Extra Curricular Activities

24 Club - The 24 Game challenges students to use their skills of mathematical reasoning, pattern analysis, and mental computation. The challenge for the students is to use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division along with the four numbers on the card and come to the solution of a positive 24. The students must use all the four numbers, but use each only once. We will also have fractions and integers along with the original game. The club is open to all grades and there is a Baltimore County tournament held each year in March for the students who win the school competition. The school competition will be held at the beginning of February. The students who when the school competition will receive a $50 savings bond from M&T bank and will have the opportunity to compete at the county competition for a $1,000 savings bond. Sponsor: Mr. Heath and Mr. Lo

Basketball teams - Link
CMS participates in the Baltimore County Athletics 8th Grade basketball league. We have a girl's and a boy's team. The format is very similar to that of high school sports. For the 2007-2008 season, we will have twelve games (five away and seven home). The purpose of the league is to improve or maintain students' academic and behavioral performance while introducing them into a "high school style" sports program. Our main focus is teaching these student athletes about sportsmanship and character development. Attached is a schedule for our season. Come out and support the Cougars! Sponsors: Ms. Fegley

Bay Savers - Link
The CMS Bay Savers is a club for nature-loving students who are concerned about environmental issues, enjoy outdoor activities, and aren’t afraid of getting a little dirty every once in a while. On-going club activities include running our paper recycling program, maintaining trails and habitats in our Environmental Study Area (ESA), and participating in the Bay Grasses in Classes (BGIC) program. The BGIC program is a hands-on, interactive education project that enables students to play a direct role in Chesapeake Bay restoration, culminating in a field trip to a designated restoration site where students take part in transplanting their bay grasses. The Bay Savers club also manages our school’s participation in the annual Earth Day Groceries project. Other club activities vary and are determined by the current members’ specific interests. Meeting times may vary depending upon the timing of specific activities, but will most frequently be on Fridays from 2:45 – 3:30. Sponsor: Mrs. Crabtree

Black Saga Club
Meeting Days: Wednesday 2:40 to 3:15
Club will begin Wednesday, October 3rd
The students will learn and study African American history in order to prepare for the Baltimore County Black Saga competition on Saturday, February 2nd and the state competition in March. Warren, Lutherville, and Padonia Elementary Schools have participated in the competition previously.
Sponsor: Mrs. Dickerson

BOXTOPS 4 EDUCATION - It's easy to raise money to help our middle school.
www.boxtops4education.com

1. Register online with our school.
2. Clip boxtops carefully and sent them in to school.
(Please do not send in Campbell soup labels or Betty Crocker Points.)
3. Shop online and a % of your purchase goes to our school.
Visit the site to see more ways that you can help our school. There are also coupons, recipes and additional information.Prizes will be awarded for top homerooms each collection period.

Cockeysville Classicals is an extra-curricular string orchestra open to all students who play an orchestral string instrument. We rehearse on Thursday afternoons from 2:35 – 3:30pm. We perform throughout the community and at the Music in the Parks Festival at Hersheypark as well as at our CMS Concerts. Cockeysville Classicals for grade 6 will begin in September and for all grades on in October.

Chamber Orchestra - The CMS Chamber Orchestra is a small, auditioned, string orchestra made up of students in grades six, seven and eight. We rehearse on Thursday afternoons from 3:45-4:15 pm. All Chamber Orchestra members are members of Cockeysville Classicals. We perform throughout the community and at our CMS concerts. Auditions are in October.

Celtic Ensemble - Students, parents, faculty and friends in the CMS Community who are interested in playing Irish, Scottish and other traditional music are invited to join the Celtic Ensemble. All who play fiddle (violin), viola, cello, string bass, flute, tin whistle, guitar and harp are welcome! The CMS Celtic Ensemble performs for our CMS concerts and throughout our community. We rehearse every Monday except the first Monday of the month from 2:35-3:30pm. Our first rehearsal is in October.

