By Carol P. Bartold

Oct. 26, 2016: Bronxville School Athletic Director Karen Peterson, in a special report to the Bronxville Board of Education, described the efforts of the school’s athletic program and co-curricular activities in realizing the innovation and engagement dispositions of The Bronxville Promise.

“For those of you who think that a majority of students end their day at 3 o’clock, I’m here to tell you that is not true,” Peterson told the board at its October 20 meeting.

Peterson noted that the both the co-curricular activities and athletic program provide students with an array of choices for them to explore their passions while learning leadership skills, taking advantage of opportunities to perform in a public setting, and engaging in community service projects.

The mission of co-curriculars and athletics, Peterson said, is to allow students to grow as much as they can as students, leaders, and athletes, no matter their level of skill.

“What differentiates interscholastic athletics from club [sports],” Peterson pointed out, “is the ability to educate through our program and to extend our learning day.” She added that sportsmanship and team values live through the Bronxville Promise.

Peterson stated that the Bronxville Promise comes to life in co-curriculars and athletics through the Code of Conduct, based on the premise that being a Bronco is a privilege, which sets clear and consistent expectations across all activities for conduct in the school and the community. The Athletic Council welcomes all students to join. Council members elect an executive board and serve as liaison between student athletes, coaches, and Peterson. The Athletic Council helps run fan days and homecoming.

For fan days, student-athletes and teams engage with the community-at-large by supporting a charitable organization or performing community service projects.

Peterson detailed that, during the 2015-2016 school year, 333 high school students participated on one sports team; 131 were on two teams; and 92 played three sports. In the middle school, 217 students participated on one sports team; 70 played two sports; and 19 players were on three teams.

Although she expects numbers to remain steady for participation in sports, Peterson urged the board to bear in mind the challenges the athletic department faces in the ability to continue delivering opportunities to students. She noted that an increased middle school population is making its way toward the high school while the school faces constraints in facilities space. “We can’t expand field sports much more,” she said.

A prime goal of co-curricular activities and athletics, Peterson said, is to help students leave The Bronxville School as the person they want to be and equip them to grow into the adult they want to be.