In addition to our athletic team offerings, we are pleased to announce that we will again offer the opportunity for students to join a variety of after-school clubs. These extra-curricular activities provide a wonderful chance for students to discover new interests and meet students from other grades. We hope you’ll consider joining one of the clubs listed below.
The Math Club is open to all 7th and 8th graders and invited 6th graders. The group meets each Thursday from 3:15 until 4:00 PM. In addition to providing fun and challenging activities, the club is a wonderful enrichment and preparation for high school math.
The Stock Market Club meets during the spring months and is for all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The club utilizes the Stock Market Game which is a simulation game for the United States Stock Market. The competition was developed to promote a better understanding of the Financial Investment System and how it works. The simulation is geared to helping students understand how to trade in the stock market. They also learn the costs and benefits involved in economic decision making, buyers and market demand, sellers and market supply, and sources and uses of capital. While working in teams, the students have fun and learn some of the mechanics of investing. Mrs. Kruger, Mrs. Haberstroh and Mr. Kennedy work with both the Math Club and the Stock Market Club.
The Battle of the Books is a reading competition program for students in grades 4 - 6. This year, the Saint Jude Student Book Club will focus on the assigned books from the Battle of the Books list. Members of the Book Club will meet the second Thursday of the month from November through March in Room 205. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to discuss the books from the assigned book list and engage in discussions and mini-competitions with other group members. The regional competition for the Battle of the Books will be held March 30th at Saint Jude School. The coordinator of the Book Club will be Mrs. Ellis. Coordinators for the Battle of the Books School Program are Mrs. Amherdt and Mrs. Rau.
The Spanish Club,under the direction of Mrs. Bureta, meets the third Monday of the month starting in October and is open to students in grades 5 - 8. Those in the club will have an opportunity to experience Spanish culture, language, food and art. There are plans to include guest speakers and an outing to a Spanish restaurant as part of the activities.
From October through May students in grades 5 - 8 may participate in the school’s Environmental Club. Meetings will be held the second Monday of the month from 3:20 - 4:00 in the Niemer Science Lab. Ecology and the environment will be the focus for this group. Mrs. Kiesling and Sister Madelyn will be working with the students.
Due to the overwhelming response last year, we will have to limit the registration for the Lego Club to students in grades 4 and 5. Students who join the Lego Club meet with Mrs. Fischer in the Activity Center starting in November. Those interested are encouraged to sign up immediately as membership is limited. Joining the club is a great way to have fun while building fantastic creations. The final event for the group will be a Lego Competition, tentatively scheduled for February. The exact date has yet to be determined. With a group the size of our club, we’re always grateful for any donations of your old Legos.
We’re still working out the details for the Chess Club, but we can tell you that this will be held in the spring and will be open to students in grades 1 - 8. The Club will be under the direction of Mr. Arlen Walker of the Milwaukee Chess Club. There is a $25 fee for this club which will meet five times during the months of April and May. The club is for both the novice and the pro chess players of our school.
Also in the works is the formation of a Bowling Club which will meet once a week for approximately six weeks. We hope to have two separate sections - one for grades 2 - 5 and another for students in grades 6 - 8. We are looking for two parent coordinators to help with this club.
We hope all parents will encourage their child(ren) to join at least one of these extra-curricular clubs. We offer these as an opportunity for all to get involved in activities outside the structured school day. As well as meeting new friends from other grades, we feel these activities offer opportunities for students to learn the values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, physical strength and endurance, competition, and a sense of culture and community. Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are thus considered part of a well-rounded education. Except for the Bowling Club and the Chess Club, there are no fees for the other clubs unless a special outing would incur extra expenses. Sign-up sheets will be available in the homerooms.
In addition to the clubs, students may also sign up for the Art Classes offered by Mrs. Maribeth Mullen Nolder. Tuesday sections are for students in grades 5 - 8 and students in K5 - 4 may sign up for the Wednesday sessions. Watch for information and registration forms which are published on a regular basis.