Clubs & Activities

Wakefield supports many clubs and activities for Lower, Middle and Upper School students throughout the year.

The opportunity to achieve success in ungraded activities encourages students to explore and develop their own interests, take leadership roles, and achieve greater success in the academic program. Our clubs and activities are entrusted to our faculty. These non-curriculum-based interactions help build relationships between students and faculty, allowing each group to view the other in a non-threatening or judgmental way.

Spartans and Athenians - Upon entering Wakefield, each student is assigned to be either a Spartan or an Athenian. In the classical tradition of competition, Spartans and Athenians compete for points throughout the year culminating in the spring with an all-school field day,which includes tug-of-way, softball, races, cheer-offs, and many other contests.  Click here for the current Spartan/Athenian list.

Class Days - Class days are special days throughout the year in which students are with their classmates or paired with a buddy of another school (Lower School paired with Middle or Upper School) to work on a project or attend an event together. Class days help build lasting bonds and community spirit. 

Middle School students participated in a fun class day this fall.  Each class separately participated in an activity designed to encourage teamwork to accomplish a goal.     

Sixth Graders kayaking on the Potomac River.

Sixth Graders went kayaking on the Potomac River near Harper’s Ferry. The two-person kayaks required that the students work together toward the common goal of getting down the river.  They kayaked about 5 miles down the river.

Seventh graders working together on Bull Run Mountain.

Seventh Graders went on a hike and engaged in leadership games and exercises at Bull Run Mountain.  A naturalist from the Bull Run Conservancy led the group and helped students understand the native plants and fragility of the environment.

Eighth graders trusting each other to accomplish the goal.

Eighth Graders went orienteering and engaged in trust games led by Team Link at Sky Meadows State Park.   

Community Events - Community events involve students and families. These occur throughout the year. The Back-to-School Picnic is held on the second weekend after the beginning of school each September. The Picnic welcomes returning and new students and families to a picnic and other activities held under the stars. The Talent Show and Lasagna Dinner is hosted by the Junior Class to raise money for the Prom. This event provides great entertainment as well as great food. Ski Week is held during the winter. Students and families travel to an area ski resort or an international ski resort to ski, snowboard, and relax in a great community atmosphere. Our extensive Summer Camp provides a variety of offerings for each age group. Camps are available to Wakefield's community as well as members of the community at large.

Red and White Club - The Red and White Club was created to reward and encourage school spirit. Upper School students gain entrance into The Red and White Club by participating in student life in three categories: arts, athletics, and school enrichment. Students earn points through participation and support of teams, performances, and events. Red and White members can achieve higher tiers of membership through extensive involvement in the school. Through this initiative, students learn and practice the values of civic virtue by becoming more conscientious and active members of the school community.

Upper School Specific Clubs and Activities

• Academian Debate Team - Named after the gymnasium of Plato in Athens, The Academians hone speaking and debate skills by hosting debate events, promote school discussion on important topics, and participate in interscholastic competitions throughout the year.
• Athletic/Coaching Assistants - Students help middle school coaches with their teams (if wanted) and help the athletic department with organization and preparation for events.
• Band - Students practice and prepare to perform as part of a Wakefield ensemble, group, or band.
• Broadcasters - This club produces live and archived webcasts of Wakefield sporting events with color and play-by-play commentary.
• Business and Industry - Students learn about starting and operating businesses as well as managing funds and stocks. Students may also operate enterprises on campus.
• Chamber Group - This group practices and performs classical pieces.
• Composing Children's Songs - Students learn about composing songs for children and have the opportunity to perform them for lower school students later in the year.
• Cooking Club - Students learn about cooking and making certain recipes throughout the year.
• French Club - Students learn about French cultures through videos and other activities.
• Hand Bell Ringers - Students learn English Hand Bell techniques; have fun reading music; go off campus to perform and prepare to play in school concerts.
• History Games - The History Games Club started out with four or five students playing Axis and Allies during lunch, but in its third year has grown to having over twenty-two students.  This year we also introduced a new game into our club called Flames of War. Both Axis and Allies and Flames of War are war games that put an emphasis on strategy.  As a club we are hoping to put on our own Flames of War tournament and go on a trip to Fort Knox. All of the members are enthusiastic about playing and look forward to coming to activity period once a week. As the president and one of the original members of the History Games Club, I have learned so much by playing both Axis and Allies and Flames of War and have enjoyed every minute of it. (Description prepared by junior, Alex Holcomb) - Faculty sponsor is Phil Brown. 
• Japanese Club - Students learn about Japanese culture.
• Lawn Games - Students learn and play a variety of lawn games such as bocce, cornhole, or croquet.
• Library Assistants - Students help organize, stack, and operate both school libraries.
• Model UN -Students participate in addressing world issues as delegates of United National member states. Participants learn current events, global issues, problem solving and speaking skills.
• Music Tutors - Student-musicians help students in the Middle School music program.
• Noctua/Publications - From the Latin word for owl, Noctua is the student-run online newspaper. The Noctua staff writes, edits, and lays out the publication website. Topics range from student events, sports, school life, news, to creative writing. Students also have this opportunity to work on other publications such as the yearbook.
• Open Dance - Students select music and learn new dances at the discretion of student interest.
• Poetry Café - Students recite and share poems from various authors or composed by themselves.
• Pop Quiz -Teams of contestants compete by answering questions from topics that include popular culture, science, and sports.The game-show format creates an atmosphere of spirited competition.
• Service Club - Students help run and coordinate school and community service projects. These include school-based projects such as sending care boxes to groups in need.
• Softball - In a display of intramural fun, students form teams and play softball.
• Student Government - Class representatives meet and plan events and address schooland student issues.
• Talisman - Students meet, plan, edit and prepare this award-winning publication for production.
• The Show - In a television talk-show format, students host and produce this television talk show with issues ranging from popular culture, school topics, sports and politics. Audience members participate in the show through questions and participative polls.
• Thespian Society - Wakefield's drama association helps prepare for dramatic performances throughout the year and takes part in the National Thespian Society drama-oriented activities.
• Wakefield Singers - This chorus group performs throughout the year at functions, concerts, or events. Wakefield Singers is open to students and faculty of any background or experience.
• Watercolors - Students have the opportunity to create watercolor paintings.
• WSTV - Wakefield School TV produces television productions ranging from school news, comedy sketches, mock advertisements, and other installments.

