Sponsor: Mrs. Bonni Solomon and Mr. Alex Rummelhart
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of reading is welcome

Meetings: Monthly in the Shepard Learning Commons

Description: Shepard Book Club welcomes students from across all grade levels.  The members meet and share their love of interesting books while enjoying refreshments.  The members often read the same book for the group discussion, but activities and how they select the book do vary. They learn about the authors and use the internet to expand beyond the book to bring background and resources to enrich the topics for discussion.  It is a fun and friendly conversation, so if you do not have time to read the selection for that session you can come and just enjoy the company of your friends and share what good books you might have read.  It is a great time relax and to engage in interesting conversations with all voices being equal.  

For more information, email Mrs. Bonni Solomon and Mr. Alex Rummelhart.

Director: Dr. Christine Printz, Music Room 408
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Audition only, previous choir experience preferred, membership in grade-level Chorus or Ensemble required.
Season: September-May

Description: The Shepard Middle School Choir Program forms a vital and important part of the total middle school experience. The main emphasis of the choir program is on musicianship and the pride of accomplishment, followed closely by citizenship, tradition, morale, spirit, and loyalty. It is the pride of a job well done and the accomplishments achieved that make the sacrifices and commitment worthwhile. It is possible, by managing activities and academics carefully, to have a highly successful choral experience in middle school and still maintain high scholastic standing.

The Shepard Middle School Choir program offers students an opportunity to perform and sing in concert performances at school and various other venues. Students are encouraged to explore their creativity through the aesthetic communication of various styles of choral music, and this year will have input on our rehearsal and performance song choices.

Shepard Chamber Singers is brand new, advanced choral group made up of 6th-8th grade students who sing and perform 4 part advanced and sometimes a cappella choral literature of many different styles and genres.

Visit the Chamber Singers website.

Sponsor: Mr. Alex Rummelhart, Room 105
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of chess, games, puzzles or logic is helpful
Season: September-May, with winter and early spring as the primary focus.

Description: Chess club is a great club for anyone learning about the “game of kings” or for expert players looking for competive opportunities to hone their skills. Here we learn the game, discuss strategy and tactics, apply our learning to help grow our minds, and of course play each other in friendly matches and tournaments.

For more information, email Mr. Rummelhart.

Director: Mrs. Emily Dykema, Band Room 407
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of music
Season: August-June

Description: Students enrolled in Band, will have a class and practice opportunities in their daily school schedule.

For more information, email Mrs. Dykema.

Sponsor: Ms. Dayna Brady, Room 204
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Interest in debating important topics.
Season: September-May

Description: The Spartan Debate Team is a competitive debate club that works collaboratively to research and develop arguments on a wide range of topics that impact our world today. 

For more information, please reach out to our club sponsor, Mrs. Brady.

Sponsor: Mr. Todd Hyde, Shepard Learning Commons
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None. Just an interest in learning a fun and creative game
Season: Spring

Description: This student created club focuses around the playing of Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering.  

For more information, email Mr. Hyde.

Director: Dr. Christine Printz, Music Room 408
Student ages: 7th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, previous experience in 6th grade chorus preferred
Season: September-May

Description: The Shepard Middle School Choir Program forms a vital and important part of the total middle school experience. The main emphasis of the choir program is on musicianship and the pride of accomplishment, followed closely by citizenship, tradition, morale, spirit, and loyalty. It is the pride of a job well done and the accomplishments achieved that make the sacrifices and commitment worthwhile. It is possible, by managing activities and academics carefully, to have a highly successful choral experience in middle school and still maintain high scholastic standing.

The Shepard Middle School Choir program offers students an opportunity to perform and sing in concert performances at school and various other venues. Students are encouraged to explore their creativity through the aesthetic communication of various styles of choral music, and this year will have input on our rehearsal and performance song choices.

Shepard Ensemble is made up of 7th-8th grade students who sing and perform 3-4 part intermediate choral literature of many different styles and genres.

Ensemble Website

Sponsor: Mr. Michael Richardson, Room 505
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Fishing knowledge and experience are not required.  The club is open to all students who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in fishing.

Season: Sept. - June

Description: Fishing club is a student created, special interest club centered around a love for fishing. Students learn the basics of rod and reel set up, casting, locating fish, etc. The club is hosted by our Spanish World Language teacher, Mr. Richardson, an avid fisherman.

For more information, please email Mr. Richardson.

