TMS Clubs/Activities:

Art Club

Advisor:  Gary Robertson - robertsong@talawanda.org

Description:

This club is all about art!  We look at art, talk about art, and most importantly make art.  The TMS Art Club is supported by the Oxford Community Arts Center and we collaborate with local artists.  We will spend several meetings learning about and making artwork around a central theme.  In the past, we have made peace polls that were auctioned at the Community Arts Center, designed and created masks, and self-published a botanical illustration book with illustrations contributed by club members.  Projects for this year will be developed with member input.  All students are welcome.  We will meet every other week (dates to be determined) for approximately 90 minutes.

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Brave Initiative Team

Advisor: Amy Macechko - macechkoa@talawanda.org

Description:

The Brave Initiative Team is sponsored by the Coalition for a Healthy Community - Oxford Area and is the middle school segment of the Youth Action Team for a Healthy Oxford Area.  This group of students focuses on building leadership skills and promoting the value of living a drug-free lifestyle.  Through the promotion of positive messaging and working with students at Talawanda High School and Miami University, these students are the voice of substance use prevention for their peers.  We meet during lunch periods and some after-school/evening meetings are also scheduled.  All students are welcome!

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Builders Club

Advisors: Amy Macechko and Briana Von Mizener - macechkoa@talawanda.org, vonmizenerb@talawanda.org

Description:

Builders Club is part of the Kiwanis Organization. Members of Builders Club are involved in the school and the community as service leaders. Some community service projects the TMS Builders Club has been a part of in the past are Kiwanis Pancake Day and Kiwanis Food Drive. Students have also had the opportunity to be leaders in service projects at TMS.  Builders Club is open to all students. 

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Craft Club

Advisors:  Cherie Day and Carolyn Ratliff - dayc@talawanda.org, ratliffc@talawanda.org 

Description:

Do you like to meet new people and enjoy hands-on projects?  Join us for meetings twice/month after school until 3:45 (dates to be determined by members) for fun and creativity!  Projects will be determined by club members and all middle school students are welcome.


Destination Imagination

Advisor: Bob Black - di@talawanda.org

Description:

DI is a STEAM (STEM + the Arts!) activity open to all kindergarten through 12th grade students. Students form teams of up to 7 members, select one of 7 challenges created each year, and work together to develop a solution that will be presented at the regional tournament taking place at the end of February. Each team needs at least one Team Manager (often a parent or teacher) who helps keep the team on track. Most teams start meeting weekly, at most, in September or October. 


Engineering Club

Advisor: Larry Brock - brockl@talawanda.org

Description:

7th and 8th grade students who strive to be inspired and inventive; who enjoy overcoming obstacles; and who seek to discover, analyze, and solve problems; can spend time with the Engineering Club.  Students can have the opportunity to explore various engineering disciplines and principles.  Opportunities for collaboration with various university and/or professional groups.  No experience is required. Engineering club will be on Tuesdays OR Thursdays beginning in October. 


Fishing Club

Advisor: John Brinck - brinckj@talawanda.org

Description:

The club is open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. No experience is necessary and no equipment is needed. You will spend time learning knots, fishing rules, fish identification, casting contests, and a lure-making craft. We will be working with small tools (pocket knife, pliers, drill, saw, etc.) when making the lures. We will spend most of our fishing time across the street from TMS at the Schwab Family Farm Market. Meetings will run once a month from 3:20 to 4:30pm.

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FCCLA 

Advisor: Sharon Gregory - gregorys@talawanda.org

Description:

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education and is open to students grades 7-12 who have had at least one FCS/Life Skills class and pays the $25.00 dues.

FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.

FCCLA members from the high school along with the adviser will be meeting with TMS students once a month here at TMS.  Students have the opportunity to participate in service projects, fundraising, leadership activities, trips, and competition throughout the school year. 


