Clubs & Activities

 

 

Welcome to the junior high school experience with all it has to offer students with a variety of talents, abilities, and interests! Listed below are descriptions of the many choices available to our students to be involved in a positive and interactive way during their junior high school years.

 

Cross Country is a challenging individual yet very much a team sport. This is the only interscholastic sports activity that is offered to all boys and girls from 6^th grade to 8^th grade. The most important thing you will learn is to challenge yourself and improve yourself everyday that we run. Cross Country is open to all students of all abilities and you will have coaches and teammates that will push you and encourage you to do your very best. Our season runs from the first week of school until the middle of October and our competition is excellent. 

 

7^th and 8^th Grade Girls’ Volleyball 

This volleyball program is open to all 7^th and 8^th grade girls. This sport takes place during the fall season and is held after school and Saturdays. Athletes must have a current physical on file prior to trying out for the team. Tryouts begin the second day of school and take place for the next 2-3 days immediately after school. Teams are usually chosen and posted by the third day. There is a $30 fee that each member on the team must pay for the season. The season consists of two or three games during the week after school and a few tournaments on Saturdays. Practices will be determined by each coach.

 

Soccer at the Junior High level consists of ten to twelve games including the Prairie Conference soccer tournament at the end of the year. Practice will be held everyday that we don’t have a game. The season usually lasts just over a month.

The goal of Junior High soccer is to have fun and develop your skills so that you will be ready to participate at the High School level. Players at this age have different skill levels and we try to take that into consideration when training. We try to plan practices so that all players, from the most skilled to the beginners, learn something new. If you come to practice and work hard all players are guaranteed to play during the games.

 

7^th Grade Boys’ Basketball

Tryouts for this team are usually around the middle of October. Tryouts last for two days and then a team is selected of 15 players. Practice is everyday after school and on most Saturday mornings. The season is typically around 15 games and runs through December right up until Winter Break. Any student interested in trying out for the team must have a valid sports physical and sports waiver signed prior to participating in tryouts.

 

Basketball is an interscholastic sport played from mid October until winter break. The activity is open to all 8th grade boys. Teams are selected on a tryout basis, and will vary in number from 15 to 18. Players are held to high standards as students and as young men. Eligibility is kept on a weekly basis. Participants must have an updated physical on hand with the nurse, and must pay a $30.00 fee. Practices are held from 3:15 until 5:30 and on Saturday mornings. Players are expected to attend practices and games. Players will be required to dress in shirt and tie for all away games. Players must also have rides from practices and games if the late bus route is unavailable

 

Wrestling is open to all 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade boys who are looking to participate. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for students that want to learn the sport of wrestling.  We will offer a learning atmosphere that is appropriate for all skill levels and experience ranging from the fundamentals and basic rules of the sport to advanced technique for those wrestlers ready to compete at the highest levels. There are no try outs or cuts involved. We meet Monday through Friday after school until 5:00 P.M. Parents are expected to be on time to pick up their children. All participants must have a recent sports physical, a signed sports waiver, and pay a thirty dollar activity fee.

 

Spirit Squad

This sport is for 7^th and 8^th grade girls who want to celebrate their Panther Pride. Spirit Squad combines cheerleading skills and techniques with dance skills and techniques. During 7^th and 8^th grade boys’ basketball games, the girls cheer on the sidelines. At half-time, they perform a dance routine. Our season runs mid-October through December. This is a great opportunity for girls to experience both cheerleading and dance before they need to choose one or the other in high school. Our girls are enthusiastic, energetic and have infinite amounts of Traughber Spirit!

7^th Grade Girls’ Basketball 

The 7^th Grade Girls Basketball Team will consist of student athletes looking for a competitive challenge against other young ladies in our surrounding area schools. The team concept and commitment to the team will be stressed as well as the encouragement to improve and be an active participant. Everyone comes into the program with different abilities, but will leave knowing they were an important and intricate part of the team. Tryouts and practices are required and an important way to demonstrate your abilities. Please keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming announcements in December and early January. 

 

Basketball is an interscholastic sport played from early January until early March. The activity is open to all 8th grade girls. Teams are selected on a tryout basis, and will vary in number from 15 to 18. Players are held to high standards as students and as young women. Eligibility is kept on a weekly basis. Participants must have an updated physical on hand with the nurse, and must pay a $30.00 fee. Practices are held from 3:15 until 5:30 and on Saturday mornings. Players are expected to attend practices and games. Players will be required to dress in Sunday-best for all away games. Players must also have rides from practices and games if the late bus route is unavailable

 

Soccer at the Junior High level consists of ten to twelve games including the Prairie Conference soccer tournament at the end of the year. Practice will be held everyday that we don’t have a game. The season usually lasts just over a month.

