Good afternoon,
I wanted to provide an update on Junior High sports as it pertains to Stapleton Public Schools and our Sports Cooperative within the Sandhills Valley Mavericks. Last month during a school board meeting we revisited the following school board policy regarding sixth graders participating in Junior High Sports. I have attached the bulk of that policy below (The full policy can be found on our school website.)
Stapleton Public Schools School Board Policy 6035 states:
“If there are fewer than 12 boys or 12 girls in the combined enrollment of the seventh and eighth grades when those grades are part of the elementary school system, sixth grade students may participate in athletic contests between schools, within a school system, or between school systems if the school administration judges that it is appropriate after taking into consideration the competition’s nature and value to the students, its physical requirements and dangers, and the sixth grade students’ ages, physical and mental abilities, maturity, skills, and preparation for the competition.”
Looking at current and projected enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year we will have (5) eighth-grade boys and (0) eighth-grade girls. We will have (3) seventh-grade boys and (7) seventh-grade girls.
In order to compete and participate in Junior High sports we are allowing students who will be in the sixth grade during the 2024-2025 school year to participate in our complete offering of athletic events - these include (cross country, football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and track.) Without the potential participation of sixth grade students our ability to compete in junior high athletics next year would be severely impacted.
As always parents have the option to choose whether or not to allow their student to participate. Currently our junior high students practice during their allotted physical education class time (1:48-3:35pm) - with the exception of Cross Country which practices after school hours. Students who do not participate on athletic teams will still be required to attend class as a PE participant.
Sixth Grade students will be required to complete a physical examination from a qualified physician in order to participate in athletic contests as required by the NSAA.
It is important to note that this policy is on a year to year basis. If the enrollment numbers reach a level to exceed (12) participants for boys or girls (or both) the option for sixth grade participation will be revoked and we will proceed as we typically do with seventh and eighth grade athletes only.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out via email jeremiah.johnson@stapletonschools.org or call me at 308-636-2252.
Sincerely,
Jeremiah Johnson
Secondary Principal/Athletic Administrator
Stapleton Public Schools (Sandhills Valley Mavericks Cooperative)