Athletics

Bank Street’s Athletics program includes physical education during school hours as well as team sports and other extracurricular activities before and after school that support the physical, social, and emotional development of students. Our program is designed as a progression:

• Kindergarten (5/6s) – First Grade (6/7s): Students focus on building foundational movement and coordination skills, which expand each month through activities that introduce catching, dribbling, serving, and other core abilities.
• Second Grade (7/8s) – Fourth Grade (9/10s): Students begin applying these skills in more structured games such as soccer, football, ultimate ball, and kickball.
• Fifth Grade (10/11s) – Eighth Grade (13/14s): Students participate in full seasonal sports, including soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, softball, and tennis. The sequence balances indoor and outdoor play across the year.

In addition to offering physical benefits such as maintaining a healthy body, improving motor skills, and supporting better sleep, our Athletics program plays a vital role in fostering students’ social-emotional development and mental health. Regular participation in sports helps students build essential character traits like discipline, teamwork, resilience, and accountability, which contribute to personal growth and success beyond the field. Engaging in athletics also helps support students’ mental and cognitive health by reducing stress, enhancing focus, and boosting self-confidence and self-esteem.

Bank Street applies the Sport Education Model, which emphasizes that every student has a role on their team, whether as player, referee, or manager. Students take responsibility for organizing practices, running drills, and even managing equipment and scoreboards. Students in second grade (7/8s) through fourth grade (9/10s) also come together in huddles to strategize. These experiences strengthen collaboration, communication, leadership, and a sense of belonging.

Moreover, joining a sport creates space for students to engage with their peers from Bank Street and beyond outside of regular school hours while building lasting friendships and an overall sense of community.

Seasonal Sports

Upper School students have the opportunity to participate in various seasonal sports throughout the school year. Bank Street welcomes all students who want to participate in sports, no matter their skill level or aptitude. This fosters an inclusive environment where students of all abilities can pursue their interests while enjoying healthy competition, setting personal goals, and challenging themselves in ways that feel comfortable for them.

*While basketball league rules require that students be divided by gender, the School for Children accepts, acknowledges, and affirms the gender identity and expression asserted by each individual in the Bank Street community.