Upper and Middle School - Common Activities and Clubs

• Board Games - Students play various board games.
• Certamen/Junior Classical League - Students prepare for Certamen competitions by practicing and studying various aspects of classical culture, language, mythology andhistory.
• Discovery Days/Week - Middle Schoolers participate in an experiential learning experience lasting a week. Discovery Week is the cornerstone of our Middle School program developed with the whole student in mind. We offer adventure, knowledge, cultural, and service oriented options. Upper School enjoys Discovery Days throughout the year with similar focus…hands on learning.
• History Day - Students throughout Middle and Upper School participate in National History Day by doing individual or group projects related to a yearly theme.
• Library Assistants - Students help organize, stack, and operate both school libraries.
• Lower School Tutors - Patient and motivated students work with lower school students as tutors or classroom helpers.
• Math Club - Students do math puzzles, games, and can participate in math competitions.

Middle School Unique Activities and Clubs

• Animals and Nature - Students learn about nature and animals through outdoor and indoor activities.
• Chess - Students play and learn about chess having the further opportunity to compete interscholastically.
• Dance - The Middle School Dance group creates, practice, and perform their own individual or group dances.
• Destination Imagination - This club creatively works on situations such as using props, costumes, and other items for performance and presentation or building structures only using certain materials.
• Fashion Club - The fashion club discusses fashion trends and history of the fashion industry and then designs their own creations.
• Junior Stewards Club - This club is organized to teach students about responsible environmental stewardship in and around Fauquier County and Northern Virginiaby being active in related community issues.
• Open Art - Students draw, color, or paint their own works of art.
• OpenWriting and Noctula - Students can write stories for fun or work on editingand writing for the Middle School newspaper, Noctula.
• Rocketry - Students design, build, and test rockets for the Target America RocketCompetition in April. Only committed and serious students are eligible for this construction activity.
• Service - This service group is mainly responsible for helping run the recycling programat Wakefield, but can also help in other areas around the school.
• Speech and Debate - Students practice speaking skills while learning the methods necessary to be successful in debates.The club will also hold several debate events throughout the year.
• Student Life Committee - Positive and thoughtful leaders among students from 6th,7th, and 8th grades initiate and plan events for the Middle School. The committee also looks at broader ways of improving student life and excitement in the Middle School.
• Theatre Club - This group learns, practices, and performs a wide variety of acting methods. Students also take partin Junior International Thespian Society activities and work towards a JITSmember.

Lower School Unique Activities and Clubs

• Grandparents' Day: A revered tradition inthe Lower School, Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day signals the beginning of the Thanksgiving Holidays each year. All Lower School students from Pre-K through 5th grades takepart in a musical performance for their families and friends.
• Soccer Play Day: For one day each fall, Upper School soccer players coach and instruct students in a two-hour soccer session including skill-training and small-sided scrimmages. Over one hundred 4th and 5th graders from Wakefield and invited schools, participate in this community event.
• Enrichment activities are offered each trimester after school in the Lower School. The purpose of these activities is to provide students with the opportunity to explore a new interest or to pursue a particular passion. Activities change each trimester depending on what teachers and parents offer. Parents are encouraged to teach an activity if they have a special hobby or interest they wish to share.  

After School Art

After School Art

In all cases, activities, clubs and events are subject to student demand and participation. Roster of clubs and events may change.