There are a number of after school activities available to a St. John student. Participation in sports, music, and drama is encouraged as long as the students are able to maintain their schoolwork.
Tech Club
St. John is launching a Tech Club this year for students in grades 5 – 8. The club will meet Tuesdays from 3:15 - 4:45 October 4 - November 15. Our initial focus will be on using the Scratch programming language to develop animated music videos, interactive multimedia stories, and games. We will also introduce additional topics such as web development and physical computing using open source platforms such as Arduino for possible application in later meetings. The approach for Tech Club is to have fun creating cool projects that express the personal style of each participant, while fulfilling the St. John learning expectation to “use technology to construct knowledge and develop innovative products.” For more information and to apply to Tech Club, visit the Tech Club Page.
Journalism Club
Participants in the journalism club will learn how to write journalistically while building confidence as writers. Students will conduct interviews, make independent decisions, and learn to think on their feet. They will explore campus topics related and report on sports, music, poetry, art, different career paths, perspectives and the interconnectedness of the world. Students will also learn about the current state of journalism, the impact of social media and how blogs work. The St. John Eagle will publish both a print and electronic version of the newspaper.
View the first issue here.
After School Study
For students in grades six through eight, St. John After School Study is more than just study hall. Participants are taught basic study skills including planning for large projects, study techniques, and organization skills. Since After School Study is staffed by certified teachers, students requiring extra attention in specific subjects are able get additional instruction. There is an hourly fee for this program.
Math Club
Fifth and sixth grades students have the opportunity to participate in the
Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS). MOEMS is a nonprofit public foundation which provides opportunities for children to engage in creative problem solving activities which develop a child’s ability to reason, to be logical, to be resourceful, and to be ingenious.
The Olympiad goals for children are:
1. Develop enthusiasm for problem solving and mathematics.
2. Deepen understanding of mathematical concepts.
3. Learn major strategies for problem solving.
4. Enrich experiences in intellectually stimulating activities.
5. Build a stronger foundation for assessments and future mathematics studies.
Students participating in the program will practice regularly under the direction of parent volunteer, Meredith Lambert, in preparation for five monthly Olympiad contests. Mrs. Halley and Señor Pablo are the faculty advisors for the program. Olympiad participants will meet every Wednesday and Friday morning before school.
Altar Service
Students in fifth grade and up are eligible to participate in altar service. Interested students are trained after school in the roles and responsibilities of altar servers. This is a wonderful opportunity for the youth of our community to participate in worship and grow in their understanding and appreciation of the Mass. When they are adequately trained, servers are scheduled to help at Mass on a regular basis through eighth grade.