Activities/Clubs

Advisor: Ms. Cox

Description: Art Club is a place for students to hone their artistic skills and collaborate with other artistic friends. We foster creative problem-solving skills with a growth mindset and building our Dake community through art. Students in this club are positive, independent, helpful, enthusiastic, and hardworking. Please bring art to share, a creative mindset, and a positive attitude. We look forward to seeing you there!

Advisors: Ms. Beardsley

Description: Be a friend...make a friend! Become part of a growing movement of people with and without disabilities dedicated to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to have a friend! How can you be involved? Attend monthly fun group activities/events (for example: pizza parties, kickball games, ice cream socials). You can also choose to get "matched" in a one-to-one friendship with another student with similar interests.

Advisor: Mrs. Dormitzer

Description: Chess Club - The purpose of Chess Club is to gather students together twice a month to play chess. Students of all chess playing abilities are welcome, as well as anyone new to the game of chess who would like to learn. The club embodies the core values at Dake, including mutual respect and shared purpose. Chess club members support each other and show good sportsmanship. They also coach each other while sharing strategies with one another. Chess club is open to new members all year.

Strategy Games Club - This is a new club to Dake and was initiated by students' desire to play Dungeons and Dragons. This is a student led club that meets once or twice a month and provides a space for small groups of students to run Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, as well as play other games that require strategy and creative thinking.

Advisor: Ms. Lanham

Description: Members of the Dake Culinary Club will learn the basics of cooking and baking. They will also learn the value of teamwork. Culinary Club will take place from October through May. We will have one baking or cooking session a month! Culinary Club is an extension of FACS class for students who enjoy cooking/baking and want to gain more experience in the kitchen.

Advisors: Marc Falco and Corey Rhoney

Advisors: Mrs. Salecki and Mrs. Reeves

Description: The main component of the Dake History Club is a trip to Washington, DC at the conclusion of 8th grade. Participants in History Club that are in 7th and 8th grade will have multiple opportunities throughout the year to view relevant historical films and engage in rich historical discussions. Look for information on the morning announcements and posted notifications throughout the year.

Advisor: Mr. Kazukiewicz

Meetings: TBD but students must be available in the mornings from 7:30-8:00 AM.

Description: Morning Show is an introduction to the world of television news media, providing you with a behind the scenes look into the process of writing, producing, and airing a TV broadcast. You will gain confidence in public speaking and receive hands-on experience directing a news show through digital editing programs. If you've ever wondered how newscasters create a news program, then Morning Show is for you!

Skills: Teamwork, effective communication, learning live streaming production tools, audio/visual, PowerPoint, photography, and more.

Size: Due to limited space, Morning Show accepts up to 15 interested crew members.

Advisor: Mrs. Erenstone and Mrs. Pollock

Description: Natural Helpers is a peer-helping program that helps participants strengthen their communication and helping skills. The Natural Helpers program is based on a simple premise: within every school, an informal "helping network" exists. Students with problems naturally seek out other students and occasionally teachers or other school staff whom they trust. The Natural Helpers program uses this existing helping network; it provides training to students and adults who are already perceived as "natural helpers." It gives them the skills they need to provide help more effectively to young people who seek them out.

The Natural Helpers program is designed to meet three basic goals:

1. To teach Natural Helpers effective ways to help their friends.
2. To teach Natural Helpers positive ways of taking good care of themselves.
3. To teach Natural Helpers ways to contribute to a safe and supportive school environment.

Advisor: TBD

Description: The Newspaper Club aims to expose students to the world of journalism and media. It provides a platform for students to express themselves, share news, and engage with their peers. The benefit of this club is that it enhances writing skills and creativity and also boosts confidence in public speaking and interviewing. It fosters a sense of community and school pride.

Advisor: Mr. Fabry

Description: Multicultural club is where students of all races and ethnic backgrounds can meet in a warm, welcoming environment to learn, celebrate and accept our cultural differences. We also discuss important topics that are chosen by students. From our learning, we share with the school community at large.

Advisor: TBD

Description: Odyssey of the Mind has been the world's greatest creative problem-solving program since its beginning in 1978 and has produced long-term open-minded problems that help cultivate divergent thinking.

Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a STEAM-based creative problem-solving program that allows students to work together to solve a problem of their own choice. Each team member learns time and financial budgeting, important job skills, confidence, public speaking skills, product design and execution, resource management, teamwork, and much more. Odyssey of the Mind provides students with a place to learn today's creative problem-solving skills while having fun!

Advisors: Ms. Spiro 

Description: PEACE club stands for Pride, Empathy, Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment. We are Dake's GSA (Gay Straight Alliance). We provide a fun and welcoming safe place/space for students to meet, hang out, play games, eat food and support each other. Our group works to provide an inclusive and affirming space for all students. There are also opportunities for field trips and additional fun.

Advisors: Mr. Uebelacher and Mrs. Gittens

Description: Peer Mediators is a club focused on making Dake a great place for all. Club members work to become advocates for the school answering questions like: what problems do we see and how can we work to address them? Peer Mediators dedicate themselves to being visible helpers and the "Go To" people when others are in need. Club members also receive training and practice with mediating conflict in both an official capacity and casually in their day-to-day lives. If you are a person who loves to help, who is trustworthy, kind, and compassionate, join Peer Mediators!

Advisor: Mr. Kazukiewicz

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Description: Take part in the exciting world of robotics using VEX ROBOTICS kits to build and program robots. Club is open to ALL students.

Advisors: Mrs. Bean and Mr. Rivellino

Description: The Snow sports club is made up of 7th and 8th graders who ski and snowboard or want to learn. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the lifelong fitness activity of skiing and snowboarding. Members consist of every ability level from advanced to beginner. We will be arranging transportation for five to six trips to Bristol Mountain Resort, depending on the cost of bussing and number of members who join. The club trips will be on Thursday nights.

Advisors: Mrs. Harris and Ms. Hobbins

Description: Student Council is a great way to get involved in what is going on at Dake. Student Council organizes and hosts events such as the 8th grade event, fundraising, community donations and any other creative ideas that come to fruition. This club is for anyone who wants to bring new ideas to Dake, bring a sense of community to the school, and create a positive school culture through leadership.

Advisor: Mrs. Speed-Line

Description: The Dake Yearbook Club performs a variety of functions to create an outstanding keepsake that everyone will enjoy for years to come. Members of this group keep track of yearbook payments, take candid pictures, deliver communications related to the yearbook and help design the layout.

Advisors: Ms. Benjamin

Description: World Language and ASL Club is a student-centered club that provides students with opportunities to explore different cultures and languages other than what they study in school. In our club, students present on different countries of interest, try foods from other cultures, play engaging games to learn ASL signs and even learn how to sign their favorite songs! World Language and ASL Club is open to all students, especially those interested in sharing their own unique cultural backgrounds with their friends.