Clubs & Activities

As school begins and the fall season blows in, it is time to get involved in some Derby activities. Please take a look at our wonderful club offerings. If your child(ren) is/are interested in joining any of these clubs, please fill out the registration form and send it into the Derby main office with the fees c/o Mrs. Westerlund. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Westerlund at kwesterlund@birmingham.k12.mi.us.

2023 Fall Club Descriptions + Registration Form 

Comic Creator Design Club: Students will create and design a personal Comic Book Project. The goal is to learn the key phases of how to create a compelling comic book for fans worldwide. Students will be able to publish worldwide online. In addition, students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. Every student will storyboard and present their game.  The classes will educate kids about game design and computer science. The first 10 students will be accepted for enrollment and the rest will be placed on a wait list. There will be no refund once class begins.

Beading and Bracelet Making: In this club, students will have the opportunity to relax, listen to music and create beaded bracelets, necklaces and friendship bracelets.  We will have many beads and embroidery string for creating.  We can even make earrings.  Come create with us!

Walking, Talking, Listening and Lemonade: Are you looking to burn off some steam at the end of a long school day? Join your classmates for some walking.  The first 45 minutes or so, participants will go for a walk outside exploring the Derby neighborhoods.   While we walk we will chit-chat about our day, observe and enjoy nature, or students may opt to listen to an audio book, music or podcast. Afterward, we will enjoy post cardio lemonade or bring your own beverage.  No need to stress, just dress for the weather and do some walking and decompress! 

Chess: This is a great opportunity to learn how to play chess and/or become better in it while having fun, too!  Did you know that Chess has been shown to improve academic skills, assist in critical thinking, focusing, and long-term planning?  Chess also teaches good sportsmanship, enhances social skills and self-esteem, and it's an international language.  The benefits derived from the knowledge of chess increase one’s ability to meet, greet, mingle and communicate with people all around the world, even when one doesn’t speak a word of the other language!  You will learn chess history, chess etiquette, openings, middle game, and strategies all the way to the endgame!

JavaScript Game Design Coding Club: Students will explore, create and design games like Fruit Ninja and Flappy Bird with the Bitsbox app through the JavaScript programming language. The goal is to have students learn text-based programming concepts, design games, and implement coding logic. Students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. The classes will educate kids about game design and computer science. The first 10 students will be accepted for enrollment and the rest will be placed on a wait list. There will be no refund once class begins.

Derby Ecology Club (Healthy People, Healthy Community, Healthy Planet): Are you an environmentally conscious student who would like to increase eco-consciousness and promote environmental sustainability among the Derby community.   This will be a student-driven club where student ideas, concerns, and interests in ecology will be used to create community service projects that promote healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy planet. For an additional fee, members of the Ecology Club are also invited to attend the first annual field trip to Tree Runners on Friday, September 29th.  More information to come. https://treerunnerparks.com/

Drama Club: Whose Club Is It Anyway?  This fall, let's take it back a bit and have some fun with Improv.  Improv is the ability to think on your toes and come up with clever ways to get out of most situations.   In this club we will play a bunch of Improv games, and work on how to build a scene with rich and dynamic characters.  We will learn what makes a scene work and how to avoid the pitfalls of live performing.  All levels are welcome.  The club will finish with a live improv showcase.  Let's have some fun making stuff up.

Walking, Talking, Listening and Lemonade: Are you looking to burn off some steam at the end of a long school day? Join your classmates for some walking.  The first 45 minutes or so, participants will go for a walk outside exploring the Derby neighborhoods.   While we walk we will chit-chat about our day, observe and enjoy nature, or students may opt to listen to an audio book, music or podcast. Afterward, we will enjoy post cardio lemonade or bring your own beverage.  No need to stress, just dress for the weather and do some walking and decompress! 

The Stock Market Game: What would you do with $100,000?   In this club, students will actively participate in an online simulation where they will create and manage a virtual investment portfolio with real world stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Each week there will be video mini-lessons and in-person activities around various financial/investment topics. To learn more about this program, please visit www.stockmarketgame.org.

Fantasy Gaming Unplugged: Join us to  play games like Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, Castle Panic, Superfight, Werewolf, Zombicide, and Munchkin -- or you can bring your own! Students build positive social, math, and problem-solving skills while making new friends. No experience is necessary.

Roblox eSports Coding Club: Students will take their love for the Roblox game to a developer level by designing and constructing an eSport arena using Roblox Studio. Students will learn Roblox commands, 3D modeling, textures, arena development and some Lua programming language. Students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. The first 10 students will be accepted for enrollment and the rest will be placed on a wait list. There will be no refund once class begins.

2024 Winter Club Descriptions + Registration Form

Comic Book Creator Design Club: Students will create and design a personal Comic Book Project. The goal is to learn the key phases of how to create a compelling comic book for fans worldwide. Get Published! Students will be able to publish worldwide online. In addition, students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. Every student will storyboard and present their game.  The classes will educate kids about game design and computer science.    

