Sports
Cross-Country Running: 1st Trimester: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Grades 5-8 Coach: Mrs. Wheeler
Students will compete in the Friendship League with races of approximately one mile. Students must make a commitment
to attend practices and meets.
Soccer: 1st Trimester: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays Grades 7-8 Coach: Mr. Herrmann
Athletes will learn to play soccer and have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic soccer games. Practices and games are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays. The team practices throughout the month of September, with games running from the end of September through October. Students may concurrently participate in this sport and other clubs.
Volleyball: 2nd Trimester: Mondays and Thursdays Grades 5-8 Coach: Mr. Collen
The Volleyball Team begins practicing in early January and matches are played in February and March. Students learn all of the individual skills of volleyball along with team strategies for offense and defense. Practices and matches are scheduled to avoid the Menands Ski Club dates. Practices and matches are held two days a week and team members are expected to attend regularly.
Track & Field: 3rd trimester: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Grades 5-8 Advisor: Mrs. Wheeler
Students will participate in track & field practices and meets with the Friendship League during the last trimester. Practices will be held three days a week and students should make a commitment to attend practices and meets. The meets will begin in late April and culminate around Memorial Day.
Clubs
Yearbook Club: 1st-3rd Trimesters: Thursdays 8th grade only Advisors: Ms. Senatore and Mrs. Marinstein
Students will create the 2009-2010 yearbook electronically. Students will photograph school events, layout the book, and sell and distribute the final product. Students may concurrently participate in other clubs.
Drama Club: 2nd Trimester: rehearsal schedule to be determined after casting Advisors: Ms. Senatore and Ms. Horaczek
Auditions will be held November 18-24. The show will be performed on Saturday, March 27. Students will work together to perform a Broadway Jr. Production. Students will learn lines and songs, basic stage direction, physical presence,
teamwork and dedication. The title of this year’s musical will be announced in the near future.
*Please note that in order to prepare for a performance there will be a rigorous rehearsal schedule. Students in Drama Club may not miss rehearsals for other clubs or sports. Actors cast in main roles should limit participation in extra-curricular activities.
Recycling Club: 1st-3rd Trimesters:Wednesdays Grades 3-6 Advisor: Mr. Blanchet
The Recycling Club invites Menands students to learn about the recycling process. Members will assist in organizing the recycling program at Menands School. Students will help educate the rest of the school community about the importance
of recycling and the appropriate manner in which to recycle materials. The club is limited to 12 students, and students may concurrently participate in this club while doing other clubs and sports.
Garden Club: 1st and 3rd Trimesters:Thursdays Grades 3-6 Advisor: Mr. Blanchet
The Garden Club will provide maintenance to the school garden. Members will learn about plant germination and cultivation. Members will design and build a greenhouse. This club is limited to 12 members, and members may concurrently
participate in this club while doing other clubs.
This year we once again have an exciting selection of clubs and sports. Please read the following descriptions and discuss them with your children. This material will be discussed with the students on the first day of school.
Digital Photograph: 1st Trimester :Wednesdays or Thursdays Grades 4-6 Advisor: Ms. Jankowski
Students will learn the basics of digital photography and editing. They will learn different photographic techniques. Students may concurrently participate in other clubs or activities. Students do not need their own camera but may use a camera from home with their parents’ permission.
Wordplay: 1st Trimester:Thursdays Grades 3-5 Advisors: Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Salerni
If you like performing, this club is for you! We will be planning short performances that include Readers’ theater, poetry reading, and karaoke. Some weeks we will be playing word board games like Scrabble. Students participating in this activity may miss meetings only for instrument lessons.
Collectors Club: 1st Trimester:Wednesdays Grades 2-8 Advisor: Ms. Graham
Collectors Club will share the why, where and how of their collections. They will learn to respect the property and talent of other collectors, how to display their collections, or how to begin a collection. Students participating in Collectors
Club may concurrently participate in this club and other clubs.
Lego Robotics Club: 1st Trimester: Wednesdays and Thursdays Grades 5-8 Advisor: Ms. Thompson
This year’s Lego Club will be (pun-alert!) geared towards the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League program. This fall club will culminate in a regional competition to be held at RPI in early December. We will be using a Lego Mindstorms robotics kit and learning to program a robotic vehicle that we build so it can run by itself along a path that we instruct it to follow. This year we will be programming and not using Standard Legos. Students participating in this club must plan to come to at least one of the two meetings each week.
“Stitch in Time” Sewing Club: 2nd trimester: Wednesdays Grades 3-5 Advisor: Miss Barno
Join us for hand sewing. We’ll learn to sew on buttons, hem, and hand stitch quilt squares. Club members may concurrently participate in this and other activities.
Playmakers Club: 2nd trimester: Wednesdays and Thursdays Grades 6-8 Advisor: Mrs. Testo
Students will help create the entire set design for this year’s musical (TBA) from the initial concept to painting multiple
flats and props used in the movable scenery. Students will be working with parent volunteers as well. Membership
is limited to 10, and members may concurrently participate in other activities.
Tennis Club: 1st and 3rd Trimesters: Wednesdays and Thursdays Grades 3-6 Advisor: Mr. Collen
Tennis Club is held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Club members will learn all of the basic tennis skills along with the rules of play. Racquets and tennis balls are supplied. Students participating in this activity must commit solely to this activity on the days of its meetings. Students can participate in fall, spring, or both trimesters.
Chess Club: 1st-3rd trimesters: Thursdays Grades 4-8 Advisor: Mr. Carroll
Learn to play chess, or prepare for tournaments. No prior chess experience is necessary. Students may concurrently
participate in this and other activities.
Junior Chess Club: 1st-3rd Trimesters: Wednesdays Grades 1-3 Advisor: Mr. Carroll
Learn to play chess or improve your game for tournament play. No prior chess experience is necessary, but new players will be admitted only during the first trimester. Membership is limited to 24. Members must commit solely to this activity on the day that we meet.
Stage Crew : 2nd trimester: Wednesdays and Thursdays Grades 5-8 Advisor: Ms. Jankowski
Students will participate in all activities that go along with the technical side of putting on a play. Students will work on light and sound design for the Drama Club production. Students will also photograph and videotape the play.