Academics, Activities & Athletics
Academics
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is a fun reading competition that lets students form teams of up to five to read a set of books chosen by the Sewickley and Moon libraries. Teams will show off their book knowledge at Quaker Valley Middle School: 6th grade on Tuesday, February 16th, and 7th/8th grade on Wednesday, February 17th. Costumes, creative team names, and lots of spirit are encouraged! Don’t miss out—gather your team and join the battle! Signups begin in October.
Sponsor: Mr. Tom Forrest ([email protected])
Calcu-Solve
The Calcu-Solve is a virtual math competition where students earn points for both individual and team problem solving. Students earn an opportunity to participate through a qualifying test. During this event, teams of four students are challenged with math questions. The qualifying test will occur in early March and the event will be held at Duquesne University on March 30 for grade 6 and March 31 for grades 7-8.
Sponsor: Mrs. Sara Henry ([email protected])
History Bowl
The History Bowl is held at the Heinz History Center each November. Students work together as a team to complete five different activities within History Center exhibits. Team members are selected by earning the highest scores on the qualifying test. The qualifying test will occur in October 2026 and the event is held in November 2026 at the Heinz History Center.
Sponsor: Mrs. Sara Henry ([email protected])
Homework Club
Need a little extra time and assistance with your homework? All QVMS students are welcome to attend Homework Club! Those participating in Homework Club should meet in the Main Office between 3:00 – 3:05 on the dates listed on the HW Club Calendar (on our website). Students who attend Homework Club are required to remain for the duration of Homework Club (3:05 – 4:00). No early dismissals.
Sponsors: Ms. Bridget Bove ([email protected]) and Mrs. Kate Gianoni ([email protected])
Math Olympiads
Math Olympiads is a math problem-solving contest using non-routine problems. Students participate in five monthly contests that introduce important mathematical concepts and strengthen mathematical creativity, ingenuity, and flexibility in problem solving. There are 5 different math assessments given each month between November and March.
Sponsor: Mrs. Sara Henry ([email protected])
Odyssey of the Mind
OM is a creative problem-solving competition. OM promotes creativity by challenging teams to solve problems that have more than one possible solution. Each OM team must have at least one adult head coach and may have 5-7 students. Students form their own teams and find their own coach(es). If you are interested in coaching or need students for your team, please contact Mrs. Henry ([email protected]), OM Coordinator for QVMS. The regional competition is scheduled for March.
Sponsor: Mrs. Emily Ackermann ([email protected])
ProjectLIT
The ProjectLIT community, which consists of dedicated teachers and students in more than 1000 schools across the country, works together to increase access to high-quality, culturally relevant books inside and outside the classroom, and to promote a love of reading. The QVMS chapter hosts a meeting approximately once each month (on a Friday before school). 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend.
Sponsor: Mrs. Schuyler Kidd ([email protected])
Rise & Shine
Students can join QVMS School Counselors on Monday mornings to get organized and ready for their week. We look at our calendars, gather materials we might need, check Schoology and PowerSchool,
and make a to-do list together. This drop-in group meets Monday mornings from 7:50 - 8:05 AM (during Homeroom) in the School Counseling Office. Students can earn prizes by attending!
Sponsors: Dr. Danielle Schultz ([email protected]) and Dr. Matthew Parrish ([email protected])
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is a competition of science and mathematical skills. There are many different events that include knowledge tests, laboratory skills and building and engineering. Each event is covered by 2-3 team members and each team member is responsible for a minimum of 2 events. The regional competition is scheduled for March.
Sponsor: Ms. Margot Bruno ([email protected])
Scripps School Spelling Bee
Students have the option to compete in the Scripps School Spelling Bee in January. The purpose of the Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. The school champion advances to the Western PA Spelling Bee. Students can register interest in the competition in September and the school level competition will be held at the end of January 2027. The school level champion will have the opportunity to qualify for the regional competition that is typically held in mid-March. Sponsor: Mrs. Sara Henry ([email protected])
STEM Design Challenge
Teams of students (up to four students in each team) will be given a challenge to solve a real-world problem and demonstrate their solution through designing and building a K’Nex structure. They will have from December until March to create a blueprint and narrative explaining their unique solution. The winning school-level team will be asked to build it at the competition, held at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, in March. Winning teams advance to the state-level competition.
Sponsor: Mrs. Sara Henry ([email protected])
Athletics
Basketball
Both girl’s and boy’s basketball are offered to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The girl’s season runs from October through November. The boy’s seasons runs from December through January.
