Beyond the Classroom

At the Middle School, there are many activities that cannot be located on a curriculum list. These activities not only support our efforts in the classroom but also offer an important social dynamic, further enriching the daily experience for students. They also offer students the chance to develop and hone leadership and teamwork skills. Participation in these activities is optional and open to any Middle School student.

Student Committees

The Middle School offers a number of student-driven committees that allow students to explore different interests and take on leadership roles in the school. All students in grades 6-8 are encouraged to join at least one committee per year. Committees include:

Admissions Ambassadors (grade 8)
Athletic Assistants
Art
Black History Month
Community Service
Daily Bulletin Announcers (grade 8)
Dances
Library/Book Club
School News Video Team
Students Working to Assist Technology (SWAT) Team
Study Buddies (grades 7-8)
Performing Arts
Women’s History Month

Robotics

The Middle School Robotics Team participates annually in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition, which utilizes theme-based challenges to engage kids in research, problem solving and engineering. Each annual challenge has two parts, the project and the robot game. Working in teams of up to 10 kids, team members have about 10 weeks to build an autonomous robot that will complete pre-designed mission; analyze, research, and invent a solution for a given assignment; and create a clever presentation about their solution to perform in front of a panel of judges. The team competes in a number of local competitions during the fall and winter, leading up to the Western PA Grand Championship.

Learn more about FIRST LEGO League.

Literary Magazine: The Spiral Staircase

The Middle School's Literary Magazine The Spiral Staircase is a collection of works created, compiled and designed by students in grades 6-8. The magazine reflects the voices and visions of the student body, and features original art and photography, poetry, memoirs, short stories and essays. The student editorial staff works with a faculty advisor during the athletic/activity period during the spring term. Submissions from all students are welcome, and the editorial staff reviews them and collaborates on the creation and the production of the magazine.

The Spiral Staircase - Spring 2023 Issue

Math Olympiad

The Math Olympiad competition program is an enriching and challenging program for Middle School students with an interest in mathematics. The students meet on a weekly basis to practice for the competitions, which are held monthly from November through March. The competitions and practices take place at the Middle School after the regularly scheduled school day. Each problem can be solved using various approaches allowing students from all three grades to participate with confidence.

Learn more about Math Olympiad.

Farm/Garden

Rocketry

The Middle School Rocketry Team participates in the The American Rocketry Challenge, the world's largest rocket contest sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). Approximately 7,000 students from across the nation compete in TARC each year. Teams design, build and fly a model rocket that reaches a specific altitude and duration determined by a set of rules developed each year. The contest is designed to encourage students to study math and science and pursue careers in aerospace. The top 100 teams, based on local qualification flights, are invited to Washington, D.C. in May for the national finals. The Middle School team qualified for the national finals in 2017 and 2022.

Learn more about The American Rocketry Challenge.

Science Fairs

Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) and/or the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF). Science faculty members are available to serve as mentors for science fair projects. Projects are judged during an in-school science fair, and selected projects represent SSA Middle School at regional competitions.

Learn more about PJAS.

Learn more about PRSEF.

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