Junior School Activities, Councils and Clubs
While children are encouraged to play freely during recess break times, there are also a number of clubs offered to the students during their free time and after school. Teachers provide many interesting experiences that are meant to teach new skills and to enrich the overall learning for the children. It is hoped that students will engage in some of the activities offered during the year and benefit from the expertise of the teachers who are leading these clubs. There is a brief description of each club listed in this handbook. At the beginning of each term, parents will receive a note from the Assistant Director to outline the clubs for the Term. Students will be given more information during assemblies and will be instructed about how to join the clubs.
All clubs held after school will be communicated by a sign up letter emailed to parents of grades involved. It is hoped that the clubs program will enrich the lives of our students.
Junior School Activities, Councils and Clubs 2018-19
| Club/Activity | Term | Description and Staff Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| After-School French Club | Term 1 |
Grades 4 & 5 Mlle. Deslaurier and the Alliance Française are joining together to provide this extracurricular club that will provide more time to experience and practice the French language. All levels of learners are welcome to join this new club that will focus on practicing and developing vocabulary and improve their listening and speaking skills. The club will be interactive with varied activities. The cost to join is $120 per student. Staff Sponsor: Mille. Deslaurier |
| Art Club | Term 2 |
Grade 5 Projects and media vary from year to year but the students are encouraged to take a more self-directed approach towards the projects and work at their own pace on one project over the course of the term. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Agathoklis |
| Buddy Reading Club | Term 1 |
Grade 2 Buddy Reading is an opportunity for students in Grade 2 to share their interests in reading with a student based at the Senior School. Enrolment is limited in this program. Students are bussed to the Senior School (free of charge) where they meet their Senior School reading buddy. Junior and Senior School students spend time together reading and socializing in the Snowden Library. Students are asked to bring an extra snack. Parents pick up participants at the Snowden Library at 3400 Richmond Road at 4:45 pm. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Nason |
| Crafty Club | Term 1 |
Grades 1 & 2 Students have an opportunity to make a variety of crafts with creativity as the focus. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Tripp |
| First LEGO Robotics Club | Terms 1 & 2 |
Grade 5 The First Lego Robotics Club teams will be participating in the Junior First Lego League program. Each fall, First Lego League releases a challenge which involves three parts: the Robot Game, the Project and the FLL Core Values. Please visit: www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/thechallenge for more information on the 2018–2019 challenge. Typically, the program runs over an 8–10 week period and students will meet to brainstorm solutions to the problems outlined in the challenge. Students who would like to participate in the Robotics Club will need to commit to regular attendance. Staff Sponsor: Ms. Hann, Mr. Chan and Mr. Keil |
| French Club | Terms 1, 2 & 3 |
Grades 4 and 5 Students are invited to eat their lunch together, every Day 9, while conversing in French. This is a club attended by invitation and is for Francophone students or students from a French Immersion background. It will be an enriched time of conversation and language learning. Staff Sponsor: Mlle. Deslaurier |
| Garden Club | Term 3 |
Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2 & 3 Students can get their hands dirty by planting a spring garden. Fruit and vegetable seedlings will need students tender loving care to grow into a feast that families can enjoy before summer break. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. O’Donnell and Ms. Hochalter |
| Green Team | Terms 1, 2 & 3 |
Grade 4 Students meet to discuss environmental concerns. A project is decided upon each year. Student activities are planned to support the project and increase knowledge. Staff Sponsors: Mrs. Nason and Ms. Hochalter |
| Hip Hop Club | Term 2 |
Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 Students will be introduced to hip hop and will have fun with this unique dance experience. Staff Sponsor: Mr. Barber |
| Imagination Lab Club | Term 1 |
Grades 2, 3 & 4 Each term the Imagination Lab will have a number of lunch and after-school clubs to inspire students to make, build, iterate, invent and collaborate. STEAM challenges, tinkering time and drop-in times will be offered. The possibilities are endless. Further details will be sent out to parents. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Galloway |
