After School Enrichment Programs

Girls in 4th and 5th grade are encouraged to join the Girls With a Goal (GWAG), an after school running program that builds spiritual and physical fitness as girls train for a 5K run.  Practices begin in March meeting twice a week for an hour.

5th grade Game time is an after school fun time of playing games both indoor and outdoors. 5th grade students play Matball, Jeninga Ball, Gagaball, etc. for 5 weeks on Monday and Wednesdays from 2:45-4:30 for the months of September and October. Students enjoy spending time playing games together.

Boys and girls in grades three to five have the opportunity to attend an after-school basketball clinic led by Mr. Los, the elementary physical education teacher.  These clinics are held for 3 weeks at various times of the year.

Three to four times a year, students in grades 4-8 are invited to participate in Brain Busters Game Club, an after school activity where students will learn and play board games. Games are provided but students may also bring in their own.  This is a great club for students who enjoy playing board games and learning new ones!

2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students may sign up to participate in special after school STEM activities throughout the school year. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities are planned where students are given a problem and the materials to solve it.  These STEM experiences give your child an opportunity to plan, create and revise their thinking related to the problem.  Sample activities are a craft stick cup tower, straw and paper clip bridge or a wind powered boat.

Math Pentathlon

Math Pentathlon is an after school program of interactive problem-solving games, supportive curricular and instructional activities, and assessment tools for students of all abilities in grades K – 7. This motivational program strengthens basic math concepts and skills, aligns with National and State Mathematics Standards, and stimulates creative thinking while developing problem-solving skills.

Math Pentathlon meets Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm from November thru March. After school, most students are given a recess until 3:00pm. At that time, they go to their designated practice room in the elementary building where they receive a snack. This is an entirely volunteer, parent-run program.

Student Benefits:

• Differentiates Instruction: uses specially-designed board games to motivate ALL students of varying abilities and learning styles to enjoy and spend more time learning math
• Develops Active Problem Solving: the ability to resolve problems that are continually undergoing change
• Integrates 3 Types of Mathematical Reasoning: spatial, computational, and logical
• Stimulates “Right Brain” Thought: creative thinking, spatial visualization and reasoning
• Utilizes Mathematics Manipulative models: to develop conceptual understanding

Girls in first through eighth grade are introduced to the game of volleyball and learn fundamental skill development working on individual skills of passing, setting, hitting, blocking and serving and how to incorporate them into a game setting.  Volleyball Clinic is held in the winter on 3 Saturdays.

Intramurals
HCS has an extensive intramural program that includes the traditional sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball) and some group games and activities. Usually students participate with others from their homeroom and try to win points toward their homeroom standing. Everyone is encouraged to participate in intramurals, but if a student is not interested in a particular activity, he/she is not required to participate.

Robotics Club
The Robotics Club encourages students to use their creative, problem solving and teamwork skills.  The club uses the VEX system which puts an emphasis on STEM.   In the process of designing their robot, students are introduced to many career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math.   The Robotics Club meets twice a week in the fall for 7^th and 8^th grade students and finishes with a robotics competition.

Brain Busters Game Club
Three to four times a year, students in grades 4-8 are invited to participate in Brain Busters Game Club, an after school activity where students will learn and play board games. Games are provided but students may also bring in their own.  This is a great club for students who enjoy playing board games and learning new ones!

Yearbook Staff
Members of the yearbook staff are chosen from students in 6th – 8th grade. Interested students are asked to fill out a form, which the advisors use to help choose the staff members. The selected students plan and design the school yearbook under the leadership of two advisors. They are part of a team of six and work after school from September through February to produce the yearbook.

8th Grade Play

Each year, the 8th grade students have the opportunity to be involved in the 8th grade play.  The 8th grade play is a time for students to learn the basics about theater, from stage directions to the art of stage makeup.  The play is announced and auditions are held before Christmas break.  Any 8th grader who wants to be involved in some aspect of this production can be.  A student can be involved by being a part of the cast, set crew, makeup, sound, lights, publicity or ushering.  Rehearsals are held three times a week, typically from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., while set crew works from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. after school.  More than 60 students are usually involved in bringing the production to life.  After three months of rehearsing and preparing, the play is performed 3 times during the middle weekend of March.

2023 8th Grade Play Schedule

Math Pentathlon

Math Pentathlon is an after school program of interactive problem-solving games, supportive curricular and instructional activities, and assessment tools for students of all abilities in grades K – 7. This motivational program strengthens basic math concepts and skills, aligns with National and State Mathematics Standards, and stimulates creative thinking while developing problem-solving skills.

Math Pentathlon meets Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm from November thru March. After school, most students are given a recess until 3:00pm. At that time, they go to their designated practice room in the elementary building where they receive a snack. This is an entirely volunteer, parent-run program.

Student Benefits:

• Differentiates Instruction: uses specially-designed board games to motivate ALL students of varying abilities and learning styles to enjoy and spend more time learning math
• Develops Active Problem Solving: the ability to resolve problems that are continually undergoing change
• Integrates 3 Types of Mathematical Reasoning: spatial, computational, and logical
• Stimulates “Right Brain” Thought: creative thinking, spatial visualization and reasoning
• Utilizes Mathematics Manipulative models: to develop conceptual understanding

Middle School Ski Club meets 3 or 4 times in the winter.  Students purchase special discounted passes from Bittersweet and ride from and to school together unusually from 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Girls in first through eighth grade are introduced to the game of volleyball and learn fundamental skill development working on individual skills of passing, setting, hitting, blocking and serving and how to incorporate them into a game setting.  Volleyball Clinic is held in the winter on 3 Saturdays.