Clubs, Activities, & Athletics

ART CLUB

Grades 5-8. This club is for those who would like to enjoy some additional time exploring artistic opportunities in the art room. Members will be able to pursue self-directed projects in the medium of their choice, put in additional time on art classroom assignments, and become involved in collaborative ventures with other club members. Individualized instruction and support will be readily available. Students are encouraged to share ideas and enjoy immersing themselves in artistic endeavors in the company of their fellow art enthusiasts. Students may sign up for one quarter of Art Club. Art Club meets on Fridays after school. Limit of 24 students per quarter. Sign-up is first come/first enrolled.

ATHLETICS

Modified Programs (Grades 7 & 8)

Fall Sports

  • Girls Tennis
  • Boys Soccer
  • Girls Soccer
  • Boys Cross Country
  • Girls Cross Country
  • Volleyball

Winter Sports

  • Boys Basketball
  • Girls Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Wrestling

Spring Sports

  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Boys Lacrosse
  • Girls Lacrosse
  • Boys Tennis

Intramural Programs

Fall

  • Boy Basketball
  • Girls Basketball 
  • Tennis 
  • Golf
  • Wrestling 

Spring

  • Tennis 
  • Volleyball 

BABYSITTING COURSE

One time a year, usually in the spring, the GFMS PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports)  Team provides a course in babysitting.

BOOK CLUB

Grades 5-8. Interested in discussing short stories, poems, and books? The book club will meet in room 266. Share in the entertaining world of reading!

CHESS CLUB

Grades 5-7. this club meets weekly. The club includes chess strategy instruction and in-school tournaments. Beginners are welcome. Limited to 20 students.

DIGNITY CLUB

Dignity Club is a Safe and Inclusive Space for Students of All Identities. We promote the Carmel 6 C's of Citizenship Through Pride & Diversity; Communication Through Listening & Speaking; Creativity Through The Arts; and Critical Thinking Through Reflection. All are welcome! Activities include but are not limited to:  discussions of issues important to students, collaborative mural making, poster design, poetry writing, awareness events, charity events. Meets weekly.

DRAMA CLUB

Grades 6-8. This club is for those who want to let their inner actor out and work with a variety of people. Students perform in one show each year. Meetings range from once a week to five times a week once the play and cast has been selected.

FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA (FBLA)

Grades 5-8. The GFMS chapter of FBLA serves as an important stepping stone for participating in the high school’s chapter of this national, state and local organization. Members are active in school and community partnerships that exemplify the club’s overall mission of community service; educating themselves and others; and promoting progressive ideas through professional connections. Students learn best business practices and participate in charitable fundraising activities.

GENERAL ORGANIZATION (G0)

Grades 5-8. GO is the student government that represents the GFMS student body. Officers include a President, VP, Secretary & Treasurer as well as student representatives from each homeroom. The GO is involved in community service projects such as food and clothing collections. They plan school activities such as dances and keep students informed. The GO meets on Wednesday afternoons.

GO GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB

Grades 5-8. The Go Green Club’s primary function is to run the recycling program at GFMS. The club meets on Tuesdays after school to collect, bag, and remove the school’s recyclable waste to our outdoor collection site. The club also gets involved in special projects within the school and in the community to support and promote environmental efforts.

LEGO® ROBOTICS CLUB

Grades 6-8. Students design and build an autonomous programmable Lego® robotic vehicle to perform tasks in an annual regional contest at Dutchess Community College. Per the rules of the tournament, the team consists of only 10 students. See www.usfirst.org for more information. The middle school competition is called First Lego League (FLL).

LIVING HISTORY CLUB

Grades 7-8. Students learn about various topics in American History. Students research Colonial era and the Civil War time period during club meetings. Club members create presentations to demonstrate 18th and 19th century American culture. In the fall, students assist with 7th grade Colonial Day. In June, the club hosts the “Excelsior Cup”, a 19th century baseball tournament. The club meets after school every other Thursday.

MATHCOUNTS

Grades 6-8. A National enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement. The club meets once a week and will focus on competition. The club is geared for 7 and 8th graders. 6th graders are welcome to attend but the content may be difficult.

