Middle School Extracurricular Programs
Sycamore School offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities for students in grades 5 - 8. Below are the opportunities offered each school year.
Academic Teams: MathCounts, Debate (7th and 8th Grade), VEX Robotics, Science Bowl, Academic Quiz Bowl, Drama Club, Spell Bowl, Odyssey of the Mind
Athletic Teams: Cross Country, Girls' Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Co-Ed Baseball, Track & Field
Sycamore School has a long history of participating in math competitions. The goal of the use of math competitions at the middle school level has always been to provide math enrichment activities that focus on problem solving. Students involved in MathCounts can participate in as little or as much as they would like!
The MathCounts Math Team accepts a wide range of math-related experience levels in its participating students. The two most important things for students to know are: 1) MathCounts coaches expect students to be self directed learners and 2) Contests are not designed for students to get 100%. MathCounts coaches are looking for problems that students don't know how to do, rather than testing them on topics they just covered.
How many practices per week?
3 or more days of practice per week
When does MathCounts practice?
A combination of before or after school practices
What is the length of the season?
October to March, with National MathCounts for qualified students held in May
How many competitions are involved?
10-12 (some containing multiple rounds), some of which take place at Sycamore and some of which are held offsite
At Sycamore, we provide two VEX program options for middle school students: VEX After School Activity for 4th and 5th grade students and VEX Competition teams for students in 6th through 8th grades.
VEX After School Activity - 4th and 5th Grades
VEX After School Activity (ASA) is a recreational robotics club that has been created to allow students an opportunity to design, build, and program robots at their level of creativity and ability. This program is a great exploratory and instructional option for students. Students will learn VEX Robotics fundamentals and skills while also learning the logistics of how competitions/tournaments are run in a low-stakes and fun environment.
VEX ASA is open to 4th and 5th grade students only. Unlike other years, 5th grade students will only be offered the opportunity to join the VEX After School Activity. This will allow 5th grade students to explore VEX, gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of robotics, and see if this is a program that sparks their interests and is right fit for them. 5th grade students will not be allowed to join VEX competition teams until 6th grade.
- VEX ASA meets once per week for an hour and a half after school (3:30PM - 5:00PM) on Mondays.
- VEX ASA members will participate in intramural challenges, games, and tournaments.
- VEX ASA will be offered per semester in sessions. Open registration will begin at the beginning of each semester session for students interested in joining.
- Session #1 will run from September to December.
- Session #2 will run from January to May.
The fees associated with this program are as follows:
- Robot kit fee - $50.00
- Field element fee - $50.00
- Activity fee - $100.00
VEX Competition Teams - 6th through 8th grades
VEX Competition teams give students the opportunity for a more robust and competitive VEX experience. VEX Competition teams will participate in a rigorous practice and competition schedule that will stretch and test their robotics abilities. Upon joining the VEX competition teams, students will be asked to commit to the following:
Attend practices at least two times per week for an hour and a half (3:30PM - 5:00PM). Practices will be offered three days (Tuesday - Thursday) each week, though students will only need to attend two of the three practices.
- The season will run from October to May (if the team qualifies for the VEX Worlds competition).
- Commit to attending the VEX Worlds competition if their team qualifies and be responsible for all registration and travel expenses
- Agree to follow Sycamore’s core values and the behavior expectations of the VEX coach
The fees associated with this program are as follows:
- Updated Robot parts fee - $100.00
- Field Element Kit fee - $100.00
- Activity fee - $250.00
- VEX Worlds competition registration - $300.00
** Need-based financial assistance for the VEX Competition team fees is available. Please contact Patrick Juday, CFO, to inquire about this.
How many practices per week: 2 days of practice per week
When does Science Bowl practice: a combination of before and after school practices
Season length: September - May
Number of competitions: 2 competitions
Description: Science Bowl is a fast-paced, buzzer-beater science education and academic team with middle school students answering problem solving, math, and science questions. Tryouts for Sycamore Science Bowl begin in late August and run through early September. This team is for students in grades 6 - 8.
Students have ten opportunities to use buzzer systems to answer science bowl questions. The top ten students will earn a place on that year's Sycamore Science Bowl team. Once teams are determined, students will follow the National Science Bowl (NSB) team rules as practices continue until the Regional competition, usually held in February. Should a team earn first place at the Regional competition, they will receive an invitation from NSB to participate in the Nationals Competition, usually held in late April/early May.
