2012-2013 club meeting times and locations here.
Allies for Diversity is a gathering of Middle School students of all races and ethnicities who wish to improve their own cultural competencies, engage in substantive dialog, and explore their own racial identities in a safe and age-appropriate environment. We look at how history impacts the way in which we relate to each other, examine stereotypes and realize commonalities in our lived experiences. Once a month we hold a split meeting in which students of color and white students gather separately in order to delve into intra-group dynamics and more fully appreciate the unique experiences of each group.
BEAR is an environmental club for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders interested in learning about global environmental issues and then taking action locally to make their community more green and sustainable. The club is actively involved in reducing waste, saving energy, and promoting environmental awareness at our school and in our homes. The club meets once a week during school and includes after school projects.
Blake News Network (BNN) is a broadcasting club that allows students to showcase their talents both on and off camera. All middle school students are invited Mondays during tutorial to learn how to report stories around Blake and the surrounding community, set up and film a variety of shots, and edit footage for a broadcast.
Blake Book Club (BBC) is open to all grade levels and meets every Tuesday during both 1st and 2nd recess. The group sometimes agrees to read and discuss the same book but most of the time we enthusiastically share thoughts and opinions about what we are reading or have read. We recommend books to each other and just enjoy talking to other booklovers.
Chinese Movie Club is a fun opportunity for all Middle School students, particularly Chinese students, to be able to hear authentic Mandarin being spoken fluently by native speakers outside the classroom. It also offers different perspectives of Chinese culture, both traditional and modern. We meet on Fridays at 2nd recess.
Code Breaking Club participants use math and problem-solving skills to write and decipher coded text and explore ways of sending secret messages.
Culture Club is a club sponsored by the Modern and Classical Language teachers representing Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish to celebrate the many cultures of the world are sponsoring. Music, games, film, art, holidays and unique traditions or practices from the various countries will be explored.
Dungeons & Dragons is a game without a computer, without a board. Think of a role-playing game as group collaborative storytelling. Players assume the role of a character in a fantasy world of elves and dwarves, knights and wizards. Together we embark on adventures in search of treasure and struggle with goblins and dragons.
Fantasy Football Club meets every Tuesday at 1st and 2nd recess and pits the talents and luck of team owners in the quest to win this year’s Sweetness Award. Team owners draft players from the NFL, submit weekly lineups, and do add-drops and trades to try to improve their teams over the course of the season. Each week, standings are updated until the playoffs begin in early December. The winners get their name on the coveted Sweetness Award, while the winner of the consolation championship, the Toilet Bowl, gets their name engraved on a plunger. Now in its 13th year at the Blake Middle School, Fantasy Football is fun for all grade levels.
Girl Gab is offered to all 8th grade girls during both 1st and 2nd recess on Tuesday. We gather to eat lunch together, talk about important topics of interest to girls and provide supportive bonding to one another. We have focused topics, open discussion days and choose 2 off site fun outings each year. Last spring some of the US girls came over to make the connection for this fall. Last year we had a solid group of over 20 girls attending each week.
GSA is open to all students during both 1st and 2nd recess on Wednesdays. We gather to discuss issues facing LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) students and we strive to make our school climate safe for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We sponsor Ally Week and the Day of Silence; both of these events are designed to promote the safety of all students within our school and to educate the community about challenges faced by LGBTQ students.
Improv Comedy Club is offered Friday during 1st recess. Improv is a non-scripted form of comedy that is "on the fly" based on suggestions as well as various Improv Games. It is open to everyone. If you want to join in, or simply want to watch and laugh please come join us.
Jazz Lab is open to any Middle School student who plays an instrument. Jazz Lab is an opportunity to learn about jazz styles and improvisation. We play and rehearse as a jazz combo and perform at the Middle School Band concerts. We meet Thursday during 2nd recess in the Band Room.
Knowledge Bowl is a series of interdisciplinary academic contests for students in grades 6 through 9. Teams of students compete against other schools in written and oral rounds by answering questions related to all areas or learning in middle grades education. Questions test students in recall, problem solving and critical thinking skills. Participants practice quick thinking and cooperation as they work together to achieve team success. We meet Wednesdays during tutorial.
Magic Club Despite the name, there are no white rabbits being pulled from top hats in this club. This is a club where students come to play the collectible card game Magic the Gathering. All are welcome, even if you don't have your own cards to play.
Math Team is for all those mathletes in the school that just can't get enough math in class and want more. Practice times are Thursdays during tutorial. Competitions dates start in October and go through January. Come join the fun....learn and play!
Music Lab is a multi-faceted club sponsored by Dan LeJeune. This is a student-initiated time during recess when students in all grades can come to the choir room to make music independently. Students can choose to use the MIDI labs to compose music or refine musical skills using software and computer games. Students may also practice an instrument, focus on their band, string, or choir music, or even work together as a small ensemble. It's also a convenient time for students to prepare for auditions related to the talent show or honor choirs.
Origami Club begins in winter. The club is more than just folding paper cranes. We investigate some very deep principles of folding and look at how origami is used in nature and science. This club will change how your brain works!
Robotics meets on Wednesdays and students may come either first or second recess. It is open to any student interested in learning more about programming and robotics. No experience necessary! We will use the challenges from the First Lego League competition but, for this first year, it is unlikely that we will actually compete in the official challenge in November. Club members will assemble and program a Lego Mindstorms NXT robot.
Science Bowl is a club for students who want to explore their interest and expand their knowledge in science. It is a great opportunity to build community while connecting through our passion for science. The group will compete in a regional competition in February at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
Service Advisory Board is focused on the needs of the school, local organizations, and international needs. The projects we choose are based on the interest of the students, but are also driven by needs as they arise through sources such as Nan Peterson. We will be launching a book drive in a few weeks to gather children's books for Jabbok Family Services in Minneapolis and Rahn Elementary School in Eagan, a school we also partner with for 4 Middle school service days this year. We will also be speaking about Trick-or-Treat for Unicef, holding a bake sale to raise money for the Adopt-a-family Program, serving meals and snacks at Crisis Nursery in Minneapolis, and making blankets for Project Linus. The goal of the club is to get students to organize events that others can then participate in on a one-time basis and truly involve students in service that is meaningful.
Sign Language Club is offered Thursday during 2nd recess. It is open to anyone in all three grade levels. Sign Language Club is for beginners who want to learn how to use sign language.
Stop Motion Animation Club begins in the spring. We will be making our own stop motion animation movies!
Ultimate Frisbee Club meets Thursday during both recesses (weather permitting) on the lower field inside the track. In the fall, students learn the game by playing pick-up matches. Then we hibernate for a few months and resume the club once the field is cleared in the spring. The Club culminates with a round-robin and double-elimination tournament where students & faculty compete for the coveted "Green Cup".
Yearbook Club meets on Tuesdays during 2nd recess from mid-September through mid-February. For this club, students plan, design and create the lay-outs for our Middle School Annual using digital photography equipment and In-Design software. Lead editors create & conduct surveys, write & edit copy, and prepare pages for submission for our three deadlines throughout the year. We work hard and have fun!