Elementary and Central Middle School report strong club, arts and sports participation

Elementary-school assistant principals and Central Middle School deans told the board Tuesday that after a busy sign-up period the district's clubs and activities are well subscribed, with some clubs at capacity and wait lists in place. "We have 6 teacher-sponsored clubs at Southeast and one outside sponsor, Worry Taekwondo," Laura Sullivan, vice principal for Southeast and Southwest elementaries, said, noting about 140 students signed up at Southeast and about 127 at Southwest. Sullivan said all elementaries will add music and art rooms and replace mobile classrooms' functions with permanent space through the capital program. Britney Diana, assistant principal at Northeast and Northwest elementaries, said several Northeast clubs reached capacity and that a friendship-bracelet club and running club have wait lists; she said about 132 students were already signed up across clubs at her schools. At Central Middle School, Dean Danielle Westin described an activity fair held during PE that produced high engagement and more than 50 sign-ups for crochet alone. John Jensen, Central's dean in charge of athletics, reviewed sports by season and highlighted recent conference championships for the boys and girls teams. Jensen said esports completed a successful season, that equipment has been purchased, and that the program produced at least one tournament winner. He also said the district has established a four-year uniform rotation so jerseys can be handed down, and that fundraising has increased to support equipment purchases such as a shooting machine for basketball practices. Middle-school leaders listed operational goals for the year: centralizing registration and forms, improving coach development and recognition, increasing participation across sports, expanding family communication, and holding an end-of-year recognition event for athletes in all grades. Board members asked if CPR training for students could be considered; administrators said coaches and staff get CPR training and that student-focused training could be explored as a club or program. Central leaders also proposed giving student musicians a visible role at home games to build community support. The updates covered both extracurricular and curricular-support spaces and focused on participation numbers and operational steps to expand access. No formal board action was taken.