Art Club - Process, Exploration and Discovery

All students are welcome the join the after school art club.  This activity will be held in the Art Room with Mrs. Babin (former MVMMS/MHS art teacher).  Make new friends will exploring artistic enrichment projects.  This comprehensive art class covers a little bit of everything and allows students to experiment with a variety of art materials and processes.  In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, students will draw, paint a mural, and much more!  In addition to structured lessons, students will have time to work on independent projects of their own design.  See Registration Form attached.  Classes will be held on Tuesdays.  Space is limited to the first 25 students; please sign up early.  For more information contact Mrs. Babin at babinge@comcast.net.

Tuesdays from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. beginning October 4, 2011         Free
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ballroom Dancing Club

All students are eligible to join the Ballroom Dancing Club.  This activity will be held after school in the chorus room.  The students in the Ballroom Dancing Club will learning basic dance steps that may include some of the following dances: Jive, Tango, Samba, Paso Doble, Quickstep, Mambo, Rumba, Cha Cha, Foxtrot, and/or Waltz.  This is an exciting activity that challenge all students.  There will be a performance at the conclusion of the program.  For more information contact Ms. Brooke Langway at blangway01@hotmail.com.

Session  I - Mondays (10 weeks) beginning January 23, 2012       Free
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Band Gig Club 

All students are eligible to join the Band Gig Club. This activity is held after school in the art room.  The Band Gig Program teaches you how to be part of a band.  Geared toward teens that already have one thing in common; they want to be in a band and they love music.  Each group is made up of four-six students based on grade, music style preference, and ability.  The group chooses the name of the band and what songs they are going to play.  Original music is always enthusiastically encouraged.  The groups record a demo and give a live performance.  It is all about having fun.  Your experience will be more like a recording session than a rehearsal.  Tuition includes weekly band rehearsal and studio time, trip to Band Gig studio to record, CD recording/demo of the band, and a live concert for charity.  The instruments include guitar, base guitar, keyboards, drums and vocals.  A mandatory participant registration and prescreening for Session I will be held on October 3, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. in the MVMMS Art Room.  Be sure to bring your instrument.  Payment is due between the week of October 11th.  This program is made possible by the generous funding provided by The Victoria McLaughlin Foundation and the Ernie Boch's Music Drives Us Foundation.  No class on October 12th.  For more information contact Nick Vecchio at (781) 201-9800 or nick@band-gig.com.

Session  I - Mondays & Wednesdays Oct. 3, 2011 - January 23, 2012    $216.00 
Session II - Mondays beginning on Mar. 19, 2012 - June 4, 2012  $216.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Broadcast Club

All students are eligible to join the MVMMS Broadcast Club.  
The Broadcast Club produces a daily live TV show on WMVMMS-TV Channel 85 in the Broadcast Room next to the main office on the first floor.  The Broadcast Club
films various assemblies, makes movies, and other media activities.  For more information, contact Mr. Muldoon at jmuldoon@melrose.mec.edu.

Daily at starting at 7:00 a.m. beginning on September 1, 2011   FREE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drama Club

All students are eligible to join the MVMMS Drama Club. At each rehearsal you must bring your script!  You may also bring a snack and a drink.  You will be asked to do your homework or study when you are not needed on stage. Rehearsals for "Aladdin Jr" are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays every week after auditions.  The first play will be "Aladdin Jr" a musical directed by Mr. Adam Schuler on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.  Auditions for "Aladdin Jr" will be held on September 12, 2011, September 13, 2011, and the call backs will be held on September 14, 2011.  The second play will be The Hobbit a drama play directed by Mr. Brent Bueno on Thursday-Friday, February 9-10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium.  The third play of the season is "An Evening of One-Act Plays" on April 26-27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.  The MVMMS Drama Club will also compete in the 2011 Massachusetts Middle School Drama Guild's competition on Saturday, April 28, 2012.  For more information contact Mr. Schuler at aschuler@melrose.mec.edu or Mr. Bueno at bbueno@melrose.mec.edu.

(Tuesdays-Thursdays)  2:30 - 5:00 p.m. in auditorium.           Drama Fee - TBA  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Members of the club will play the Good Manners For Fun board game after school in the library.  This is a board game that depicts acts of kindness, courtesy, friendship, bullies and table etiquette in illustrated cards.  The purpose of the game is to present examples of proper and improper behavior in a fun way with rewards and penalties received and paid for with Brownie Points.  The player with the most Brownie points at the end of the game determines the winner.  For more information visit:  www.goodmannersforfun.com.

Wednesdays beginning on September 7, 2011          FREE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All students are students may join the Green Team.  The Green Team, formerly the Environmental Club, is an environmentally themed club that meets once a month on Thursdays.  During the meetings, the Green Team will play games, participate in activism projects, meet environmental experts and do outdoor activities.  The Green Team is new and therefore the students will have the opportunity to design this club to their liking; the students can pick the projects and the activities.  The Green Club is for enthusiastic students who are interested in having fun, learning about the environment though hands on projects and getting outside to enjoy nature.  For more information, contact Jessie Schmitt at jschmitt788@gmail.com.