BuJo: A bujo journal is a type of journaling that gives middle schoolers a place to reflect on their day, think about their goals, and make a plan. Bujo is also known as Bullet Journal because the pages have dots, or “bullet points,” that guide the journaler towards free-flow journal page creation. It is a system that can include recordings of school assignments, after-school activities, goals, wishes, ideas, and more. It is a notebook, a sketchbook, and an idea-generation space. It is also an opportunity to practice mindfulness. More importantly, it is a moment in your day when you can be screen-free and be left alone with your thoughts to doodle and organize what is on your mind. 

Sewing Club: Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or brand new to sewing, you’ll have the opportunity to get creative in this hand-on Sewing Club.  Discover the art of using sewing machines, gain expertise in cutting patterns, and explore various sewing techniques.  Each week you will complete a project (blankets, pillows, PJs, and more) from beginning to end using a variety of fabrics. Everything is provided - sewing machines, thread, fabric, patterns, scissors - just bring your creativity!  Lead by Miss Lisa & Miss Joelle of Lucky Penny Sewing School.

Chess: This is a great opportunity to learn how to play chess and/or become better in it while having fun, too!  Did you know that Chess has been shown to improve academic skills, and assist in critical thinking, focusing, and long-term planning?  Chess also teaches good sportsmanship, enhances social skills and self-esteem, and it's an international language.  The benefits derived from the knowledge of chess increase one’s ability to meet, greet, mingle, and communicate with people all around the world, even when one doesn’t speak a word of the other language!  You will learn chess history, chess etiquette, openings, middle game, and strategies all the way to the endgame!

JavaScript Game Design Coding Club: Students will explore, create and design games like Fruit Ninja and Flappy Bird with the Bitsbox app through the JavaScript programming language. Sharing your games to friends and mobile devices! The goal is to have students learn text-based programming concepts, design games, and implement coding logic. Students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. The classes will educate kids about game design and computer science. The first 10 students will be accepted for enrollment and the rest will be placed on a wait list. There will be no refund once class begins.

Keyboarding: According to our middle school standards, students must demonstrate sufficient command of the keyboard. Learning to keyboard, or type, is an important and necessary life skill. Our club will provide a fun opportunity to develop great skills and new friendships while working on an online program.

The Running Club: This club is for students in grades 6-8 that enjoy running or just want to stay fit over the winter months. We will start out running one mile and gradually build up to 3+ miles. Students will run in small groups (depending on the number of participants) off-campus. At times, older students or a staff member will join on the run. We do a warm-up indoors before the run, and some quick strength training exercises (such as push-ups and air squats) after each run. Students should have some experience with running and exercise.

Derby Ecology Club (Healthy People, Healthy Community, Healthy Planet): Are you an environmentally conscious student who would like to increase eco-consciousness and promote environmental sustainability in the Derby community?   This will be a student-driven club where student ideas, concerns, and interests in ecology will be used to create community service projects that promote healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy planet.  Our club is also the recipient of a BEF Grant that is funding the Derby Herb Garden. Our club will be supporting the herb garden and the herbs will be used for cooking projects in the Skills for Living classroom.

Drama Club: Hamlet  Once again the small stage will be filled with Shakespeare as the drama club brings Hamlet to life. Do you like stories filled with love, betrayal, murder and revenge?  Let's throw in a ghost and a skull and you have one of the greatest plays ever written.   Come find out what Disney "borrowed" for The Lion King. All levels of talent are accepted.   This is the perfect opportunity for young actors and actresses who want to perform but don't have the open schedule required to do a big production.  Space is limited. So, sign up soon.

Walking Club: Walking Club:  Join your classmates for some walking, talking, and lemonade, or, hot cocoa! We start by going for a walk outside exploring the Derby neighborhoods, often stopping at a local park. While we walk we will chit-chat about our day, observe and enjoy nature or, students may opt to listen to an audiobook, music, or podcast. This club is for all types of participants, whether you are doing off-season training or would simply like to get some fresh air outside with friends, all are welcome! On the last day of the club session we attempt to walk into Downtown Birmingham for a quick stop at Starbucks (students will be asked to bring their own money on this day).  We also offer club sweatshirts and hats for purchase.

The Stock Market Game: What would you do with $100,000?   In this club, students will actively participate in an online simulation where they will create and manage a virtual investment portfolio with real-world stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Each week there will be video mini-lessons and in-person activities around various financial/investment topics. To learn more about this program, please visit www.stockmarketgame.org.

Fantasy Gaming Unplugged: Join us to play games like Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, Castle Panic, Superfight, Werewolf, Zombicide, and Munchkin -- or you can bring your own! Students build positive social, math, and problem-solving skills while making new friends. No experience is necessary.

Roblox eSports Coding Club: Students will take their love for the Roblox game to a developer level by designing and constructing an eSport arena using Roblox Studio. Students will learn Roblox commands, 3D modeling, textures, arena development and some Lua programming language. Students will gain 21st century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

Spring 2024 Club Descriptions & Registration Form