Maitland Middle School

Maitland Middle School serves grades 6-8 in the Orange County Public Schools system. Their school mascot is the Golden Hawk. It is located in Maitland, Florida. Their principal is Mr. Eric Lundman. Maitland is an A school with potential International Baccalaureate students attending it. The athletic program consists of 4 sports teams, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball and Track. Schedules at Maitland Middle consist of 4 core classes: Social Studies, Science, Math and Language Arts and 2 elective choices. However, for the 2010-2011 school year, students will have be required to take PE along with the other core classes. Options for electives include: Chorus, Orchestra, Band, Drama, Art, Career Education, Music Appreciation, Spanish, Yearbook and various Computer courses. Students can also get involved in clubs such as FCA, Chess, Eco Club and Creative Communications.^[1]

The school originally opened in the early 1960s as Maitland Junior High School. Until the construction of adjacent Dommerich Elementary School three years following the opening of MJHS the campus operated as K-9. Until the Orange County Public School leadership moved towards a middle school concept in the 1980s, Maitland Junior High was a sports powerhouse. The Golden Hawks competed in football, baseball, basketball, swimming, golf and track against other local junior high schools. Football games were played at Showalter Field until a home stadium was constructed in the final 3 years of the football program. Glenridge Junior High was the primary rival of the Golden Hawks. Showalter Field would be packed when the two teams played against one another. The Golden Hawks won County Championships on multiple occasions in football, baseball, track, swimming and golf. The 1973 boys basketball team finished unbeaten and won the championship.

During the time as a junior high school, Maitland had a marching band (The Golden Hawk Marching Band) that received numerous awards and superior ratings. Nearly 100 strong, the Marching Hawks proudly represented the school. The MJHS Cheerleaders were also actively involved in campus life and had both JV and Varsity squads. The school yearbook was known as the Tandeli and the newspaper was the Talon.

The Maitland Junior High School Fight Song We're all behind the mighty Crimson and Gold to cheer them on to victory We'll defend their honor ever true and to the colors may we loyal be.

We're proud of the valor that we ever hold high The Golden Hawks are far from wrong To Maitland Junior High we'll ever be loyal May her powers be ever-strong.

M-A-I-T-L-A-N-D Golden Hawks GO!

The MJHS Alma Mater

Oh now we hail our Alma Mater Raising voices to her fame Here rings a song of tribute may we uphold its noble name.

The light of truth we sought from thee will last throughout eternity to Maitland Junior High we pledge our hearts for evermore.

Alumni proudly reflect upon their time at Maitland Junior High as being very special. Though the only remaining building from the original school is the band room, the memories live on forever......

Now back to the middle school and the modern era-

Music Programs

Chorus

The chorus program at Maitland Middle has continuously earned straight superiors at Music Performance Assessment(MPA). Under the direction of Dr. Lori Lovell, the choir was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in November 2006. The choir sang in the world premiere of a requiem mass written by Stephen Edwards. The program consists of five different choruses. Sixth grade girls make up the Beginning Chorus. Seventh and eighth grade girls are in Maitland Singers. Musicale is an auditioned choir made up of 7th and 8th grade girls who show excellence in talent and musicianship. Boys in all grade make up men's chorale. 7th and 8th grade boys and girls in Musicale are invited to audition for a chorus before school called Chamber singers.

Both Musicale and Chamber Singers have won awards at Music in the Parks a festival held at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure. At this festival, the chorus consistently wins best women's and mixed chorus for middle school, best overall chorus and the Esprit de Corps award, an award for best team spirit. Every year at the end of the year the chorus program puts on an elaborate show full of more popular songs and dance.

