Middle School Student Life
Interscholastic teams begin in fifth and sixth grades when students have the opportunity to participate in cross country, basketball, and track and field. Intramurals including flag football, kickball, and volleyball are also offered for fifth and sixth graders. Seventh and eighth graders may participate in a wider variety of sports and more extensive seasons of play. Girls' sports include field hockey and cross country in the fall; basketball and volleyball in the winter; and softball, tennis, track, and soccer in the spring. Boys' sports include football, soccer, and cross country in the fall; basketball in the winter; and baseball, tennis, and track in the spring. There is a no-cut policy on all teams. Practices take place after school.
Student Government
The Student Council represents the student body and plans activities and service projects for the students. The Council is composed of six to ten eighth-grade executive board members elected by Middle School students in the spring of seventh grade. Other grade-level representatives may join in the fall.
Fine Arts
All Middle School students study drama, music, and art. In addition to their regular fine arts classes, Middle School students may choose to audition for the fall play or the spring musical. The seventh and eighth grade Jazz Band is open to those students who wish to play beyond the regular band. Singers may join the optional Middle School Holiday Chorus or the optional Honors Chorus. Instrumentalists and singers (grades 6, 7 and 8) may also participate in the Solo and Ensemble District Festival sponsored by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, of which University School is a member.
Several different art clubs are offered for students interested in additional drawing, painting, and ceramic opportunities. Students in eighth grade— in addition to the music requirement— select a fine arts elective each semester. Examples of elective classes include digital media production, public speaking and forensics, and stagecraft.
Clubs
Clubs and activities are available to supplement regular curriculum offerings. Club choices vary from year to year based upon student interest. A representative list includes: Art Club, Chess Club, Drama, Forensics, Kids Helping Kids Service Club, Mathcounts, Model Rocketing Club, Project Linus, Web Club, Literary Newspaper, and Wildcat Mountain Bike Club.
Publications
The Middle School has its own section of the School yearbook and its own student, staff, and faculty advisor. In addition, students are offered the opportunity to submit their writing, artwork, and photographs to the literary/fine arts newspaper, which is published at least once a year.
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