Clubs & Activities 2011-12 School Year
AMERICAN RED CROSS CLUB
The American Red Cross Club is an extension of the Sullivan
County Red Cross. It is an introduction into volunteer work for
the Red Cross. An annual event sponsored by the Red Cross Club
is the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We collect food in homeroom and
donate it to a local food pantry. Another event the Red Cross
Club has is the Annual Coat Drive. We collect clean used coats
from students, faculty, and staff and delivered them to the
United Way to distribute to members of the community for winter.
The Red Cross Club also collects money for “Pennies for
Patients”. This is sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society. The donations are used to help families pay for the
cancer treatment. We held a Walk for Diabetes to raise money for
diabetes research. An annual blood drive is held each June;
members help the Red Cross nurses set up for the drive and work
the canteen serving cookies and juice. Members in past years
have had car washes and bake sales to provide prizes for the
food drive, purchase cookies and juice for the blood drive, and
for our end of the year lunch. New members are always welcome!
BUILDER’S CLUB
The Builder’s Club, the Jr. High division of Kiwanis
International, is a service organization that performs volunteer
services in the school and community. Past activities have
included visits to the skilled nursing unit at the hospital,
volunteering at the S.P.C.A., coat drives, planting and clean up
in parks and school, guides in schools and school dances,
fundraisers, candy grams, bake sales and car washes. The funds
raised have been donated to the American Heart Association,
Cancer Society and Make a Wish Foundation.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
The Middle School Environmental Club is dedicated to keeping our
earth clean and healthy. The club is responsible for planting
and maintaining our community garden. Additional activities may
include participating in Earth Day, using recycled materials to
create ornaments, and inviting guest speakers to discuss current
environmental issues. Think globally, act locally – become a
member of the Environmental Club!
GIRLS’ and BOYS’ GROUPS
Students in grades 6-8 are encouraged to participate in yearlong
girls’ and boys’ groups. During these lunch time meetings issues
pertinent to adolescents are discussed. Such discussions might
include team building, problem solving, community service,
healthy relationships, goal setting and leisure time usage. The
development of communication skills is also stressed.
JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY
The Junior Honor Society is a club for students in grade 8 that
have achieved an over-all grade point average of 85 or higher by
the end of 7th grade. Students with a qualifying average may be
inducted at the end of 7th grade.
LITERACY CLUB
Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 are welcomed to participate in
various types of Literacy activities (reading, writing,
speaking, thinking and viewing); and creating materials for both
Family Reading Night and year-round building displays.
MATH
TEAM
The Middle School Math Team includes students from 6th through
8th grade. The team competes as part of Mid-Hudson Junior High
Math League, which includes 30 teams from fifteen different
schools. The teams are split into four divisions that compete in
five meets throughout the season. Teams gather points at each
meet based on the number of questions correctly answered by each
member of the team. At the end of the regular season, the four
division winners, along with the four teams with the next
highest point total, advance to the playoffs. The math team
season runs from September to January. We welcome all math
“lovers”.
MATHCOUNTS
Mathcounts is a club that meets every week after school. All
6th, 7th and 8th grade students are invited to participate.
These coaching sessions are intended to spur students to view
mathematics as exciting, challenging, rewarding and fun. This is
also an opportunity to develop better math skills. There will be
a school competition, and chapter competition. If we qualify, a
4-member school team will be selected from the Monticello
Mathcounts Club to go to the State Competition. The competitions
consist of the Sprint, Target, Team, Countdown and Masters
rounds.
MIDDLE WRINKLE
The Middle Wrinkle is the Middle School’s publication of writing
and artwork. Students submit their written material to their
teachers and ask that they be given for consideration in the
Middle Wrinkle. Middle Wrinkle editorial staff has a great deal
of responsibility. They are to read through all material that is
received and decide if the material is to be included in any
edition of the Middle Wrinkle. If a submission is rejected, the
staff must be very specific with their reason for turning it
down. The staff then brainstorms ways in which the piece could
be revised or improved upon by the student. If accepted, a
letter is written to the student to inform him/her that the
piece will be included in the next edition. The editorial staff
works with the Middle Wrinkle advisors to accomplish these
tasks. The Middle Wrinkle art staff has the responsibility of
providing artwork for pages that require a picture. They work
with the art advisor to come up with ideas for the cover page
and the inside artwork that is needed. The art staff informs the
art teachers of needed artwork. An art gallery section features
the artwork of students in the Middle School. The art staff goes
over this material with the art advisor and decides on the
layout of those pages. All hard-working, dedicated students are
welcome.
MUSICAL
The Musical provides students with the opportunity to experience
all aspects of Musical Theatre. Students can participate as
Performers: Singers, Actors and Dancers and Stage Crew.
Opportunities for Costumes and Make up experience may exist.
Students must audition for the Middle School musical as
performers. Students must be available for rehearsal two to four
days per week after school until 4:30. Students must be
available daily for the final two weeks prior to the show. The
cast and crew present a matinee for the sixth grade. There are
two evening shows for family and friends. Come to auditions and
experience the business of Show Business!!
RJK
WORD
The RJK Word is the middle school newspaper. Student writers
report on school events and activities. The newspaper is
published four times a year. Students, faculty and staff members
are also able to contribute to the paper.
S.A.D.D.
The Middle School S.A.D.D. Chapter is an organization dedicated
to providing “drug free” activities for students. Activities
include preparing the school’s Red Ribbon Week, participation at
Community Awareness Day and participation in Anti-Drug/Alcohol
community events and contests. S.A.D.D. is not a group that
spends a great deal of time preaching about the evils of drugs
and alcohol, but one that gives students a place where a good
time can occur without tolerating controlled substances of any
kind. Customarily, the S.A.D.D. Chapter has a big celebration at
the end of each year to celebrate another 365 days of keeping a
healthy mind and body. Consider being S.A.D.D., it will make you
happy!
STUDENT COUNCIL
The Student Council consists of representatives of each grade
level team. They bring the concerns of the students to the
attention of the principal.
The Student Council sponsors activities for the students such as
School Spirit Days. They plan events for Teacher Appreciation
Day. Furthermore, they engage in fun activities for themselves,
such as parties and trips.
TALENT SHOW
The Middle School Talent Show is a showcase of our students
varied abilities in which everyone is a winner. Acts are
selected through an audition process, but those not selected
will have the opportunity to participate in the supporting cast
of this annual extravaganza. Students are required to attend
rehearsals after school and rehearse at home. Those who do not
opt for their moment in the spotlight might wish to work behind
the scenes on our production/stage crew. Don’t miss this fun
filled experience.
YEARBOOK
The Middle School Yearbook, The Panther, features individual
photographs of our 6th, 7th and 8th graders, as well as the
faculty and staff. Also included are photographs of all the
Middle School sports teams, after-school activity programs,
clubs and organizations. There are several pages of humorous
candid photos, as well as highlights of the school year,
including the Middle School Musical and PBIS Activities. The
yearbook staff selects photographs and prepares the layouts for
yearbook pages. The staff members assist in identifying people
in the various photographs.