Hillcrest middle school participates in the Oakland Athletic League (OAL), and fields teams in volleyball, basketball, soccer, flag football, futsal, and cross country depending on student interest and coach availability.
Medical clearance is required for all athletes to participate.
Students must have 93% attendance and may not participate if suspended. Students must also have a 2.0 in order to play in games. More details around athletic participation eligibility can be found in the Hillcrest Athletics Policy.
Student Leadership is a group of students who work together to make our school a more positive, welcoming, and fun place for everyone. Members plan and help run events like spirit days, staff breakfasts, morning circle events, and community service projects. They also represent student ideas and concerns to school staff.
Being part of Student Leadership is a great way to build confidence, practice teamwork, and learn how to make a difference at school. Students must apply and be selected by their peers. Once selected members must attend weekly meetings, supporting with planning events, and are expected to exemplify our Hillcrest values by being kind, safe, responsible, and doing their best.
Because we do not have enough lockers for all students in grades 6-8, lockers are made available to students upon request with priority given to students based on specific needs.
Annual outdoor education trips rotate among Yosemite, Pinnacles, and Point Reyes in grades 6-8 and Coloma and Marin Headlands in grades 4-5. Students in K-3 attend various day trips throughout the Bay Area including to the East Bay Regional Parks, various museums and educational sites.
Students engage in service at Hillcrest and in the broader community through organized events and projects including Hillcrest beautification days and MS Day of Service.
Over the years, Hillcrest students have participated in various events, including visiting and singing songs at the Piedmont Gardens Senior Center, book drives for libraries and schools with few books, making lunches for families living at the Henry J. Robinson Multi-Service Center, food drives for the Alameda Food Bank, and helping with the Temescal Invasive Plant Removal.
Middle school students are encouraged to document their community service hours.
Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) is the nation’s largest touring children’s theater, and a beloved tradition at Hillcrest. The MCT tour team arrives in their “little red truck” loaded with scripts, set, costumes, props, everything it takes to put on a play … except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts students (K-8) to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented on Saturday. The show can usually accommodate up to 60 student performers and assistant directors.
You can learn more about the Missoula Children's Theatre experience here.
Students are invited to participate in a school-wide oratorical festival in January by reciting poetry, reading selections from a published work, or by sharing an original production focusing on the ideals and teachings of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. School winners will participate at the OUSD District level.
Students K-8 are encouraged to submit individual and group science projects put together at home – suggestions and guidelines along with trifolds will be distributed at school. Projects are displayed at Hillcrest and the winners go on to the OUSD STEM Fair.
Students in all grades select pieces of art work completed at school for display during the Art & Science fair and winners are awarded a prize.
The “Hillcrest Got Talent” Show features individual and group performances by Hillcrest students in grades K-8. Past talents include singing, dancing, cheer, comedy, magic, piano, etc.. Families are invited to attend the special evening show.
Career Day is an opportunity for students to explore a variety of careers, ask questions, and get excited about their futures. Last year over 70 Hillcrest family members volunteered to showcase their unique careers and students got to learn from four engaging and interactive presentations.
6th-8th grade students generally have two dances per school year, one in the Winter and one in the Spring. These thematic dances are a fun way to connect after school hours, and students and families volunteer to make them a success.
Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) runs the before and after school child care program for students in grades 6-8.
Students and families can opt in to enrichment options like Doug’s Drama, MiniMakers, Spanish, 3 O’Clock Rock, Coding, Math Hoops, Chess, Hip Hop dance, Robotics, Ceramics, 3D animation, Debate club, and more.
All students participating after-school in any capacity must be enrolled in the after-school program, including those playing sports. Student athletes must sign in with BACR, must be offered a snack, and must sign out when leaving.
More information, including Registration can be found on the BACR website or you can contact site director Carlos Castro at ccastro@bacr.org
