Incoming sixth grade students will sign up for their fall PE sport by mid-May. During the academic year, the Director of Middle School Athletics will send the students a form to sign up for their next sport season. Students will be given a deadline to make their sport selection.

Being part of Menlo Athletics means joining a team that values effort, teamwork, and school spirit—on and off the field. We know that students have busy lives and many interests, and we appreciate your partnership in helping them stay committed throughout the season. When your student signs up for a sport, they’re committing to the full season, including both PE and games. We kindly ask that Menlo Athletics take priority during that time, even if your student also participates in club or outside teams.

At Menlo, we have a dedicated team of coaches who work closely with students from Middle School all the way through Upper School. Each sport has a Program Director who oversees the program from grades 6-12, and the vast majority of our Middle School coaches also coach in the Upper School. This continuity helps students build meaningful relationships with their coaches starting on day one. The lead coach for your student’s team will be your main point of contact for all details, including game schedules, transportation, uniforms, and more.

Menlo will provide transportation to all weekday away games that are scheduled to start before 5:00 pm. Parents will provide transportation to games that are played after 5:00 pm.

A middle school student may not participate in any school- or sports-related activity on a day they are absent for two or more periods of the academic day.

The Middle School does not cut students from teams. We provide a spot for every student who wants to play a sport.

Athletics is considered an integral part of every student’s education at Menlo School. Each middle school student is required to participate daily in physical education (PE). Sixth-grade PE takes place during the school day from 1:05 to 2:10 pm and Seventh- and eighth-graders from 2:10 to 3:15 pm. If your child signs up for a team sport, practices will take place during that PE period, and games or competitions will be held after school. If they choose a sport without competitions, there won’t be any after-school commitments. Games are usually played after school and into the early evening, depending on the sport.

We want our students to experience a variety of sports. To best support students in their transition to Menlo and throughout their Menlo journey, competing in one sport at a time allows students to build team cohesion, relationships with Program Directors, and enhance their mental, physical, and emotional skills in a single sport per season. In order to cultivate a positive student-athlete experience, Coaches rely on the student’s commitment to ensure practices and games are efficient and fun.

Sports equipment varies from sport to sport. The school will supply uniforms. A detailed e-mail will be sent before the season begins on what the student needs to participate in that particular sport.

Please contact Joan Barada or Laurel Marks in the Health Office at nurse@menloschool.org.

The coach will also send an email to all the parents on their team with their contact information and an introduction to their team.

Middle school students do not practice or play games during the summer or school breaks.

The Middle School will occasionally have a weekend tournament and or game, depending on league schedules. Our league track meet is currently on the weekend, but is subject to change.

We offer teams for every student at Menlo Middle School, understanding that students arrive with different levels of athletic experience and skill. To support this range, we provide both “A” and “B” teams, allowing students to play at a level that matches their ability. Our goal is to create a fun, successful season where students build confidence, develop skills, and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Coaches will hold evaluation days to help form the teams. Please note, participation in outside activities like club teams, private coaching, or travel teams won’t influence team placement—our coaches base decisions on what they see during evaluations.