| Lego Club | Term 2 |
Grades 2 and 3 Students will spend time in building and exploring with Lego in a relaxed and unstructured session. There are 20 spaces in this club. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Kingsbury |
| Mad Science Club | Term 2 |
Grades: 1 and 2 The theme this year is Laughing Matter. The six topics (one per class) are Optical Illusions, Magic in the Kitchen, Science of Magic, Movie Effects, Detective Science and the Science of Toys. Registration is online only on a first come, first served bases, with a limit of 25 students per grade. All funds go to Mad Science of Vancouver Island. Cost includes instruction and a take-home activity each week. Students have a supervised recess and snack time from 3:15–3:30 pm before club begins. Staff Sponsors: Mrs. Duffus and Mrs. Smith |
| Mandarin Club (Grades 1 & 2) |
Term 3 |
Grades 1 and 2 Students will be introduced to Mandarin in a setting that is suitable for beginners. Students must commit to regular attendance in order to benefit from this club. Staff Sponsor: TBD |
| Mandarin Club (Grades 3, 4, 5) |
Term 3 |
Grades 3, 4, 5 Students will be introduced to Mandarin in a setting that is suitable for beginners. Students must commit to regular attendance in order to benefit from this club. Staff Sponsor: TBD. Parent Sponsor: Li-Shu Huang. |
| Mindful Colouring Club | Term 2 |
Grades Kindergarten, 1 & 2 Students will experience relaxing, quiet music while colouring from a variety of interesting designs. Sessions will begin and end with a mindful moment. This club is a wonderful way to pause in the middle of the day. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. O’Donnell and Ms. Eden |
| Nature Sketch Club | Term 1 |
Grades 1, 2 & 3 The Junior Nature Sketch Club is a nature program for children that focuses on sketching and observing plants and animals in the local environment. Guided by a sketch artist/naturalist, this program encourages children to connect with the natural world using a pencil and a sketchbook. The cost of the program ($80 per student) includes 7 weeks of sketching instruction, a special Nature Sketch Club book and all sketching materials. The program is facilitated through the Robert Bateman Centre. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Lincoln |
| Performance Club | Terms 1, 2 & 3 |
Grades Kindergarten to Grade 5 With the goal of enhancing the rich culture of performance at SMUS, Mr. Smith invites talented musicians and dancers to perform in the weekly Junior School Chapel and Assembly times. Students of all musical levels may prepare a brief performance between 1–3 minutes to try out. The music or performance (dance, drama etc.) doesn’t need to be difficult, but could be anything a student enjoys performing. Students will receive a private tryout/coaching session along with a second coaching 1 or 2 days before the performance. Students will be supported with the staging in Assembly or Chapel event. Show the Junior School your greatest talent and have fun and a wonderful experience in sharing your talent for everyone to enjoy. Staff Sponsor: Mr. Smith |
| Public Speaking Club | Term 2 |
Grades 4 & 5 Students will be introduced to the key elements of public speaking in a fun and encouraging environment. Students will also have the opportunity to present a speech to an audience. Home practice is required. Weekly attendance is expected and enrollment is limited. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Cook and Ms. Rennie |
| Red Cedar Club | Terms 2 & 3 |
Grade 5 The Red Cedar Award is a students’ choice book award. Grade 5 students meet to read and discuss a minimum of five books nominated for the Red Cedar Award, while drinking cider and eating cookies. Once they have read the books, completed book reports and taken part in discussions, they are eligible to vote for their favourite book. There is a group celebratory event after the voting takes place. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Nason |
| Sewing Club | Term 2 |
Grades 1 to 5 Students will be completing a sewing project of an adorable stuffed animal. Students will cut the simple pattern, hand stitch the seams and stuff the stuffy to complete the project. Parent volunteers are welcome. Staff Sponsor: Ms. Porteous and Mrs. Galloway |
| Tinkering Club | Term 1 |
Grades 3, 4 and 5 Students will be provided an opportunity to build, create and tinker with a variety of materials in the Imagination Lab. Space is limited to 18 students. Staff Sponsor: Mrs. Galloway |
| Yoga Club | Term 2 |
Grade 4 No experience necessary. This club is an opportunity to quiet the mind and body. We will use yoga mats, pillows and blankets to explore relaxation and the connection between our minds and our bodies. Relaxation will be the key to these sessions. Staff Sponsor: Ms. Sandquist |