Seneca Ridge Middle School has an array of fun events and activities that are available to our students and families. The descriptions below are intended to give families an understanding of the events that occur each year.  More detailed information will be available regarding the specifics for the current year's events through the Thunderblast Weekly (Mr. Cottone's weekly message to families), morning announcements, and links on our school's website. 

Bolt Blast

Rising 6th grade students attend a summer experience of 4-5 mornings during the summer at Seneca. Activities during this time are intended to help students build friendships, learn about Seneca, and become familiar with the staff and our building. This allows our 6th graders to become more excited and comfortable with the transition to middle school. Open for rising 6th-grade students. The final morning includes a family day with presentations & information helpful for parents.

Thunder Day

Families are invited to visit Seneca with their children, typically during the week (or a few days) before school opens. Thunder Day is like an open house, where families can explore our school, place personal items in lockers, and familiarize themselves with our school staff. There is usually a wide variety of events and activities, food, and fun that help welcome students to life at Seneca Ridge. We also host help sessions for families learning ParentVue and Titan.

Storm

Our students experience advisory, which we call Storm, each morning to start their day. Storm groups have students in the same grade level, with 2-3 advisory teachers. Advisory time is spent doing team-building activities, learning about our CORE expectations (Confidence, Ownership, Respect, and Empathy), a focus on literacy, and lessons cover everything from character building to digital citizenship.

Spirit Days

Usually, occurring every day for a full week, students and staff have fun dressing in a similar fashion. Pajama Day is a favorite, but other spirit days involve dressing in a team jersey, dressing like a book character, or even rocking 1980s gear! Our Student Government Association hosts our spirit weeks and we celebrate the students who are the most spirited!

Fundraiser

Our annual fundraiser provides revenue that is used to support activities, events, clubs, field trips, enrichment items for classrooms, and more! The fundraiser usually begins during the first month of school, involving a student assembly and some incentives for our students to participate. Participation in fundraising is voluntary.

Homecoming Tailgate

Dominion High School's Homecoming Parade and football game are celebrated at Seneca, with a tailgate that involves food, fun, music, and opportunities to socialize, play games, and hang out with friends and teachers. Students and families can attend the tailgate and walk to Dominion's stadium to watch the Homecoming game.

Battle of Route 7

Our friendly- but competitive- annual soccer game pits Seneca staff and students against staff and students from Sterling Middle School. The game is divided into 4 quarters, with each grade level playing the same grade level from the other school, and staff playing staff from Sterling Middle. The game alternates in location between Park View High School and Dominion High School's turf soccer fields. Seneca students try out for the team and spend several weeks being coached by DHS soccer players. On game day there is always a huge turn-out of families, students, and staff!

Multicultural Events

We embrace and celebrate the cultures that each family brings to our school. During our multicultural nights, students showcase their talents, share their culture, and we have opportunities for families to learn about others. In 2023, we had a cluster-wide multicultural event showcasing the talents and traditions of all of the students in the Dominion Cluster.

Turkey Trot

Want to burn off a few calories before your Thanksgiving feast? Join us for the Turkey Trot, a fun 5K where participants run, jog, or walk together. This event occurs during Thanksgiving break at Seneca.

Book Fair

Our library hosts a book fair each year. This event gives families the opportunity to purchase books with their children and provides additional funding for our school's library. Each student attends during the school day during their English class, and there are after-school hours available for families.

MAP Testing

All students take a MAP test 3 times each school year. These tests in Reading and Math document a student's progress, which helps teachers tailor instruction to meet student needs and provide remediation and enrichment as needed. MAP results show students' growth from year to year and help determine many of supports we put into place to meet each student where they are in the learning process.

Field Day

Field Day is a fun event that usually takes place on the last day of school. Students enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, indoor creative & social opportunities, music, and general fun. Typically, each grade level rotates through the opportunities. This is a student-only event, but parents are welcome to volunteer!

CORE Champions

Rising 8th-grade students are invited to apply to become CORE Champions based on their academic achievement in 7th grade. Students complete an application and have a teacher recommend them to be selected to be part of CORE Champions. During 8th grade, students are inducted into CORE Champions and spend a year completing 15+ service hours for our school and community. CORE Champions assist with student elective fairs, tours for new students, recycling, advisory lessons, peer tutoring, and assist with teachers in their classrooms.