The junior high students are practicing in University Interscholastic League (UIL) events . “I am looking forward to working with this year’s junior high students,” junior high teacher Becky Nogle said. “Most of these students seem excited and willing to put in the work to excel in the events they have chosen.”
Seventh grader Adyele Howell is trying out for modern oratory. She wrote a speech and is finding ways to make her speech better.
“Everyone writes a speech and speaks out loud,” Howell said. “My speech is about four-day weekends and I have to explain both why and why not we should have them.”
Art, science, and listening skills coach Ashley Ridenour said her students have more time outside of class for her UIL events.
“I am pretty excited for this year,” junior high teacher Ashley Ridenour said. “ I only have seventh graders are in my art class, so thats more time outside of class for the eighth graders.”
From middle school to junior high, there are more UIL events to select from.
“Junior high UIL’s are a lot harder and I like the challenge,” seventh grader Beckham Kellar said. “[Shawn Rice] has lots of tips and tricks to help me learn to do problems more quickly for number sense.”
Eighth grader Reece Wooldridge has participated in more UIL’s this year than the previous year.
“I find UIL fun. I like the competition that I’m up against,” eighth grader Reece Wooldridge said. “This year is and isn’t different than when I was in seventh grade because we take the same tests, but I’m trying out for a lot more UIL’s. In listening skills, I’m taught how to take good notes quickly.”
Junior high students have taken preparations for the district meet on Dec. 5.
“So far, I’ve only taken two tests across two practices for science,” seventh grader Zerah Ridenour said.