The goal of Junior High soccer is to have fun and develop your skills so that you will be ready to participate at the High School level. Players at this age have different skill levels and we try to take that into consideration when training. We try to plan practices so that all players, from the most skilled to the beginners, learn something new. If you come to practice and work hard all players are guaranteed to play during the games.

This sport is offered to seventh and eighth grade girls and boys. Practice begins the Monday school returns from spring break and runs Monday thru Friday for the duration of the season. To participate, a student needs a completed athletic physical on file with the nurse prior to the first practice, an interscholastic sports waiver completed and turned into the coach, and a thirty dollar sports fee paid in the main office. If it happens to be the student’s third sports team of the season, the thirty dollar fee is waived. Events include; long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus throw, hurdles, and short and long distance running events.

 

Flag Football is an intramural activity for all Traughber students. Students need to have an insurance waiver on file and pay a $5 fee. Football meets on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday – weather permitting - from 3:10 until 4pm. The season runs during the first 9 weeks of the year, until mid-October.

 

Boys’ Basketball is for boys in the 1st quarter of the school year. All boys in 6th, 7th and 8th grade are invited to participate in basketball intramurals, which requires a $5 fee and a signed intramural sports waiver that is available in the school office. Boys have the opportunity to play in games and participate in basketball drills. The dates will be provided ahead of time and take place in the school gymnasium after school.

 

Girls’ Intramural Basketball is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth, grade girls. Meetings begin with the start of the second quarter and continue until the beginning of winter break. Time will be spent working on individual basketball skills, knowledge of the game, and playing full court basketball games. Participants must turn in a completed intramural sports permission slip and pay a five dollar fee in the main office. 

 

Weightlifting Intramurals is for both boys and girls in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.  This intramurals is for students interested in keeping in shape, lifting weights and working out with friends.  Weightlifting starts second quarter.  You will learn weightlifting terms, weight room rules, keep track of your daily progress, and how to use the weightlifting machines properly.  Warm-ups and cool-downs will be stressed.  We will meet Monday through Thursday.  Listen for announcements. 

 

Intramural Floor Hockey is offered 3^rd quarter for any student in 6^th,7^th, or 8^th grade. Both boys and girls are able to participate in this activity. We meet 2-3 times per week and a schedule will be determined by the sponsor. The cost to join is $5 and you also need to fill out an Intramural sports waiver form which is available in student services. There will be an announcement at the start of 3^rd quarter and informational flyers in the hallway before the activity starts. Come out and experience the sport of floor hockey, hope to see you there!

 

Badminton Intramurals is open to all students and will begin at the start of third quarter. We play twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 3:15-4:15. The goal of Badminton Intramurals is to learn the basics of the game and play in a fun and supportive environment. You will have the opportunity to play both doubles and singles in league and/or tournament settings depending on the amount of participants. If you just want to play for fun without worrying about winning or losing that is alright to.

 

Intramural softball and kickball is fun way to meet other students and get exercise. The sponsors offer a learning atmosphere that is appropriate for all skill levels and experience. We teach the fundamentals and basics of twelve inch and sixteen inch softball in a fun and supportive environment. Softball and kickball is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and girls. There are no try outs or cuts involved, as we’re just out to have fun! We meet in the spring two or three days a week. All participants need to fill out an intramural form and pay a five dollar fee.

 

Co-ed Volleyball Intramurals takes place during the 4^th quarter of school. This intramural sport open to all 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade boys and girls. Students will meet after school from 3:10 – 4:30 pm usually on Mondays, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. There is an intramural sport waiver form that must be turned into the coach as well as a $5 intramural fee that must be turned into the office.   Students participating in intramural volleyball will experience games against each other as well as some basic skills instruction during these sessions.

 

 

Graphic Arts Club is open to all students and it will begin Monday, November 3^rd at 3:15. The goal of Graphic Arts Club is to learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop so that you can create effective and creative designs that will catch people’s eyes and hopefully make them say, “How did they do that?” We do several projects throughout the year including changing yourself into a superhero, designing and creating a stop-motion animation movie, and participating in online design challenges that test your imagination. 

