Extracurricular Activities

Are you curious about animals, science, technology, or the environment? Do you love hands-on projects and making a difference in your community?

Then the 4-H Club is for you! Our 4-H Club gives middle schoolers the chance to explore exciting topics like agriculture, robotics, art, and leadership, all while having fun with friends.

Whether you’re interested in learning new skills, working on cool projects, or just looking for a place to belong, 4-H is the perfect space to grow and discover your passions. Join us today and be part of something amazing!

• Purpose: Promotes animal welfare, local wildlife conservation, and responsible pet ownership through hands-on service projects, supply drives for Raleigh animal shelters, and educational visits from local veterinary professionals.
• Grades: 3–5
• Sponsor: Mrs. Lawson
• Meeting: Tuesdays after school in Room 108

Contact Mrs. Buche for meeting information and any applicable fees.  

The main purpose of an art club is to create art! Students may work on individual or group projects, exploring a variety of mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, or digital art. Sometimes we collaborate on large-scale murals or other community art projects. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and pride in creating something that others can enjoy. We also encourage students to enter local or national art contests, giving students a chance to showcase their skills and potentially win recognition or prizes. We also have at least one field trip per year to visit a local museum. This exposes students to different styles of art and inspire them in their own work. 

Purpose: The purpose of the book club is to foster community through a shared love of
reading and books. The club aims to promote reading at JMS.
Grades: 6-8
Sponsor: Mrs. Brock and Ms. Velchoff
Meetings: Short-term; Wednesdays – after school- $10 for notebook, sticky notes,
colored pens

Purpose: To have fun learning and playing the game of chess while fostering higher level critical thinking and use of strategy.
Grades: 6-8
Sponsor: Mr. Moore
Meetings: Year-long; Thursdays – before school

• Purpose: Introduces young learners to basic programming and block-coding, allowing them to design their own simple games and animations.
• Grades: 3–5
• Sponsor: Mrs. Robinson
• Meeting: Thursdays at 3:55 PM in Room 14

• Purpose: Enhances public speaking, research, and analytical skills through structured debates and regional interscholastic competitions.
• Grades: 9–12
• Sponsor: Mrs. Vance
• Meeting: Mondays and Wednesdays after school in Room 305

• Purpose: Helps students develop business pitches, understand financial literacy, and connect with local Raleigh business mentors to build real-world skills.
• Grades: 9–12
• Sponsor: Mr. Patel
• Meetings: Wednesdays after school (3:50 PM) in Room 215

• Purpose: Focuses on campus sustainability by managing the school's recycling program and maintaining the outdoor learning gardens.
• Grades: 6–8
• Sponsor: Mrs. Gallagher
• Meetings: Tuesdays after school in Room 112 and the outdoor courtyard

• Purpose: Explores the fundamentals of acting, improvisation, and stagecraft, culminating in a spring one-act play showcase for families.
• Grades: 6–8
• Sponsor: Mr. Fletcher
• Meetings: Thursdays after school in the Middle School Auditorium

• Purpose: Aligns with Riverdale’s nature-integrated learning pillar by engaging students in hands-on discovery of local North Carolina ecology, campus gardening, and basic trail conservation.
• Grades: 3–5
• Sponsor: Mr. Henderson
• Meetings: Wednesdays after school in Room 8 and the Outdoor Learning Garden

• Purpose: Introduces foundational engineering concepts, spatial reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving through weekly LEGO structural challenges and simple machine builds.
• Grades: 3–5
• Sponsor: Mrs. Wright
• Meeting: Tuesdays after school in Room 12

Please contact Mr. Stephenson for meeting information.

Robotics club can be a fun and engaging activity that challenges students to develop important skills while exploring the exciting world of technology and engineering. Students are challenged to solve complex problems by designing and building robots. This can be a fun and rewarding activity that encourages creativity and innovation.