Menlo School Life

In the Middle School, Sixth and Seventh Grade students rotate through a quarter each of Art, Drama, Music and Human Skills. In Eighth Grade, students take two semester-long electives choosing from Art, Shakespeare, Improvisation and Scenes, Percussion and Chorus. One day a week, Eighth Grade students take a Human Skills class. Many clubs and extracurricular programs focus on the Fine Arts, including Cartooning Club, Jazz Band, musical concerts, two dramatic productions and a spring musical, and three Knight Clubs (informal talent shows).

Upper School

The arts play an important and active role in the lives of Upper School students; over 40% of the student body is involved in an art activity at some time during the school year. All Freshmen are introduced to the four main areas of art offered at Menlo—Studio Art, Drama, Music and Dance—as part of the Freshman Rotation. Students in Grades 10-12 are required to take two further semesters in the arts, which complement and extend a student's ability to perceive his/her environment and allow a student to take risks, develop creative responsibility, and attain a sense of self-worth.

Athletics is considered an integral part of every student's education at Menlo School. Each Middle School student is required to participate daily in either physical education (P.E.) classes or as a member of an interscholastic or intramural athletic team.

Every 6th grader joins an intramural or interscholastic team. 6th graders have physical education class one or two days of each week and have sport practice three or four days each week. 7th and 8th graders have the option of trying out for and playing on an interscholastic or intramural team, or enrolling in P.E. Sports offered at Menlo Middle School include volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, tennis, baseball, cross country, track and field, water polo, and swimming.

Menlo's middle school athletic program philosophy is that

• Everyone should have fun.
• All players learn and improve through structured practices.
• All participants should display proper sportsmanship at all times and be good role models.
• Winning is a goal, not “the” goal. We do not sacrifice other goals in order to win.

Upper School Upper School Athletics Home Page

Menlo School’s upper school athletic program strives to develop in each participant an appreciation for body and soul. Our program promotes the union of these two elements, giving athletes an appreciation of their individual talents and limitations while teaching them the value of teamwork, competition and good character.

To accomplish these goals, athletes, coaches, and parents form a partnership, which strives to:

• Develop a commitment to a team
• Develop the courage to try
• Promote the enjoyment of athletics
• Promote honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and fair play
• Promote respect for coaches, officials, competitors and oneself
• Develop responsibility and accountability for one’s own actions and abilities
• Encourage humility in defeat and graciousness in victory
• Develop emotional control and concentration
• Develop individual talent to its fullest potential
• Teach rules, strategies and appreciation of various sports
• Teach the importance of nutrition, physical conditioning, and lifetime activities

Menlo encourages every upper school student to participate in a team sport, and has an extraordinarily high level of participation. Sports offered at Menlo School Upper School include Baseball (boys), Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball (girls), Swimming, Tennis, Track, and Water Polo. In addition, students may participate in Karate Club for PE credit.

The Student Life mission is to stimulate the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of Menlo's students by promoting positive values, school unity, and a sense of community.

In addition, the Student Life Department strives to be the voice of the upper school student body. Through a variety of activities, both formal and informal, students are encouraged to become involved in the life of the School as well as the larger community. Below are descriptions of some of the programs and opportunities offered through the Department of Student Life.

Each student is assigned a faculty or staff advocate who supports the student in all areas of student life. Each advocate meets regularly with his/her students as a group to discuss issues of concern and interest.

In each division, students gather for weekly assemblies that provide a forum for the sharing of ideas and information among students, faculty and administrators. The assemblies include school-wide announcements, guest speakers, student skits and debates.

In the Upper School, outstanding speakers are brought to the School by the Arrillaga Speaker Series, featuring leaders in the fields of business, education, arts and politics. Middle School students enjoy guest artists, musicians, authors and speakers at various times throughout the year.

The entire School gathers together every December for an All-School celebration of holiday music.

The Sixth Grade, Freshman and Senior classes hold retreats to build class unity and school spirit. The Seventh Grade retreat focuses on a service-learning project. Eighth Graders spend a week in Washington, D.C., and surrounding historical areas.

Clubs, activities and organizations provide students with opportunities to develop existing talents as well as to explore new interests.

The program provides opportunities for students to make a positive impact on the environment and in the lives of other people. In the Middle School, advocacy groups participate in a community service day each semester, working in local agencies that help the elderly, children, the homeless and the environment. In the Upper School, the Community Service Coordinator oversees the program, organizes volunteer opportunities and supports a community service club. All students are required to provide a minimum of 20 hours of community service each year. As part of the Freshman Rotation, ninth graders take part in a course devoted to community service.

Menlo's credentialed School Counselors, Tracy Bianchi in the Upper School and Erin Brigham in the Middle School, are available on a full-time basis for students who wish to discuss personal issues in a relaxed, confidential atmosphere. The Counselors also coordinate programs relating to health and social issues.

Counseling issues can include:

• Grade and school stress 
• Personal challenges
• Transitions
• Loss and other crises that face adolescents today

Counseling issues are private and not disclosed with anyone without the student's permission. The School Counselors coordinate programs aimed at increasing student awareness of life-style choices such as body images, nutrition and wellness, and social issues such as substance abuse, tobacco use and eating disorders. For Middle School students and their families, browse the Human Skills page for more indepth information.

The School’s Multicultural Director provides counseling and coordinates activities that support our commitment to a diverse student body. The Upper School’s Multicultural Awareness Club sponsors events throughout the year to highlight and celebrate Menlo’s multicultural population.

All Freshmen meet weekly in small groups with Senior Peer Leaders. The program is designed to help Freshmen with their transition to high school and to foster a supportive connection between Seniors and Freshmen.

In an effort to promote both partnership and mutual understanding, the School annually plans a series of events specifically designed for parents of students at all grade levels. The School’s parent organizations—the Upper School’s Menlo School Association (MSA) and the Middle School Menlo School Association (MS-MSA)—sponsor monthly meetings that center on a specific educational topic, typically presented by an expert in that field. Some School-sponsored events are aimed at specific grade levels, others have something of interest to all parents, ranging from informational evenings, guest speakers and panel discussions, to breakfasts and lunches with the Head of School and the Middle School Director. There are also a series of informal grade-level coffees that help families get to know each other and the School. Find additional information on the MSA Home Page.

The Upper School Student Council is a forum in which students can express their points of view and be heard within the School community. Student Council members sit on the School’s Curriculum Committee, the Judicial Committee and the Menlo School Association (MSA, the parents’ organization). Officers are elected for the entire student body as well as each Class. Middle School students elect advocacy representatives to a Middle School Student Council led by a student president and other officers. The Council meets weekly with the Middle School Director or Assistant Director and plans School activities, assembly programs, and peer leadership activities.

The school cafeteria is open daily during lunch, offering a variety of nutritious meals to students. Cafeteria meals are included in the Menlo tuition.

An independently operated Snack Bar is open for breakfast, snack and lunch items on a cash basis.

Menlo Bookstore hours are:

• Monday–Friday, 7:30am–2:00pm
• Closed weekends