fostering growth and community
At Westminster, Middle School is a time to develop and cultivate interests. Teams, clubs, leadership councils, and affinity groups offer students the opportunity to explore what they like to do and who they want to be. We encourage students to try a wide variety of activities during their Middle School years—some students choose to dive deep in a particular area, and others sample many different offerings. All gain more independence and learn more about themselves.
Middle School Offerings
Academic Teams
Academic teams participate in local, state, regional, and national competitions. Through their participation, students expand their abilities to research, problem-solve, build things, think on their feet, work together, speak in public, and more. The Middle School robotics team has sent at least one team to the world championships every year since 2020!
- Academic Quiz Team
- Debate
- Mathcounts
- Model UN
- Robotics
- Science Bowl
- You Be the Chemist
Leadership Councils
More than 200 students participate in 13 leadership groups, learning to lead by focusing on others. The Middle School’s leaders meet most Fridays during the school year. Their activities include planning community service events, mentoring younger students, planning Christian Emphasis week, and promoting awareness of environmental issues, among many others.
- Athletic Advisory Council
- Big Brothers
- Big Sisters
- Chapel Council
- Class Representatives
- Community Council
- Global Ambassadors
- Green Council
- Honor Council
- Prayer Group Leaders
- Service Council
- STEAM Council
- Visual Arts Council
Clubs
Middle Schoolers are encouraged to explore what they like to do and who they want to be through a wide variety of co-curriculars offered twice monthly during our Community Time. Because there is no requirement to commit to one club for a set period of time, students can investigate numerous topics during the school year, from aviation, magic, and the arts to coding, dancing, and sports. Students choose from 30 offerings, including:
- Active Minds
- DirtCatz
- Girls Who Code
- Grade-Level Book Clubs
- Ping Pong
- Sketch Club
- WOODCats
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups give students a space to explore their identities and experiences. Led by Middle School faculty who receive training in facilitating age-appropriate dialogue, these voluntary groups are based on common life experiences and/or racial and cultural backgrounds.
- Asian Pacific Americans
- Banana Splits
- Café con Leche (Hispanic/Latino Heritage)
- Future as Men (FAM-Black Heritage)
- Healing Hearts
- Boom Shaka Latkes (Jewish Affinity Group)
- Melanin Magic (Girls Black Student Affinity Group)
- Mixed ME (Multi-racial Affinity Group)
- Prism (LGBTQ+)
- Samosas (Central and South Asian Heritage)
- SEED (Students Exploring Equity through Dialogue)
Student Life Highlights
Debate
The Middle School Debate team (seventh and eighth grades) practices policy debate with the Atlanta Urban Debate League. Each year a topic is chosen at the national level, and teams across the country learn to debate both for and against the topic resolution using evidence selected primarily by the league and a specific policy debate structure. Debaters compete in pairs with an opposing team and a judge in the room.
Sports and Games
Middle School club offerings include several options for students who want to learn or improve their sports skills! Jumping rope, Spikeball, and ultimate frisbee are just a few of the ways students can be active and have fun with friends.
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups give students time and space to explore their identities, and several affinity groups choose to lead special programming for the entire Middle School. Students in Cafe con Leche, an affinity group for Latino and Hispanic students, help plan and lead our Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly.
Active Minds
Active Minds focuses on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues through information and advocacy. The Middle School chapter works closely with the Upper School to create schoolwide programming, such as Stress Less Week.
Service Council
Service Council plans and executes all of the Middle School community service projects for the year, including the fall fundraiser, the Homeless at Heart project, and additional afternoon service opportunities.