Middle School Night has been a tradition at Alamo Heights Junior School for many years. It has served as a way to bring our two schools closer together and align the Middle School and High School programs. It’s also an opportunity for young volleyball players to see the highly skilled players at the high school they will someday become.

“So, Middle School Night has been a tradition we’ve done for many years, even going back to when I was in Middle School here,” said Coach Tacker. It has always been a special aspect that makes our school unique.

Middle School Night is important for the Junior School, High School, and the community as a whole. “I think it’s important because it helps build the sense of community we look for here in the district. It also helps align our programs so the girls can interact with the high school volleyball players and ask them questions if they wish. It also gives our high school players a leadership role in interacting with our students. It’s also cool as a coach to see your previous athletes playing at the high school,” Coach Tacker shared.

We don’t just have a Middle School Night; the Junior School also hosts a High School Night! “We try to make it a point to go watch them at least once during the season, and they watch the 7th and 8th grade games once,” said Coach Tacker. The high schoolers came to the second AHJS home game to support the middle school athletes. They sat on the benches with the middle schoolers and led the cheers. They made the whole atmosphere amazing!

Just as everyone is excited when their family or friends come to watch their game, the high schoolers are excited to have the middle schoolers at their games to support them. “I think they enjoy running through the tunnel that the middle schoolers make. It kind of helps motivate them; they want to put on a good show for the middle school athletes. All around, it’s a fun night, and it’s a little extra loud in the cheering section with the middle schoolers there,” Coach Tacker said.

A special activity during Middle School Night is that the Junior School volleyball players teach the high schoolers cheers, and vice versa. It’s a great way for them to connect over something in common when they don’t really know each other. For example, the Junior School players taught the high schoolers the cheer “Mules! Let’s Fight! Bump, Set, and Spike!”

“It allows us to interact with the freshman and JV girls for volleyball. They invite our middle school girls to sit with them and lead the cheers. It helps us see if our programs are aligning well with what we are teaching them, and overall, it’s a fun night for parents to come watch and see the level of play their children will eventually achieve when they go to the high school,” Coach Tacker said. It’s a way to feel closer as a community and encourage middle school players to participate in high school sports. A special activity the middle schoolers get to do is shag balls during the high schoolers’ warm-up. They get to stand on the court and catch the balls while the high school girls do hitting lines.

Overall, Middle School Night is a way to bring the Junior School and the High School together. It brings joy to everyone at Alamo Heights, strengthens our community, and provides an opportunity for Junior School volleyball players to find role models. Middle School Night has been a tradition for many years, and it will continue for many more years to come.