Thursdays (once a month) beginning November 17, 2011      FREE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This art class will focus on improving drawing skills and making drawings more dynamic through lessons in composition and materials use (including watercolors) while emphasizing creative thinking and the individual interests of each student.  Students will also  have an opportunity to experiment with mixed media projects, printmaking, and watercolors.  Small class size allows for the individual interests of each student to be explored.  This course is offered with collaboration from the Melrose Recreation Dept.  Instructor: Julie Fox.   For more information, contact Mr. Muldoon  jmuldoon@melrose.mec.edu 

Session I:  Sept 19 - November 14, 2011  (Limit 8 students)
Session II: Jan 23 - March 12, 2012          (Limit 8 students)

Mondays beginning September 19, 2011               $130
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Library Club meets every day after school. The library is open from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, for students who would like to read, obtain a book, finish a project, and/or conduct research. Mrs. Arnold is always willing to help. See you there!  For more information contact Mrs. Arnold at warnold@melrose.mec.edu.

Monday-Friday: September 6, 2011 - June 14, 2012    2:03 - 4:30 p.m.    FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Math Team will meet various times during the school year. The Math Team is part of the Intermediate Math League of Eastern Massachusetts. The math team is open to all middle school students. The first round will be against the following middle school math teams: Framingham, Mansfield, Manchester-Essex, King Philip Regional, Franklin, and Georgetown. All practices will be held after school in the third floor project room (Room B301) from 3:20 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.  For more information, see Mrs. Fowler at dfowler@melrose.mec.edu or Ms. Pereira at lpereira@melrose.mec.edu.

Thursdays beginning October 6, 2011                  FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will be the third year Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School has a MathCOUNTS team. MathCOUNTS® is a national math enrichment, coaching & competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state & territory. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, MathCOUNTS is one of the most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors & students. The Massachusetts MathCOUNTS competition will be held in February 4, 2012 at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School. See Mrs. Fowler at dfowler@melrose.mec.edu or Ms. Pereira at lpereira@melrose.mec.edu.

Tuesdays - October 6, 2011 through February 7, 2012                  FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melrose Youth Orchestra

The Melrose Youth Orchestra is a city-wide Orchestra open to all age levels including middle school students.  The Orchestra rehearses on Tuesdays from 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the MVMMS Orchestra Room.  All Middle School Orchestra students are invited to join.  Rehearsals will begin in November.  For more information contact Mrs. Weeks at mweeks@melrose.mec.edu.

Tuesdays - November 1, 2011 through June 5, 2012                   FREE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mock Trial Team will meet in the 4th floor Project Room. All middle school students are invited to join. This year the Mock Trial Team will compete against teams from four other middle schools. You can be an attorney or a witness.  For more information, contact Mr. Crooks at mcrooks@melrose.mec.edu.

Thursdays beginning December 1, 2011                                        FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Newspaper Club will meet after school.  All middle school students are invited to join the Newspaper Club.  Members must register at the Main Office.  The MVMMS Newspaper is looking for an enthusiastic staff to write, photograph, illustrate, and put together a quarterly newspaper.  The newspaper will be written completely by students.  Trying out different areas of news reporting will allow students to discover what they are passionate about.  Students can choose from sports, news, life and arts, or feature reporting or they can work in our photography or illustrating department.  Finally, we will also need students to work on layout design.  Two students will be appointed editor-in-chief and executive editor-in-chief and will oversee what goes into the student newspaper.  The newspaper will be published digitally for four regular issues and one specialty holiday issue during the school year.  One or two faculty members will oversee the newspaper operation and will meet with the students once or twice a week.  Some students will be responsible for attending school functions, plays, art shows and sporting events.  The first mission of the team will be deciding on a name for the newspaper, which will become the banner head for the new club.  For more information, contact Mrs. Means at lmeans@melrose.mec.edu. 

Starting Tuesday, September 29, 2011                      FREE
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Operation Resolve Club is determined to send local Melrose World War II Veterans on an historic mission to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.  Working in conjunction with the Melrose Veterans Advisory Council, the students in the MVMMS Operation Resolve Club would like to raise awareness and/or money to make the trip possible in the Spring of 2012.  The Veteran's stories are incredible and the students of MVMMS are extremely grateful for their accomplishments and for their unbelievable sacrifices.  Let's send them to Washington D.C.  For more information, contact Bob Driscoll at wmsc1@comcast.net.

Starting Thursdays, September 29, 2011                                           FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Project Citizen Club is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education.  This is a national activity through a network of state and congressional district coordinators in all fifty states.  The students will discover, identify or be presented with a local and/or state civic problem.  They will then gather information, examine solutions, propose public policy, and develop and an action plan.  Local civil leaders from Melrose will be invited to meet with the students once their project is underway to discuss their ideas and input.  The project culminates in a civic competition at the Massachusetts State House.  This truly is an exercise in participatory democracy.  Get involved in you community; join the MVMMS Project Citizen Club.  For more information contact Mr. Ed O'Connell at ejomelrose@verizon.net.