Sponsors: Boys 7, Mr. Paul May ([email protected]) or Boys 8, Mr. Kieran Vora ([email protected])
Sponsors: Girls 7, Mr. Brian Slencak ([email protected]) or Girls 8, Ms. Kaci Hott ([email protected])
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is open to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The cheerleading seasons runs for the duration of the school year.
Sponsors: Mrs. Erin Roberts ([email protected])
Cross Country
Co-ed Cross Country is open to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The Cross-Country season runs from August through October.
Sponsor: Dr. Jesse Montagnese ([email protected])
Esports
The Esports program brings gaming and teamwork together. Our Esports team competes in Super Smash Brothers. Students try out to earn a spot on the competitive team. All students are welcome to play weekly, but the competitive teams are determined via in-house tryouts and through coach’s decision. Recreational play will occur in the Fall, tryouts occur in January, with the team beginning competitive play in late-January/early-February.
Sponsor: Mr. Tom Forrest ([email protected])
Football
Football is open to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The football seasons runs from August through October.
Sponsor: Officer Glen Sovich ([email protected])
Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is open to students in 7th and 8th grade. The ice hockey season runs from September through February.
Sponsors: Mr. Aaron Siegel ([email protected]) and Mr. Kevin Quinn ([email protected])
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is open to boys and girls in 7th and 8th grade. The lacrosse season runs from March through May.
Sponsors: TBD
Running Club
Running Club provided students in grade 6 with the opportunity to participate on the Quaker Valley Elementary and 6th Grade Cross Country team. The Running Club season runs from August to October.
Sponsor: Mr. Ryan Kelly ([email protected])
Soccer
Both girl’s and boy’s soccer are offered to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The girl’s season runs from August through October. The boy’s seasons runs from August through October.
Sponsors: Boys, Mr. Kevin Boyle ([email protected])
Sponsors: Girls Mr. Brian Slencak ([email protected])
Track and Field
Track and Field is open to 7th and 8th grade students at QVMS. The Track and Field season runs from March through May.
Sponsor: Mr. Ryan Kelly ([email protected])
Unified Bocce
Unified bocce is a sport program that brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to play bocce ball. Teams are formed with both Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners (people without intellectual disabilities), who train and compete together as equal teammates, emphasizing teamwork and inclusive participation. This club will be run for 8 weeks from January through March.
Sponsors: Mrs. Jenna Harrison ([email protected]) and Mrs. Catherine Hanna ([email protected])
Volleyball
Girl’s Volleyball is open to 7th and 8th grade students at QVMS. The volleyball season runs from February through March.
Sponsor: Mr. Mike Vavrek ([email protected])
Wrestling
Wrestling is open to 7th and 8th graders at QVMS. The wrestling season runs from December through January.
Sponsor: Mr. Jake Bredl ([email protected])
Clubs/Organizations/Activities
Art Club
The mission of Art Club Provide is to provide a safe, fun, and relaxed space to build a creative community. There are creative prompts or guidelines each week, but students ultimately have freedom in choosing what they would like to create. Students teach and learn from one another and can guide what activities are taught and experienced. The Art Club schedule is to be determined.
Sponsor: Mrs. Emily Cason ([email protected])
Best Buddies
Best Buddies is dedicated to creating one-to-one friendships and leadership development for people with and without disabilities. At QVMS, Best Buddies operates as a friendship club, fostering one-to-one friendships between students with and without disabilities. Students will share interests, experiences, and activities while helping to create an inclusive school culture of acceptance for all. Best Buddies is open to all students at QVMS and runs throughout the school year.
Sponsors: Mrs. Jenna Harrison ([email protected]) and Mr. Jason Harrison ([email protected])
#BeTheKindKid
The goal of #bethekindkid is to spread kindness in our school and community. The #bethekindkid group works to create programming related to fostering a positive and kind school culture, character education, and QVMS values. This group is a student extension of our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Program at QVMS. All students are welcome to join. The club runs throughout the school year.
Sponsor: Dr. Danielle Schultz ([email protected])
8th Grade Marching Band
The “Pride of Quaker Valley” is a spirited ensemble of student musicians in grades 8-12 that bring energy, pride, and excellence to every performance — from football games to parades and community events — while building teamwork, leadership, and lifelong memories. Though the bulk of our season extends from July-November, we perform during Sewickley's Halloween, Santa and Memorial Day Parades, the Leetsdale 4th of July Parade, and any other pep rallies, spirit assemblies or events throughout the year that want some additional music and energy!
