Greenfield-Central’s fourth, fifth and sixth graders have twice as many extracurricular activities to choose from than they did just a few years ago, thanks to dedicated staff that sees the value of putting electronics aside for teamwork and community.
Quiet students are breaking out of their shells and new ideas abound in activities at Greenfield Intermediate School and Maxwell Intermediate School.
From board games to athletics, robotics to folk dancing, local students are able to connect with each other and give back to the community through many options.
At MIS, for example, a new board game club started this year for the first time in Maxwell history. Once a month, about 90 students stay after school simply to play games.
“One big rule for the club is no electronics,” said Redawna Warner, GC teacher who leads the group.
The idea was initiated as a chess club, but expanded to include more children with diverse interests in gaming.
“We see the best collaboration, great strategy discussions and a sense of camaraderie that warms our hearts,” Warner said. “We are watching quiet students that are now brave enough to teach someone new how to play their favorite games. It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Folk dance club is also available at MIS; the group meets in seven sessions after school in March and April, preparing for a festival May 3. Dan Buckalew said the dances help students get physically active and make new friends as they learn moves from around the world.
It also prepares students to perform in front of a large crowd, something that can only help them when they are older and may choose choir, orchestra, band or theater.
“It’s not a competition; it’s more like a big party,” he said of the upcoming folk dance festival. “Fifteen to twenty other schools will be there, and we will all perform the dances at the same time.”
MIS has gradually increased extracurricular activities over the years to include many options that are non-competitive, said Principal Lisa Leliaert.
“We have always had Student Council, Math Bowl and Spell Bowl. About ten years ago we added book clubs, K-Kids and our MIS Robotics Teams,” she said. “More recently, we have added Unified Robotics, Folk Dance Club and BOSS. The new activities for this year include Game Club and Girls on the Run. I am so fortunate to work with a staff who are willing to share their time and talents with our students. Nearly half of our teachers are sponsoring an extracurricular club, and I am grateful for the opportunity to offer such a wide variety of experiences for our students.”
Leliaert loves seeing students work together and persevere through challenges. Students in the Building Our Social Skills program choose a community service activity for each semester, such as making holiday cards to adults in the building or delivering birthday bags for the local food pantry.
“Just yesterday afternoon, I observed students in the BOSS program work on these skills through a teambuilding activity involving cups and rubber bands,” Leliaert said. “Even though the activity was challenging and required all members to work together, they didn’t give up. I am proud of the work our staff is doing to connect with our students through these clubs.”
Greenfield Intermediate School’s staff shows the same care for students. Principal Bronson Curtis said clubs and teams are led by GIS staff members who are extremely dedicated. Most will often attend sporting or fine arts events on their own time to cheer on their students.
Similar to MIS, GIS also offers Student Council, Spell Bowl, Math Bowl, winter guard and K-Kids. Unique to GIS, Gardening Club started last year. New this year is Robotics Club, Cougar Kindness Club and Yoga Club.
Clubs help students explore new interests, develop leadership skills and teamwork, Curtis said. They can also apply their knowledge to real-world contexts.
“Clubs and activities create a sense of community, helping students build meaningful relationships with peers who share similar interests,” Curtis added. “This social interaction fosters collaboration, improves communication skills and boosts confidence.”
Also new this school year is the ability for sixth grade students at both schools to get involved in junior high sports.
Mark Evans, GC junior high athletic director, said sixth graders can participate in tennis, golf, cross country, swimming, wrestling and track. There were about a dozen sixth graders in cross country this year; eight in boys tennis; four in wrestling.
“We expect 15 to 20 to come over for track and field this spring,” Evans said. “For the sixth grade athlete, it is very beneficial for them to try something new, along with being able to prepare themselves for when they physically go to the junior high for school.”
Robotics has something for everyone, said Brenda Schoenlein, STEM teacher at GIS. The “Cou-Gears” team has 31 students that have been meeting since the fall.
Some kids like to plan, so they can design a robot and organize their team, Schoenlein said. Some are good at programming, so they program their robot to perform tasks for the game. Others like to get hands-on and build. Still others are good at problem solving, so they enjoy trouble-shooting any issues that arise.
Robotics allows fourth, fifth and sixth graders to work as a team and solve problems.
“This club is where kids can be themselves,” Schoenlein added. “Sometimes I see students who are quiet in the classroom really light up in the robotics club. Students are given the opportunity to bond with their peers through the love of building something that works.”
GC Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said extracurricular activities are beneficial for students of all ages, going beyond the core academic subjects of school.
Principals often lead in creating opportunities for students beyond the classroom, while oftentimes opportunities are also initiated by teachers. In turn, Greenfield-Central parents and community members love to watch students perform in music, robotics, athletics and more.
“Extracurricular activities provide students with an opportunity to select some activities they choose to learn more about,” Olin said. “We know that athletics and performing arts can be the anchor that keeps students interested in school. Clubs can have a similar impact. Being a part of a group of club can help students feel an additional sense of belonging at school.”
By Maribeth Vaughn
(picture is from GIS ‘Gardening Club’) “Extracurricular activities provide students with an opportunity to select some activities they choose to learn more about,” Olin said.