Sponsor: Mr. Kevin Crowe, Room 310
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None and/or any level of curiosity about nature and the environment.
Season: Fall, Winter, Spring

Description: This year, Green club will be designing a garden and taking a field trip(s) to the Chicago Botanic Garden. 

For more information, email Mr. Crowe.

Sponsor: Stacy Pritsker (spritsker@dps109.org), Jodi Berlinger & Amanda Schatz 
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: All are welcome
Season: October-May

Description:

GSA Stands for Gender and Sexuality Alliance -which is a group of students who get together to unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities.

If you believe in equality and enjoy social justice issues, this is the club for you. This is also a safe club for you to join, we are a bully free club and a safe space for you to express yourself.

In this club we not only get to know each other well, we share stories, do activities, walk in parades, and educate others at our school.

Sponsor:  TBD
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required.
Season: September-April

Description: Improv club is a great place for anyone who wants to express creativity, increase confidence, think on their feet, work as a team, and get a good laugh in each week! The club will participate in a wide variety of improvisation and theatre games to gain an invaluable skill set and prepare for an optional act in the Shepard Variety Show. Improv club meets on Thursdays after school.

Sponsor: Ms. Meghan McDonough and Mrs. Erica O'Brien
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Desire to help others who are looking to enhance their socialization and meet new people
Season: Year round

Description: Lunch Buddies is a great way to get involved at Shepard DURING the school day.  This is a lunch group that meets year round as a way for students to increase their socialization and communication skills in a small, inviting environment. We eat, converse, play games and laugh a ton!

For more information on getting connected, email: Ms. Meghan McDonough and Mrs. Erica O'Brien

Director:  Dr. Christine Printz 
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, but a love of music, dance, theater, and/or stage arts is welcome!
Season: First meeting is usually in December with auditions in January.  Rehearsals are Mondays through Thursdays from around the third week in January until the show opens the third week of March.  Rehearsals are from 3-5 except for tech. week (the final week leading up to performance) when they’re from 6pm-9pm.  Students are NOT required at every rehearsal (Monday-Thursday), but they do need to come when scheduled (we make every effort to schedule rehearsals for students around conflicts given).

Description: The musical is a terrific opportunity for students to work in the arts (both on and off stage).  The current musical program has students working on sets, lights, sound, props, costumes, as well as performing onstage.  This program reinforces the skills of working with other while promoting the importance of the arts in our daily lives.

Peer leaders help lead and organize school-wide events that promote a positive, inclusive culture at Shepard.  Some activities they help with are mentoring new students, helping with lunch bunch, and all school goals/challenges, like the Spartan Olympics.

Sponsor: Erika Yaffe, eyaffe@dps109.org
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, bring your own camera or use the school iPads
Season: September-May

Description: Photography!  It is a wonderful creative media that can communicate and inspire.  Photography club members decide on their own photo shoots including seasonal, school activities, trick photography, and photography as art.  

Sponsor: Mr. Todd Hyde, Lunchroom
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required
Season: January-May

Description: Whether you are an expert or and just a beginner, Ping Pong Club can be a great way to have fun and make new friends. To join you will need to turn in a completed participation form and pay the participation fee.  We will end the year with the cross-town tournament against Caruso.  If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask.

Sponsor: TBD
Student ages: 7th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: 7th and 8th grade students only
Season: September-May.  Regional Science Fair is in March.  State Science Fair is in May by invitation.

Description: Students independently select, research, and experiment a project of their choice.  There are 19 different fields for the Regional Science Fair.  All students can participate at the Regional Science Fair, but the State Science Fair is by invitation.

Contact: Mrs. Ashman (lashman@dps109.org)
Grades: 6th-8th

The Shepard Baking Company is a unique Club which will stir our students’ culinary curiosity and creativity.  Our student bakers, The Marshmallow Squad, will meet most Tuesdays after school. Students will bake, cook, and learn responsibility in the kitchen. Importantly, our hope is to engender a collaborative and inclusive community to share culinary ideas whether a “rookie baker", a contender for The Kids Baking Championship, or a student baker who simply dabbles on the weekend. 

Recipes are predetermined collaboratively by the student bakers and teacher. Each weekly recipe will be posted (with ingredient list) on Google Classroom a week in advance. The club will require a signed parent/guardian permission form to be submitted before a student may enter the kitchen. 

