Practical PR:
Extracurriculars: An Important ‘Extra’
By Denise BarrIf the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that we all have a deep need to connect with other people. Our interactions and relationships with others directly impact our social-emotional well-being and are key to mental health. We all experienced limited social activity during the pandemic, whether due to social distancing, quarantine, isolation, or all of the above. Our youth experienced it, too, as schools were forced to close and take teaching and learning online.
During remote learning, most students were able to engage in their education and connect with their teachers and classmates. Still, they did not have an opportunity to experience other parts of a typical school day that may have previously been taken for granted, such as eating lunch with a friend, talking with others in the hallway or in between classes at lockers, or playing with others on the playground.
Besides these personal interactions throughout the school day in a normal school year, students have opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities after school. Whether looking to gain leadership skills through student council; connect with the community through clubs and honor societies; pursue an interest in books, STEM, music, or the environment; or play a sport for physical activity, students have a wide array of activities to choose from, and all provide camaraderie with peers and promote healthy growth and development outside the classroom.
Crystal Lake CCSD 47 serves approximately 7,100 students in grades PK-8. The district’s three middle schools currently offer over 70 clubs and activities and 11 sports. If a school doesn’t offer a club or activity, students can start a new club as long as they obtain an adult sponsor. This is one of the ways the district is fulfilling its mission of “Empowering All Students: Learners Today – Leaders Tomorrow.” Student-led extracurriculars allow for exploration and creative self-expression. Students typically try new things, learn a new skill, and meet people they wouldn’t otherwise encounter.
Bringing students back to our schools this year for in-person learning has been challenging but rewarding. Students and staff seem truly grateful and happy to be back in school. However, we’ve discovered that, while many students have gained skills and experience with technology, maturity is lacking. Students are behind in the interpersonal skills needed to interact appropriately with others or resolve conflict with peers. This is no doubt due to their limited social interactions during the pandemic. Because of this, it’s more important now than ever for students to take advantage of the many afterschool clubs and activities that schools offer or that they connect with others by participating in activities outside of school. Schools can partner with community organizations to help spread the word to families about these extracurricular programs and activities through electronic backpack programs, such as Peachjar, a program used in our district.
Schools are more than academics, just as students are more than test scores. It’s imperative that schools focus on the whole child and address students’ mental health and social-emotional needs along with academics. For some students, the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports is a “window to the world.” These experiences can leave a lasting impression on students and even change the trajectory of their lives.
Denise Barr is Director of Communications and Public Engagement at Crystal Lake CCSD 47. Visit the Journal resources page at bit.ly/MJ22Jres to learn about Peachjar and view a video with a spotlight on extracurricular clubs and activities at Hannah Beardsley Middle School.