After School Program

DEBATE: 2019-20

Debate is an academically rigorous competition for Middle School Academy and Hardey students.  Joining the Debate Team means you are committing to regularly attending practices and participating in scheduled tournaments. The tournament schedule is below and includes some holiday/long weekends. Students will have all materials provided, including the Core Files. There is no fee to participate. This year's debate coaching team includes:

• Jonathan Stopyra, permanent substitute teacher; former senior kindergarten assistant.

 

Debate Practice Schedule - Thursdays -  3:45 pm - 4:45pm / Fridays - 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

Tournament One

September 28 (Saturday, 8 am-4 pm)

Location: Sacred Heart

Tournament Two

November 10 (Sunday, 8 am-4:30 pm)

Location:  Bernard Zell

Tournament Three

December 14 (Saturday, 8 am-4:30 pm)

Location:  King Arts

Tournament Four

January 25th (Saturday, 8 am-4:30 pm)

Location:  Avery Coonley

Optional Mini-Tournament

February 4 (4 pm-8 pm)

Location:  Bernard Zell

Make-Up Tournament

February 8 (Saturday, 8 am-4:30 pm)

Location:  Francis X. Warde

Tournament Five: IMSDL Championship

March 7 (Saturday, 8 am-5:30 pm)

Locations:  Nichols

The Illinois State Middle School

Debate Championship

March 21 (Saturday, 8 am-4 pm)

Location:  Skinner West

Email Ms. Henderson with any questions.

Band (Grades 3-8)

Students New to Band:  We invite new students to join band. There is an instrument fitting session (brass, wind and percussions) offered to each interested child starting mid-September. There are weekly group lessons for beginners one morning before school on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (7:40-8:20 am).  Periodic rehearsals are held on Tuesdays with spring concerts in May.  Instruments will include brass, wind and percussion. If you have interest in learning more/joining the band in the fall, email Tim Mikolay at Tim.Mikolay@shschicago.org

Returning band members: Rehearsal start date TBD

Weekly rehearsals on Friday mornings from 7:30-8:15 am. Performances are scheduled throughout the year with spring concerts in May. Instruments include brass, wind and percussion.

 

Choir (Grades 3-8)

All students in 3rd-8th grade are invited to participate in the Sacred Heart Liturgical Choir. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays in the chapel. Members will meet immediately after school until 4:30 pm. Start date will be announced early September. Ms. Becker leads the choir during school liturgies.

 

Glee Club (Grades 6-8)

This is a singing/performance ensemble directed by the Fine Arts Director, Justin Taylor Nixon. Most of the music represented is contemporary pop music or musical theater with the occasional sacred performance during a school chapel or mass. This ensemble involves a much more rigorous rehearsal process. Students will be challenged through the complexity of the music and the inclusion of tight harmonies and part work. Students will perform at all school music concerts as well as possibly presenting their own Glee Club concert and occasional performances throughout the school year at school functions and off-campus gatherings.  Click here to download a copy of the registration form

 

Guitar Lessons

Daniel Gomez offers private guitar lessons to beginner through intermediate levels. Students will meet for 30 or 45 minute lessons on Tuesdays-Thursdays, 3:30-5:30 pm and Fridays 2:30-5:30 pm. Beginners will learn the essential open chords and basic strumming patterns, as well as note-reading to build a foundation for music. For those who have previous experience, they will elevate their guitar playing by learning barre chords, basic lead guitar techniques, continued note reading, finger-style guitar, creative songwriting and more.

Mr. Gomez has earned a bachelor's degree in music guitar performance from Northeastern University and a master's degree in music guitar performance from DePaul University.

 

Piano Lessons

Private Piano Lessons (Suzuki Method) are offered weekly to students in grades SK-8 from 3:30-5:45 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Lessons are taught by Mrs. Camille Witos, a faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago. Note: The Suzuki Method of teaching requires a parent to be present at the child's lessons and receive training as a practice partner to the child.

 

Voice Lessons

Private Voice Lessons are offered to SK - 8 from 3:45pm -5:45pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Students will meet in a private voice studio setting to work on developing and understanding the use of proper vocal techniques while learning new an exciting songs.  No previous experience is necessary, just a willingness to work and desire to become a better singer. Lessons are taught Bernadette Garza.

Ms. Garza has performed as a soloist throughout the Chicagoland area including the Allegro Music Center, Mary Music Makers and Musical Chairs, Inc.  She has earned a Bachelor's Degree in performing Arts from University of Northern Iowa and a Master's of Music Degree in Opera Performance from the Chicago Conservatory Performing Arts.

