During Co-Curricular Period on B & E Days

These co-curricular opportunities will rotate by trimester. Students will sign up each trimester and be placed in small groups led by staff, community friends and parents. The purpose of this time is to provide authentic experiential learning that would not typically be part of our school's curriculum and allow students to engage in activities in the middle of the day, instead of competing for after school time. A variety of activities will be offered during our co curricular activity period. See below for our current offerings.

Co-Curricular offerings Winter 2013:

What’s Your Racquet? – John Hamilton

Will include time on the tennis, badminton and pickle ball courts teaching rules, skills and strategies. The goal will be to help match players of equal abilities on the same court. Instruction and match play will be featured.

Theatre Games - Deirdre Atkinson

All kinds of theatre games can be played to increase performance, embrace theatre risk taking and creative skills. Most theatre games have no winners or losers. Students work individually or with others to accomplish the goal of the game - sometimes creating something out of nothing, creating community, excercising group focus and of course -- having fun!

Science Olympiad – Larry Hurst

Science Olympiad subjects may include earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved with science. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Through Science Olympiad, students and teachers work together toward a shared goal.

Open Woodshop – Tom Tucker

Come to the woodshop for some additional woodshop exposure and/or to complete ongoing wood projects. Students will receive instruction needed to complete appropriate projects which are doable within the time frame permitted.

MathCounts - Lynda Douglas and Lauren Sharashian and US students

MathCounts provides fun and challenging math programs for middle school students to increase their academic and professional opportunities. MathCounts is a national program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement.

Open Band – Mark Pritchard

This class will be 100% performance oriented. Everyone welcome but, some musical experience appreciated as we strive to create our MS Band. We will be covering rock and jazz and need instruments such as drums, guitars, sax and horns and a singer or two. Rock on!

The Olympic Games – Brian Gant

Learn, practice and play a variety of the Olympic games from team handball to field (floor) hockey, volleyball, soccer and more. We will be running, jumping and throwing. Want to be active? This activity is for you.

Visual Projamming - Suresh Srinivan and Tim Rayle

In computing a visual programming language (VPL) is any programming language that lets users create programs by manipulating program elements graphically rather than by specifying them textually.

AWSEM - Veronica Ledoux and US students

Advocates for Woman in Science, Engineering, and Math (AWSEM) is a science program designed to motivate middle school girls to pursue higher education and careers in the areas of science, engineering and math.The AWSEM program introduces middle school girls to professional women role models providing an opportunity for girls to participate in a variety of experiences related to these fields.

Photograpy - Craig Daniels

Learn basic photo techniques, styles and composition tips. Enjoy taking photos students are interested in, editing and creating the finished product. Use all variety of cameras from iphone to point and shoot.

Meditation - David Ellenberg

Use meditation techniques for relaxation, calm breathing, self regulation and to help achieve clearer minds.

Challenge Course - David Reich

Explore the school’s amazing Challenge Course and/or move indoors as weather dictates to the rock wall or all sorts of challenging games of initiative. This activity is a chance to learn some new skills, work as a group and have fun. You will learn about yourself as well as about being a cooperative team player.

Taiwan trip - Come together to plan upcoming trip to Tawian.

Cost Rica trip - Come together to plan upcoming trip to Costa Rica.

Co-Curricular offerings Fall 2012:

The Play's the Thing  - Deirdre Atkinson

We will be gathering to read and discuss plays and then make recommendations for the 7th grade drama season! Scripts will include everything from low-ball comedies to "drama-dies" to science fiction to classics. Your opinions and wisdom are needed to help us build dramatic seasons that are challenging for our actors and intriguing to our audiences!

Garden Club – Carter Latendresse

Takes care of the organic gardens and apple orchard on campus. Among other things, we plant seeds, harvest fruits and veggies, take care of school compost, cook, eat, and bring harvests to the Barn for the school's salad bar. The Garden Club will also build garden furniture, garden bed signs, and birdhouses, and then we will install these garden items along with other necessities such as rain barrels. Another important task is to grow flowers and veggies in the greenhouse for the big Spring Festival plant sale fundraiser. If you like being outside, making and eating tasty food, building garden furniture, and growing beautiful flowers and veggies, this activity is for you.

Chorus – Charlie Bush

Join together and sing all variety of music: popular, traditional, culturally diverse, seasonal and more. Discover the fun of singing together with friends and performing. Discover your inner voice and sing! We’ll explore all variety of rhythm, melody, tempo, dynamics, timbre, harmony, and style.

Handling Emergencies - Michael Hayward

There's always a need for people to be willing to help in emergencies. But to be safe and effective in a crisis you need training. This class will both discuss and demonstrate a variety of emergency actions that you could use to help someone or yourself. First aid, lost in the wilderness skills, and Hands-Only CPR are part of the agenda.

