Clubs & Activities

Season: Sept. - May

The Art Ninjas

This club is made up of a group of serious art students who want to learn new techniques and experiment with new media. Most sessions will start with an introduction to a new project or artistic medium, leaving the rest of the time for students to experiment with the medium they were just introduced to. Potential projects include: paper marbling, paper making, working with plaster, tie dye, knitting, collage, mosaics, and more! 

The Art Ninjas is a nickname for the National Junior Art Honor Society (NJAHS) designed specifically for middle school students (grades 6-8).   

When: Thursday Afternoons

Please email Ms. Levine for more information.

Contact: Mrs. Ashman (lashman@dps109.org)
Grades: 6th-8th

Season: Sept. - May

The Shepard Baking Company is a unique Club which will stir our students’ culinary curiosity and creativity.  Our student bakers, The Marshmallow Squad, will meet every other Tuesday after school. Students will bake, cook, and learn responsibility in the kitchen. Importantly, our hope is to engender a collaborative and inclusive community to share culinary ideas whether a “rookie baker", a contender for The Kids Baking Championship, or a student baker who simply dabbles on the weekend. 

Recipes are predetermined collaboratively by the student bakers and teacher. Each weekly recipe will be posted (with ingredient list) on Google Classroom a week in advance. The club will require a signed parent/guardian permission form to be submitted before a student may enter the kitchen. 

In addition to some good old-fashioned baking fun, our hope is to partner with community philanthropic partners to pay it forward, and demonstrate that “baking is love” (well, isn't it?). We will also have guest teacher chefs sharing their own signature dishes (fun!). Toward year’s end, we hope to create a Shepard Baking Company Recipe Book inclusive of all of our delicious culinary endeavors. There is considerable buzz about this delicious new club! The Shepard Baking Company will be the place for renewed friendships, community connection, and just a whole lot of fun. Contact Mrs. Ashman for all the club news.

Sponsor: Mr. Alex Rummelhart 
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of chess, games, puzzles or logic is helpful
Season: October-March.

Description: Chess club is a great club for anyone learning about the “game of kings” or for expert players looking for competive opportunities to hone their skills. Here we learn the game, discuss strategy and tactics, apply our learning to help grow our minds, and of course play each other in friendly matches and tournaments.

For more information, email Mr. Rummelhart.

Director: Dr. Christine Printz, Music Room 408
Student ages: 6th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of music
Season: August-June

Director: Mrs. Emily Dykema, Band Room 407
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of music
Season: August-June

Description: Students enrolled in Band, will have a class and practice opportunities in their daily school schedule.

For more information, email Mrs. Dykema.

Sponsor: Barb Mastin
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Interest in debating important topics.
Season: October - December
Meeting Days: Tuesday mornings

Description: The Spartan Debate Team is a competitive debate club that works collaboratively to research and develop arguments on a wide range of topics that impact our world today. 

For more information, please reach out to our club sponsor, Barb Mastin.

Description:

Drop in art is a free after school activity where students can come an use the art room as their art studio! Drop in art is open to everyone and is less of a club and more of a designated time for students to make art. They can be using most of what the art room has to offer and working on their own personal artwork or using their time to work on art for school. Students can come every session, or come once or twice.

Please email Ms. Levine for more information.

Sponsor: Mr. Kevin Crowe, Room 310
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None and/or any level of curiosity about nature and the environment.
Season: September - May

Description: Green club works together to explore ways to improve the outdoor spaces around Shepard Middle School.

For more information, email Mr. Crowe.

Director: Mrs. Emily Dykema, Band Room 407
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of music
Season: September - May
Meeting Days: Tuesday mornings, 7:15 a.m.

Description: Jazz Band offers students an opportunity to explore many different styles of music including jazz, swing, rock, funk, and latin. This club is by audition in September and is open to students currently enrolled in the band or orchestra programs at Shepard.

For more information, email Mrs. Dykema.

Sponsor: Meghan Wilmot, Erica O'Brien, and Tara Seiden
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Desire to help others who are looking to enhance their socialization and meet new people
Season: Year round
Meeting Days: Tuesday during lunch period

Description: Lunch Buddies is a great way to get involved at Shepard DURING the school day.  This is a lunch group that meets year round as a way for students to increase their socialization and communication skills in a small, inviting environment. We eat, converse, play games and laugh a ton!

For more information on getting connected, email: Ms. Meghan McDonough and Mrs. Erica O'Brien

Sponsor: Sarah Anderson
Student Ages: 6th - 8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None
Season: November - May

Description: Swifties! Join us to be a part of a fun, creative, and collaborative space to enjoy Taylor's music, discuss her music and lyrics, create Taylor-inspired artwork, and more.

Sponsor: Mrs. Bonni Solomon, Room 211
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Classroom bee winner
Season: November/January

Description:  All students participate in an in-class spelling bee. One winner from each room will then compete in the school bee and be given a packet of words from which to study.  We follow the rules of the Scripps bee and the winner of the school bee will go on the regional competition.

The School Competition will be announced and livestreamed. Student spellers will meet in the Shepard Learning Commons.

Sponsor: Sydney Greenberg
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Students should be leaders, collaborative, and eager to help Shepard be the best possible school.
Season: September-June
Meeting Days: Every other Wednesday Mornings, 7:15 a.m.

Description: Student Council also known as StuCo is a leadership club that gives students a voice in our school community! Open to all grade levels, the club is dedicated to making a positive impact by organizing school events, promoting school spirit, and giving back through community service projects. Members have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, collaborate with peers, and represent their classmates. Whether you're passionate about planning community-wide events, raising awareness for important causes, or helping to improve our school, Student Council is the perfect place to get involved and make a difference!

Sponsor: Alex Rummelhart, arummelhart@dps109.org; Room 105
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: A love of frisbee and a desire to learn a new sport!
Season: Fall and Spring

Description: Ultimate club has many activities: we learn the rules of the game and how to play, we learn different types of frisbee throws and catches, we run fun drills to practice, and we play games of ultimate. We meet once a week as long as the weather is nice enough to play outside. Come join in the fun!