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If you are interested in participating, listen and watch for announcements, usually around the start of the 2nd Grading Cycle, for when practices will begin. Please note that all participants in any UIL event, including Academics, should pay the District's UIL fee, which is now assessed through Skyward. It is not required to attend practices, but should be paid prior to the Spring Meet. (If you participate in Athletics, Band, Choir, or the One Act Play, this fee should already be paid and does not need to be paid again.)
Coach and practice info is posted below.
***By law, all students wishing to participate in any event MUST have a permission slip signed and returned to the campus coordinator (Travis Turek) or their coach IN ORDER TO ATTEND PRACTICES!!!
2027 Meet Information
Meet Date: April 3, 2027
Meet Location: Carroll Middle School; 1800 E. Kirkwood Blvd, Southlake, TX
Competing Schools: Argyle MS, Gibson MS, Carroll MS, Dawson MS
Coaching/ Practice InformationUnless specifically noted, each coach does all 3 grades for that eventEvent: Art Coach: Mrs. WestThis contest involves the study of paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and paintings or pictures from selected Texas museums. The Art Smart Bulletin, published every other year, is the source for study of history and art elements relative to the 30 art selections and is the final authority in the spelling of artists' names and titles of art works. As part of their study, students will demonstrate an understanding of art history and interpret ideas and moods in original artworks while making informed judgments about the artwork.Practices: TBD
Event: Calculator Skills Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallThe calculator applications contest is designed to stimulate the development of mathematical and calculator skills for students in grade 6,7 and 8. Goals are both intellectual and practical: developing mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requiring the application of problem-solving skills toward realistic problems. Students will take a test containing 80 problems in 30 minutes. The contest consists of problems which may include calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, and powers. It also includes straight-forward calculation problems, and simple geometric and stated problems similar to those found in recently adopted textbooks.Students may use any silent, hand-held calculator that does not require auxiliary electric power. Practices: TBD
Event: Chess Coach: Mr. HallChess puzzle competition is very different from tournament chess play. Contestants in a chess puzzle contest receive a paper-and-pencil test that includes a series of chess boards with pieces in particular positions. Questions are based on analysis of material or possible moves in each given diagram. Practices: Tuesday mornings before school (7:50 - 8:20)
Event: Dictionary Skills Coach: Mrs. Dominguez Thorough knowledge of the dictionary is a way to increase a student's ability to find the information that is needed for classwork as well as everyday living. Each Dictionary Skills test consists of 40 objective questions to be completed in 20 minutes. Contestants use dictionaries during the competition, which may be tabbed. Contest questions cover word origins and histories, parts of speech, variant spellings, plurals, alphabetizing and other such elements. Test questions are also taken from charts, tables and lists contained in the dictionary.The subject matter of all tests is taken from the Merriam Webster's Intermediate Dictionary copyrights 2020 and 2024. Contestants may use other dictionaries in the contest, but the contest subject matter will be found in Webster's Intermediate from any of the copyrights mentioned above. Practices: TBD
Event: Editorial Writing Coach: Ms. CollinsThe Editorial Writing Contest is designed to develop the persuasive writing skills of the participants. Students must advocate a specific point-of-view in response to a prompt. Sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students have 45 minutes in which to complete their editorials.Practices: Online practices posted to Google Classroom bi-weekly to qualify for competition
Event: Impromptu Speaking Coach: Mr. Turek This contest provides opportunities for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 to evaluate speeches given by others; to explore the use of the voice and body in speaking situations; to examine the different purposes for speaking; to organize ideas; to prepare and deliver various speeches; and to develop self-confidence.Contestants will draw three topics and have three minutes to prepare a speech, which must be presented without any notes. The contest gives participants experience in thinking, organizing, formulating clear thoughts, and delivering those thoughts to an audience effectively.The maximum time limit for each speech is five minutes. There is no minimum time limit. Students who exceed the allotted five minutes shall be penalized one rank.Practices: Advisory on Wednesdays (when available)
Event: Listening Coach: Mrs. EubanksThe listening contest is designed to help students in grades 5,6,7 and 8 recognize the importance of effective listening skills and to identify problems they may have in listening effectively. It also provides a challenging format to test the improvement of their listening abilities. Through preparation for the contest, participants will listen actively to a variety of material and learn to analyze and evaluate a speaker's message critically. Tests will include, but not necessarily be limited to, language arts, fine arts, natural sciences and social studies. The objective tests will measure skills such as identifying the main idea and supporting ideas, drawing conclusions, distinguishing fact from opinion, and mastering other listening and thinking skills.Contestants will listen to a script ranging from seven to ten minutes in length, take notes as needed, and use their notes to answer 25 multiple choice, true/false and short answer test questions. A variety of subject matter will be used for the listening tests.Practices: TBD
