Activities/Clubs
Activity | Sponsor | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Affinity Club | Mr. Green | All year | The MultiRacial Affinity group is a collection of students, primarily identifying as Black and Latino, who set goals of academic excellence and seek to create a place of belonging at Park. |
Alliance Club | TBD | Fall/Winter | Alliance Club is designed to unite students to build community and organize around issues impacting them in school. The main purpose will be to provide students a forum to safely express wants/needs for social change related to gender-based and LGBTQ+ representation. |
Art Club | TBD | Fall/Winter | Students will experiment with various 2-D and visual media, and investigate a variety of techniques while making art. Creative exploration will provide a framework for the development of personal artwork. Students will also have an opportunity to delve into the role the arts play in society, and uncover the connections between art, math, science, and language arts |
Baker’s Square | Mrs. Baker | All year | Baker’s Square is a drop-in math help club where students can come to work on math homework and to study. Come with your questions! |
Battle of the Books | Mrs. Egan | Fall/Winter/Spring | Battle of the Books/Book club offers a chance to read, discuss, and have a bit of competition surrounding Rebecca Caudill awarded books. |
Cheerleading | Ms. Dietrich | Winter | Show your school spirit and lead the crowd! Cheerleading is all about teamwork, enthusiasm, and building school pride. |
Dungeons and Dragons Club | Mr. Foote | All year | Have you ever watched Stranger Things and wondered what it would be like to be in an actual D&D Campaign? Then D&D Club is the place to be! We meet throughout the year once a week to play Dungeons and Dragons. Bring your friends and form your own campaign, or create/join a new group – no prior experience required! Bring a character sheet and a D&D set of dice and join the fun! |
French Club | Madame Boyde | All year | French Club meets throughout the year generally on the second Friday of the month. French Club will celebrate le monde francophone, or the French-speaking world, through music, art, film and food. Students do not need to be enrolled in a world language class to participate. |
Graphic Novel Club | Ms. Mlade | All year | Love comics, manga, or graphic novels? This is the club for you! In the Graphic Novel Book Club, we’ll read and discuss exciting stories told through both words and art. Whether you enjoy superheroes, fantasy, mystery, or slice-of-life, you'll discover new titles, share your favorites, and connect with others who love storytelling through pictures! |
Park SAVE Promise Club and Ambassadors | TBD | All year | Started in connection with the Sandy Hook promise, SAVE Promise club members will work together to help make Park and our community a safe and positive place. |
Park Tutors | Mrs. Pasieka | Winter/ Spring | The Park Tutor Program is an after school program where Park Students help with homework, tutor, enrichment, and mentor elementary students. **Opportunity to earn service hours |
Peer Connections | Mrs. Pasieka | All year | Peer Connections is where Students in Special Education and General education come together for a unique, fun, rewarding experience! It is where you can truly make a difference. **Opportunity to earn service hours |
Poms | TBD | Winter | Get ready to dance, perform, and show your school spirit! Poms Club is all about high-energy routines that combine dance, cheer, and teamwork. |
Service Club | Mrs. Galske/ Mrs. Pasieka | All year | Service Club is for all students who want to make a difference. Service Club members work together to brainstorm different ways that they can help their school, community, and world. Students then organize different drives or activities that they choose to coordinate. The goal of Service Club is for Park students to work together to help others. **Opportunity to earn service hours. |
Student Council | Mrs. Moran | All year | The Student Council works hard to plan events and activities throughout the school year to promote school spirit! The 8th grade Exec Board runs the show, but there are opportunities for 7th graders to get involved as well. |
Video Gaming/Tech Club | Mr. Epps | All year | Video Game/Tech Club is the perfect place for students who enjoy gaming, technology, and digital creativity! Members will have the opportunity to play a variety of video games, explore new technology, collaborate with friends, and participate in tech-related activities in a positive, inclusive environment. |
Yearbook Club | Ms. Schwartz | All year | This club works together to create the school yearbook. Students can participate in many ways: taking photos, designing the pages, and conducting surveys. |
Performing Arts
Activity | Sponsor | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Chorus | Mr. Kirby | All year | Chorus is a non-cut group for students that like to sing! We meet each day during Flex Period. Students will learn proper singing technique, harmonization, and music reading skills. Chorus is welcome to both experienced and new students. Band and orchestra students are also able to be in the chorus. |
Concert Band | Mr. Lyons | All year | Band is a co-curricular instrumental music class at the Junior High School for students who play a traditional Band instrument (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba and Percussion). Students must have started in the program in 5th grade or have 'director approval' in order to participate. |