 

On the day of rehearsal for Choir, Guitar,  Piano, or Voice Lessons, students should go to After School and wait for for their instructor (After School starts in the cafeteria and proceeds to the Sheridan Road Playground (K-5) or Interior Playground (6-8). Dismissal will be on Rosemont road. IF arriving after dismissal time, please proceed to the Portry for pickup.

Science Olympiad is a team activity for students in grades 6–8 to learn skills covering 23 events involving engineering, problem-solving, experimentation and research. Students may participate in two or more events. The first meeting will be held on September 25. Everyone is welcome to participate.

In October, a local competition will be held to select the Science Olympiad team. Starting in November, only the team will meet to train for the Regional and State competitions.

All students interested in trying out will be expected to:

1. Attend three days of event demonstrations held after school.
2. Study a prep packet which will be handed out at the event demonstrations.
3. Participate in individual and group testing.

Wednesday afternoons after school are tentatively scheduled as the meeting day (3:30-5 pm). Some morning before-school practices will also be scheduled to accommodate students’ schedules. There will be a couple of Saturdays in the fall that students will need to be present.

Parents of team members will be expected to actively participate as coaches and assistants.

There are two event competitions which include Regional, held in March, and State, held in April.

 

• Cub Scouts

If you would like to become a leader, please contact Brenda.Asare@shschicago.org. 

• Brownie Girl Scouts
  Scout Leader:  Mackenzie Cronin, Loyola University Student
  Grades:  2nd and 3rd  
  Dates:  Mondays, starting in September 30th
  Time:  3:45-4:45 pm
  Minimum enrollment of 5 and maximum enrollment of 40

Students will meet after school on Mondays twice a month for the entire school year.  In addition to the scheduled after school meetings, the troop will plan for 2-3 optional weekend field trips throughout the year.  Girls will be actively involved in planning the field trips.  

Membership dues will be discussed at initial meeting.

If you would like to Lead a troop for Daisy or Junior Scouts please contact Brenda.Asare@shschicago.org.

The Sacred Heart Math Club is for students in grades 4 through 8 who would like to explore topics of mathematics that they may not encounter in their regular math courses. Students will increase their understanding of algebra and geometry concepts and, if they so choose, use this knowledge to prepare for Chicago-area math competitions, including those at Fenwick High School and Latin School of Chicago.

Math Club for Grades 4th and 5th (new and returning students) 

Advisors:  Mr. Steele, Middle School Math Teacher & Ms. Meade, Lower School Teacher 
Time:   7:30am–8:15am
Dates: Thursday, mornings, starting September 26
Fees:  No charge

Math Club for Middle School (grades 6-8) 

Advisor:  Ms. Bradshaw, Academic Office Assistant
Time:   7:30am–8:15am
Dates: Thursday, mornings, starting September 26
Fees:   No charge

If you would like to join Math Club, please attend the first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 26.  Students (4th and 5th) should wait in the cafeteria for Mr. Steele or Ms. Meade to pick them up. 

Middle School students should go directly to Mr. Gusaas' classroom #147 .

Teachers:  David Gusaas and Katie Lowry
Grades:  8^th only
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursday
Times: 3:40-4:40 pm
Fees: $230

Class will meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays as listed below. Students will start in language arts/verbal or mathematics and meet for six sessions through October 24. Then, beginning October 29, students will switch subjects for six additional sessions.  Students will receive instruction, practice questions and tests, strategies and review in both subjects.

 Students are expected to attend class both days!

 High School Test Prep Schedule:

Tuesdays	Thursdays
October 8	October 10
October 15	October 17
October 22	October 24
October 29	October 31*
November 5	November 7**
November 12	November 14
November 19	November 21

 

*No Test Prep class due to early dismissal for Halloween

**No Test Prep class due to Parent/Teacher Conferences

HSPT Entrance Exam – Saturday, December 7, 2019

 

Theater Performance Workshop with teacher Mrs. Renn and Fine Arts Director Mr. Nixon provides an opportunity for 4th-8th grade students to showcase their singing and dancing talents.

Sign up:  September 9-13

Click here to download the questionnaire.  Please return to Mr. Justin Nixon via email or via Kidmail.

First Rehearsal - Tuesday, September 17 - 3:30-4:15

Possible Rehearsal Times:

Mornings - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Friday 7:30-8:15

Afternoons - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday  3:30-5; Friday - 2:45-5