October 27, 2026

Dear Middle School Families,

In addition to Robotics Club and Ski Club, the details of which have already been shared with you, middle-schoolers have the opportunity to participate in three other optional clubs with upcoming after-school meetings: Math Club, Environmental/Earth Day Club and Creative Writing Club. Please see below for information about each of these free opportunities for your children.

MATH CLUB

We are excited to announce the return of our Middle School Math Club for its sixth year! Math Club is a place where students tackle problems, collaborate to solve puzzles, play games, work with students from other grade levels and have fun. All are welcome to join! This free after-school club is a great place for students to challenge themselves and to strengthen their problem-solving skills. Students of all math levels will be able to participate and be successful.

We will have meetings designated as “Math Club” (fun math puzzles, games, activities and more) or “MathCounts” (competition preparation). Students are welcome to attend both, however MathCounts is designed to prepare students for math contests including MathCounts and AMC8.

First meetings of the 2026-27 school year will be:

• Thursday, 11/5: MathClub and MathCounts 3:30-4:30
• Thursday, 11/12: MathClub 3:30-4:30
• Thursday, 11/19: MathCounts 3:30-4:30
• Thursday, 11/26: NO MEETING
• Thursday, 12/3: MathCounts 3:30-4:30
• Thursday, 12/10: MathClub 3:30-4:30 (winter-themed!)

We will share the details with students during assembly. For students involved in sports and other extracurriculars, we are happy to be flexible with attendance because all are welcome when they are available! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Math Club Advisors

Katie Castle, MS Math Curriculum Coordinator

Dr. Emily Dennett, CA Math Department Chair

Environmental/Earth Day Club

We are excited for another successful year in our Environmental & Earth Day Club. The goal for this club is to teach students about the environment and all the ways they can help protect it. We want to educate, inspire and empower students to make a difference in both our school and community.

Environmental Club Focus Dates:

• Wednesday, November 11: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 18: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 2: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 13: 3:30-4:15 p.m.

In the spring, this club hosts and celebrates Earth Day to show support for our planet and teach one another to be mindful of ways to protect and sustain our environment. Each middle-schooler participates in three 25-minute stations led by student leaders from the Environmental Club and other members of our community.

Earth Day Focus Dates:

• Wednesday, January 20: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 3: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 10: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 24: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 3: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 7: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 14: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 21: 3:30-4:15 p.m.

We will share details with students during an upcoming assembly. Students will then receive a Google Form to sign up if they are interested in participating in one or both of the clubs. We understand that some of these days and times conflict with other after-school extracurriculars, but we are appreciative of the times students are available to participate. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Environmental & Earth Day Club Advisors

Alison Eisert, 8th Grade Science 

Julie Keating, 6th Grade Science 

CREATIVE WRITING CLUB

Earlier today, middle-schoolers were emailed an interest form for the Creative Writing Club, including the “Power of the Pen” competition.

The Creative Writing Club will begin meeting every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-4:30 starting November 4 in Room C206 in the Middle School. We would love for your middle-schoolers to join us for a brand new season of short story and poetry writing as we prepare teams to compete in the district Power of the Pen competition held in February of 2027.

The club’s co-advisors and writing coaches are middle school language arts teacher Bryan Miller and upper school English teacher Memory Risinger. Both are published authors who love to help students with creative writing and will be sharing fun, engaging writing prompts, giving pointers on craft and providing generous feedback to all Creative Writing Club members, even if they are unable to attend the regular meetings.

The group is open to all middle-schoolers, though Power of the Pen is a statewide (Ohio-based) competitive creative writing program for just seventh- and eighth-graders. Students participate in extemporaneous writing in response to prompts at three levels of competition (district, regional and state). Students are judged on their creativity and clarity and are given immediate feedback on their writing.

Tournaments: 

• Early February: District Tournament (about 50% qualify for regional competition)
• Early to mid-March: Regional Tournament (about 20% qualify for state contest)
• May: State Tournament (Thursday/Friday before Memorial Day weekend)

At each level of competition, students write on a given topic for three 40-minute rounds. After each round, their writing is ranked and given quality points by qualified judges. At the end of the competition day, they receive their scores and their judge’s handwritten feedback. Scores are based on originality, creativity and mastery of literary techniques (unusual narrators, surprise endings, dialogue, building suspense/interest, etc.).

Time Commitment for Students: Outside the tournaments, we expect that students will need to spend approximately 40 minutes to 2 hours per week writing practice prompts on which they will receive targeted feedback from coaches. Some of this time commitment may occur in scheduled meet-ups, or students may complete prompts from home.

Creative Writing Club Advisors

Bryan Miller, MS Language Arts

Memory Risinger, US English