Middle School Special Programs
Special programs in the middle school include: Power of the Pen, Math
Counts, Muse Machine, Choir, Handbell Choir, Instrumental Lessons , Chess
Club, Diversity Council, Drama, Community Service Activities, Student
Government, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, Athletics, Social Events, Field
Trips, Yearbook.
These programs provide opportunities for students to assume leadership
roles in determining the tone and direction of the school and to participate
in activities outside the classroom. The programs are essential to the
spirit of the school. Attendance at athletic contests and school-sponsored
events by students, teachers, and parents is tremendously important to
those taking part. All school-sponsored programs have adult supervision,
whether on or off campus. School rules are in effect. A calendar of events
is mailed to each family early in the year.
Once a student has committed himself/herself to participation in one
of these programs, it is essential that the student attends regularly
scheduled meetings and fulfills the responsibilities inherent to the commitment.
Without consistent endeavor by the participants, each program may be jeopardized.
Participation in any co-curricular activity - choir, athletics, student
government, etc. is contingent upon strong academic performance. If a
student's effort grade falls below acceptable levels, he/she may be removed
from the co-curricular activity for a period of time to allow greater
focus on academics.
When two or more activities conflict with one another, a student must
designate one as their priority activity. This will help the coach or
director of the activity plan accordingly. This may have an effect on
their playing time or role in that activity.
Choir
All middle school students are encouraged to join choir. Choir meets twice
a week during the activity period. The goals of this ensemble are to learn
the fundamentals of singing and learn a wide variety of part songs, including
classical, folk, pop, rock, and Broadway. The choir will perform in various
concerts, including the annual winter and spring concerts, community concerts
including the Dayton Mall and various senior citizen centers.
Handbell Choir
Students will learn the techniques of handbell ringing through the playing
of a variety of musical pieces. The handbell choir performs in the annual
winter and spring concerts as well as various community events.
Instrumental Music
The students at MVS are given the opportunity to be part of our instrumental
program, which features ten professional teachers. Students may get involved
in two ways, private lessons and ensembles. Students may take private
lessons (one-half hour weekly during the school day) on violin, cello,
guitar, voice, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, drums, flute, and piano.
There is an extra fee for lessons. Instrumental students can also be placed
in an ensemble based on their level of playing. The ensembles meet once
a week during the school day with a coach. The two middle school ensembles
planned for this year are strings and jazz ensemble. There is a fee for
participation.
Student Government
The middle school has its own Student Government consisting of elected
officers, representatives and ad hoc committees. The entire middle school
participates in a town meeting or class meetings once a month, led by
the student government. In recent years, student government has initiated
activities and they include adopting a family, running a bake/candy sale,
collecting hats and gloves for the homeless, organizing and running a
World A'Fair, organizing a talent benefit for the victims of 9/11, and
adopting a school in Ghana.
Drama
A middle school play or musical is performed in the winter trimester.
Any middle school student may participate. Auditions are held to determine
parts, but all that express an interest will become involved in the cast
or crew. After-school rehearsals occur for approximately six weeks, three
to five days a week. There are generally two performances, one during
the school day and one in the evening.
Muse Machine
Muse Machine meets once a week during lunch. Students, led by an advisor,
play theater games, read plays, practice monologues, discuss performances,
and pursue other artistic interests. Students also have the opportunity
to join the Dayton Muse Machine organization and to purchase tickets to
performances at discounted prices.
Power of the Pen
Power of the Pen is an interscholastic, writing program for students in
grades seven and eight. Students compete as a team and as individuals
beginning with team try-outs and progressing through a series of competitive,
interscholastic tournaments. Given prompts, students have forty minutes
to compose descriptive, narrative, and persuasive pieces. Their writing
is judged for rank and quality points.
Geography Bee
Students in grades 4-8 have the opportunity each fall to participate in
the Geography Bee sponsored by National Geographic. This involves a school
wide competition with the winner taking the test to qualify for the state
championship, which is held in April. Only 100 students in the state qualify
for this competition. The Miami Valley School has qualified every year
since its inception.
Chess Club
Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join the chess club sponsored by
Jon Graetz, an upper school teacher. Chess Club meets once a week after
school.
Yearbook
Beginning in the middle school, students are invited to help work on The
Miami Valley School yearbook. This group meets once a week with the yearbook
advisor and is a yearlong commitment. This experience can prepare middle
school students for leadership positions once they reach the upper school.
Spelling Bee
All students in grades 6-8 are eligible to participate in the school spelling
bee. Initial competitions are held in the English classrooms. There will
be two contestants chosen from each section. They will compete in the
school finals. The winner will then go on to represent The Miami Valley
School in the district spelling bee.
MathCounts
MathCounts is open to all middle school students who are interested in
working on practice problems for MathCounts competition. The problems
presented draw on many areas of math expertise (algebra, geometry, number
theory, probability and statistics) and require different problem solving
techniques.
Diversity Council
The mission
of the Student Diversity Council at MVS is to assemble a group of students
(emphasis on minority) with a passion to become key players in cultivating
The Miami Valley School's philosophy on diversity and multiculturalism.
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