Giving That Extra Boost

It's only 7:45 a.m. on a school day, but Sebring High senior Ricki Albritton leaps to her feet and raises her arms to energize 40 of her fellow students.

"We are going to make a storm," she says, rubbing her hands together.

Moving from side to side, Albritton smiles and laughs as she lead the students through hand and arm movements simulating wind, rain and lightening.

"Come on; do it; we've got to make a storm."

After a few moments the storm subsides.

"OK! You are warmed up; welcome to SGA," she announces.

Albritton is a co-vice president of Sebring High School's Student Government Association.

SGA is just one of the many extracurricular school-related activities that contribute to a student's growth, but by definition is not graded.

Karley Freeland, Sebring High SGA dodge ball chair person, gives an update on the upcoming faculty versus the seniors' dodge ball game, which is staged to raise money for senior scholarships.

Freeland tells her fellow SGA members that the dodge ball committee will be making signs and possibly a video to promote the April event.

As a member of Interact (a community service club), Mu Alpha Theta (a math club), the National Honor Society and the volleyball and weightlifting teams, how does she maintain good grades with such a busy schedule?

"Time management," Freeland says with a laugh.

Hill-Gustat Middle School Principal Chris Doty said through extracurricular clubs and sports, students learn about parliamentary procedure, public speaking, teamwork, having a vision and a mission, and accomplishing it through the activities that are planned.

"Those kinds of things are crucial for kids to learn," he said. The clubs were created to give students a sense of community and belonging. It gives them a place to pursue their talents, he added.

Not including sports, Doty estimates that Hill-Gustat's 699 students participate in the following extracurricular activities: chorus programs, 240; band, 140; Future Farmers of America, 80; National Junior Honor Society, 70; and Student Government Association, 25.

Since band and chorus are class electives, but have an out-of-school component, they are considered co-curricular.

Hill-Gustat Middle School eighth-grader Sarah Brown is president of her school's Student Government Association and is in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

"I love doing SGA and helping the school," she said. "Having a leadership role and having students embrace that leadership role is important."

The clubs meet once or twice a month, but Brown was busy Wednesday when the NJHS helped the SGA prepare donated wooden roses for sale within the school. Proceeds from the $1 roses will go to support academics.

It was a hectic day in the media center, she said, as NJHS members attached and curled ribbons on the roses and SGA members sorted and attached labels and placed them in cones for distribution.

"By the time we were done, we had done 600 and we had them all in sections for distribution to classes," Brown said.

Hill-Gustat Middle School eighth-grader Marcus Dewberry was the point guard on his school's basketball team, which was undefeated in its 11-game season this school year. He is also in the NJHS and the school's show choir.

"I just love the game and representing the school," he said.

The disciplines and skills Dewberry learned from his extracurricular activities have benefitted him greatly.

"It allows me to always stay organized and make sure that I'm well prepared for anything that is coming up," he said. "It just keeps me grounded."

What would you do if there were no extracurricular clubs, sports or associations?

"I would be out of my mind," Dewberry said. "I need these extracurriculars to keep me sorted."

Brown said "there's something about contributing back to the school; it's better than just sitting there and not doing anything; I like to get involved and being there."