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Cost of extra-curricular activities high in Chesterfield

By Melissa Correa - bio | email

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - While students don't have to pay to play sports in Chesterfield County, parents are used to forking over cash for other high school activities.  

But with rising costs and this year's sluggish economy, it now costs and arm and a leg to participate in something like show choir.

"We learn all the dances, we learn how to sing and dance, we do cheoreography and we go and compete," says Matoaca Senior Andrew Walker.

Added up it can take a lot of money to participate in show choir at matoaca high school.

"Yeah, it does come with a cost, we spend a lot of money on outfits, and travelling and tansporation and what not.  I think it would be about $1,200."

While senior Andrew Walker does juggle two jobs to pay for his "more than a grand" tab, his parents and the booster club help.

"Our boosters club does quite a bit of fundraising. On a weekly basis we're doing some sort of fundraising," says Sharon Perkins with the Matoaca High School Show Choir Booster Club.

The school system charges a fee for class activities like art, or elective PE  to cover the expenses of the class. Participating in show choir comes with a $350 fee. Then comes paying for travel, costumes and other supplies.

Students recently traveled to Walt Disney World and the Grand 'Ole Oprey, but because of the recession, the prinicpal asked performers to scale back.

"We're just going to be going to West Virginia to Martinsburg for a competition and we're trying to enhance that trip a little bit, we're working on that now."

While Mataoca's athletic booster club doesn't have nearly as big of a budget...

"We also provide scholarships at the end of the year, and we do a male and a female athlete."

Volunteers are seeing fewer dollars roll so far.

"Mainly what we do is concessions. The lines were half of what they were last year. So with the economy and the way it is, it's kind of rough for everybody."

But as long as parents are willing to help with extras, "we get to be the proud parent in the audience when they perform," Students like Andrew refuse to miss out on their high school experience.

"It is expensive, but I think it's so worth is."

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