Athletics & Activities Guide

Athletics & Activities Guide

ATHLETICS The athletics program at West encourages participation and emphasizes teamwork and sportsmanship. No previous experience is needed and skills are taught to athletes with varying ability levels. PHYSICALS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. Students must turn in a completed Athletic Participation Emergency Card. Late buses are provided for transportation home after practice. Participants are also transported to and from competitions by bus. However, no buses are available for transportation home after meets, matches, and games. Track Participants: 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade students Fee: $60.00 Meet Times: Track meets begin around 4:15 pm and conclude around 6:30 pm. Track is open to all 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade students and no cuts are made. Participants will compete in weekly meets against other Cherry Creek Middle Schools. Events consist of short and long distance running, hurdles, relays, long jump, triple jump, high jump, and shot put. Track offers an excellent opportunity for students to become involved in a fall activity and allows students to meet other peers from all grade levels. Boys and Girls Basketball Participants: Fee: Game Times: 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade boys and girls (separate seasons) $60.00 for 8 th grade; $30.00 for 6 th and 7 th grades Games begin around 4:15 pm and conclude around 6:30 pm The basketball program at West Middle School is a no cut experience where players are taught skills, strategies, and sportsmanship. Positive teamwork is emphasized and individual skills are addressed.

Wrestling Participants: 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade boys and girls Fee: $60.00 Match Times: Matches begin around 4:15 pm and conclude around 6:30 pm. Wrestling is open to both boys and girls at all grades. Wrestlers are taught skills by knowledgeable coaches. This sport builds self-confidence and challenges the individual athlete to improve his or her skills throughout the season for the overall benefit of the team. Girls Volleyball Participants: Fee: Game Times: 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade girls $60.00 for 8 th grade; $30.00 for 6 th and 7 th grades Games begin around 4:15 and conclude around 6:30 pm The volleyball program teaches girls the fundamentals of the sport and encourages the more advanced players to challenge their abilities. No previous experience is necessary and all grade levels are welcome to participate.

ACTIVITIES Students are encouraged to participate in clubs and activities that interest them. Research has shown that students who complement their academics with extracurricular experiences often enjoy school more and connect with their peers and teachers through more positive interactions. In addition, clubs and activities provide opportunities for students to express their creativity in a variety of ways. Students should listen to the announcements for sign-up information, start dates, and times. Art Club Art club provides time for extra art projects and activities outside the class day. Both individual and group projects are encouraged. Destination Imagination Destination Imagination is an international program intended to develop students problem solving skills and creativity. The group will work on creating their own solutions to a challenging and unusual problem. The solutions will be presented at District competitions. In the past, teams from Cherry Creek Schools have competed successfully at the state and national levels. Drama Each year, West produces a fall play and a spring musical. These shows provide opportunities for students to learn about theater and participate as actors or techies. Auditions are generally held in the early fall and just after winter break. Earth Club WMS Earth Club is committed to keeping our school and community green through reducing, reusing, and recycling. The club focuses on educating the school on ways to reduce waste, reuse energy and resources, and recycle items. Geography Bee Club This is an exciting new club at West Middle School. Each week we will have fun geography challenges using materials provided by the National Geography Bee Society. Our goal is to spark student interest in geography, provide entertaining tests of geographic knowledge and get students to learn about the world in which we live. We will also participate in the National Geography Bee.

Imagine! The Imagine! Magazine is a soft cover book published by the students. The book contains poems, stories, artwork, and articles created by West students. Imagine! Magazine can be purchased and will be delivered at the end of the year. Jazz Band Band and Orchestra students may audition for Jazz Band, which rehearses after school and performs at band concerts. Auditions are open to saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, bass, guitar and drum-set. All students must be enrolled in either Band or Orchestra to be eligible for Jazz Band (with the exception of piano and guitar players). Math League and Math Counts Math League and Math Counts prepares students for district math competitions, the Colorado Math League, the Math Olympiad, Math Counts, the American Math Contest 8, and the Purple Comet. National Junior Honor Society Participants: Students must qualify to be eligible to join NJHS. Eighth grade students are invited to join NJHS based on having a grade-point average of 3.65 or higher for 3 or more quarters of their 7 th grade year. Students who met this qualification as 7 th graders received an invitation last spring to participate. Participation requires community service hours be performed. Spelling Bee Club Students practice spelling through fun games like SWAT and Battleship in preparation for the West Middle School Spelling Bee. The top 4 places will qualify for the District Spelling Bee which will be held in February at SARC. Students who are interested should watch announcements for more information to come. Strategic Games Club In the Strategic Games Club, students participate in a variety of analytical games, including Chess and Magic the Gathering. We accept all chess ability levels and welcome beginners.

Robotics Club Robotics club is a team of students who design, build and program LEGO NXT robots that can compete in a variety of challenging tasks. TEAMWORK is a strong emphasis for this challenging club. Robotics club is similar to one of the many sports seasons at West since we meet 4 days per week for 6 weeks. Teams will be formed during the first meeting so make sure to attend to get an application, calendar, and contract. Student Council The Student Council at West is open to all students. The purpose of Student Council is to promote school spirit and leadership. Student council is also a service organization, sponsoring activities beneficial to the school and the local community. Vocal Ensembles West offers the opportunity for 7 th and 8 th grade students to participate in either Boys or Girls Choir. Participants must audition before joining these groups. Wildcat Orchestra This group is open to string students who are active members of the 6 th, 7 th, or 8 th grade orchestras. Students are admitted into the group by audition. Rehearsals will begin the first week of October, and auditions will be held the week prior. The group will perform at concerts throughout the school year, throughout the community, and at the discretion of the sponsor. Yearbook Students participating in Yearbook Club will develop and use their skills in photography, writing and graphic design to produce a product which WMS students will cherish in reflecting upon their time here at West. They will work with other students to create the layout, decide which pictures will have the most impact, write pieces that encapsulate the West Middle School experience and develop an overall theme for the yearbook.