Essentials & Extras
What a middle school year holds
Some experiences are part of every student’s year. Others are there for anyone who wants to join—no tryouts or cuts. Ask our graduates what they remember about middle school, and these are the things they still talk about.
twice-A-Year overnightClass trips
Every middle school class takes two overnight trips each year. The fall trip gives students time to get to know one another early in the school year, including classmates who have just arrived at TLC. The memories they bring home are often the unplanned ones. Two recent graduates both wrote about their class trying to build a human pyramid: their teachers let them figure it out together, and everyone ended up in the dirt laughing.
“The more soggy you are on a camping trip, the more things you get to talk about with your friends.”
Spring • Multi-day backcountryThe backpacking trip
In seventh and eighth grade, students head into the backcountry for a multi-day trip, carrying what they need and hiking long miles together. They draw on the outdoor skills they’ve practiced over the years, but the trip asks more of them. They have to keep going when they’re tired, look after their gear, and help each other along the way!
“The backpacking trips were great opportunities for Lucca to enjoy a physical challenge, hone his social skills, learn about the environment, exhibit leadership, and develop his outdoors skills.”
annual • middle schoolCaving trip
Every middle schooler goes caving each year. When graduates talk about their time at TLC, it’s often the first thing they bring up, ahead of trips, ahead of games!
“I will never remember the day when I filled out a worksheet at school, but I will always remember the day I crawled through a pitch-black cave.”
spring • whole schoolThe musical
There is a place in it for any middle schooler who wants one- onstage, backstage, in the pit, on the crew. Nobody is auditioned out! The show runs two nights, each to a packed house.
“[Our son] loved the musical from stem to stern. He enjoyed the camaraderie, all tech aspects of the set, and acting.”
team sportsFour seasons, everybody plays
TLC Middle plays other WNC independent and charter schools through the Hospitality League in fall, winter, and spring. If a middle schooler wants to join a team, they can. There are no cuts, and everyone gets a chance to play!
“Winning is great, but appreciations and fair play matter most.”
Fall
Flag Football
The season that opens the year, against schools across the Asheville area.
Fall
Cross Country
Practice is held weekly on campus with the team enjoying several local meets.
winter
Basketball
Home and away through the coldest stretch of the year.
Spring
Soccer
The last season, and for eighth graders the last time they play for TLC.
after schoolClubs and homework club
After school, students can try something new or spend more time doing what they love. We have so many options from skiing, fishing, chess, mountain biking, and skating to D&D, ceramics, origami, gymnastics, gingerbread houses, and Math Counts. No experience is needed, and everyone is welcome.
Homework Club gives middle school students a place to complete all of their work before heading home; this is one of our most-loved clubs!
outside
Skateboarding
Mountain Biking
Ski & Snowboard
Cross Country
Fishing
Gardening
inside
Dungeons & Dragons
MathCounts
Chess
Drawing & Painting
Crochet
Swimming
Homework club runs 3:15–4:10 every day — a chance to finish assignments before going home, so the evening belongs to the family rather than to a worksheet. A lead teacher is in the room, so a student who gets stuck can ask for help rather than carrying the problem home to a parent.