For Secondary Parents

Good Sportsmanship is Character Education

Students who participate in school athletics learn valuable lessons while on the field or court. Teamwork, good coping strategies, and self-control are just a few of the characteristics they begin to exhibit when competing in sports. WCPSS coaches believe displaying good sportsmanship in an athletically competitive environment is one of the most important lessons they can teach their students.

“In the long-run teams are going to be remembered a whole lot more for how they played the game than whether they won the game,” said WCPSS Athletics Senior Administrator Bobby Guthrie.
Recently, five Wake County high schools were recognized for their good sportsmanship among student-athletes in every sport throughout the 2007-08 school year. Apex, Cary, Enloe, Leesville, and Millbrook high schools remained “ejection free” the entire school year. This means no coach or player was ejected from any game all season long due to poor sportsmanship through conduct like fighting, using profanity or obscene gestures, taunting, or disrespectfully addressing or contacting an official.
Good sportsmanship is viewed highly by the National Federation of State High School Associations and by the Board of Education. Our district’s policy on sportsmanship strives to develop and nurture positive qualities such as a commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity. These are all characteristics that are important throughout life! Participation in a sport for even just one athletic season or a year, can reinforce exemplary conduct long after students hang up their uniforms. That’s why WCPSS encourages all students to get involved in a sport!

5 Behaviors of Good Sportsmanship

Accept seriously the responsibility and privilege of representing your school and community; display positive public action at all times.
Treat opponents with the respect that is due them as guests and fellow athletes.
Exercise self-control at all times, accepting decisions and abiding by them.
Accept both victory and defeat with pride and compassion, never being boastful or bitter.
Live up to the high standard of sportsmanship established by your coaches and help fellow athletes and fans maintain these standards.

SAT Help for Students

High schools offer a FREE SAT Online course to help students. Encourage your child to visit the school’s Student Services Department to obtain the information on how to access the course, procured for you by WCPSS! This is designed to help students individually raise their score!!!
If additional help is needed, Online Learning offers SAT/ACT Preparation Courses aimed at preparing test takers for the verbal and math portions of the test along with techniques to relieve test-taking anxiety. For more information contact Beth Lynch, Online Learning Coordinator, at (919)713-0557.

Upcoming SAT Dates and Registration Deadlines
*Courtesy of CollegeBoard; for more information visit:www.collegeboard.com

2008-09 Test Dates	Registration Deadline (postmark/submit by)
March 14, 2009	February 10, 2009
May 2, 2009	March 31, 2009
June 6, 2009	May 5, 2009

College Planning With Your High School Junior

Don’t wait till senior year! There are many things you can do now to help your college-bound student prepare. Parents should work with their junior student and their student’s school counselor to discuss college planning. The WCPSS Office of Counseling and Student Services has composed a checklist that will help parents keep their student on track as he or she begins to think about post graduation plans.
Parent Checklist:

Help your student set realistic goals.
Look at the financial costs of various colleges.
Have your student start a checklist that includes application deadlines.
Allow your student to make their own future plans.
Encourage independence, so that they will complete their own applications.
Make sure they keep up their grades and turn in all assignments.
Encourage them to do volunteer work and participate in extracurricular activities.
Meet with your student’s counselor and attend any programs that are offered at the school.
Make it possible for your student to visit many schools on his/her list.
Teach your student how to advocate for themselves respectfully.
Encourage your student to sign up for SAT study courses.
Encourage them to use the summer for internship opportunities, enrichment programs and jobs that are related to their career interests