Middle School Activity Clubs

Seventh and Eighth grade students participate in activity clubs twice a week for 30 minutes. Clubs are designed as a supervised time to explore non-academic interests with opportunities for socializing. Students change clubs every quarter. Club offerings vary every quarter and rotate among faculty. In the 2002-2003 school year, students may choose between many club offerings.

Some of the clubs offered this year include: Photo Club with Ms. Ozarslan, K-Pals with Ms. Patterson, Spanish Crafts with Ms. Castellano, Study Hall with Ms. Townsend/ Ms. Sofair, Knitting with Ms. Martin, Scrapbook Making with Ms. Toner, Robotics with Ms. Minkin, Card Playing with Ms. Korin, Board Games with Ms. Robertson, and Basketball with Ms. Parker and Mr. Tucker, Coloring with Ms. Levin, Scrabble with Ms. Townsend, Film Club with Ms. Korin/ Mr. Horrworth, Stock Market Club with Mr. Mugione, and Animè with Mr. Porter.

Middle School Basketball Club

The Basketball Club meets two times a week for 30 minutes. Students meet in the gym and generally split into two groups to play. The students agree on rules, fouls, etc.

Middle School Card Playing Club

Students gather in informal groups to play a variety of card games of their choosing. There are laughs and lots of bluffing, but no gambling. Our aim is to relax and enjoy the camaraderie.

Middle School Drawing Club

We live in very busy and stressful times….For this reason, the Drawing Club was created. While listening to soothing, classical music, students work in coloring books and/or create their own designs. This club is like a backrub to our day!

Middle School Film Club

Students watch three films over the course of the quarter and discuss elements in each film. Talking and popcorn are discouraged.

Middle School Knitting Club

The Knitting Club is open to both boys and girls and is limited to about 12 students a quarter. Both experienced and beginning knitters are welcome. Students learn the basic knit & purl stitches and then work on a self-selected project.

Middle School K-Pals Club

The K-PALS Club meets on Mondays and Fridays. Seventh and Eighth grade students are paired with KinderFirst students to help write stories and read aloud to the younger students. The K-PALS are encouraged to assist the KinderFirst students to sound out words and write sentences based on a topic introduced by the two club facilitators, Mrs. Patterson and Ms. Alida Anderson.

Middle School Japanese Animation Club

The Japanese Animation Club is composed of twelve enthusiastic Eighth grade boys who submit their own videos and DVD's for viewing. Most of the videos are related to space exploration with a lot of exciting special effects. All animation films are pre-viewed by Mr. Porter.

Middle School Robotics Club

The Robotics Club meets two times a week during activity time. Students build motorized Lego Dacta robotics as well as other robotics kits. Some students choose to program their creations using the Lego Dacta RoboLab software. At the end of each quarter, we visit the Kindergarten class to share our creations and explain the process.

Middle School Scrapbook/ Photo Album Making Club

The Scrapbook Club consists of 12 members. We meet for about an hour a week to work on our personal scrapbooks and photo albums. All of the students are encouraged to share ideas, tips, and will often spend time outside of school working on their projects. At the end of the quarter, each student will be invited to share the completed, or almost completed, book that they have been working on.

Middle School Scrabble Club

The Scrabble Club has 12 participants. The group is divided in three groups of four. Games are monitored to ensure appropriate use of the language and to facilitate any "challenges" regarding doubtful words and scoring points.

Middle School Spanish Club

The Spanish Club consists of 14 members. The club meets twice a week for thirty minutes. Members participate in various activities pertaining to the Hispanic culture. Students learn a variety of games, cultural songs, and learn some favorite cooking recipes of Latin-American cuisine. Moreover, they create craft projects like piñatas and God's eyes.

Middle School Stock Market Club

The Stock Market Club teaches future stockbrokers the basics of trading on Wall Street. With the use of E*Trade.com, students review stocks they consider worth investing. Students begin the quarter with an "imaginary" sum of money to simulate the purchase of shares in hopes that the company's stock will rise. NOTE: Students understand that they are only allowed to check stock quotes at school through the E*Trade website; not open any accounts.

Middle School Student Council

In the 2002-2003 school year, we set up a new approach to representation and responsibility within the Student Council. All Middle School students are members of the Council. Each grade elects two representatives for the Planning Committee. The Committee does the selecting and planning of programs and fundraisers throughout the year, involving the general student population in the actualizing of these plans. It is a structure without specific job designations, encouraging shared responsibilities rather than delineating tasks and pressures on a few students. This model seems to be working well; we plan to continue using it.

Student Council seeks to involve itself with fun activities for its members as well as with serious fundraising projects in coordination with other organizations such as the Parents' Association of McLean School and various agencies in the greater Washington Metropolitan area.