The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and its 51 state high school associations begin the annual celebration of National High School Activities Month next week with a focus on sportsmanship and a salute to the more than 500 million fans of high school sports.
The NFHS has designated the month of October as National High School Activities Month to help schools throughout the nation promote the values inherent in high school athletic and performing arts activities. Started in 1980 as National High School Activities Week, the NFHS expanded the celebration to a month several years ago to provide additional time for the 19,000-plus high schools to hold special activities at the local level.
The purpose of National High School Activities Month is to remind students, parents, coaches, officials and others in communities across the country about the values and benefits of interscholastic activity programs.
High school activities help address society’s most current issues by:
- Finding and nurturing the best effort of each young participant;
- Encouraging students to stay in school, perform better academically and become better citizens;
- Demanding respect for fair play and appreciation for the equitable application of procedures, rules and regulations;
- Providing healthy lifestyle instruction;
- Challenging racism, sexism and classism through the active pursuit of teamwork and school spirit.
Each week throughout the month-long celebration will feature a specific emphasis: National Sportsmanship, Fan Appreciation and Public-Address Announcers Week (October 1-7); National Performing Arts Activities Week (October 8-14); National Coaches/Sponsors/Advisors/Officials Week (October 15-21); and National Community Service /Youth Awareness Week (October 22-31).
“High school sports and activity programs provide one of the best bargains in our community and nation and will continue to do so as long as our nation supports them as an integral part of the education of our young people,” said Bob Gardner. NFHS executive director. “Not only do these programs teach the more than 12 million young people who participate in them valuable life skills lessons, such as ethics, integrity and healthy lifestyles, they also provide the best entertainment value in our nation.”
The NFHS has provided suggested activities for schools during each of the week-long events. All materials for National High School Activities Month, including The Case for High School Activities, are available on the NFHS website here.