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Extra, extra

See how after-school activities light up our students – and schools

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Extra
Connections

Extra-curricular activities offer all kinds of important lessons. Students, for instance, get to try various leadership hats on for size. They experience the amplifying power of teamwork. And they learn that, at the heart of everything worthwhile, is, well, sweat.

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.

But especially in these times, one lesson rises — and all too often isolated — times, one lesson rises above the others. CONNECTION.

Extra-curricular activities tie students to their school.

TO TEAMMATES. TO FANS. TO COACHES. TO EACH OTHER.

In the process, they teach students a lesson that never gets old: That we’re more alike than different. And that we’re always better when we work together. Because, after all, when it comes to students chasing their dreams, we’re all on the same team.

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Choices

Simply put, an extra-curricular activity is learning that takes place outside the normal curriculum.

Which means, when it comes to exploring these interests, the choices, especially if you design your own, are almost unlimited.

Here are the sports and activities celebrated through competition by the Minnesota State High School League, a non-profit made up of more than 500 schools and some 240,000 students:
Fall:
  • Adapted soccer (CI & PI)
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country Running (Girls & Boys)
  • Football Soccer (Girls & Boys)
  • Swimming and Diving (Girls)
  • Tennis (Girls)
  • Volleyball (Girls)
Winter:
  • Adapted Floor Hockey (CI & PI)
  • Alpine Skiing (Girls & Boys)
  • Basketball (Girls & Boys)
  • Cheerleading
  • Dance, High Kick
  • Dance, Jazz
  • Debate
  • Gymnastics Hockey (Girls & Boys)
  • Nordic Ski Racing (Girls & Boys)
  • One Act Play
  • Swimming and Diving (Boys)
  • Wrestling
Spring:
  • Adapted Bowling (CI, PI & ASD)
  • Adapted Softball (CI & PI)
  • Badminton (Girls)
  • Baseball
  • Clay Target
  • Golf (Girls & Boys)
  • Lacrosse (Girls & Boys)
  • Music
  • Robotics
  • Softball (Girls)
  • Speech
  • Synchronized Swimming (Girls)
  • Tennis (Boys)
  • Track and Field (Girls & Boys)
  • Visual Arts
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity
Photo of student participating in activity

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Savings

Decades of underfunding have forced many Minnesota schools to break out their budget axe. And, unfortunately, extra-curricular activities, by their very definition, are an easy target.

Here’s how you can help stand up for the lifelong lessons that these passionate pursuits teach:
  • Be aware of the issues facing your school board and help them find the funds that students need to succeed.
  • Support legislators who support an increase in school funding — especially after years of state aid that hasn’t kept pace with inflation.
  • Attend a local event or, better yet, events and cheer on your student competitors.
  • And don’t miss the state high school tournaments where you’ll see the “heart” that students pour into these pursuits. Watching them compete will be a boost to yours.
Visit mshsl.org for dates and times.