The pride of being a Bulldog
As a Whitefish High School student athlete, I have had the pleasure of attending a great high school. At Whitefish High there is a strong sense of community, a general pride in being a Bulldog, and a want to better oneself both academically and athletically. While our facilities have served us well for many years, as the school’s student body grows there is an obvious need for improved and expanded athletic and academic facilities.
The football field has served the school well but is plainly outdated and there are multiple issues that are present. First, one of the biggest problems is that the school doesn’t even own the field that we play our games on. The Glacier Twins baseball team allows us to rent their outfield every season for our games, but it is not meant for football and there are times when it shows. There is simply something about not owning your own sports complex that is incredibly inconvenient and flat out unfit for such a great school system.
Furthermore, the bleachers are deteriorating, the stands are not sufficient for the crowds that come to support us, and the overall facilities do not reflect our beautiful town. It is the same football field my Grandpa and Dad played on and it is well past time for an update.
One such example is this year during Track and Field Divisionals. Whitefish hosted this event, but not here in Whitefish. We had to host in Columbia Falls. It is a big deal and a great pride to be able to host something like this, and with our current facility we cannot handle such a large and important meet at our home track.
The staff at Whitefish High truly care about the students and try their best to teach us, often going above and beyond for their pupils. These same teachers that are doing their best to educate us are, time and time again, hindered by lack of space. The increasing number of students coming into the school every year increases the need year by year. As a school it is important to equip the students who are motivated enough to push themselves with the classes they want to take. In the past, motivated students have been unable to take advanced classes because there was not enough room. Also, in today’s world trades are increasingly important and sought after by employers. We offer woods and welding at Whitefish, but can only offer it to a limited number of students in our current space. With the expansion, we could maximize our reach and help a vastly increased number of high schoolers learn invaluable skills. We cannot delay this bond any longer as new students are piling into the district, and it will take a good amount of time before the expansion would be complete.
Overall, the bond will allow students to reach their fullest athletic and academic potential. It will bring more pride and unity to the community. It will enable the school to truly reflect the beauty of the city of Whitefish. Ballots are due Sept. 17. Don’t delay.
— Scotty Dalen, Whitefish High School senior, football co-captain and track co-captain