It was a cloudy and rainy first day of school September 2 for 1,435 Perham-Dent students.
But the skies were sunny and warm for the "unofficial" start of the school year August 29, as hundreds gathered for a school-wide tailgate party and pre-game festivities.
The Friday night event not only kicked off the football season, but also celebrated the accomplishments that earned Perham-Dent the statewide "Challenge Cup."
That the Perham Yellow Jackets took a beating in the football game at the hands of Pelican Rapids was partly overshadowed by the jubilant Challenge Cup presentation. An estimated crowd of 1,500 attended the game itself, according to Activities Director Fred Sailer, who spearheaded the event.
From 5 p.m. to game-time, a crowd of nearly 500 tailgated--and most of them were on hand for the formal presentation of the Cup. Representing the Minnesota State High School League was Lisa Lissimore, associate director. She commended the school district for its remarkable achievements.
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The Cup has reinforced the Perham-Dent school's moniker "School of Champions." School administrators and board members have decided that they are no longer going to be shy about promoting accomplishments, and "School of Champions" messages are appearing on banners, billboards and newspapers--and broadcasted on the air.
It was a festive environment at the tailgate party, with barbecue by Big Al's Grill Team, Yellow Jacket shirts and souvenirs for sale and music by a rock and roll group formed from Perham High School students and alumni.
"Together for Kids," the group that is campaigning for the increased levy referendum on the ballot this November, was in full force at the tailgate event. They distributed buttons and stickers, urging a "yes" vote--which would produce additional operating revenue for the school district.
The Challenge Cup is awarded to the school that tallied the most points in extracurricular accomplishments--not only sports, but academic and arts competitions such as speech and music. Perham, which had finished in the top five for the previous three years, is the first public school to win the Challenge Cup. Private schools, mostly in the metro areas, have dominated the Challenge Cup point totals since the competition was established.
"At School District 549, quality is the new basic," said Superintendent Tamara Uselman in her remarks at the Challenge Cup presentation.
At least 70 percent of Perham's students are involved in extracurricular programs.
A hand-in-hand relationship is how Uselman described the balance of co-curricular activities and academics.
"The better we are in co-curricular, the better we are in the academic side," she added.
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Though it is extracurricular sports success that contributes the most points to the Challenge Cup formula, winning isn't everything, stressed Uselman.
"Believe it or not, to build a School of Champions, we have to care less about winning and most about preparing these young champions for the world beyond Perham-Dent... While most students won't make a living (from sports or extracurriculars), all of them will make a life with what they learn from being on a team and being part of something good," said Uselman.
Support from parents and the community is another ingredient that is crucial to a school's success, noted Uselman.
She commended the broader Perham-Dent area for its "stubbornly high expectations...all the darn time" for attributing to the success of the schools.