In addition to some good old-fashioned baking fun, our hope is to partner with community philanthropic partners to pay it forward, and demonstrate that “baking is love” (well, isn't it?). We will also have guest teacher chefs sharing their own signature dishes (fun!). Toward year’s end, we hope to create a Shepard Baking Company Recipe Book inclusive of all of our delicious culinary endeavors. There is considerable buzz about this delicious new club! The Shepard Baking Company will be the place for renewed friendships, community connection, and just a whole lot of fun. Contact Mrs. Ashman for all the club news.

The SMS News (Video Broadcast Journalism)

Description: The Video Journalism Club offers students a chance to film, edit, and present news from around the school, called the SMS Student News. Students become reporters highlighting events, activities, games, projects and anything else of interest occurring at Shepard. Students choose topics, record the stories, write the script, edit the footage and release the news to the school community.

Visit the SMS News Youtube Channel

Sponsor: Mrs. Bonni Solomon, Room 211
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Classroom bee winner
Season: December/January

Description:  All students participate in an in-class spelling bee. One winner from each room will then compete in the school bee and be given a packet of words from which to study.  We follow the rules of the Scripps bee and the winner of the school bee will go on the regional competition.

The School Competition will be announced and livestreamed. Student spellers will meet in the Shepard Learning Commons.

Sponsor: Dr. Christine Printz
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: None required, the desire to design and build
Season: First meeting is usually in December with auditions in January.  We work on design and building Mondays through Thursdays from around the third week in January until the show opens the third week of March.  Work days are from 3-5 except for tech. week (the final week leading up to performance) when they’re from 6pm-9pm.  Students are NOT required at every work day (Monday-Thursday), but they do need to come when scheduled (we make every effort to schedule rehearsals for students around conflicts given).

Description: Working on one of the crews for the musical is a terrific opportunity for students to work in the arts (both on and off stage).  The current musical program has students working on sets, lights, sound, props, and costumes.  This program reinforces the skills of working with other while promoting the importance of the arts in our daily lives.

Sponsor: Ms. Sydney Oliff and Ms. Leah Zelnick
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Students should be leaders, collaborative, and eager to help Shepard be the best possible school.
Season: September-June

Description: Student Council offers students the opportunity to help lead and make changes throughout our school and positively impact our community and wolrd through philanthropic outreaches.  Student Council members promote school spirit, get the student body involved, and help out the school with any needed projects.  Student Council members get to help design projects and work closely with our building and district administrators on beautification projects, service opportunities and ideas for impacting positive change throughout the school.

Sponsor: Ms. Meghan McDonough and Mrs. Erica O'Brien
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Students should be open-minded, collaborative, helpful, good listeners, and problem solvers.
Season: All year, as needed

Description: The Peer Leaders are a group of like-minded students who work to make positive connections with all students. 

Sponsor: Alex Rummelhart, arummelhart@dps109.org; Christian Ball, cball@dps109.org, Room 105
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: A love of frisbee and a desire to learn a new sport!
Season: Fall and Spring

Description: Ultimate club has many activities: we learn the rules of the game and how to play, we learn different types of frisbee throws and catches, we run fun drills to practice, and we play games of ultimate. We meet once a week as long as the weather is nice enough to play outside. Come join in the fun!

More information regarding this year's Variety Show, "The Shepard Spectacular" is to come in April of 2023.

Sponsors: Ms. Cameron and Mrs. Layne, Room 103
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: Editing, writing, layout, photography, and organizational skills are all welcome!

Season/Description: September (informational meetings), with a mixture of in-school meetings, approximately monthly, and “assignments” (photographing school activities and working to create the yearbook online via their staff accounts) through submission at the end of March/beginning of April.  Students also help organize the distribution of yearbooks in May, and the supervisors schedule and run the Activity Day schedule for club photographs in March.

For more information on getting involved, email: Ms. Cameron and Mrs. Layne

Co-Sponsors: Shenach Cameron (scameron@dps109.org) & Dayna Brady (dbrady@dps109.org)
Student ages: 6th-8th Grade
Prerequisite skills: A love of creative narrative writing!
Season: January (informational meeting), February (submission and building judging), March (district judging), May (Young Authors conference at state)

Description: Students are invited to submit their creative writing.  Entries are judged according to a district-wide rubric, and the top 3 entries are sent forward to compete for one of the top 3 spots in DPS 109.  Those students qualify to go to ISU in May for a conference which showcases their talent, allows them to meet with fellow young authors, and introduces them to a variety of adult authors and illustrators who share their professional advice for aspiring writers.