Welcome from the Director

 
Parents / Coach Communication

Dear Out-Of-Door Families,

As the new Athletic Director, I would like to personally welcome you to the Out-of-Door Thunder Athletic Department.

We are very excited about the upcoming athletic year for not only the competition of our student-athletes but also in large part because we are in the finishing stages of a multi-phase development of several new athletic facilities…many of which will be “under the lights” for the first time ever. In addition to the new baseball and tennis venues which comprised the first stage of development, we have just finished the football, soccer, track & field and softball complexes along with a 645 seat grandstand. By the time you read this, we will also be prepared to unveil a new 2,500 sq. ft. Fitness and Wellness Center housing all new cardiovascular and strength- training equipment, affirming our commitment to the overall health and wellness of our faculty, staff and students.

Athletics play an important part in the life of The Out-of-Door Academy and its students. Young people learn a great deal from participation in interscholastic athletics. Lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, competition and how to win and lose gracefully are integral parts of our athletic program. Athletic participation also plays an important part in helping students develop a healthy self-concept as well as a healthy body. Athletic competition strengthens school spirit and helps students develop pride in their school. I want everyone involved in Thunder Athletics to be proud of who we are and what we do.

We encourage all students to participate in one or preferably more of the many varsity, junior varsity and middle school athletic teams that compete in the navy and white as the Thunder. We believe that the opportunity for participation in a wide variety of student-selected activities is a vital part of a student’s educational experience. Such participation is always a privilege that carries with it responsibilities to the school, to the activity, to other students, to the community and to the athletes themselves. These experiences contribute to the development of learning skills and emotional patterns that enable the student to achieve the maximum benefit from his or her education.

In the 13 interscholastic sport offerings at ODA, varsity teams have won an impressive 43 District and Regional Championships or runner-up finishes since the athletic program’s inception in 1996. While winning is of utmost importance, good sportsmanship and the overall well-being of our student-athletes are paramount. Thunder Athletics will be conducted with “SPEED”, which is our acronym for Sportsmanship, Participation and Pride, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Discipline.

Please see the attached pages for important Fall Athletics Information and thank you very much for your support of Out-of-Door Thunder Athletics. I look forward to seeing you out at one of our many athletic contests and always encourage you to contact me at any time.

Most sincerely,

Noel Beaulieu
Athletic Director
(941) 554-5998
nbeaulieu@oda.edu