Germantown honors state-champion student athletes and spotlights expanding extracurricular programs
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Summary
The Germantown Board of Education recognized multiple student state championships and heard a superintendent report highlighting 139 student-led clubs, new elementary lacrosse programming and more than 250 ways for students to engage outside class.
At its Nov. 18 business meeting the Germantown Board of Education recognized students and coaches from multiple schools who won state championships and heard a superintendent’s report emphasizing expanded extracurricular opportunities.
Mister Manuel opened the recognition portion by noting Dogwood Elementary’s success at the Tennessee State Elementary Cross Country Championship: “not 1, not 2, but 3 state titles,” with Dogwood winning varsity boys, JV boys and JV girls divisions, and a varsity girls team that has held a title for three consecutive years.
The board also recognized Houston Middle School’s varsity girls cross country program and the Houston Middle girls soccer team for winning their state championships; coach Scott McNeil and coach Wendy Perkoski were thanked for their roles. Several board members and district staff joined students and coaches for group photographs and certificate presentations.
In his superintendent’s report, Mister Maynard tied the recognitions to the district strategic plan objective to “develop recreational, co-curricular, and extracurricular opportunities to expand student engagement and belonging.” He said the district lists 139 registered student-led clubs, 86 athletic teams and 25 co-curricular activities — “over 250 ways for students to connect to the school and with other students,” he said.
The report highlighted a range of student programs: academic clubs such as Word Wranglers (a literary magazine), the state-affiliated Youth in Government program (sponsored locally through the YMCA), K-Kids/Key Club partnerships with Kiwanis, Best Buddies and the Horizons inclusion program, student-led community service projects, and fine-arts ensembles including a steel drum band and guitar clubs.
On athletics, district staff noted the growth of cross-country programs that begin in elementary school and the decision to add lacrosse to elementary offerings. “We are now the official provider of lacrosse in the city of Germantown,” Mister Manuel said, and students present described the sport’s appeal. One student representing the Houston lacrosse program said: “My favorite thing about lacrosse... is just how fast the game is and the unity that we have on our team.”
The district encouraged families to consult the student hub on the district website for a full list of clubs, activities and school-specific opportunities.
The board’s recognitions and the superintendent’s presentation concluded without formal actions tied to the awards or the extracurricular recommendations; the meeting moved on to routine business and the consent agenda.