Orchestra

The MMS Orchestra is a part of the Winter Park and Edgewater String Units. The Orchestra Curriculum offers: Beginning Orchestra -for students who have never played a stringed instrument before. Intermediate Orchestra -specially designed for those 6th and 7th graders who have one or two years’ experience. Advanced Orchestra -7th and 8th grade orchestra concentrating on advanced techniques. Zero Hour Chamber Music -A unique program that allows 7th and 8th grade students to experience chamber music as well as explore a secondary instrument. This class meets before school every day. MMS Chamber Orchestra -The Chamber Orchestra has a long tradition of excellence. They have consistently earned Superior Ratings in adjudications and maintain a very active concert schedule throughout the school year. In addition, many of the students have been placed in the Florida Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra and the Orange County All-County Orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra has performed throughout the community for the Maitland Women's Club, Wednesday Music Club, and Habitat for Humanity, and has been featured on WKMG Channel 6

Band

The Maitland band includes two Beginning bands, one Concert Band, one Symphonic Band, and one Wind Ensemble. It also has two jazz bands-the One O'clock Jazz Band, and the O hour Jazz Band. The O Hour Jazz Band is mistakenly referred to by teachers and students as the "Zero Hour" Jazz Band. However, last year before OCPS changed the hours students go to school, the real Zero Hour classes (jazz band and orchestra) came an hour before school actually started. It is a consistently superior program. The Wind Ensemble consistently receives straight superiors. The Symphonic Band consistently receives excellent and superiors. The Concert Band receives Superiors. The placement of students is through tests of skill and talent, proving which class the student would be best suited to. Through the 2008-2009 school year, Jodi Wunsch conducted the beginning band. Eric Mendez led the remaining bands. Due to the termination of Ms. Wunsch's position, Mr. Mendez will teach, direct and lead all of the band classes of 200+ students in the 2009-2010 school year. There are also three summer band camps held every year in June or July. Mr. Mendez is a universally renowned teacher of music.

Beginning Band- These bands are for the 6th grade students just entering the band program. The two classes focus on learning notes, key signatures, techniques, and simple music. Concert Band- This class is for the 6th grade students with a year or two of experience on their instrument, and 7th grade students entering the band program. Symphonic Band- This band class is for 7th and 8th grade students who have one or two years' experience with their instrument, or were in Beginning, Concert, or this band the previous year, depending on skill and talent levels, and end-of-the-year finals. Wind Ensemble- The highest-level formal band in Maitland Middle School. They are mainly 8th graders, with the exception of few 7th grade students who are exceptional on their instruments. 0 Hour Jazz Band- A jazz band for all instruments that focuses on what jazz music really is, and plays some intermediate jazz pieces. 1 O'Clock Jazz Band- A traditional jazz band that plays very complex pieces, and wins jazz awards consistently every year.

Sports

Soccer

There are two soccer teams, one for 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls and one for 6th 7th and 8th grade boys. Both teams are coached by teachers at the school. At the beginning of the school year tryouts are held for these teams. Each team generally consists of around 15 to 20 players. The team's cluster season consists of 5 games (2 or 3 away or 2 or 3 home) typically on Mondays and Wednesdays. These games are played against other schools in Maitland's cluster. Depending on the team's performance during the regular season the teams will play in a championship against other teams in the county. This is 5 possible games that the teams can play for the playoffs, including the finals. In 2005 the boy's team were the runners up in the county championship and in 2006 both teams made it to the finals and the boy's team were champions. In 2011 the girls won the county championship in pk's!

Basketball

There are two basketball teams. One for 6th,7th and 8th grade girls and one for 6th,7th, and 8th grade boys.At the beginning of the third nine weeks tryouts are held for these teams. Each team generally consists of around 15 to 20 players. The teams season consists of 8 games (4 home and 4 away) typically on Mondays and Wednesdays. These games are played against other schools in Maitland's cluster. Depending on the teams performance during the regular season the teams will play in a championship against other teams in the county.

Volleyball

There are two volleyball teams, one for 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls and one for 6th 7th and 8th grade boys. Both teams are coached by teachers at the school.At the beginning of the second nine weeks (right after winter break)tryouts are held for these teams. Each team generally consists of around 15 to 20 players. The teams season consists of 8 games (4 home and 4 away) typically on Mondays and Wednesdays. These games are played against other schools in Maitland's cluster. Depending on the teams performance during the regular season the teams will play in a championship against other teams in the county. In 2006 and 2007 the girls team and in 2007-2008 the boys team won the county championship.

References

1. ^ http://www.mm.ocps.net/