Throughout an average school day at any high school in the country, extra curricular activities and events play a major role with most students. These activities may include sports, clubs, musical ensembles and other various groups and tend to be a major aspect of students day. At Wamogo Regional HS in Litchfield CT, extracurricular activities are very strong throughout the entire student body and give the students many opportunities to enhance their education. Two key players involved with these extracurricular activities are Mary Stolle, Wamogo’s Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher, and Christian Siegel, Wamogo’s Fine Arts Coordinator and Instrumental Music Director.
In many schools there is a great deal of friction between athletics and music, but not so at Wamogo. Both Mrs. Stolle and Mr. Siegel realize that their programs must share students and they check schedules regularly and closely to ensure that Wamogo athletes and musicians can meet obligations in both programs. By coordinating concerts and rehearsals with games and practices students are able to notify coaches and directors well in advance if any conflicts may arise. “The biggest problems occur when we have to reschedule games” said Mrs. Stolle. “By league rule we are supposed to go to the next available date which may trump a rehearsal for Mr. Siegel, but not a concert.” The two directors work closely to keep the students out of the conversations and settle all arrangements between the adults. Even with the most careful of arrangements, problems can arise. “We had to hold a spring concert one year because the baseball team went into extra innings at Litchfield” according to Mr. Siegel. “We announced the delay together on stage to the audience and waited for the kids...when they arrived they warmed up and played until the first intermission in their uniforms.”
A new opportunity to work together presented itself over the summer with Cablevision’s new MSG Varsity Channel. This endeavor allows schools to document and broadcast all activities that take place throughout the school year on the MSG Varsity website and channel. Both Mr. Siegel and Mrs. Stolle felt the addition of this new program would create a great deal of excitement for the students at Wamogo as well as the forum to showcase all the good things that happen in a small school. The Wamogo/Litchfield basketball rivalry game was recently featured on the MSG Varsity channel after a complete production crew captured the entire night’s events which included a pasta dinner and fundraiser for a local family. The MSG commentators were astounded at the environment and indicated their desire to cover the event again next year.
Great things can happen when there is cooperation amongst the staff and the willingness to try new initiatives. Mr. Siegel and Mrs. Stolle feel that school is always about the students and are willing to do whatever it takes to enhance the spirit and environment of Wamogo.
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