Event: Maps, Graphs, Charts Coaches: Mrs. Swann (6th Grade only); Mrs. Neal (7th and 8th Grade) The maps, graphs & charts contest is designed to help students learn to get information from a variety of maps, graphs and charts including world maps, pie charts, bar charts and local area maps. The objective test will measure skills such as using a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale and interpreting grid systems, legends and keys.Students will be given an objective test containing approximately 75 multiple choice and true/false questions, which must be answered in 45 minutes.Practices: TBD
Event: Mathematics Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallStudents begin taking math in elementary school and continue taking it in high school. Learning to complete math problems quickly is a valuable skill in all facets of life including engineering, accounting, completing a tax return and even grocery shopping. This contest includes problems covering, but not limited to: numeration systems, arithmetic operations involving whole numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, exponents, order of operations, probability, statistics, number theory, simple interest, measurements and conversions. Geometry and algebra problems may be included as appropriate for the grade level.Practices: TBD
Event: Modern Oratory Coach: Mrs. DodsonIn Modern Oratory, the sixth, seventh and eighth grade contestants will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic, and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose a side they will defend and support that side with additional evidence. Along with the skills of analysis, research, note-taking, documentation, evaluation and decision-making come those of delivery and the skill of memorization.Practices: TBD
Event: Music Memory Coach: Mr. FryberghThe focus of the Music Memory contest is an in-depth study of fine pieces of music literature taken from a wide spectrum of music genres to expose students to great composers, their lives and their music. In the course of preparing for the contest, students should be given the opportunity to describe and analyze the music, relate the music to history, to society and to culture, and to evaluate musical performance.A new list of selections is provided each school year. See the link in the sidebar. Students will listen to approximately 20 seconds of up to 20 musical selections and identify the name of the major work, selection and the name of the composer.Practices: Advisory, every other Thursday
Event: Number Sense Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallIndividuals are called upon every day to use their ability to make quick mental calculations to make decisions. The development of such abilities should be an integral part of the math curriculum. Concepts covered include, but are not limited to: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, proportions, and use of mathematic notation.Practices: TBD
Event: Oral Reading Coach: Mrs. TurekReading literature out loud provides opportunities for students to analyze the text, to grow and to develop as a performer, to communicate a message to an audience and to perform an artistic creation. The oral reading competition should be an extension of the classroom literary and language arts activities in poetry, short stories and children's fiction. The maximum time for all events is 6 minutes.6th Grade always reads a selection of poetry. Each selection may be one poem, a cutting of a poem, or a combination of poems. The same selection may be read in all rounds, but different selections are permissible. Selections must be published although the poet may be unknown or anonymous.7th and 8th grade alternates between poetry and prose. This year is prose. Each may be a single reading, a cutting from a longer selection, or a combination of several selections. The same selection may be read in all rounds, but different selections are permissible. Selections must be published although the author may be unknown or anonymous. Selections may be fiction or nonfiction and may be a cutting from a short story or novel. Practices: TBD
Event: Ready Writing Coach: Ms. CollinsTexas has put a great emphasis on writing skills at all levels of school and all levels of state-wide testing. Ready Writing builds upon those skills and helps students refine their writing abilities. In particular, this contest helps them to learn to write clearly and correctly a paper that is interesting and original. A standard dictionary or thesaurus may be used during the contest.Contestants are given a choice between two prompts which defines the audience and provides the purpose for writing. Students should be encouraged to analyze the prompts for the purpose of writing, the format, the audience and the point of view. The format may be, for example, a letter, an article for the newspaper or an essay for the principal. There is no minimum or maximum number of words the contestants must write.Practices: Online practices posted to Google Classroom bi-weekly to qualify for competition
Event: Science Coach: Mrs. SamsEmphasis for the Science contest, for students in sixth through eighth grades, will be placed on knowledge of scientific fact, understanding of scientific principles and the ability to think through scientific problems. The contest was designed to test not only memory but the ability to critically think about science and scientific processes and concepts. Such concepts include, but are not limited to: matter and energy, equilibrium, force and motion, physical and chemical properties, the relationship between organisms and the environment, the components of our solar system, the composition of matter and genetics. The contest will build upon the vast body of changing and increasing knowledge described by physical, mathematical, and conceptual models.Practices: TBD