Drama Club | Mr. Janas | All year/ except when musical is in meeting | Drama club is an opportunity for students to create and perform their own skits and plays, both in front of an audience and/or as movies online. Part of our mission is to give students more time on our stage, to perform stories relevant to themselves, and not necessarily have the added anxiety of having to sing. Meetings tend to be weekly, and we are an open club so a student may join us at any time. Drama Club does go on hiatus during the Musical. |
Folkloric Dance | Mrs. Farrington | Winter/ Spring | The Folkloric Dance Club invites students to explore the rich and diverse traditions of Latin American cultures through movement and music. Participants will learn traditional dances from Latin-American countries gaining insight into the rhythms that make each style unique. This club is a fun and engaging way to celebrate cultural heritage, build community, and express creativity through dance. |
Forte | TBD | All year | The Forte Singers are an auditioned group of 9-16 singers from the general chorus. Forte singers focus on sight reading, community service, harmonic independence and more advanced material (tighter harmonies, 4 part music, jazz harmonies, a cappella performances) |
Jazz Band | Mr. Lyons | All year | The PJHS Jazz Band is an auditioned group of students from concert band and orchestra who practice playing jazz music. |
Orchestra | Mr. Foote | All year | Orchestra is a co-curricular instrumental music class at the Junior High School for students who play a traditional stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass). Students must have started in the program in 5th grade(*) or have 'director approval' in order to participate |
Fall Musical | Mr. Kirby/ Mrs. Mikulionis | Fall/Winter | The annual school musical is a non-cut activity which allows students to act, sing, dance and address the technical aspects of the production as well (props, set, soundboard, lightboard, spotlight). Auditions are "placement auditions" to cast our lead roles. Students tackle a full length Broadway production. This year's production will be Disney's The Little Mermaid. |
Stage Crew | Mr. Janas | Fall/Winter | Stage crew is a non-cut activity where students, under the guidance of a skilled staff member, build and paint the sets, make and source the props, and run the lights, sounds, and operations for Park's annual musical. Select students will have the opportunity to work additional shows throughout the year. |
Steel Band | Mr. Lyons | All year | A steel band is a group of different types of drums called steel pans. A steel band performs a wide variety of music from the Caribbean. It most often plays traditional folk music called calypso or soca, but steel bands can also play modern pop music and classical. Pans are created from 55 gallon steel drums and most often produced in Trinidad. |
Special Olympics Athletics & Gen Ed Clubs to Support Mighty Patriots
Activity | Sponsor | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Mighty Patriots Special Olympics Basketball Team | Mrs. Pasieka/ Ms. Schwartz | October- February | Join a team where effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship shine! The Special Olympics Basketball Team is open to students of all abilities who want to build skills, make friends, and experience the excitement of playing the game. Athletes will practice fundamental basketball techniques, learn the value of teamwork, and participate in games and events that celebrate ability and inclusion. No experience needed—just a willingness to try your best and have fun! |
Mighty Patriots Student Coaches | Mrs. Pasieka/ Ms. Schwartz | Fall/Winter | Students help coach and support the Special Olympics Basketball Players at games and practices. **Opportunity to earn service hours |
Fans in the Stands | Mrs. Pasieka/ Ms. Schwartz | Winter | Fans in the Stands is a group made up of students that have made a commitment to be the student cheering section for the Mighty Patriots Special Olympics Basketball team. |
Mascots | Mrs. Pasieka/ Ms. Schwartz | Winter | Try out for a mascot position to help cheer on the Mighty Patriots and get the crowd going *Opportunity to earn service hours |
Teens Behind the Scenes | Mrs. Pasieka/ Ms. Schwartz | Winter | Teens Behind the Scenes is a group made up of students that have made a commitment to help promote the Mighty Patriots home games by making posters, helping get the giveaways ready, talking the game up to friends, fundraising and attending the game. **Opportunity to earn service hours |
Park Athletics
Athletic Director: Mr. Rob Regan
Sport | Time | Cut | IESA | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boys' Softball | August - October | Yes | No | Mr. Luis Rodriguez |
Girls' Basketball | August - October | Yes | No | Mr. Matt Geimer |
Cross Country | August - October | No | Yes | Mr. Greg Carsten |
Boys' Basketball | October - January | Yes | No | Mr. Ryan Malloy |
Wrestling (Co-Ed) | December - March | No | Yes | Mr. Luis Rodriguez |
Poms | October - January | No | No | Contact Rob Regan |
Cheer | October - January | Yes | No | Contact Rob Regan |
Girls' Volleyball | January - March | Yes | Yes | Mrs. Janet Joe |
Soccer (Co-Ed) | March - May | No | No | Mr. Luis Rodriguez |
Girls' Softball | March - May | Yes | No | Ms. Michaeleen Nutley |
Boys' Volleyball | March - May | Yes | No | Contact Rob Regan |
The following is needed to participate in Park athletics:
Signed participation waiver- needed to try out
Sports physical- after joining the team
Academic and Behavior Eligibility
Team Contract- after joining the team
Medical card- after joining the team
Concussion form- after joining the team
Sports fee- after joining the team
IESA- Illinois Elementary School Association: iesa.org