Student Life | Athletics

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ATHLETICS AT WIS

Washington International School’s athletics program embodies the mission, philosophy, and objectives of the School and fosters the development of character, life skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Middle and Upper School teams compete in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC), a league of private schools in the DC metropolitan area. While the league does not extend to competition below Grade 6, older Primary School students can enroll in after school athletics programs (through WIS Extended Learning) to prepare for their transition to competitive athletics.

Athletics Calendar

To find game details, double click on the entry for a pop-up window.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical education is an important component of students' lives, with developmentally appropriate activities designed to enhance physical fitness as well as specific skills. Classes are integrated into the curriculum for students through Grade 10; in their final two years Upper School students may choose a PE elective.

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Our youngest students participate in PSPE classes designed to develop their gross and fine motor skills, as well as to improve their agility and coordination. In Grades 1-5, children have PE for 105 minutes per week, broken into two or three separate sessions depending on the grade level. Facilities at the Primary School include a movement room, indoor gymnasium, artificial turf field, blacktop space for ball games and activities, and a wood chip-covered area with playground equipment. There is a separate outdoor play area for Early Years students.

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS

In Grades 6-10, the physical education program includes three hours of PE and one hour of health (Grades 6-8) or life skills (Grades 9-10) during each eight-day cycle. In addition to improving muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition, and cardiovascular endurance, PE challenges students to develop skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and cooperation.

Facilities on the Tregaron Campus include an indoor gym, an outdoor basketball court, and a regulation-size artificial turf soccer pitch.

FAQS

Our Athletics FAQ provides answers to the questions we hear most often. We encourage student athletes (and their parents) to read our Athletics Handbook, which contains general information about WIS athletics, as well as details about our concussion management program.

WHERE CAN I FIND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIS ATHLETICS PROGRAM?
The Athletics Handbook is the best source of comprehensive information. What sports does WIS offer and when do the seasons begin and end? A list of sports by season is available below. The fall season is August to early November; the winter season is November to March and the spring season is March to May. There are additional details available in the Athletics Handbook. FALL SPORTS Soccer Cross-Country Girls Tennis Girls Volleyball WINTER SPORTS Basketball Swimming SPRING SPORTS Boys Volleyball Boys Tennis Track & Field
WHEN DO TRYOUTS TAKE PLACE EACH SEASON?
Tryouts/practices for fall sports begin in August, before the first day of school. Specific dates are listed on the Athletics calendar. Please check the calendar for updates to practice schedules. Winter and spring season tryout/practice dates are also available on the Athletics calendar. NOTE: Dates are not typically listed as "tryouts" — the early practices each season are when team rosters are determined.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS NOT IN WASHINGTON, DC WHEN FALL PRACTICES BEGIN?
Please notify Floreal Pedrazo, the Athletics Director (floreal.pedrazo@wis.edu) if your child intends to play a fall sport but will not be available for practices prior to the first day of school. The Athletics Director will inform the team coach. Decisions regarding A or B team rosters (Middle School) or Varsity and JV teams (Upper School) are usually not made until the end of the first week of classes. Still, it is important to get students in playing shape before games begin; the August practices are designed for that purpose. If our athletes are in shape, they are likely to experience fewer injuries.
ARE THERE "B" TEAMS FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS?
We try to have B teams whenever the numbers allow and when we are able to identify enough coaches. Many schools with enrollment similar to WIS do not have B teams, so scheduling matches may be challenging.
MY GRADE 6 CHILD IS ON AN OUTSIDE TEAM; SHOULD MY CHILD LEAVE THAT TEAM TO PLAY WIS SPORTS?
We encourage parents to allow their children to continue playing on outside teams, particularly if the child is entering Grade 6. We want students to play and get game experience and many sixth graders may not be ready for the rigor or challenge of competing with eighth graders. There are exceptions, and we sometimes have Grade 6 players who make strong contributions on our A squads; these students usually possess solid skillsets and the experience of playing with older and stronger players.
ARE CHILDREN PLAYING ON OUTSIDE TEAMS PERMITTED TO MISS WIS PRACTICES AND MATCHES?
Our coaches are usually flexible about a player missing the occasional practice in order to go to an outside team practice or game. However, we expect all players to show 100% commitment to being at WIS games. Missing a league game in order to attend an outside team’s practice should be avoided.
CAN MY CHILD PLAY MORE THAN ONE SPORT IN A GIVEN SEASON?
No, students cannot play on more than one team per season. There is too much overlap between practice and game schedules. We want our players to commit and make the necessary sacrifices that are part of being on a school team.

Athletics