Celtic Harp Ensemble is open to all students who are interested and those who already play celtic harp. There are a limited number of harps available, so students may need to purchase their own instrument. We rehearse on Wednesdays from 2:35-3:30. Our first rehearsal is in October.

For further information on our CMS string groups or Celtic groups, contact Cathy Maglaras at cmaglaras@bcps.org

Chess Club - Learn to play. Learn to improve your game. Just have fun. Tournaments-Prizes-Instruction-Trophies-Parties-Team Play-Individual Competition. One of the largest clubs in the school.
Meets Tuesdays 2:45 - 4:00 and Thursdays (instructional session) 2:45 - 4:00 Sponsor: Mr. Segal

Clay Club - Clay Club - The Clay Club is a program sponsored by the National Museum of Ceramics and Glass. It is open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders on a first come first serve basis. We will have four, eight week sessions. Students have the opportunity to learn hand building clay techniques and will learn to throw pottery on the potter’s wheel. This group meets every Tuesday in room 46 from 2:30– 3:30. Sponsor: Mr. Georgieff .

Chronicles of Cougars - “Chronicles of Cougars” is the Cockeysville Middle School’s book of memories, our yearbook. The staff is composed of enthusiastic sixth, seventh, and eighth graders who enjoy challenges. They learn how proper marketing, creative construction, and exciting ideas can transform memories into an actual BOOK! This hard-working group meets every Thursday (and sometimes more often!) from 2:30 until about 4:00 p.m. every week. Sponsor: Mrs. Martino

Destination Imagination - What is DI? You've heard of spelling bees, quiz bowls, robotics competitions and science fairs. In fact, there is probably a special event for every subject taught at school. Well, Destination ImagiNation is none of those things – and all of those things! Destination ImagiNation is a place where kids take what they know and what they are good at and learn to apply it to solve challenges, working together and cooperatively with a team and pushing the limits of imagination to best not their competition, but themselves. Sponsors: Mr. Lo and Mrs. Mulreaney

FEA - Future Educators of America - LINK
For students . . . FEA helps them to explore teaching as a career option, provides them with a realistic understanding of teaching, and encourages students from diverse backgrounds to think seriously about the teaching profession.
For teachers . . . FEA offers them a chance to shape our nation's future by shaping the future of the education profession. It also gives teachers opportunities to examine, clarify, and explain their role in students' lives.
For schools . . . FEA is a service opportunity that elevates the role of teachers and offers new avenues of communication about education and its place in the community.
For communities . . . FEA provides a chance for communities to "grow their own" future teachers and raises the status of the education profession in the eyes of their citizens.
For colleges . . . FEA expands the pool of applicants to teacher education programs and provides early identification of potentially excellent future teachers.
For the education profession . . . FEA extends the vision of the profession by enlarging the talent pool. It creates a positive image of teaching for students, parents, and other citizens. It encourages the influx of new ideas and diverse points of view.

Benefits of Joining FEA
Helps you reach your goals
And these might be…….
- to learn more about a career in education
- to help children learn
- to meet people who share a common interest
- to compete in contests
- to be of service to the teachers at CMS
- to investigate Maryland colleges who offer a degree in education
- to have fun
- to win a scholarship senior year
- a chance to join the FEA Honor Society by attending at least 75% of the meetings/activites / events , maintaining a GPA of 3.0, and completing 6 service hours per year.
Sponsor: Mrs. Hernandez

French Club - The French Club (Le Club de Français) meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 2.30 to 3.30 and is open to any CMS student interested in the French language and culture of French-speaking countries around the world. Members write (poem, cards...), play (twister, bingo...), eat (crepes, cookies...) and do crafts related to francophone culture in French. Sponsor: Ms. Abbe

Harvest for the Hungry - Harvest for the Hungry "Kids Helping Kids," an official program of the Maryland State Department of Education, is a three-week non-perishable food collection campaign for Maryland schools that benefits food banks of Maryland. The program provides an opportunity for children to learn about hunger, collect food for the less fortunate, volunteer their time, and earn credit toward their service-learning requirements. Sponsor: Phys. Ed. Department

Intra-murals - Offered by the Physical Education Department, intramurals offer an opportunity for every child to participate after school in a variety of extracurricular activities. Activities are directly related to the students' physical education unit. Intramurals begin promptly after school and last a little over an hour.

