Exciting Year Planned at Finley Middle School

An action-packed year is planned at J. Taylor Finley Middle School for hundreds of seventh and eighth graders. There will be fun classes, interesting clubs and special activities and competitive sports teams along with teachers, advisors, support staff and coaches who are “all in” to make the school experience a memorable one for students.

Finley is led by Principal Traci Roethel and Assistant Principal Alexis Estrada. The school opened in September 1965. At the time, it was Huntington UFSD’s third junior high school along with Robert L. Simpson and Robert K. Toaz. The school is named after a teacher and administrator who devoted 34 years to the district.

This year’s club program includes National Junior Honor Society, Newspaper Club, Robotics Club, Student Council, Ukulele Club, Wind Ensemble, String Ensemble, Yearbook Club, Yorkers Club, Mathletes, Math Counts, Dance Fit Club, Jazz Ensemble, Show Choir, Drama Club, Stage Crew, Community Club, School Store Club, No Place for Hate Club, Mock Trial, and Art Club. There are also 25 sports teams spread across fall, Winter I, Winter II and spring seasons.

Finely offers enrichment programs in both seventh and eighth grades in both STEM and social studies areas. The classes meet during a students’ lunch period or during the school day.

This year, students in both seventh and eighth grade have an opportunity in the social studies enrichment class to research and develop a National History Day project on a topic that fits the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History” along with participating in the Civic Readiness Capstone initiative.

Participating students are able to identify a local, regional or national issue and conduct research aimed at developing strategies and solutions and taking informed action. Finley’s STEM enrichment program gives seventh graders an opportunity to engage in related activities that pique their interest and allow them to work collaboratively on projects during their lunch periods.

The junior Virtual Enterprise program will enter its third year. Students are able to learn the fundamentals of business literacy in a collaborative environment. Participants will compete in competitions at the school with high school Virtual Enterprise students serving as judges.

Beloved and always popular therapy dogs will be making visits throughout the school year, along with Coco who spends her days in the library as the resident therapy dog at Finley. Soft music will again be played over the sound system in hallways during passing time between periods. Light jazz, classical and “easy listening” music, including so-called “spa music” will be played Monday through Thursday with 80’s and 90’s and current pop hits reserved for Fridays.

Finley’s student mentoring program is now in its third year. The program has about three dozen student mentees and an equal number of staff mentors. Mrs. Roethel expects it to expand this year.

“Each student mentee is paired up with a staff member in the building and the mentor works to establish a positive and supportive relationship in order to motivate the student and offer support as needed,” the principal said. “Mentees and mentors meet at least once per week. We have hosted group luncheons and gatherings.”

Finley students will be participating in monthly building-wide restorative circles. Students and teachers in each of the circles create a bond of trust and safety. “The circle allows students to speak freely about a topic,” Mrs. Roethel said. “Circles foster a connection between adults and students that leads to a positive school culture.”

Students also have an opportunity to be part of three No Place for Hate Activities that revolve around students making a pledge to treat others with respect and create a safe and happy place for all.

Finley students, teachers, administrators and parents are working together to improve student achievement and social and emotional well-being.

“These programs are a result of everyone’s efforts and dedication to put student’s needs first and help create a positive learning environment,” Mrs. Roethel said.