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Berwick Academy Unveils Vision for Transformed Afternoon Program Starting Fall 2026
Following extensive research on education best practices, modern sports trends, and community feedback, Berwick Academy has announced a comprehensive evolution of its afternoon offerings. The newly envisioned Berwick Afternoon Programs are slated to launch in the 2026-27 academic year with a creative and nimble framework designed to greatly broaden student horizons by delivering a balanced menu of highly competitive interscholastic athletics, recreational sports, and elite non-athletic co-curricular activities.
“The world of youth sports and student interests outside the classroom has changed dramatically and parent expectations have evolved alongside them,” noted Head of School Scott Erickson. “This intentional framework allows students to dive into their passions, experiment with new disciplines, and strive for personal excellence, all right here on the Hilltop.”
In the Middle School, students are required to participate in 2 of 3 seasons. Actual results demonstrate much-higher participation with students signing up for more than 2 seasons:
- Fall: 94% participation rate for rising 6th through 8th graders
- Winter: 86%
- Spring: 89%
In our new Young Bulldogs Program (grades 3-5), participation is optional for our offerings in company dance, multi-sports, Odyssey of the Mind, and outdoor recreation. We are proud of the very strong interest in returning students:
- Fall: 77 student participants
- Winter: 79
- Spring: 78
Berwick Afternoon Program: Achieves Four Goals
Involve more students in Berwick-organized programs outside regular class time to complement the academic curriculum | Build higher quality programs to enhance learning and develop skills in leadership, teamwork, creativity, and team sports |
Bolster the value of a Berwick education by fostering more student connections and relationships across campus | Promote successful student-athlete recruitment and retention |
Berwick Afternoon Program: Delivers Five Primary Benefits
Benefit | Actions |
Increased student choice | Attractive menu of athletic and non-athletic offerings to promote learning and engage the range of interest, passion, and talent in our diverse student population Content to include team (interscholastic) sports, recreational sports, and non-athletic activities like clubs (for example, VEX Robotics, Model UN, Math Team), theater, the arts, dance, community service, etc. Expanding choices in sports and non-athletic clubs, possible examples include swimming, golf, ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, pickleball, etc. |
More highly competitive sports | New and more-robust Varsity feeder program with reliable and well-structured JV and Middle School teams that motivate athletes with skill development, training, and swing players up to Varsity Seamless process for Middle Schoolers playing up onto JV and Varsity teams based on coach assessment, player skills, performance, developmental maturity, and academic standing Staff for success with exceptional, experienced coaches and faculty leaders for non-athletic offerings Off-season recreational sports to provide students an opportunity to explore a range of options and develop a new passion and skill, possible examples include rec swimming, rec golf, rec ice hockey |
Integrating the Middle School into the Afternoon Program | To be more compatible with the Upper School, there will be a 2-season afternoon requirement (starting at 3:15) in the Middle School. Students will choose from an array of sports and non-sports offerings. Depending on the chosen activity, the commitment will be 2 to 3 afternoons per week after school (starting at 3:15) with flexibility when there are team competitions for sports and clubs. Significantly more practice time so that our teams will become more competitive, support the new feeder program, and ignite the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among student-athletes and in student clubs |
New Young Bulldogs Program | Allows younger students in Grades 3 to 5 to dabble earlier in Berwick athletic and recreational opportunities Launches our new feeder program earlier in a student’s time at Berwick Offers at-school opportunities when kids have time, passion, and interest Provides opportunities with program goals to strive for at their own school |
Better flexibility | Support for student-athletes navigating outside sports club participation off-season and playing up to JV/V Support for those with family commitments that are not in sync with the new Middle School afternoon participation requirement Berwick as your afternoon home to avoid costly outsourcing and shuttling kids all over the Seacoast Athletic waivers considered on an individual basis, consistent with Berwick's student-centered approach |
Berwick Academy
31 Academy Street
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
Berwick Academy, situated on an 80-acre campus just over one hour north of Boston, serves 520 students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Postgraduates. Berwick students are from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several countries. Deeply committed to its mission of promoting virtue and useful knowledge, Berwick Academy empowers students to be creative and bold. Berwick strives to graduate alumni who shape their own learning, take risks, ask thoughtful questions, and come to understand and celebrate their authentic selves.
