Junior High Activities

Junior High Choir

Students learn the singing basics with the goal of performing at the Christmas Concert and Spring Musical, as well as any additional events. Rehearsals are once a week during recess. The Junior High Choir practices for an hour and a half once a week.

Percussion Ensemble: Paulette Hatalosky
Grades 5-8 learn rhythms on drums, xylophones, etc. with performance goals of Christmas concert and Spring Musical. Small groups are pulled from class time weekly. Limited to 20 students.

Schola: Paulette Hatalosky
Our spiritual singing group, Schola, accompanies each grade during all the school masses. All junior high students are welcome to join.

Band: Katherine Morrice
Grades 3-8 learn basics of woodwind instruments and violins. Practices are held for one hour after school, twice a week. Students learn instruments, as well as teamwork. The band performs at the Christmas concert and spring musical.

Forensics:
Students in grades 5-8 have the opportunity to improve self confidence and speaking skills by participating in OS Competitive Troupe and the OS Debate team. Practices are held two hours after school, twice a week. The Overbrook Forensic Team has the opportunity to participate in several meets throughout the year in both parochial and metro schools.

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MathCounts: Mary Prue Alley

MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement for grades 6-8. The MATHCOUNTS Foundation is a 22-year-old, nonprofit organization that promotes math excellence among U.S. middle school students. Its mission is to increase enthusiasm for and enhance achievement in junior high mathematics. MATHCOUNTS challenges students’ math skills, develops their self-confidence, and improves their ability to work together in groups. Participation in MATHCOUNTS heightens student interest in mathematics by making math achievement as challenging, exciting and prestigious as a school sport. To find more information about MATHCOUNTS, go to their web site: www.mathcounts.org.

Teacher Mary Prue Alley coaches the sixth-graders and Mr. Woods Wellborn and Mr. Bill Bryan, community volunteers coach the seventh and eighth graders together. The coaching sessions will be held after school on Mondays from 2:50 to 3:45 p.m. This time is protected for MATHCOUNTS participants and if another activity conflicts, students will be allowed to attend that activity when the MATHCOUNTS session is over at 3:45.

The first meeting for MATHCOUNTS will be on Monday, Sept. 11 from 2:50 - 3:15 p.m. in Mrs. Alley’s room. Students will meet their coaches and get an overview of what MATHCOUNTS is all about. The next meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 18 from 2:50 – 3:45 p.m. and will continue through April, 2007.

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Why MATHCOUNTS Works

• MATHCOUNTS motivates and rewards students by fostering teamwork and a competitive spirit.
• MATHCOUNTS is more than a competition. It involves students and teachers in year-long coaching sessions and helps students at all levels improve their problem-solving skills.
• MATHCOUNTS builds math skills, promotes logical thinking and sharpens students' analytical abilities.
• MATHCOUNTS provides America's middle school teachers with creative, state-of-the-art curriculum materials, free of charge.
• MATHCOUNTS introduces students to math-related careers through contacts with engineers and other professionals who serve as volunteers.
• MATHCOUNTS is educator-driven. Materials and activities are structured to meet student needs, as identified by educators. Members of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) develop these materials in accordance with NCTM curriculum standards.

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Junior High MathCounts Team Summary of Results 2005-06

Local MathCounts Contest
5th place out of 12 area schools and 81 students
Sponsored by the Corp of Engineers, Written by NCTM.

Father Ryan Math Contest
1st place among all the Catholic area elementary schools

Mid-State Middle School Math Contest at APSU

About 100 students in grade 6,7,8 representing 31 schools
6th grade: 4th place, Jim Hollahan took 2nd place honors and Lachlan Menhinnett placed 8th
7th grade: 8th place, Elizabeth Lund placed 5th
8th grade: 10th place

Math Contest for grades 5 and 6
Sponsored by the Akiva School, 20 teams of 60 students representing 10 schools
6th grade team placed 4th, Jim Hollahan took 2nd place honors out of 60 students

MathFax: Donna Woods

MathFax is a national, math contest given to grades 3 – 8 and Algebra 1 students. Overbrook participates in the Catholic School division. There are usually about 10 – 15 elementary schools in the division which consists of several states and about 200 – 300 students in grades 3 – 8. Overbrook students have performed very well since we started taking the tests in 1998. The following is the placement summary for the 2005-06 school year for Overbrook’s team among its division:

• Grade 3: 1st Place
• Grade 4: 1st Place
• Grade 5: 1st Place
• Grade 6: 4th Place
• Grade 7: 2nd Place
• Grade 8: 5th Place
• Algebra 1: 2nd Place

Art Club:
Students learn the basics of various art media, and are given the time to excel in the media of their choice. Through the year students are provided the opportunity to participate in state and national competitions, and their work is displayed throughout the school. The goal is to teach students how to enrich their community through art. Meetings are held once a month.

Altar Servers:
This is a volunteer opportunity for junior high students (6-8). Students rotate weeks of service and all are asked to set up/clean up for weekly Mass. Volunteers will learn how to serve and participate more fully in the Mass.

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