Event: Social Studies Coaches: Mrs. Swann (6th Grade only); Mrs. Neal (7th and 8th Grade)TEKS Aligned test- 40 questions in 30 minutes.2026 6th grade Study Outline 2026 7th/8th Grade Study OutlinePractices: TBD/ Practices: TBD
Event: Spelling Coach: Mrs. CoxThe spelling contest is designed to give students exposure to a wide variety of vocabulary words. It is not a contest of memorization. For the most educational value, preparation for this contest should include instruction in the rules of the English language, meanings and definitions, and root words. In addition to learning to spell proficiently, contestants will learn to write clearly and to capitalize words properly.Students will write down words given by the pronouncer on their paper at a rate of approximately five words per minute.Practices: TBD
Event: Calculator Skills Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallThe calculator applications contest is designed to stimulate the development of mathematical and calculator skills for students in grade 6,7 and 8. Goals are both intellectual and practical: developing mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requiring the application of problem-solving skills toward realistic problems. Students will take a test containing 80 problems in 30 minutes. The contest consists of problems which may include calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, and powers. It also includes straight-forward calculation problems, and simple geometric and stated problems similar to those found in recently adopted textbooks.Students may use any silent, hand-held calculator that does not require auxiliary electric power. Practices: TBD
Event: Chess Coach: Mr. HallChess puzzle competition is very different from tournament chess play. Contestants in a chess puzzle contest receive a paper-and-pencil test that includes a series of chess boards with pieces in particular positions. Questions are based on analysis of material or possible moves in each given diagram. Practices: Tuesday mornings before school (7:50 - 8:20)
Event: Dictionary Skills Coach: Mrs. Dominguez Thorough knowledge of the dictionary is a way to increase a student's ability to find the information that is needed for classwork as well as everyday living. Each Dictionary Skills test consists of 40 objective questions to be completed in 20 minutes. Contestants use dictionaries during the competition, which may be tabbed. Contest questions cover word origins and histories, parts of speech, variant spellings, plurals, alphabetizing and other such elements. Test questions are also taken from charts, tables and lists contained in the dictionary.The subject matter of all tests is taken from the Merriam Webster's Intermediate Dictionary copyrights 2020 and 2024. Contestants may use other dictionaries in the contest, but the contest subject matter will be found in Webster's Intermediate from any of the copyrights mentioned above. Practices: TBD
Event: Editorial Writing Coach: Ms. CollinsThe Editorial Writing Contest is designed to develop the persuasive writing skills of the participants. Students must advocate a specific point-of-view in response to a prompt. Sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students have 45 minutes in which to complete their editorials.Practices: Online practices posted to Google Classroom bi-weekly to qualify for competition
Event: Impromptu Speaking Coach: Mr. Turek This contest provides opportunities for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 to evaluate speeches given by others; to explore the use of the voice and body in speaking situations; to examine the different purposes for speaking; to organize ideas; to prepare and deliver various speeches; and to develop self-confidence.Contestants will draw three topics and have three minutes to prepare a speech, which must be presented without any notes. The contest gives participants experience in thinking, organizing, formulating clear thoughts, and delivering those thoughts to an audience effectively.The maximum time limit for each speech is five minutes. There is no minimum time limit. Students who exceed the allotted five minutes shall be penalized one rank.Practices: Advisory on Wednesdays (when available)
Event: Listening Coach: Mrs. EubanksThe listening contest is designed to help students in grades 5,6,7 and 8 recognize the importance of effective listening skills and to identify problems they may have in listening effectively. It also provides a challenging format to test the improvement of their listening abilities. Through preparation for the contest, participants will listen actively to a variety of material and learn to analyze and evaluate a speaker's message critically. Tests will include, but not necessarily be limited to, language arts, fine arts, natural sciences and social studies. The objective tests will measure skills such as identifying the main idea and supporting ideas, drawing conclusions, distinguishing fact from opinion, and mastering other listening and thinking skills.Contestants will listen to a script ranging from seven to ten minutes in length, take notes as needed, and use their notes to answer 25 multiple choice, true/false and short answer test questions. A variety of subject matter will be used for the listening tests.Practices: TBD
Event: Maps, Graphs, Charts Coaches: Mrs. Swann (6th Grade only); Mrs. Neal (7th and 8th Grade) The maps, graphs & charts contest is designed to help students learn to get information from a variety of maps, graphs and charts including world maps, pie charts, bar charts and local area maps. The objective test will measure skills such as using a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale and interpreting grid systems, legends and keys.Students will be given an objective test containing approximately 75 multiple choice and true/false questions, which must be answered in 45 minutes.Practices: TBD
