketball: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in basketball.
Soccer: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in soccer.
Baseball: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in baseball.
Softball: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in softball.
Wrestling: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in wrestling.
Track: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in track.
Cheer: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in cheer.
Volleyball: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in volleyball.
Tennis: Scholars grades 6 and up have the opportunity to participate in tennis.