How many practices per week: 2 days of practice per week
When does Academic Bowl practice: a combination of before and after school practices
Season length: November - March
Number of competitions: 2 - 3 competitions
Description:
Academic Quiz Bowl is a buzzer based competition team that competes in the Indiana Junior Quiz Bowl sponsored by Indiana Association of School Principals. The team is selected from an interest sign-up sheet open to grades 7 & 8. Students then compete in various buzzer rounds to form the final team(s). Students participating in Academic Quiz Bowl should be interested in having fun and working together as a team.
How many practices per week: 2 days of practice per week
When does Spell Bowl practice: before school practices
Season length: September - November
Number of competitions: 1 -2 competitions
Description: Spell Bowl is an academic team in which students learn to spell from a list of 750 - 1400 designated words. During Spell Bowl, students practice sets of words weekly, learning their definitions and origins, then compete in area competitions. Unlike the traditional oral spelling contest, teams use one representative per round to correctly spell the contest words. Winning teams are named based on the cumulative total of correctly spelled words of all members. Junior and Senior teams have the opportunity to qualify for a State Finals competition.
How many practices per week: 2 days of practice per week
When does Debate practice: during the school day - the elective period, Tuesdays and Fridays
Season length: November - January
Number of competitions: 1 competition
Description: Debate is an organized argument or contest of ideas in which the students discuss a topic from two opposing viewpoints. Sycamore’s Debate team members excel at research and discussion of current events and various topics. In the beginning and throughout the season, students are grouped into teams of two - three students to research and debate current events and assigned topics. Mock debates are held prior to any tournament. Sycamore’s Debate team competes against various other schools in central Indiana and surrounding areas.
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Girls' Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Boys' Basketball
- Girls' Basketball
- Co-ed Baseball
- Track and Field
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: start of school until Fall Break
Where are practices: Highland Country Club
Where are competitions: Highland CC and area tennis courts
Number of competitions: 8 - 12 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform, practice/ equipment, game balls
Equipment provided by student: tennis racquet
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: start of school until Fall Break
Where are practices: Sycamore soccer field
Where are competitions: Sycamore and other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 10 - 15 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform, practice equipment
Equipment provided by student: cleats and shin guards
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: start of school until Fall Break
Where are practices: Sycamore gym
Where are competitions: Sycamore and other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 8 - 12 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform
Equipment provided by student: knee and elbow guards
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: start of school until Fall Break
Where are practices: Sycamore recess field and campus
Where are competitions: Sycamore and other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 10 - 15 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform
Equipment provided by student: running shoes
How many practices per week: 5 practices per week
Season length: one full week after Fall Break until first week of February
Where are practices: Sycamore gym
Where are competitions: Sycamore and other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 15 - 20 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform, practice equipment
Equipment provided by student: basketball shoes
How many practices per week: 5 practices per week
Season length: one full week after Fall Break until beginning of March
Where are practices: Sycamore gym
Where are competitions: Sycamore and other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 12 - 17 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform, practice equipment
Equipment provided by student: basketball shoes
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: mid-March to mid-May
Where are practices: Washington Township Little League fields
Where are competitions: WTLL and other IISL school fields
Number of competitions: 8 - 12 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform and hat
Equipment provided by student: pants (white and gray), socks (red), belt (red), glove, cleats, bat
How many practices per week: 3 practices per week
Season length: mid-March to mid-May
Where are practices: Sycamore track and recess field
Where are competitions: other IISL schools
Number of competitions: 5 - 9 competitions
Provided by Sycamore: uniform, practice equipment
Equipment provided by student: running shoes
How many practices per week: 3 - 4 practices
When does Drama Club practice: after school from 3:30 - 4:30PM
Season length: December to late March
Description: The goal of the Sycamore Drama Club is to put together and perform a full-scale production which includes: acting, singing, dancing, set design, costume design, makeup, sound, lighting, and other technological components. When participating in Drama Club, it is critical that the students commit to attending a majority of practices during the season. In addition, participants must commit to attending ALL performances.
Please contact Melissa Branigan, Director of Extended Programs, if you have questions regarding Sycamore's Middle School programs.
For Middle School Athletics questions, contact Noah Buchholz, Athletic Coordinator.
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