 

Jazz Choir is a co-curricular choir sponsored by Traughber’s Choir Director.    Jazz Choir offers an opportunity for choir students to learn basic jazz style singing. Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grade choir students are eligible to join. The Jazz Choir rehearses on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:15-7:55. Students must attend all rehearsals and performances. The Jazz Choir performs for all scheduled concerts. There is no fee involved to participate in Jazz Choir.

 

Homework Club is an opportunity for students to work in a quiet study setting to finish homework, get a little extra help from teacher sponsors, and maybe even meet a friend! We meet each Monday and Thursday after school from 3:10 until 4:00 pm, and we welcome students from all grades.  Parents need to complete a permission slip for participation to ensure parents and program sponsors are aware of student attendance.  Students are not required to attend each session, but we love to have them attend regularly to help build the community environment and reinforce the benefits of good regular study habits.

 

Drama All students are welcomed to try out for the after school plays. The plays are presented twice a year, with tryouts in September and January. Material for these plays is chosen to reflect a family friendly experience. The director incorporates opportunities that span acting to tech theatre. Rehearsal or tech time is generally scheduled immediately after school. This allows the student plenty of homework time. There is no cost to join this program, but occasionally the student may be asked to help put their costume together. Students of all three levels have found this a terrific training ground for future work in theatre.

 

Environmental Club is for students interested in improving and maintaining the natural environment of the school and community.  It is a place where students can share their ideas, explore their interests and take an active role in promoting the "Go Green" concept.  This year we will work on the Traughber Habitat Restoration Project which includes a prairie restoration and growing native plants for the butterfly garden.  Students will also promote recycling of paper, plastic and aluminum and plan events for Earth Day.

Environmental Club will meet every other Thursday from 3:15-4:00. 

All students are welcome to attend. 

Girls and Boys, if you like to play Chess (any level – you don't have to be a Grand Master!) or other games, please join us on Fridays after school from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center.  Chess tournaments will be held so you may challenge your worthy opponents.  It's not just about Chess!  We also play other games like Scrabble, Risk, Uno, Rummicube, Yahtzee, and Backgammon.  You can also bring your own favorite games from home and teach the rest of the group how to play.  All you need is a permission slip to join! 

 

Rocket Club is where students will learn about space and also build rockets.  We will launch rockets once a month.  Each month we will spend time building our own rocket, painting them, and launching them at the school.  We will also spend one week each month studying space.  This club is open to any Traughber student.  There is a cost.  You need to buy your own rocket.  Prices can range from $5.00 to $20.00 depending on what rocket you want to buy.  Meeting Time: Tuesdays after school until 4:00

Science Club offers an opportunity for students to explore the world of physical science. The activities the club will be participating in will be bridge and tower building. The students will design, build, and test a bridge and tower. The goal is to create a bridge and tower that weighs the least but holds the most weight. 

 

Jazz Band is open to 7th and 8th grade musicians enrolled in band at Traughber.  Jazz Band requires an audition by the director and will have standard jazz instrumentation: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, 1 baritone sax, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1 drum set player, 2 keyboards. Students will perform at contests, concerts, selected festivals and the Jr. High Coffeehouse. Jazz Band will rehearse before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

 

Natural Helpers Natural Helpers is a peer-helping program. The Natural Helpers program is based on a simple premise: Within every school, an informal “helping network” exists. Students with problems naturally seek out other students whom they trust. The Natural Helpers program uses this existing helping network and provides training to students who are already perceived as “natural” helpers. It gives them the skills they need to provide help more effectively to young people who seek them out. The Natural Helpers program is designed to meet three basic goals:

·        To teach Natural Helpers effective ways to help their friends

·        To teach Natural Helpers positive ways of taking good care of themselves

·        To teach Natural Helpers ways to contribute to a safe and supportive school environment

 

 

Student Council Student Council is open to all 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders who enjoy helping others in the community. Activities include school dances, concession stand working, helping out at school activities, and more. If you like to help others, then this is the club for you. Meetings are held twice a month on Thursdays at 7:15 am in order to discuss service opportunities. Student council members are required to do service hours, and need 10 service hours per semester. Officers are elected in September.

 

 

Newsletter Club Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Newsletter Club creates, edits, and publishes the Panther Perspective, our school newspaper, which is distributed to our school community and viewed on our school webpage. This is an exciting opportunity for those students interested in gathering and sharing news and stories about our school.

 

Panther Pride Club Focuses on school assemblies and other activities that help our students, staff and school community to celebrate the achievements and spirit of our school. This club is for our energetic Traughber-ites that want to help us celebrate our school.