2019-2020 TMS Clubs/Activities

Art Club

Advisors:  Gary Robertson - robertsong@talawanda.org

Description:

This club is all about art!  We look at art, talk about art, and most importantly make art.  The TMS Art Club is supported by the Oxford Community Arts Center and we collaborate with local artists.  We will spend several meetings learning about and making artwork around a central theme. Last year we made peace polls that were auctioned at the Community Arts Center, designed and created masks, and self-published a botanical illustration book with illustrations contributed by club members.  Projects for this year will be developed with member input. All students are welcome. We will meet every other week (dates to be determined) for approximately 90 minutes.

Brave Initiative Team

Advisor: Amy Macechko - macechkoa@talawanda.org

Description:

The Brave Initiative Team is sponsored by the Coalition for a Healthy Community - Oxford Area and is the middle school segment of the Youth Action Team for a Healthy Oxford Area.  This group of students focuses on building leadership skills and promoting the value of living a drug-free lifestyle. Through the promotion of positive messaging and working with students at Talawanda High School and Miami University, these students are the voice of substance use prevention for their peers.  We meet during lunch periods and some after school/evening meetings are also scheduled. All students are welcome!

Builders Club

Advisors: Amy Macechko and Molly Todd - macechkoa@talawanda.org, toddm@talawanda.org

Description:

Builders Club is part of the Kiwanis Organization. Members of Builders Club are involved in the school and the community as service leaders. Some community service projects the TMS Builders Club has been a part of in the past are Kiwanis Pancake Day and Kiwanis Food Drive. Students have also had the opportunity to be leaders in service projects at TMS.  Builders Club is open to all students. Builders Club meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.

Chess Club

Advisor:  Laura Jewett - jewettl@talawanda.org

Meeting Day and Time:  During tutorial 

Description:

Students of all ability levels with an interest in playing chess can join chess club.  Weekly matches are arranged by the advisor and the year culminates with a single-elimination tournament.  Chess club will begin in October. 

Craft Club

Advisors:  Cherie Day and Carolyn Ratliff - dayc@talawanda.org, ratliffc@talawanda.org 

Description:

Do you like to meet new people and enjoy hands-on projects?  Join us for meetings twice/month after school until 3:45 (dates to be determined by members) for fun and creativity!  Projects will be determined by club members and any middle school student is welcome.

Destination Imagination

Advisors: Shana Rosenberg - di@talawanda.org

Description:

DI is a STEAM (STEM + the Arts!) activity open to all kindergarten through 12th grade students. Students form teams of up to 7 members, select one of 7 challenges created each year, and work together to develop a solution that will be presented at the regional tournament taking place at the end of February. Each team needs at least one Team Manager (often a parent or teacher) who helps keep the team on track. Most teams start meeting weekly, at most, in September or October.  

FCCLA 

Advisor: Sharon Gregory - gregorys@talawanda.org

Description:

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education and is open to students grades 7-12 who have had at least one FCS/Life Skills class and pays the $25.00 dues.

FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers and communities.

FCCLA members from the high school along with the adviser will be meeting with TMS students once a month here at TMS.  Students have the opportunity to participate in service projects, fundraising, leadership activities, trips, and competition throughout the school year.

Gamers Club

Advisors: Kelly Case and Tracy Vu - casek@talawanda.org, vut@talawanda.org 

Description:

Calling all tabletop game fans!  Do you love to play board games and/or card games?  Looking for a place to try out the new Magic deck you just put together or a place to trade Pokemon cards?  Want to test a new chess strategy? Maybe you are looking to join a dungeons and dragons campaign, but don’t know where to start?  Then this is the place for you. Once a week, TMS will have a place for you to do all things tabletop. See Mrs. Vu or Mrs. Case for details and be watching out for announcements.  We plan to start in mid-September.

Garden Club

Advisors: Amy Clay and Lindsey Krause - claya@talawanda.org, krausel@talawanda.org 

Description:

Do you love being outside?   Are you interested in gardening and the environment?  Have you ever thought about growing your own food? Join the TMS Garden Club!  Let’s get our garden going, have some fun with your friends, and enjoy watching our seedlings grow!  We will be cleaning out the garden and starting some fall crops to share. Time and date TBA

Guitar Club

Advisors:  Raj Sundram - sundramr@talawanda.org 

Description:

Have you ever wanted to be able to play your favorite songs, show off your mad shred skills or simply write your own music? Guitar Club is the stepping stone for you! Students will meet two to three times a month (date and time TBA) to learn simple, intermediate and advanced songs, scales and concepts. A personal guitar, electric or acoustic, is not a must, but having your own will always expedite your progress. All are welcome, be ready to practice and to play! 

K’NEX Competition 

Advisors:  Mary Ruppert and Larry Brock - ruppertm@talawanda.org, brockl@talawanda.org 

Description:  This competition is provided by Thermo Fisher.  Students are given a STEM Design Challenge. Last year’s challenge was “to make the world healthier by treating cancer.”  Students were to create a nano-machine that could capture and treat a cancer cell or tumor of the team’s choice. The prototype is constructed from K’NEX materials provided by Thermo Fisher.  Team members need to research and demonstrate how their machines or prototypes work. We will be given the STEM Design Challenge in January and have one month to be ready to present our research and prototypes.  

MathCounts

Advisor: Lori Gloeckner - gloecknerl@talawanda.org  

Meeting Day and Time: Thursdays after school until 3:45   Meetings usually start in mid-September.

Description:

MathCounts is a national middle school mathematics competition program that builds problem solving skills and fosters cooperative work and math achievement.

Peer Mediation

Advisor:  Laura Jewett - jewettl@talawanda.org 

Meeting Day and Time:  During tutorials (no after school meetings)

Description:

Peer mediators assist other students with working through and resolving conflict.  Students are trained as peer mediators and assist others in solving problems at school.  8th Grade Mediators can also become members of the SAVE Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere) and/or become Peer Support Volunteers helping younger students resolve social or academic concerns.   

Polar Brrraves

Advisors:  Paul Stiver - stiverp@talawanda.org 

Description:

Polar Brrraves (think brrrrrrrr!) is a running club that will meet twice a week starting after Thanksgiving Break to keep students active and running.  Anyone in grades 6-12 may participate. We will start after the break and run through December and January when school is in session. We will run outside, so bundle up!!    

Student Council

Advisor:  John Brinck - brinckj@talawanda.org 

Meeting Day and Time: Typically 2x a month after school until 3:30 (Tuesdays)

Description:

Students run for grade level representative and are elected by their peers.  Student Council represents TMS and students are able to fundraise and organize events for TMS.  Student Council has sponsored the 8th grade school dance, the Thanksgiving Senior Citizen Luncheon, Veteran’s Day activities, Staff Appreciation, and many more.

Activities
Band - Mr. Gonzales: gonzalesr@talawanda.org 

Chorus and Bel Canto - Mrs. Case: casek@talawanda.org 

Orchestra - Mrs. House-Shumway: shumwayc@talawanda.org 

Sports

Questions about TMS sports contact Mrs. Klenk: klenke@talawanda.org

Football, Cheerleading, volleyball, Cross Country, Boy’s Basketball, Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Track

*Activities/clubs will only occur based upon the availability of a sponsor/supervisor