A middle school football player wearing a white jersey with red and black text reading “Wolfpack 85” smiles and waves from a football field. Teammates are next to him, and the graphic on the photo reads “SPS Extra!” with a Spokane Public Schools logo.

"I can dream about these big things, since I'm really young."

At a Ferris High School Cheer Clinic last week, Chase Middle School sixth grader Juliette learned cheers and routines from the 31 Saxons on this year’s team, preparing her to potentially join the squad in a few years.

In October’s episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez talk about the benefits of early involvement in extracurricular activities, including academic success and lower rates of externalized problems, and hear from North Central High School football and the Ferris School Teaching Academy.

Listen and subscribe to SPS Podcasts whenever you listen to podcasts.