Starting Wednesday, October 19, 2011                               FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Select Chorus is a group of middle school students who love to sing.  The group practices every Thursday after school with Mrs. Piper, MVMMS chorus teacher.  From time to time, the MVMMS Select Chorus performs musical selections at special events.  One must audition to be a member of the MVMMS Select Chorus.  For more information, contact Mrs. Piper at kpiper@melrose.mec.edu.

Starting Thursday, September 22, 2011                            FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Stepping Dance Club is open to all students.  Stepping is a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps.  Though stepping may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements that resemble military formations.  Stepping may also draw elements of gymnastics, break dance, tap dance, march and/or African and Caribbean dance.  For more information, contact Mrs. Means at lmeans@melrose.mec.edu.

Starting Thursdays, September 22, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Robotic/LEGO Club is looking for new members.  Students will research challenges facing today's scientists; use LEGO MINDSTORMS technology design, build and program robots; and compete in tournaments and present solutions to a panel of judges.  There will be an informational meeting after school in Mrs. Apostolo's classroom (Room C208) on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.  For more information, visit www.usfirst.org or contact Mrs. Apostolos at japostolos@melrose.mec.edu.

Wednesdays beginning October 5, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MVMMS Robotic VEX Club is an upper class club (eighth grade students) who are transitioning from the MVMMS Robotics Club to the MHS FIRST Robotics Club.  The VEX Robotics design system offers students an exciting platform for learning areas rich in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  These are just a few of the many fields students can explore by creating with VEX Robotics technology.  Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving among groups.  It also allows club leaders to easily customize projects to meet the level of the students' abilities.  There is a VEX Club competition scheduled for December 3, 2010.  The VEX Robotics World Championship will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on April 11-16, 2010; this coincides with the National Robotics Week.  The first meeting will be on Monday, October 3, 2011 in MHS First Robotics Room area (grey garage door) next to to the Marcoux Gym.  The team will be coached by a group of college students from the Tufts University Robotics Club. For more information contact Mr. Hegarty, VEX Club adviser, at melrosefirstrobotics@gmail.com. 

Mondays - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning October 3, 2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Scratch Club will meet after school in the Library Computer Lab. Did you ever want to design your own interactive animation, games, music, art or stories? Now middle school students can, using Scratch - a programming language that makes it easy and fun to create their own projects and to share them with others on the Internet. All students are welcome to join the Scratch Club. To take a look at some of the projects created by MVMMS students visit Scratch Blog.  For more details, contact Mrs. Arnold at warnold@melrose.mec.edu.

Wednesdays - 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. beginning October 12, 2011           FREE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ski Club Website - (Independent Website) The Ski Club is an exciting extracurricular activity run by Mr. Mateus (tmateus@melrose.mec.edu) and Ms. Prouty (aprouty@melrose.mec.edu).

Time and Dates (Tentative): 
     Saturday, December 17, 2011 - Bretton Woods
     Saturday, January 21, 2012 - Waterville Valley
     Saturday,  February 11, 2012 - Sunday River
     Saturday, March 17, 2012 - Attitash Mountain                    (Cost varies)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first meeting of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Smile Train Club will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, after school in Room C308.  The new club consists of a group of middle school students and an advisor who support Smile Train, a non-profit organization.  The mission of Smile Train is "to help the millions of very poor children in developing countries who are suffering with unrepaired clefts."  

Thursdays beginning September 15, 2011                                         (FREE)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Youth Action Team is a group of young people who work with the Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MSAPC); they are dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community by reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among its youth.  The Youth Action Team, known as YAT, is a Coalition work group that facilitates focus group discussions to gauge Melrose youth's opinions around substance abuse and other projects such as teaching elementary school children Media Literacy lessons.  If you are interested in joining the Youth Action Team, contact Ms. Jennifer Kelly at 781-979-4128 or jkelly@cityofmelrose.org for an application.  There are a limited number of spots available on the YAT.

First Monday of the Month - MVMMS 2nd floor project room              (FREE)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Weightlifting and Fitness Club is held after school from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The weight room is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for all middle school students.  For more information contact Mr. Fogarty at sfogarty@melrose.mec.edu.  

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays beginning November 28, 2011  (FREE)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zumba Club

All students are eligible to join the Zumba Club.  This will club meet after school.
Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness program with aerobic elements. Possibly the biggest benefit of Zumba is that it is so much fun people look forward to going to class and working out. At its core, Zumba is a cardio workout which burns calories and improves cardiovascular fitness. Zumba can improve muscle tone and strengthen the body and is also a great stress reliever. The sweating, dancing, and occasionally shouting involved in Zumba will release stress and tension in your body.The average person burns 500-800 calories in an hour doing Zumba.That’s breakfast and lunch!  There will be a performance at the conclusion of the program.  For more information contact Ms. Brooke Langway at blangway01@hotmail.com. 

Session  I - Mondays (10 weeks) beginning September 12, 2011       (FREE)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Posted by Principal Brow - Updated 01/11/12