Cocurricular programs draw many

Cocurricular activities are big at Sisters High School. Almost any administrator or teacher there will tell you that the school places great emphasis on these non-classroom activities and that a large number of students participate.

Now there is statistical proof to back up those impressions.

Athletic Director Mary Flande presented the school board at its last meeting (November 8) with a detailed analysis of cocurricular participation during the last school year, 2003-04. It showed that 84 percent of the 449 students were involved in either interscholastic athletics or what she labeled "activities/clubs" at some point during the year. Many, of course, were involved in more than one category, but Flande's grand total did not count duplications. In other words, by her count 379 different students participated in at least one sport or activity during the year.

The board was duly impressed. Chairman Glen Lasken called it a "remarkable level" of participation. He said these activities "do so many things" and "reach some kids who might otherwise drop out."

"Cocurricular" is the term preferred by school people today for what used to be "extracurricular." The former implies a closer connection to educational purposes than the latter. The current Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary captures this nuance in its definition of cocurricular: "being outside of but usually complementing the regular curriculum."

In the athletics category, Flande listed 13 sports, some of which feature both boys and girls teams: football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, wrestling, alpine skiing, track, baseball, softball, tennis and golf.

The second major category, activities and clubs, encompasses the Key Club, jazz band, concert band, mountain biking, the Sparrow Club, the yearbook, the Americana Project, cheerleading, musical theater, leadership, equestrian and Nordic skiing.

Flande's records showed that 285 students, or 64 percent of the student body, participated in athletics last year (158 boys and 127 girls), while 268 students, or 60 percent of the student body (129 boys and 139 girls), participated in activities or clubs.

Overall participation was slightly higher among girls (88 percent) than boys (81 percent).