Exciting Year Anticipated at Finley Middle School

An exciting year is anticipated for J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s 650 seventh and eighth graders. There will be great classes, fun clubs and special activities and competitive sports teams along with teachers, advisors, support staff and coaches who are “all in” to make the school experience a memorable one for students.

Finley is led by Principal Traci Roethel and Assistant Principal Kenneth Parham. The school opened in September 1965. At the time, it was Huntington UFSD’s third junior high school along with Robert L. Simpson and Robert K. Toaz. The school is named after a teacher and administrator who devoted 34 years to the district.

This year’s club program includes National Junior Honor Society, Newspaper/Book Club, Robotics, Student Council, Ukulele Club, Wind and String Ensemble, Yearbook Club, Yorkers Club, Mathletes, Math Counts, Kickline, Jazz Ensemble, Honors Choir, Drama Club, Stage Crew, Community Club, Friendship Club and Art Club. There are also 24 sports teams spread across fall, Winter I, Winter II and spring seasons.

The social studies enrichment program allows interested eighth graders in the first and second marking periods to participate during their lunch periods on an alternative A-day/B-day schedule and choose, research and develop a National History Day project on a topic that fits the 2024 theme of “Turning Points In History.”

The same enrichment program features the Civic Readiness Capstone initiative in the third and fourth marking periods. Participating students are able to identify a local, regional or national issue and conduct research aimed at developing strategies and solutions and taking informed action.

Finley’s STEM enrichment program gives seventh graders an opportunity to engage in related activities that pique their interest and allow them to work collaboratively on projects during their lunch periods.

“They have an opportunity to work on STEM projects and activities and dive deeper into the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” Mrs. Roethel said. “Students collaborate with one another on a variety of projects and activities.”

The junior Virtual Enterprise program will enter its second year. “Students are able to learn the fundamentals of business literacy in a collaborative environment,” Mrs. Roethel said. Participants will compete in competitions at the school with high school Virtual Enterprise students serving as judges.

Beloved and always popular therapy dogs will be making visits throughout the school year. Soft music will again be played over the sound system in hallways during passing time between periods. Light jazz, classical and “easy listening” music, including so-called “spa music” will be played Monday through Thursday with 80’s, 90’s and current pop hits reserved for Fridays.

Finley’s student mentoring program is now in its third year. The program started with 16 mentees and grew to 46 last year with 43 staff mentors. Mrs. Roethel expects a further expansion this year.

“Each student mentee is pair up with a staff member in the building and the mentor works to establish a positive and supportive relationship in order to motivate the student and offer support as needed,” the principal said. “Mentees and mentors meet at least once per week. We have hosted group luncheons and gatherings.”

There will also be monthly building-wide restorative circles at Finley. Students and teachers in each of the circles create a bond of trust and safety. “The circle allows students to speak freely about a topic,” Mrs. Roethel said. “Circles foster a connection between adults and students that leads to a positive school culture.”

Finley students, teachers, administrators and parents are working together to improve student achievement and social and emotional well-being.

“These programs are a result of everyone’s efforts and dedication to put student’s needs first and help create a positive learning environment,” Mrs. Roethel said.