Can It! – Ann Fyfield

We’ll start with learning how to make and preserve scrumptious jams and jellies, using both frozen and fresh fruit. We'll also learn how to make pesto by using basil, mint and cilantro from our gardens. We'll even round out our canning with some pickles perhaps and some yummy sauces to put on ice cream. What would jam and jelly be without a little chocolate in between? P.S. Taste testing IS allowed!

Challenge Course - Dale Rawls & David Reich

Explore the school’s amazing Challenge Course. This activity is a chance to learn some new skills, work as a group and have fun. You will learn about yourself as well as about being a cooperative team player. The focus will be on the lower elements only. No previous experience required.

Introduction to Programming Using Lego Robots – Dale Yocum

This self-paced co-curricular is an introduction to the concepts of computer programming. We’ll use LEGO robots as the object of our attention because they use an easy drag and drop graphical system. This is different than after school robotics in that we won’t be building things with LEGOs. This is intended for those students who have never done programming before or who have only made it though the basics, for example in 7^th grade science.

What’s Your Racquet? – John Hamilton

Will include time on the tennis, badminton and pickle ball courts teaching rules, skills and strategies. The goal will be to help match players of equal abilities on the same court. Instruction and match play will be featured.

Yearbook: Capturing Our Community's Moments – Barbara Ostos

Students will work in our co-curricular team to capture all of our community's moments for the yearbook. Although the yearbook will not be printed until the end of the year, with so many activities, sports and events ongoing throughout the year, each trimester the yearbook team will divide and conquer to be sure to accurately include everything memorable from the year.

Knit & Crochet - Yen-Ling Wang

Students will learn to knit and crochet simple hats and scarfs. Our goal is for every student to create a piece to keep for themselves and one or two other pieces to donate to a charitable cause. All materials will be provided.

Road to the White House – David Ellenberg & Paul Monheimer

Follow the ups and downs of election season. What are the issues? How is a voter to decide between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama? Join us as we examine all things electoral.

Yoga Bhoga – Natalie Dickinson

In Sanskrit "bhoga" means fun, which is a key aspect to any yoga practice. We will explore a wide range of yoga postures, styles and breathing exercises. This will be a time to build strength, balance and flexibility in a fun and supportive environment. We will take time to relax and calm down, and also energize and awaken the mind and body.

Public Speaking – Jason Stevens

Ever had to speak in front of an audience? Well, you'll be doing just that in many of your classes this year. If speaking in public gives you the heebie-jeebies, or if you just want to be better at it, this is the session for you! We'll be watching videos of great speeches, and learning how to craft and deliver one of your own. Interested students will have the option to debate each other, but it is not required.

The Art of Poetry & Songwriting - Katie Gunderson

Do you like reading and writing poetry? Would you like to learn more about it? Then this co-curricular is for you! Get the chance to create your own poems and song lyrics and compile them into a collection to share or just keep to yourself!

Salsa, Cumbia 101- Beginner dance class – Spencer White

Super basic and fun dance. We will learn the steps of two Latin dances, the Salsa and the Cumbia. You will not be partnered or forced to dance with someone! It is individual work. Come and get loose, dance, enjoy some great music and tear it up on the dance floor!

Open Band – Mark Pritchard

This class will be 100% performance oriented. Everyone welcome but, some musical experience appreciated as we strive to create our MS Band. We will be covering rock and jazz and need instruments such as drums, guitars, sax and horns and a singer or two. Rock on!

Drop Everything and Run – Chris Skrapits & Christa Kaainoa

Get your heart racing and your speed on! We will spend our time getting into shape and getting fit. Activities will include: interval training, long runs, geo-caching, and trips to Nike, forest park and waterfront park. Come on and get your run on!

Literary Magazine – Holly Walsh

Join a community of writers to create poetry, fiction, and non-fiction! Our ultimate goal is to publish our Middle School's very own literary magazine.

The Olympic Games – Brian Gant & Paul Andrichuk

Learn, practice and play a variety of the Olympic games from team handball to field (floor) hockey, volleyball, soccer and more. We will be running, jumping and throwing. Want to be active? This activity is for you.

Science Olympiad for Beginners – Larry Hurst

Science Olympiad subjects may include earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved with science. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Through Science Olympiad, students and teachers work together toward a shared goal.

Open Woodshop – Tom Tucker

Come to the woodshop for some additional woodshop exposure and/or to complete ongoing wood projects. Students will receive instruction needed to complete appropriate projects which are doable within the time frame permitted.

 Need to sign up?  Do that here.