Gamers Club

Advisors: Kelly Case and Tracy Vu - casek@talawanda.org, vut@talawanda.org 

Description:

Calling all tabletop game fans!  Do you love to play board games and/or card games?  Looking for a place to try out the new Magic deck you just put together or a place to trade Pokemon cards?  Want to test a new chess strategy?  Maybe you are looking to join a dungeons and dragons campaign, but don’t know where to start?  Then this is the place for you.  Once a week, TMS will have a place for you to do all things tabletop.  See Mrs. Vu or Mrs. Case for details and be watching out for announcements.  We plan to start in mid-September. 


Guitar Club

Advisor:  Raj Sundram - sundramr@talawanda.org 

Description:

Have you ever wanted to be able to play your favorite songs, show off your mad shred skills or simply write your own music? Guitar Club is the stepping stone for you! Students will meet two to three times a month TUESDAY FROM 2:45- 3:45 to learn simple, intermediate, and advanced songs, scales, and concepts. A personal guitar, electric or acoustic, is not a must, but having your own will always expedite your progress. All are welcome, be ready to practice and to play! 

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Peer Mediation

Advisor:  Laura Jewett - jewettl@talawanda.org 

Meeting Day and Time:  During tutorials (no after school meetings)

Description:

Peer mediators assist other students with working through and resolving conflict.  Students are trained as peer mediators and assist others in solving problems at school.  8th Grade Mediators can also become members of the SAVE Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere) and/or become Peer Support Volunteers helping younger students resolve social or academic concerns. Peer Mediation will meet during the school day. The dates and times are TBD.


Polar Brrrave

Advisors:  Brad Mills - millsb@talawanda.org 

Description:

Polar Brrrave (think brrrrrrrr!) is a running club that will meet twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:15 meeting in the commons) starting after Thanksgiving Break to keep students active and running.  Anyone in grades 6-12 may participate.  We will start after the break and run through December and January when school is in session.  We will run outside, so bundle up!!    


Student Council

Advisor:  Jaime Jackson - jacksonj@talawanda.org 

Meeting Day and Time: Typically 2x a month after school until 3:30 (Tuesdays)

Description:

Students run for grade level representative and are elected by their peers.  Student Council represents TMS and students are able to fundraise and organize events for TMS.  Student Council has sponsored the 8th grade school dance, the Thanksgiving Senior Citizen Luncheon, Veterans’ Day activities, Staff Appreciation, and many more.

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Theater Club

Advisor:  Abby Sokol -sokola@talawanda.org

See meeting schedule for 2023 School Year- Click HERE

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TMS Robotics Club

Advisor:  Mary Ruppert - ruppertm@talawanda.org

Description:  This robotics team will create a robot that will be part of the First Tech Challenge.  Teams build a robot using a reusable kit of parts and compete within a common set of game rules to play an exciting field game and complete the specific season challenge.  The robot game changes every season and is always a blast!

Robotic club members are expected to meet weekly during the season to prepare the robot for the competition.

Student and adult team members are encouraged to bring any skills they already have, like programming, electronics, metalworking, graphic design, web creation, public speaking, videography, and many more.   Miami University provided the REV Robotics materials for our club.  This year's competition will be held in January.


Yearbook

Advisor:  Suzanne Burch - burchs@talawanda.org

Students are responsible for creating the school yearbook.  Yearbook volunteers take pictures of students’ experiences throughout the day.  They attend after-school/evening events to capture images of our athletics and other activities.  Students then organize the pictures strategically and create the school yearbook.


Activities

Band - Mr. Gonzales: gonzalesr@talawanda.org 

Chorus and Bel Canto - Mrs. Case: casek@talawanda.org 

Orchestra - Mrs. House-Shumway: shumwayc@talawanda.org 


Sports

Questions about TMS sports contact Mrs. Klenk: klenke@talawanda.org

Football, Cheerleading, volleyball, Cross Country, Boy’s Basketball, Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Track

 

*Activities/clubs will only occur based upon the availability of a sponsor/supervisor