The Upper School athletic program is a highly competitive, selective program. We focus on teaching life lessons through athletics to build successful teams and strong individuals.  Students are encouraged to try out for a team in the Upper School as it is an integral part of student life. Skill level, coachability and attitude are all contributing factors to making a team. Roster spaces are limited in many sports and competition for roster spots varies by sport.

Student athletes will be held to a high standard of commitment (minimum 4 days per week), sportsmanship, training and performance. They will hone sport specific skills, physical fitness, tactical acumen and growth mindset, while learning to communicate effectively and work together as a team.

When students enter Middle School, they can begin to represent the school for the first time with participation on an athletic team. Participation is encouraged to provide students with a well rounded extra curricular experience, however full commitment to the schedule is expected. Every student will find a place on a team but roster maximums exist for some sports and grade levels in middle school. Priority is given to those that register early and is not based on skill.

5/6 Athletics Program

The 5/6 middle school athletic experience is an introduction to interscholastic sports, and an opportunity for all students, regardless of experience and skill level, to participate in an athletic team setting.

Coaches will aim to create a fun environment that focuses on fundamental skill development. Our goal is to get the students passionate about the sport, develop confidence in their ability, and understand the rules of the game. Sportsmanship, commitment, focus and teamwork will all be expected and emphasized.

Competitive games or meets will vary depending on sport and grade level.

7/8 Athletics Program

The 7/8 middle school athletic experience is designed to foster an increased level of competitiveness with the goal of developing the necessary physical, mental, and social skills to prepare students for the Upper School athletic experience. 7/8 teams will participate in frequent inter school contests within the AAIS league and with schools outside of the league.

 While there is a ‘No Cut’ policy in place for middle school athletics, students may start to be grouped on teams based on skill level. Therefore, specific sports may be divided into two teams (Red and White).

Coaches will continue to emphasize sportsmanship and teamwork but will hold students to a higher commitment and work ethic standard and they should embrace this responsibility. Students can expect to hone their physical skills, athleticism, knowledge of the game, tactical awareness and mindset preparedness for competition. The ultimate goal of the 7/8 program is to develop and prepare student-athletes for the rigors of Varsity competition when they enter the Upper School.