MUSICAL GROUPS

Clarinet Choir

Open to all 6th-8th grade clarinet players. Performances for the high school Pops Concert as well as an extra-curricular concert. Meets weekly on Monday’s after school along with Jazz Band. Great opportunity to meet with multiple grade levels and get more playing opportunities.

Jazz Band

Grades 7-8 band students. In addition to band students, Jazz Band is for students who play piano, guitar and bass. This club provides an opportunity for interested students to learn and perform jazz, rock, blues and other forms of popular music in an instrumental setting. The group meets on Mondays after school until the late bus. One evening concert will be scheduled in the spring.

Rock Ensemble

Grades 7-8. This club provides an opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students to learn and perform popular music from many different decades. Rock Ensemble is an auditioned group including approximately 20 singers, 2-3 guitarists, 1-2 bass guitarists, 1-2 keyboard/piano players and 1-2 students who play drum set. Auditions take place mid to late September. Rock Ensemble rehearses on Tuesdays from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. finishing the season in April with several school day assemblies.

Select Strings

Grades 7-8. Students who play violin, viola, cello, bass, or piano. This ensemble provides students the opportunity to play alternative style music such as: pop, rock, bluegrass, and jazz, with the possibility of improvisation and solo playing. There is one scheduled concert in the spring. Rehearsals are held once a week.

PEER LEADERS

Grade 8. Students serve as good role models for incoming 5th graders. In September Peer Leaders assist with  5th grade orientation. In addition, they attended Back-To-School Nights as well as Curriculum Nights to assist parents. They also help at other various events throughout the school year. These students are hard working, conscientious and dedicated to their school community. Students are chosen by an application process that begins the end of their 7th grade year.

REFLECTIONS – PTA

Grades 5-8. The Reflections Program is an annual National PTA program sponsored and hosted by the GFMS PTA which showcases student talents in literature, musical composition, visual arts, photography/film/video and dance/choreography. Students in all grades may enter original works in one or more of these categories that support the theme for that school-year. Entries are judged locally by a panel of professionals. First, second and third place winning entries for each category are sent for inclusion in the regional level, and then possibly the state and national level.

SAFE SCHOOL AMBASSADORS

This group of students is trained through the Community Matters Program.  Students are nominated for this group by their faculty and peers.  This is not an open enrollment activity.  All previously trained 6th - 8th graders are automatically added to the club for this school year.  New members will be trained in October.  There are approx. 60 students who will participate in Family Groups with faculty, monthly.  In addition, there will be full group get-togethers throughout the school year.  Student and school goals are to help create and maintain a positive, safe, and uplifting school environment. Coordinator: Stacy Molison - smolison@carmelschools.org Advisors:  Dana Schwark dschwark@carmelschools.org, and Lori Vandemark lvandema@carmelschools.org

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FAIR

Grades 5-8. The Science & Technology fair is a great event. It is open to all GFMS students. Projects can be entered in the categories of biology, physical science, technology, math and earth science. Awards are given to the first, second and third place winners from each category.

SPOTLIGHT

Grades 5-8. This club meets after school on Mondays to read and critique poems, short stories and art work to be published in the GFMS Spotlight Literary and Art Magazine. Spotlight Literary and Art Magazine showcases original pieces. The members work together to produce this memorable magazine.

TEENS-N-KIDS MENTORING CLUB

Grade 5. Sponsored in partnership with the Putnam County Youth Bureau, Carmel HS students come to GFMS to mentor and interact with our 5th grade students. The club meets weekly on Wednesday. Activities and snacks are provided by the Youth Bureau.

TUTORIAL PROGRAM

Grade 8. A time to academically help the fifth and sixth grade students. Eighth graders can volunteer and then be trained to be a tutor, one day a week for our younger students. Students should seek more information from Mrs. Burns’ office. Space is limited and is filled on a first come/first enrolled basis.

YEARBOOK

Grades 6-8. The yearbook is a publication of middle school memories. Meetings are held each Thursday. The yearbook staff works on photography, keyboarding, layouts and selling ad and booster space. Students learn how to design a yearbook