Question 1

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

Accepted Answer

After school clubs are offered on Mondays after school in two sessions: one in the spring and one in the fall. Run by faculty and staff members, clubs give K-8 students a fun opportunity to explore their interests such as art, science, baking, chess, legos, dolls and books.

Parents: Visit your Blackbaud Resource page to learn more and register!

Question 2

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT AFFINITY GROUP

Accepted Answer

The club is open to students in grades 6-8 and meets after school on Mondays until 4:15pm. It is a space for Black students and allies to talk, work together, and unite through meetings and events focused on culturally relevant issues. A calendar of the topics for each meeting will be sent to member's parents.

Question 3

READING OLYMPICS

Accepted Answer

The goal of the Reading Olympics (https://www.mciu.org/studentevents/reading-olympics/)is to increase students' reading for enjoyment and increase reading skills. Students in grades four through six collaborate with their teammates to read 25 books that have been selected by a committee of librarians, reading specialists and classroom teachers. The group attends a county-wide competition at the end of the year.

Students are assigned a minimum of six (6) books to read for their team and be the “expert” on their team for those books. They are encouraged to also read as many of the other books on the list as they can to help their team. They also will be reading a few of the novels in class.

When they finish reading the book they will answer questions about the first assigned book. They will then be assigned a second book to read.

When they finish reading the second book they will again answer questions on the second assigned book. If both books are read and questions sufficiently answered about the book, the student will be invited to join Reading Olympics and registration will be opened, sometime in December

Please do not sign up for the Reading Olympics unless you are committed to reading the books, otherwise you will be ineligible to attend the competition.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT READING OLYMPICS(https://sites.google.com/waldronmercy.org/reading-olympics/home)

Question 4

FORENSICS SPEECH COMPETITIONS

Accepted Answer

Forensics, at the middle school level, provides an opportunity for students to be involved in various forms of public speaking. Debate, oral interpretation, original oratory, discussion, and extemporaneous speaking are included in the competition.
Forensics practices and competition enable our students to become confident public speakers. It provides students the opportunity to develop and boost confidence in their ability to communicate ideas and points of view. Students also enhance their research and writing skills, and learn how to work together collaboratively through discussion and debate.
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Learn more about the different topics of Forensics in the National Speech & Debate Association's Middle School Competition Events Guide.(https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/Middle-School-Competition-Events-Guide.pdf)

Question 5

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

Accepted Answer

Science Olympiad functions much like an athletic team, requiring preparation, commitment, coaching, and practice throughout the year culminating in competitions that are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events (events listed here)(https://www.soinc.org/events/2025-division-b-events). Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering, and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation.

Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances. For example, a talented builder and a student with a good science vocabulary can excel in Write It Do It, one of Science Olympiad's most popular events. 
At Waldron, Science Olympiad is open to 5th to 8th graders as well as 9th graders who graduated from Waldron. We participate in local invitational tournaments at other schools followed by the Regional competition in March. Practices are typically after school and will be around once a week in the fall and ramp up to 2 to 3 times per week in the winter.

Question 6

ROCK BAND

Accepted Answer

Rock Band is open to students in grades five through eight who have been studying guitar, bass, drums, brass, woodwind, keyboard or voice for at least a year. These students meet once a week after school and work on classic and modern rock. They perform at the Spring Concert and for a special end-of-the-year Community Gathering. Students have a great deal of input on the songs they work on and strive for a truly professional sound!

Question 7

YEARBOOK

Accepted Answer

Each year, a team of eighth grade students work together to create the yearbook. Students draw the artwork, photograph school activities, and learn fundamental design principles during their time on the yearbook committee.

Question 8

GIRL SCOUTS

Accepted Answer

As Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Girls grow courageous and strong through a wide variety of enriching experiences, such as field trips, skill-building sports clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships.

Daisies - Girls in grade 1
Brownies - Girls in grade 3
Juniors - Girls in grade 4 and 5
Cadettes - Girls in grades 6

Question 9

MATH LEAGUE

Accepted Answer

We participate in mathleague.org, which releases several elementary school Contest Problem Sets (https://mathleague.org/freetests.php)each year. These are administered at local qualifying contests, and students who score well enough are invited to the District, State, National, or International Championships.

BOB BARNES '58

MICHAEL & KRISTEN GORMAN

JACKIE GONDEK GIOVANONI '90

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