CLUB INFORMATION FOR 2018-2019
(LOOK FOR FLYERS IN YOUR STUDENT'S FOLDERS AS THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STARTING DATES)
Berkshire Clubs
Black Saga
The Black Saga Competition encourages students to learn about the African American experience and provides an exciting forum for students to show how much they know about this important part of American history. We encourage students to be competitive in their knowledge about the African American experience and we want them to have an opportunity to win awards, trophies, and prizes.
This 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade club will meet once a week to learn and study facts about African American history. Students will be responsible for knowing the answers to more than 700 questions about the African American experience. The timeline begins with the early 1600s – when the first 20 Africans came to America, and were enslaved in Jamestown, Virginia – to the present, when the Gates Foundation recently gave one billion dollars to help educate minorities.
When: Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 – 4:30pm
Where: Room 202 (Ms. Jones’ classroom)
Career Awareness Program (CAP)
In partnership with the Preston Mitchum Jr. Foundation, we will again offer Career Awareness Project (CAP) , in which your child will be exposed to several different career choices. Some of the professionals who may be included in the project come from the fields of education, media, healthcare, aerospace, law enforcement, fine arts, fashion, information technology and non-profit management. The representatives will introduce their careers, discuss the skills necessary for success, suggest educational paths to follow to reach their goal, and answer any questions and concerns the students may have.
Chess Club
Berkshire's chess club meets once a week and welcomes all players in grades 3-5 spanning from those who have never played before to those who are seasoned veterans. After learning the rules of the game, students watch weekly videos with tips and strategies to help them become better chess players. Students also complete chess puzzles and play games against other members often with guidance from returning players who are current middle school students as well as from moderator Mr. Matamoros. In April, the top 5 students from the club will represent Berkshire at the Baltimore County Chess Championship, where they will compete against top players from elementary schools across the county for both individual and team awards. If you like competition, teamwork, and board games, then Chess Club is for you!
When: Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30
Where: Room 208 (Mr. Matamoros' room)
Drama Club
This club will focus mainly on introducing students to interesting stories, characters and texts in an imaginative and unique way. It provides students with an opportunity to gain an appreciation for the dramatic arts, and to increase self-confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of responsibility by providing an opportunity for them to participate in dramatic activities. While providing students with a creative outlet, it increases their confidence, improves their reading comprehension, teaches them responsibility and teamwork and hones their public speaking skills. Drama club will be available for students in grades 1 through 5.
When: Thursday mornings from 8:00-8:30
Where: Room 203 with Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Jenkins.
Intramurals and Fitness Club
This club will primarily focus on learning hula hooping and Sport (Cup) Stacking skills. These two core skills will typically alternate on different weeks throughout the year. However, at various times the students may participate in other activities such as, Table Tennis, Bowling, or develop jogging skills. The students will be encouraged to develop and perform a hooping routine later in the year. The students will also be encouraged to compete at a local Sport Stacking tournament in the spring. We are looking for candidates who are interested in both of these activities. This club will be offered to students in Kindergarten through Fifth grades. Space is limited to 25 students and if necessary, a wait list will be created. Applications are due September 17th.
When: Most Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:15
Where: Gym (with Mr. Sabiston)
Mentoring Club
In partnership with the Joel Gamble Foundation, we will again offer our Boys and Girls Mentoring Program. Your child will be exposed to several different field trip experiences and activities throughout the 8 month program. We will have several positive adults that will serve as mentors helping students with homework after school. Students will participate in lessons where they will learn how to treat one another in a respectful manner. Lessons include Honesty, Respect, Teamwork, Patience, and more. We have a wide variety of activities planned for youth from arts and crafts to sports competition.
When: Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Program will start last week of October and go until last week in May.
Where: Cafeteria (with Mr. Gamble)
Music and Movement (M & M)
Art
Newspaper
The Berkshire Newspaper is published four times a year. Students in the club are required to write articles to inform and entertain our readers. To be successful journalists, students will need to be able to manage their time well and have good organization skills. Our newspaper staff will meet once a week to review and edit articles that have been written. If students have work to be finished, they will be asked to complete this work on their free time. The staff will also be responsible for hosting and creating video news stories for the morning announcements.
When: Tuesday Mornings from 8:00-8:30
Where: room 102 (Mrs. Garlock's room)
Math 24
Berkshire's Math 24 club meets once a week and welcomes all players in grades Kindergarten to fifth grade. The Math 24 Challenge Game challenges students to use their skills of mathematical reasoning, pattern analysis, and mental computation. The challenge for the students is to use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division along with the four numbers on the card and come to the solution of a positive 24. The students must use all four numbers, but use each only once.
A Baltimore County tournament is held each year in March for the 5th grade students who win school-level competitions. The school competition is typically held at the beginning of February. The students who win the school-level competitions in each category will receive a $50 savings bond from M&T Bank and will have the opportunity to compete at the county competition for a $1,000 savings bond.
When: Wednesday Afternoon from 3:30pm-4:15pm
Where: Room 102 (Mrs. Garlock's room)
Yearbook Club
This year Berkshire is beginning a Yearbook club for fourth and fifth graders only. Students will help design, create and advertise the school yearbook! Students will help design the yearbook layout, create pages, add writing and photographs, use publication software, copy and editing, proofread, and take part in other aspects of yearbook production and distribution. Mrs. Cooper and Ms. Lazur will run this club the first Tuesday of each Month from 7:30am to 8:30. If you have a love for technology, creativity and design, then this is the club for you!
When: First Tuesday of every month from 7:30am-8:30am
Where: Room 105 (Mrs. Lazur's room)