Upper School 2023-2024

The following requirements apply:

• All students in Grades 9 and 10 must participate in three seasons from the group options.

• All Grade 11 students and members of the graduating class must participate in a minimum of two seasons of the group option. During the other seasons, these students can choose either a group or individual option.

• Students are required to participate on a daily basis and attendance is taken daily.

• Students must have a current physical exam form completed and on file in Magnus in order to participate in sports.

• A new student will be swim tested. The student will be required to swim 75 yards and tread water for 2 minutes.

B. Afternoon Program Concentration (APC)

An Afternoon Program Concentration provides an opportunity for a student with a demonstrated commitment and expertise in a certain extracurricular area to focus on that area for an additional amount of time within a given school year. This is considered an exception to our normal Afternoon Program requirements. The application will be sent to a student upon request. For all first-time requests, students should email the Assistant Athletic Director. All applications are due by Aug. 1.

Applicants will have their proposals evaluated by the Afternoon Program Concentration Committee. This committee will determine whether the proposal is accepted or not. A student must be in good academic and conduct standing, obtain and participate in their concentration. Those receiving the concentration will need to participate in a team sport for their third season and will have a full evaluation at the end of the school year by the Director of Athletics to determine the success of their concentration and whether they may continue it for the following year.

C. Determination of Play

All students must attend tryouts and are placed at the appropriate playing level. The head coach makes the final decision in placement and playing time.

D. Change Policy

A student will have one week at the beginning of each season to change their Afternoon Program. In some cases (e.g. varsity/junior varsity cuts), changes may take longer. If a student does not report to their afternoon program during this period, the student is given an unexcused absence for each missed day.

E. Program Obligations & Attendance

A student must attend a majority of their classes during the day to participate in athletics and activities. A student must attend all daily classes in order to participate on competition days. Students who have excused absences may participate in the competition with valid and/or formal documentation.

Any student seen by a physician must submit a written note from the medical doctor to the athletic trainer stating the diagnosis, physical limitations and the date when the student may resume physical activity. Notes or phone calls from a parent/guardian will not be accepted in place of a physician's note. An injured student must attend all practices and contests. If an injured student does not attend practices and games, they will earn unexcused absences for each day they do not attend.

Absences are considered unexcused unless the student provides the Director of Athletics/ Assistant Director of Athletics with a written explanation (usually medical) no later than 48 hours after the absence. The only person able to excuse absences would be the Director of Athletics or Assistant Director of Athletics. In the case where the student is absent and excused for the entire academic day, athletic or activity absences are also excused.

A missed game or other extended-day obligation (ex: Wednesday/Saturday) counts for two unexcused absences. Students may be given detention and/or work detail for earning an unexcused absence from their game. Four or more unexcused absences or a total of eight (excused or unexcused) will result in the failure of a sport or activity.

If a student is removed from an afternoon activity for conduct reasons, accumulates four unexcused or a combination of eight excused and unexcused absences, they fail the season requirement. The student will be required to serve five detentions and five work details, and in most cases will attend their normal daily afternoon program. If a student fails at the end of the trimester, they will still be required to attend five detentions and five work details. Any future absences will be subject to disciplinary action through the Deans Office.

F. Medical Exception

The need for a medical exception from the Afternoon Program may occur at WMA. All proposals for medical exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. These proposals must be submitted to the Director of Athletics before the start of the season.

G. Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is a quality valued in both athletes and spectators at the Academy. Below are guidelines for the Code of Ethics and Conduct as defined by the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). We expect all Titans to adhere to them.

• Treat others as you know they should be treated and as you wish them to treat you.

• Treat officials and opponents with respect.

• Accept without quarrel the final decision of any official.

• Honor visiting teams and spectators as your guests and treat them as such.

• Be gracious in victory and defeat.

• Be as cooperative as you are competitive.

• Remember that your actions on and off the field reflect on you and WMA as a school.

III. College Counseling A. Overview

The College Counseling Office offers a comprehensive, college planning curriculum and individualized support for each student throughout the college search and selection process. Students are expected to take the lead in managing their process by attending Sophomore, Junior and Senior seminar classes; effectively communicating interests, preferences, needs and concerns to their college counselor and parents/guardians; and ultimately adhering to all application requirements and deadlines. Parents/guardians are also encouraged to take an active role by attending College Counseling program events whenever possible and maintaining effective communication with their student and college counselor.

In addition to individualized college guidance, the cornerstone of WMA’s College Counseling program, the College Counseling Office provides students with college search and test prep software, guidebooks, videos, applications and other resource materials. In addition, admission representatives from colleges and universities across the country visit (in-person or virtually) the Academy each year, primarily in the fall and winter trimesters, to meet with prospective students and college counselors. Please refer to the College Counseling Guide for more information.

B. College Visits

Visits to college or university campuses are an essential component of an informed college planning process. Visits can be scheduled through the admission page of a college or university website and should include a campus tour and information session, if possible.

Beginning in the Grade 11 year, each student is allowed up to three trips. Class absences will be excused provided that there are no academic or disciplinary concerns and a College Visit Request form is submitted in a timely manner.

In the spring of a student’s Grade 12 or PG year, students may be excused from four days of school in the spring for planned college visits to schools that the student was accepted into. These four days cannot be consecutive. Only two days may be consecutive. Before students leave, they need to have their itinerary (outline the days and times for the visits and flight information if necessary) approved by the College Counseling Office and the Athletic Department. Upon returning from the trip, the student must submit official records of accepted students’ days, tours, etc., to the Deans Office. These absences may not be excused if the student is not in good academic and citizenship standing.

C. Reporting Disciplinary Action to Colleges and Universities

Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s motto “Live Clean. Speak True. Work Hard. Play Fair.” embodies the collective and noble values celebrated for generations within our WMA community. To act responsibly, with compassion and integrity are longstanding ideals that define our school, inspire decisions and interactions, and foster a heightened sense of purpose and character.

In this light and in compliance with the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Statement of Principles of Good Practice, we expect and urge our students to respond honestly when asked to disclose disciplinary incidents on their college applications. In addition, WMA may disclose the following disciplinary actions to colleges or other secondary schools: (i) an applicant’s probation, suspension, removal, dismissal or expulsion resulting from the violation of a Major School Rule and (ii) any adverse change in a leadership position resulting from disciplinary measures. WMA will also inform colleges and other secondary schools about any material change in the student’s academic standing or enrollment status, including withdrawal and/or a material change in the student’s course load. WMA may report information regarding discipline or change in status even after an application has been submitted or the student has been accepted regardless of whether the college or other next school specifically requests such information. WMA encourages students to inform their colleges or other schools to which they have applied of any subsequent reportable disciplinary actions or change in status and will give students a reasonable opportunity to share this information before WMA notifies the college(s) or next school.

If a reportable change occurs after applications have been submitted, the student is required to notify colleges or universities within two weeks of the date of status change. In reporting changes, the student should confer with their college advisor to ensure that the effect and wording of the notification are appropriate.