Extra Curricular Programs at WA

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
by Board of Visitors

Whether performing arts, journalism, athletics, math or independent learning, the Extra/Co-Curricular programs at Worcester Academy provide students with a sense of community and belonging as well as unique outlets for their individual passions.    The Board of Visitors are impressed by the excitement shared by the students and their advisors/teachers for these programs that can end up being significant time commitments.

Athletics – One major change for the athletic programs at WA has been the removal of the athletic requirement.  Because of this, Doc Samko, the resident and omnipresent figure on campus, feels that athletics has become much more of a family.  Athletes participate because they are passionate about the sports instead of fulfilling a requirement.  This passion for being part of a larger community spills over into those who aren’t on the field with the Super Fans, a group of students who actually receive academic credit for attending every game, whether home or away.

Senior Projects:  During the last two weeks of senior year students select a short term of independent study based on their individual interests.  These have included working construction, training dogs, acting as a guidance counselor or performing bizarre experiments (staying awake 3 days in a row to see the impact on the body).  While the idea of the senior project has been around for a while, what has changed has been the final product.  More recently  students have produced videos or movies for the final presentations.

Capstone Projects – According to the advisor the Capstone Project is really a Senior project on academic steroids.  Newly introduced in 2008, this is a year long project and is extremely student driven.   Students select a topic of interest and may meet on the weekends for seminars or research in addition to a student’s normal workload.  Students don’t receive extra credit and yet they still invest significant time demonstrating the passion they have for learning.

Open Studio – This is an afterschool art program where students can choose any type of medium (ceramics, painting, drawing, architecture, sculpture).  Most projects are ten weeks and the program has been around for four years.    This allowed more students to fit art into their schedules where they otherwise might not have had time.  The students are very self-directed and use the teacher more as guide.

Vigornia – The school newspaper is going through a transformation this year.  The paper has 25 members and two editors who invest up to 20 hours a week managing the editing and production of the paper.  The editors find the experience a great immersion into leadership, journalism and working towards a deadline.

Math Team – There are two math teams at Worcester Academy, Varsity and Middle School team.   The teams participate in 5 leagues, where most schools compete in one so there are meets almost every weekend during the season.  Students feel this supplements their math knowledge, enhances their problem solving abilities that can be applied in other classes.

Popularity: 7% [?]