Intra-mural Weight Lifting is offered to both boy’s and girl’s grades 6th - 8th. Students follow a detailed lifting program and learn the basics of weight training and weight room safety. It is offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7:05 am – 7:50 am. See Mr. LeBlanc for a permission slip or for any other information.

Just for Readers - The CMS book club, Just for Readers, meets on the last Friday of every month from 2:30-3:15 in LC7.. At the meetings, students discuss selected novels both informally and critically. Collectively, students vote on a title for the upcoming month’s reading. Sponsor: Mrs. Smith

Lipstock - Lipstock is an annual lip-synching competition amongst C.M.S. 8th graders. Lipstock auditions begin in April and students must be available to practice with their group after school. The event is held at the end of the school year. There will be a matinee and an evening performance. Students compete to win cash prizes and have an amazing time in the process. This year’s theme is “At the Movies”. Sponsor: Mr. Hipps

Math Counts - This is a group for students that excel in mathematics. The students meet weekly from September through February. Students solve 10 warm-up and 10 work-out problems each week to determine answers, share strategies, and prepare for competitions. Sponsor: Ms. Creighton

Musical - Auditions will occur in October and the musical will be presented in the cafeteria in January . Details, including the announcement of the name of the musical will be forthcoming.

National Junior Art Honor Society - The NJAHS is a group of 6th, 7th and 8th grade Gifted and Talented art students. These students use their talents in art to improve their community and world around them. Starting in October, students meet every Thursday in Room 33 from 2:45 – 4:00. NJAHS students are involved in community art projects such as mural paintings and participate in an induction ceremony in the spring. Visiting artists and special art enrichment activities will be offered throughout the school year. Sponsor: Mrs. Webster

National Junior Honor Society - NJHS
School wide events and community fundraisers
Race for the Cure fundraiser
Teacher Turkey event – raise money for The Harvest for the Hungry
Winter clothing drive – clothes donated to homeless shelters
Children book collection – sent to homeless shelters
Eye Glasses drive – glasses sent to third world countries
Canned pet food collection – Donation to animal shelters
Hopkins Fundraiser – raise money to donate to Hopkins Kids Foundation
Sponsor: Mr. Hipps

PEER MEDIATORS - Peer Mediators are CMS students trained to help other students work out their conflicts. Mediators are chosen based on teacher recommendations. Mediators are trained every other year, and a mini “refresher” course is given each year by School Counselors. Peer mediators work to solve conflicts in a confidential manner and are a great asset to the School Counseling Department and to their classmates. Sponsor: School Counseling Department

QUIZ BOWL - Ouiz Bowl is open to students of all grades and meets every other Tuesday after school. This club is for students who enjoy Social Studies and learning about current events. About once a month we compete with neighboring schools in matches that take place during the school day. These matches last 30 minutes and test students’ knowledge of history and current events. Any student may join quiz bowl, but students must keep a “C” average or higher in their classes to be able to take part in matches. Sponsor: Ms. Sullivan

SADD - CMS has participated in the national SADD program for six years. The SADD Advisors and encourage participation throughout the year. SADD members meet on a monthly basis to prepare for events such as Red Ribbon Week, Ghost Out Day and assist the SAP program with student referrals and faculty to student communication. Or SADD members promote positive decision making skills. Currently Baltimore County has 35 Middle School SADD Chapters. SADD is a peer organization that focuses on choosing not to make destructive decisions and to help students better influence each other to live healthy lifestyles. Sponsors: Mrs. Evert-Brown and Mrs. Lange

Scrap Book Club
Meets Tuesdays (2:30-3:00)

School Store
The School Store is up and running again this year. Located just around the corner from the main office in the lower lobby. The School Store carries a variety of pens, pencils, highlighters, markers,and folders for student needs. The store is only open in the morning, before homeroom, so if you find you need some item to get through the day, check out the school store first thing in the morning.

