The Wellington School considers Athletics to be an extension of the classroom, and our teachers and coaches are role models. In order to support and sustain academic success, personal fulfillment and athletic achievement, we emphasize the development of the whole person focusing on intellectual, social and leadership qualities in each student. Collaboration, setting goals, working hard and sportsmanship are all traits learned during athletic competition and applied to real life. Athletics are an essential part of the Wellington educational experience and are as central to the school’s mission as are academics and the arts.

The Wellington Athletic program emphasizes solid moral values, sportsmanship and commitment to excellence. Membership on a team comes with the obligation to attend and work hard at practices and put forth a high degree of effort in game situations. The level of commitment required rightly increases as the level of competition increases.

Wellington has a no-cut athletics policy, so every student can participate in any sport he or she chooses.

Athletics adds to the total Wellington experience. The sports program begins with broad exposure in Lower School, moves to a balance between competition and participation in Middle School, and on to fielding competitive teams in Upper School, where the habit of participation endures — more than 90 percent of freshmen and sophomores play on at least one team.

We are competitive with purpose. Games are won and lost, of course, but those games also become lasting lessons learned in teamwork, perseverance, leadership, determination, fitness, time management and more.

Family support is central to Wellington’s Arts and Athletics programs. Wellington relies on enthusiastic support of parents, boosters and support staff. Those “teams” behind our teams are the backbone of our program. At home, parents provide an environment that supports the development of positive learning habits and attitudes in their child.