Athletic First Night

As the final weeks of summer fly by, we are excited to embark on a new school year and with it, new adventures in the athletic department. Last year, more than half of the students at Whitman-Hanson took part in some level of athletics. Many people might be surprised to know that we offer 25 sports and 47 teams. While it is true that budget cuts have put us at a huge disadvantage to our counterparts in other towns, through the hard work of many people, we have sustained opportunities for our students. The most accomplished athletes get a lot of recognition in school and in the local media and while we are indeed very proud of these students, we are equally as impressed with the average student-athlete who displays dedication, determination, desire, sportsmanship, loyalty and dozens of other important qualities that make up a young person’s character. Educational athletics are an integral part of the high school experience for so many students and I truly believe there is something for everyone. Of the 25 sports we have here at the high school, 8 are non-cut sports. This means we have a place for every student. Being part of a team is a meaningful experience where student build long lasting relationships while creating memories that last a lifetime. To that end, we hope to see even more students join us this year. From a parent’s perspective there are a few obligations we need you to take care of as soon as possible. The first and more important thing a parent must do is sign their child up online at www.whathletics.com . No student will be allowed to try out or practice until their parent has signed them up. This online signup serves as the permission slip, medical release and emergency contact for each student. If a parent does not have access to a computer at home, they may come in to the high school between 8am and 3pm and use one of our computers. It is very important for parents to understand that students will not appear on the coach’s roster of students participating until they have filled out this form online. The other important element parents must be sure to pay attention to is the date of their child’s last physical. All physicals are good for 13 months and once they expire the student may not participate. It is also important to note that even if the student does have a current physical, it doesn’t do us any good until we have it here in our office. Since the school nurse does not return until school re-opens, we would ask that any student who is planning to play a fall sport bring their physical to Athletic First Night on August 18th or give the physical directly to the coach. Please do not mail or fax the physical as this could take longer to process. The Athletic First night program on August 18th is a very important program and we ask that every student-athlete and at least one parent attend. For incoming freshmen IMPACT testing starts at 5pm while everyone else can arrive at 5:30pm. This program will outline our theme for the year of, “It’s We, Not Me.” Parents and students will learn about our rules (there are several new rules) and goals for the year. In addition, this program satisfies the state mandate for concussion education. If you cannot attend for a specific reason, the student should notify their coach. Check out the website for more information – www.whathletics.com .