Date:
July 28, 2015
From:
District Director of Athletics Trent Tucker
Re:
Realigning Middle School Athletic Programs
The Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS)
Athletic Department is realigning 17 middle school athletic programs beginning
fall 2015. This realignment will expand
athletic opportunities for our 7th and 8th grade students.
In addition, MPS has partnered with
the National Sports Center in Blaine to host a middle school (grades 6-8) soccer
league this fall. This outstanding
opportunity will expose MPS middle school students to premier facilities and
exciting competition. We expect to have 6th
grade athletic programming for volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter
and track in the spring at each K-8/Middle school.
Middle grades student/athletes
wishing to participate in tackle football can continue to play through the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Students
will now have the choice of playing with their attendance area high
school. Minnesota State High School
League Bylaw 208.00 states: A student who is a member of a high school team may
not participate as an individual competitor or as a member of a non-school team
in the same sport during the high school season.
Our plan will be to centralize all
middle school athletic programs under each of the traditional seven high school
athletic directors, plus the athletic director from a combined FAIR/Wellstone
program. These eight high school athletic directors (ADs) will now be responsible
for athletic programming at their respective high schools, in addition to their
assigned middle- schools.
The high school ADs will establish
varsity, junior varsity, as well as developmental teams under “B” and “C” if
necessary to ensure that all middle school athletes have the opportunity to
participate. We believe this new
structure will allow middle school athletes more opportunities to participate
on high school teams, but will also expand their menu of sports options.
This realignment should help 7th and
8th grade student athletes grow in a number of ways: learn the importance of academics as it relates to
athletic participation; enhance their skills provided by fully certified coaches
as required by the Minnesota State High School League; receive expanded game
and practice schedules; and, get an early introduction to the workings of high
school communities.
For the 2015-16 school year,
district high school athletic participation fees will remain the same ($90 for
hockey, $70 for tackle football and $60 for all other sports). The fees will be the same for all high school
and middle school participants.
Reduced fees are available for
students who qualify for free and/or reduced lunch ($40 for reduced lunch and
$20 for free lunch). Participation fee scholarships are available; please
contact your high school athletic director for more information.
7th and 8th grade student/athletes wishing to
participate will do so at their attendance area
high school. High school athletic
directors will work with the following K-8/Middle schools to assist in this
transition process. High schools with
their partnered K-8/Middle schools are listed below:
●
Edison: Marcy and Northeast
●
FAIR: Andersen and Jefferson
●
Roosevelt: Lake Nokomis-Keewaydin and Sanford
●
South: Anne Sullivan, Folwell and Seward
●
North: Anwatin and Franklin
●
Patrick Henry: Hmong Academy and Olson
●
Southwest: Anthony and Lake Harriet
●
Washburn: Barton, Field and Ramsey
District transportation will be provided
for middle grades student/athletes. There will be a meeting scheduled in early
August with Principals and former middle school athletic directors to answer
questions regarding this realignment. Parents/Guardians should contact their
attendance area high school athletic director with any questions, contact
information is below.
Fall Sports Registration
|
SCHOOL
|
Initial Registration Date, Time and Location
|
Athletic
Director
w/contact
information
|
|
EDISON
|
August 3rd 4:00-6:00 pm & August 4th
10:00 am-Noon @ Edison Gym
|
Amy Cardarelle,
amy.cardarelle@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-1343
|
|
FAIR/WELLSTONE
|
August 17th 8:00–10:00 am
@ FAIR School Cafeteria
|
Kenny Maxey,
Kenneth.maxey@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-702-4837
|
|
NORTH
|
August 10th 8:00am-Noon
@ North Gym (Door 17)
|
Dr. Leo Lewis,
Leo.lewisiii@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-1706
|
|
PATRICK HENRY
|
August 3rd 8:00 am-Noon
@ Patrick Henry High School
|
Guillaume Paek, CAA,
guillaume.paek@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-1947
|
|
ROOSEVELT
|
August 3rd 5:30-7:00pm
@ Roosevelt High School (enter on 30th Ave.
door)
|
Dennis Stockmo,
dennis.stockmo@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-4859
|
|
SOUTH
|
August 4th 4:00-6:00pm
@ South High School Commons
|
Brett McNeal,
brett.Mcneal@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-4324
|
|
SOUTHWEST
|
July 28th 3:00-5:30pm
@ Southwest Athletic Office
|
Ryan Lamberty,
ryan.lamberty@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-3035
|
|
WASHBURN
|
July 28th 6:30pm
@ Washburn Gym
(enter door 5)
|
Reggie Perkins,
Reginald.perkins@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-3456
|
Students who plan to
participate in a fall sport should attend one of the below sessions with a
parent. Required forms and important information will be shared regarding practices
and games. Football practice starts
Monday August 10th, all other fall sports (cross country, soccer,
swimming (girls), tennis (girls), volleyball start Monday August 17th. Contact your building athletic director for
additional sign-up dates and times.
Realigning Middle School Athletic Programs Talking
points:
·
The MPS
Athletic Department is realigning 17
middle school athletic programs beginning this fall 2015. This realignment will consolidate middle
school team athletic activities under eight Minneapolis high schools (including
a combined FAIR/Wellstone program) as we expand athletic opportunities for our
7th and 8th grade students.
·
The eight high school athletic directors (ADs)
will assist K-8/Middle schools through this transition process.
·
Middle
school sports were administered independently at each school. Some schools lacked from full participation. They compete for athletes with Park Board
offerings and some club and Minnesota Amateur Athletic Association athletics
opportunities.
·
This new structure will allow middle school athletes opportunities to participate more
competitively while also expanding their sports choices.
·
High school ADs will establish varsity, junior
varsity; as well as developmental teams under “B” if necessary to ensure that
all middle school athletes have the opportunity to participate.
·
Game transportation will be provided by District
scheduled buses. We are currently
working through transportation logistics and will have more information closer
to the beginning of the school year.
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