Character Development - Requirements

Co-curricular
Doane Academy offers a wide range of athletic opportunities in both individual and team sports. Given the diverse rewards and expectations in each, students are strongly encouraged to experience both.

Beyond athletics, there are almost as many opportunities for co-curricular participation as there are students. Fine and performing arts activities have expanded significantly over the last few years driven by the quality of the faculty and the response of the students. There are more than enough activities for every upper classman to assume a leadership role and that is the expectation.

With all of these opportunities and given the culture of the student body, there are very few students who aspire to fulfilling the minimal requirements. The majority invest heavily in two or three activities and actively participate in two or three more during their upper school years. At the very least, all students in grades 7-12 are required to participate in two co-curricular activities each year, at least one of which must be an interscholastic sport.

Athletic and Co-curricular activities that meet the standards for Graduation requirements include:

• All Varsity Sports, including soccer, basketball, softball and baseball, golf, crew, cross country and track.
• Team manager for selected varsity sports.
• Fitness and life-sport programs initiated and approved by the Athletic Department.
• Leadership in Student Council, Honor Council, Varsity Club, Class Government and National Art Honor Society.
• Significant participation in school drama and musical productions or art endeavors.
• Significant and ongoing participation, beyond that of a class commitment, to the publications of the school community.
• Significant participation in Mock Trial or other academic competitions.
• Ongoing commitment to school or community service, beyond that expected of all students.

Coaches and advisors evaluate students on a 0-3 scale of unsatisfactory to exceptional in 3 areas of performance;

1. engagement and effort.
2. appropriate conduct.
3. initiative and leadership.

Outstanding performance, especially in regard to effort, teamwork and sportsmanship recognized as part of the Spartan Challenge Awards and all of the Class Night Awards at graduation.

Curricular
Ethics/World Religions Course - Students 9-12 are required to take 2 semester courses that approach ethics and morality from philosophical, theological, psychological and sociological perspectives. These courses use a discussion format that often relates directly to the issues of the day. Students are encouraged to develop a spiritual and intellectual base which they work to align with their individual perspectives, attitudes and life experiences.