Middle School

Unleashing Potential

Building a Better Bug Trap

From balsam woolly adelgids to fox squirrels, and field bindweed to quagga mussels, invasive species make life difficult for native species. This year, seventh-grade scientists took on the problem by designing and building traps that capture invasive insect species that compete for an ecosystem’s limited resources. Each student group picked a type of invasive insect, then, knowing all bugs can’t be caught the same way, began researching the best ways to capture their insects. This work was followed by a design-and-build process that resulted in early trap prototypes, which students then tested, adjusted, and perfected through the fall—just in time to present their designs to a real-world audience, University of Utah scientists, in November.

Turning Resistance Into Art and Community

In honor of Black History Month, eighth graders examined the ideas of resistance and resilience through the work of Black activists. After meeting members of Utah’s Black community who visited campus to share their work, influences, and lives, students chose two activists to study—one from the present and one from the past. They examined what their subjects had in common, where their work or ideas differentiated, and how the idea of resistance in their activism may have morphed or changed over time. Students also chose the best creative methods to communicate the lives and impact of their subjects, including poetry, dance, art, and even cooking. Final projects were shared at Resist: An Arts Cafe, a special event at Publik Coffee that welcomed activists, families, faculty, and staff, strengthening connections between the school and our community.

Curriculum Investments

• Advanced Drawing and Painting

• Arts in Action: Interdisciplinary Responses to Climate Science

• Climate Science and Gardening

• Designing and Building: Engineering with Toys and Clay

• Fundamentals of Drawing and Painting

• Introduction to App Development

• Media Arts: Producing a Great Story

• Physical Computing

• Three-Dimensional Modeling and Printing with Robotic Explorations

Student Achievements and Accolades

• Three middle schoolers earned awards at the 2024 University of Utah Science and Engineering Fair: eighth grader Aimee Solzbacher, eighth grader Sophia Zhang, and sixth grader Lina Saleh

• Eighth grader JB Johnson de Lacy was named a runner-up in the Inspired by Jane essay contest, held by the Natural History Museum of Utah in honor of Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday.

• Six Middle School debaters placed in this year’s Granite School District Debate Tournament: eighth graders Gregory House, Ada Tyser, and Reid Venkatesan, and seventh graders Scarlett Corey, Inaaya Syed, and Zoya Syed

• Seventh grader Deann Huang participated in the Utah Symphony Salute to Youth solo competition, winning the Music Teachers National Association competition in the Junior Strings category and performing with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall in November. In April, Deann also won first place in the Prokofiev International Music Competition.

• Eighth graders Marin Bean and Andrea Sun and sixth grader Iris Ownbey were named to this year’s Utah All-State Junior High Orchestra. Marin and Andrea, along with eighth grader Isla McMahon, also participated at state in April, competing in the Chamber Orchestra category, where they received the highest rating possible. Additionally, Isla competed in and received the highest rating in the Piano Quartet category.