MPS hopes to boost student extracurricular participation

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — The participation rate of McCook Public School students in extra-curricular activities is at about 79%.

“It would be great to have very kid involved in something, but we’re not at that point yet,” said Superintendent Grant Norgaard at the regular McCook School board meeting Monday night.

He and Teresa Thomas, school board member and chair of the activities committee, updated the board on recent topics at the last activities committee meeting.

Norgaard said in participation by students was increasing for a few years but has since plateaued.

All students in their freshmen year at the former school he worked at in Beatrice, Neb., were required to be involved one activity, said McCook Schools business manager, John Brazell. Board president Tom Bredvick added that students involved with school activities are more engaged, accountable and successful in school.

Other items discussed at the last activities committee meeting were:

-- Select choir is now limited to choir students only. Previously, students had to try out for select choir. Choir classes are getting large and the choir teacher can work with select choir students during choir classes.

-- travel times for junior high students involved with extra-curricular activities and arriving back late in the evening. It’s also getting more difficult to find schools to compete at the junior high level, according to coaches.

-- finding volunteers for junior high and non-varsity athletic meets are also hard to find, as the meets take place in the middle of the day and volunteers have to take off from work to attend.

Positive comments made by board members at the end of Monday’s meeting were:

-- board member Loretta Hauxwell: cited summer school teachers and how excited the students seemed, with one telling her, “I GET to go to school.”

-- board member Brad Hays: commended the spring athletic teams as being very successful.

-- Board member Mike Langan: in talking with other people across the state, many are dissatisfied with their school district and how that isn’t the case here. He credited that to support from the community, parents and patrons.

-- board member Dennis Berry: recognized the summer food program for kids now in progress at Central Elementary for the month of June.

-- board member Teresa Thomas: McCook High School football players helped with the clean-up at a rural residence that was destroyed in May by a tornado.

-- board member Tom Bredvick: also cited the free lunch program for kids at Central; and teachers who may not be in the classrooms but staying active in the community with volunteering.

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