Marina Middle School Overview

At Marina we are all on the same team...sometimes it is even the same Karaoke team. When Jesse (Beacon Center Engagement Coordinator), Mr. Papagni (Science), Ms. Sparks (Social Studies), Principal Daws and Ms. Swanger (school social worker) bring their voices together, great things can happen. This is a perfect photo to describe what makes Marina special.

Transitioning to middle school takes time, and at Marina we work with our new students supporting them as they begin to take on the new challenges of a larger school environment. Teachers work to support the transition in all classes from Math and Science to Language Arts and Social Studies plus their elective and P.E.

Marinas Afterschool Program is run by the Marina Beacon Center and offers approximately 15 different club activities per year. Students can choose from a rotating schedule of engaging activities that range from sports, photography, cooking to dance and youth leadership and service learning. The program also includes a Homework Time.

Students have a daily electives including Band, Orchestra, AVID, Health, Visual Art, Arabic Language and Culture, Video Media and more.

At Marina, P.E. is every day. Our fully staffed P.E. department utilizes our spacious facility to provide a variety of offerings, including: introduction to sports (volleyball, badminton, baseball basics, basketball, etc.), physical conditioning, biking (bikes provided for all), gymnastics, mixed martial arts, bowling and much more.

Three Zero Period (8:45am) electives are offered M, T, Th and F.

• Advanced Math 
• Choir
• Guitar

All students are invited to join. Please see the counseling office for more information.

Photo of Choir performing at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival.

Fun school events include: Annual School Carnival, Spiritweek, Halloween Haunted House, STEAM Night, School Concerts, Field-trips, various school assemblies and much more.

The Marina library is filled with gorgeous natural light, a regularly updated book collection, a full set of touch-screen Chromebooks, resources that include e-books, online research tools, data bases, and best of all lots of cozy seating to curl up in and...do what kids do...talk.

One of the most used rooms in the building, it is open daily for lunch club, used for regular parent meetings and principal coffees, and classes use the space for research and free reading time.

Marina offers a variety of clubs including teacher supervised twice a week Lunchtime Homework Clinic. Club offerings include Japanese Culture Club, Juniors for Justice, Creativity Club and more! Additionally the library is open 5 days a week at lunchtime.

All Middle School sports are organized by the Academic Athletic Association/CIF and Marina Middle School is proud to have our boys and girls compete in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and track & field. Students learn more about try-out dates and teams from their P.E. teachers. 

Marina has creative and engaged teachers who give a tremendous amount to their students, with high standards in a supportive environment. The administration is open to new ideas and leads by example. The support staff is happy to jump in, help out and cheer on our students.

There are many ways for families to be involved at Marina. Parents support sports teams, the band and orchestra programming, help in the school library, assist on field-trips, and are encouraged to join any number of the groups and organizations (see Families tab for more details) SSC, PTSA, ELAC or the AAPAC. Parents involvement is critical to student success.

Constructed in 1936, the Marina Middle School building was designed by the acclaimed architecture duo of George Kelham and William Day. Originally called Marina Junior High, the school boosts beautiful art deco details throughout that are reminiscent of other Kelham projects in the Bay Area including the original Main Public Library (now the Asian Art Museum), the UC Berkeley School of Life Science, HAAS Pavilion, and the Treasure Island International Exhibition Building.