Event: Mathematics Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallStudents begin taking math in elementary school and continue taking it in high school. Learning to complete math problems quickly is a valuable skill in all facets of life including engineering, accounting, completing a tax return and even grocery shopping. This contest includes problems covering, but not limited to: numeration systems, arithmetic operations involving whole numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, exponents, order of operations, probability, statistics, number theory, simple interest, measurements and conversions. Geometry and algebra problems may be included as appropriate for the grade level.Practices: TBD
Event: Modern Oratory Coach: Mrs. DodsonIn Modern Oratory, the sixth, seventh and eighth grade contestants will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic, and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose a side they will defend and support that side with additional evidence. Along with the skills of analysis, research, note-taking, documentation, evaluation and decision-making come those of delivery and the skill of memorization.Practices: TBD
Event: Music Memory Coach: Mr. FryberghThe focus of the Music Memory contest is an in-depth study of fine pieces of music literature taken from a wide spectrum of music genres to expose students to great composers, their lives and their music. In the course of preparing for the contest, students should be given the opportunity to describe and analyze the music, relate the music to history, to society and to culture, and to evaluate musical performance.A new list of selections is provided each school year. See the link in the sidebar. Students will listen to approximately 20 seconds of up to 20 musical selections and identify the name of the major work, selection and the name of the composer.Practices: Advisory, every other Thursday
Event: Number Sense Coaches: Mrs. Baker/ Mr. HallIndividuals are called upon every day to use their ability to make quick mental calculations to make decisions. The development of such abilities should be an integral part of the math curriculum. Concepts covered include, but are not limited to: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, proportions, and use of mathematic notation.Practices: TBD
Event: Oral Reading Coach: Mrs. TurekReading literature out loud provides opportunities for students to analyze the text, to grow and to develop as a performer, to communicate a message to an audience and to perform an artistic creation. The oral reading competition should be an extension of the classroom literary and language arts activities in poetry, short stories and children's fiction. The maximum time for all events is 6 minutes.6th Grade always reads a selection of poetry. Each selection may be one poem, a cutting of a poem, or a combination of poems. The same selection may be read in all rounds, but different selections are permissible. Selections must be published although the poet may be unknown or anonymous.7th and 8th grade alternates between poetry and prose. This year is prose. Each may be a single reading, a cutting from a longer selection, or a combination of several selections. The same selection may be read in all rounds, but different selections are permissible. Selections must be published although the author may be unknown or anonymous. Selections may be fiction or nonfiction and may be a cutting from a short story or novel. Practices: TBD
Event: Ready Writing Coach: Ms. CollinsTexas has put a great emphasis on writing skills at all levels of school and all levels of state-wide testing. Ready Writing builds upon those skills and helps students refine their writing abilities. In particular, this contest helps them to learn to write clearly and correctly a paper that is interesting and original. A standard dictionary or thesaurus may be used during the contest.Contestants are given a choice between two prompts which defines the audience and provides the purpose for writing. Students should be encouraged to analyze the prompts for the purpose of writing, the format, the audience and the point of view. The format may be, for example, a letter, an article for the newspaper or an essay for the principal. There is no minimum or maximum number of words the contestants must write.Practices: Online practices posted to Google Classroom bi-weekly to qualify for competition
Event: Science Coach: Mrs. SamsEmphasis for the Science contest, for students in sixth through eighth grades, will be placed on knowledge of scientific fact, understanding of scientific principles and the ability to think through scientific problems. The contest was designed to test not only memory but the ability to critically think about science and scientific processes and concepts. Such concepts include, but are not limited to: matter and energy, equilibrium, force and motion, physical and chemical properties, the relationship between organisms and the environment, the components of our solar system, the composition of matter and genetics. The contest will build upon the vast body of changing and increasing knowledge described by physical, mathematical, and conceptual models.Practices: TBD
Event: Social Studies Coaches: Mrs. Swann (6th Grade only); Mrs. Neal (7th and 8th Grade)TEKS Aligned test- 40 questions in 30 minutes.2026 6th grade Study Outline 2026 7th/8th Grade Study OutlinePractices: TBD/ Practices: TBD
Event: Spelling Coach: Mrs. CoxThe spelling contest is designed to give students exposure to a wide variety of vocabulary words. It is not a contest of memorization. For the most educational value, preparation for this contest should include instruction in the rules of the English language, meanings and definitions, and root words. In addition to learning to spell proficiently, contestants will learn to write clearly and to capitalize words properly.Students will write down words given by the pronouncer on their paper at a rate of approximately five words per minute.Practices: TBD
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