Sponsor: Miss Cherry Sherpa ([email protected]) and Mrs. Zayna Shadid ([email protected])
Middle School Creekers
Fern Hollow Nature Center’s Middle School Creekers club is open to students in grades 6-8. In this after-school club dedicated to environmental science, we will be helping Little Sewickley Creek Watershed test the health of the waterway while getting a comprehensive knowledge of the watershed and how it functions as a healthy ecosystem. The club meets monthly at QVMS from September through May.
Sponsor: Ms. Cam Elko ([email protected])
Middle School 8th Grade Trip
8th grade class trip to Gettysburg, PA, Mount Vernon, Washington, D.C., and Hershey, PA in May 2027.
Sponsors: Miss Kaci Hott ([email protected]) and Mrs. Schuyler Kidd ([email protected])
Middle School Musical
Students who are interested in musical theater or serving as a member of the stage crew are encouraged to try out for the annual middle school musical. Auditions and practices are held in the fall beginning in August. The musical performance is held in November.
Sponsor: Mr. Tom Forrest ([email protected]) and Mr. Chad Toporski ([email protected])
QV Connected
QVC is a student-driven leadership group that feels like a mix of a creative company and a school outreach team. Students design projects based on their interests—sports, theatre, social media, and much more. As long as ideas support the mission statement, the group works to make them happen. What makes QV Connected unique is the level of student voice and independence. Mr. Vora is the advisor, but students decide what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Members can even become an administrator, taking on extra responsibility to guide their peers and help lead the program. QVC meets during Tutorial for collaborative project work and once a week during lunch to share progress. This program is for 8th grade students only. Each spring, current members market QV Connected to 7th grade students and then hand-select the next generation of students. The application process includes teacher recommendations and an interview.
Sponsor: Mr. Kieran Vora ([email protected])
Student Council
Student Council members strive to develop school spirit, to represent the needs and wishes of our classmates, to provide opportunities for students to work and play outside of the classroom, to give back to our school community, and to develop leadership abilities in our students to make our members better leaders and our school a better place. Membership in Student Council is open to any students in grades 6-8. StuCo meets approximately once per month, from September through May.
Sponsors: Ms. Margot Bruno ([email protected]) and Mrs. Catherine Hollein ([email protected])
Unplugged: The Quaker Magazine Club
Unplugged: The Quaker Zine is Quaker Valley Middle School’s print magazine. Student team members learn publication writing; how to design, layout, and produce a magazine; create illustrations and take photographs to support the content; and learn important marketing and advertising skills. The magazine club welcomes students from all grade levels. We also accept freelance writers that can chose which issues for which to write. Registration begins at the end of August, but interested students can join any time throughout the school year by contacting the sponsor. Meetings are weekly and held in the library.
Sponsor: Ms. Michele Rodgers ([email protected])
Vocal Ensemble
The QVMS Vocal Ensemble is designed to give students a fun, collaborative, and unique musical experience beyond traditional chorus or musical theater. The group focuses on the “contemporary a cappella” style, which is where vocalists perform without instruments, using only their voices to create melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. Vocal Ensemble covers a wide variety of genres—from pop and rock to jazz and hip-hop—based on members’ interests. The group is student-driven, meaning members will choose music, prepare parts, and make creative decisions, while the teacher acts as a coach to support and guide them. The group’s schedule will be determined based on student and teacher availability and may include morning and/or afternoon practice.
Sponsor: Mr. Chad Toporski ([email protected]).
Xpress
Quaker Valley Middle School Xpress students capture the news and events in and around the school. They film students, teachers and staff as they report on school activities, sports, academic achievements and much more. This school program is appropriately named Xpress to allow students to take ownership in their school and "Xpress" themselves. Xpress runs daily from September through June.
Sponsor: Mr. Ryan Riesmeyer ([email protected])
Yearbook Club
Yearbook club is comprised of student team members from all grade levels. Team members interested in photography learn skills allowing them to capture QVMS’s important year-long memories, while writers create content to accompany the photography. Designers employ learned graphic design skills to design and layout the yearbook. Registration begins at the end of August, but interested students can join any time throughout the school year by contacting the sponsor. Meetings are weekly and held in the library.
Sponsor: Ms. Michele Rodgers ([email protected])