Student Government Association
The Student Government Association is a student-led service organization. The SGA provides a chance for members to develop leadership skills as they coordinate service projects for the school and community, and organize social activities to promote school spirit and pride. The council works through committees, each of which is responsible for a different aspect of school or community relations. The SGA also provides an opportunity for students to exchange ideas among the faculty and student body through its elected officials and representatives. Each grade level elects one President and two Vice Presidents. Each homeroom class will also nominate a classroom representative and alternate who must attend meetings and perform the necessary duties. Additionally, meetings are open to any interested member of the CMS student body.

Below are a variety of the things the SGA does for CMS and the community:
-Charity fundraisers (Katrina victims, Cancer and Lymphoma Society, etc.)
-March Madness (faculty and student basketball games and contests)
-Valentine flowers sale
-Spare change for the Johns Hopkins Children Hospital
-Winter dance
-Valentine’s Day dance
-School Spirit Days/Spirit Week
- Baltimore County Student Council conferences
-Monthly Baltimore County Leadership Workshops
-Annual Baltimore County Student Council extended weekend workshop in Ramblewood
-Middle School Leadership Conference
-Summer leadership camp

The Student Government Association meets on the first Friday of each month from 2:40-3:15 p.m. in LC7 and on an as-needed basis. For qualifications, information, and duties of officers and representatives, and information on becoming a member of the CMS SGA, please see or email Mrs. Smith (ssmith12@bcps.org).

TVOC - Treble Voices of Cockeysville is an auditioned choir of male and female students who have unchanged voices. We meet on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30-4:00 pm. TVOC performs high level music in many languages and competes at the highest level at competition and adjudication. Sponsor: Mrs. Shirk

VOC - Voices of Cockeysville - VOC is a select after school enrichment mixed honor chorus of students selected by audition from grades 6, 7, and 8. VOC performs at the CMS Winter and Spring Choral Concerts. VOC also performs at local retirement homes and elementary schools as a community service project. VOC is open to any student who would enjoy singing more challenging music. Required rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 2:30 - 4:00. Sectional rehearsals, also required, are held monthly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday on a rotating schedule. VOC has consistently received superior ratings at the Baltimore County Choral Festival and The Music In The Parks Festival at Hersheypark.

WOC - Winds of Cockeysville - Winds of Cockeysville (WOC) is our after school Honor Band. It is comprised of approximately 60 musicians in all grade levels. Membership is by audition only. WOC meets once a week as a full ensemble, and once a week in smaller sectional rehearsals. They perform on all school concerts, the Cockeysville Area Festival, the Baltimore County High School Band Assessment, and each year they represent CMS at the annual Music in the Parks competition held at Hershey Park. WOC meets Wednesdays (2:40-4:00) for full rehearsals and generally Tuesdays or Thursdays (2:40-4:00) for sectionals. Sectionals rotate by instrument and can occur any day of the week. Once a month, the Wednesday rehearsal is extended to 5:00pm followed by a pizza party.

Jazz Band - Jazz Band is another after school Honor Band open through audition only. The members of the Jazz Band are all members of Winds of Cockeysville and rehearse after school. Jazz Band performs at all concerts and is frequently invited to perform out in the community at local elementary schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and senior centers. Students must demonstrate a good academic standing and a strong musical talent in order to be accepted into the after school programs (Jazz Band and/or WOC). Jazz Band meets Thursdays (2:45-3:45).

Auditions for WOC and Jazz Band occur every year in June. See Mr. Sindler for more information.