Dear Parents,

As we continue to build on a strong and successful athletic program at Saline High School, I want to take a moment to address the importance of sportsmanship, the expectations we have for our student-athletes, and the crucial balance between athletics and academics. I am writing to you because I believe that a strong partnership between the school, coaches, and parents is vital to the success of our student-athletes. 

We encourage you to actively participate in your child's education and work with us to ensure they continually meet their academic goals. We want to ensure that our student-athletes prioritize maintaining a strong educational foundation, and we realize that athletics can be a very demanding and time-consuming commitment. However, at Saline High School, academics will always come before athletics. We believe that there is a reason we call them “student-athletes” and not “athletic students." I ask that you reinforce this standard with your child and support us in instilling this mindset.

We expect our student-athletes to demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship, both on and off the field. This means respecting coaches, opponents, officials, and teammates, regardless of the situation or outcome of the competition. We also expect our athletes to be positive role models for their peers and to represent our school with pride and integrity. Your support in reinforcing these values is essential. Parents are, by nature, emotionally involved in their child’s success, which is a blessing. However, sometimes, this deep emotion can cause parents to model behavior that is contradictory to our athletic department goals. We encourage you to be a positive and supportive presence at your child's athletic events. Please refrain from negative comments or actions that could undermine the efforts of our coaches or student-athletes or damage the integrity of the game. Instead, focus on cheering on your child and their teammates. The power of positivity has a much greater impact than the noise of negativity.

We are committed to working with you to create a positive and successful athletic experience for our student-athletes. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Doug Salvaterra

Principal, Saline High School