Activities/Clubs/Intramurals
Art Club
Meets: Weekly on Wednesdays from October to November
Sponsor: Mrs. Rogers [email protected]
About: Welcome to our Art Club, where creativity knows no bounds! Join us to explore a world of colors, shapes, and imagination. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting your creative journey, our club offers a space for you to express yourself through various art forms. From painting to sculpture, from drawing to mixed media, we invite you to unleash your artistic potential and connect with fellow art enthusiasts. Let's paint, draw, sculpt, and create together in a vibrant and inspiring environment!
Band and Orchestra
Meets: August – May from 7:05am-7:40am daily
Sponsors: Mr. Adams ([email protected] Band) Ms. Bauman ([email protected] Band) Mrs. Shanahan ([email protected] Orchestra)
About: Step into the world of melodies and harmonies with our Band and Orchestra program! Join us for an unforgettable musical journey where notes come to life and rhythms fill the air. Whether you're a budding musician or a seasoned player, our program welcomes all who are passionate about music. From classical symphonies to modern tunes, our ensemble offers a unique opportunity to hone your musical skills, collaborate with fellow musicians, and create beautiful music together. Come be a part of our musical family and let the power of music unite us all!
Best Buddies
Meets: September through May. Once a month on Mondays
Sponsors: Ms. Venezio [email protected] and Mrs. Cumbee [email protected]
About: Welcome to Best Buddies, where friendships flourish and kindness reigns! Our club is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between students of all abilities, creating a supportive and inclusive community for everyone. Whether you're looking to make new friends, spread positivity, or simply share a smile, Best Buddies is the perfect place for you. Join us for fun activities, heartwarming interactions, and a chance to make a difference in someone's life. Together, let's celebrate diversity, embrace friendship, and create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. Join Best Buddies and let the magic of friendship brighten your days!
Chess Team
Meets: Wednesdays in December through February
Sponsor: Mrs. Drozd- mdrozd@fsd157c.org
About: Chess players of all ability levels welcome. Come and challenge your mind as an intramural player or advance to the state competition for some tough competition. We learn openings, strategy and defense, while growing friendships.
HCMS Chorus and Spring Musical
Meets: August – May
Mondays – Advanced Choir, 2:15-3:45
Tuesdays – Varsity Chorus, 2:15-3:45
Wednesdays – Show Choir, 2:15-4:00
Thursdays – Advanced Choir and Varsity Chorus alternate weeks, from 2:15-3:15
Thursdays - Show Choir, 3:15-4:30
Fridays - If there is a week with no school on a Monday, Advanced Choir will meet 2:15-3:45
Sponsor: Mrs. Walton [email protected]
About Chorus: We participate in many concerts! We perform throughout the community! We participate in contests, including the IGSMA District and State Contests! Students in chorus are eligible to participate in the IGSMA Solo-Ensemble contest! WE HAVE FUN. Socials, bowling, cast parties, field trips, and a day at GREAT AMERICA! New chorus members for Varsity Chorus and Advanced Choir will be accepted through September. The rehearsal schedule is as follows:
Advanced Choir: Advanced Choir is open to all 7th and 8th graders. This choir gives 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to gain choral experience, study 2 and 3-part advanced middle school level music, gain experience performing with choreography, and start sight-singing.
Varsity Chorus: Varsity Chorus is open to all sixth graders. This chorus will perform a wide variety of styles of music and may include some choreography. This is a great chorus for students who want to get some experience in singing, movement, and working together as a group.
Show Choir: The advanced Show Choir is open for audition to all sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. 24 students will be chosen for this select group. This chorus will perform music from the Broadway, Pop, and jazz genres and will include both singing and dancing for their performances.
Spring Musical: The Hickory Creek Choral department in partnership with the Chorus Boosters produce an astounding Broadway musical show each year! It is highly recommended that students who want to be considered for large/moderate roles in the show be a part of the chorus program in the fall and winter. Singing, dancing, and performing skills are developed in the chorus program. However...everyone is welcome! Auditions are held the last week of January and will be preceded by an audition workshop for students who want to learn the audition materials ahead of time. Rehearsals run daily from February – the show weekend (May 9, 10, and 11, 2025) and take place exclusively after school (no evenings or weekends). The role that a student has dictates which days/times they need to attend rehearsals. There is also a student stage crew – applications for stage crew open in mid-March.
Dungeons and Dragons
Meets: Weekly December through February
Sponsor: Erin Nemeth [email protected]
About: This is a tabletop role playing game to explore fantasy worlds and embarking on epic quests. Collaborate, problem solve, and conquer together!
Geography Bee
Meets: Weekly October through December
Sponsor: Mrs. Gatsios- [email protected]
About: Embark on a thrilling adventure around the globe with our Geography Club! Explore diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and fascinating traditions as we delve into the wonders of our world. Whether you're a geography enthusiast or simply curious about different countries, our club offers a fun and educational space to learn and grow. From mapping skills to cultural exchanges, from global issues to exciting quizzes, join us to expand your horizons and develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our planet. Let's navigate the world together and discover the magnificence of Earth's tapestry!
Drama Club
Meets: September through November weekly
Sponsors: Mr. Wonder - [email protected] Mrs. Grady - [email protected] Mrs. Schumacher - [email protected] , Mrs. Marquardt- jmarquardt@fsd157c.org
About: The Drama Club involves students from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade who wish to pursue a dramatic activity. At the first meeting, potential club members will receive an overview of the program; have opportunity to ask questions and hear from older students about their experiences competing and being part of the team. Those participating in Drama Club are required to memorize a five-to-ten-minute script written for monologue, duet, or small group acting. Memorization, articulation, vocal and facial expression are key components emphasized each week during practice. The IESA State Speech Contest is the concluding activity for the club. It is where Drama Team members will have their script performances evaluated by state-qualified speech judges. Awards are given for first, second, and third place. Come out and join us for lots of fun!
*All schedules and rosters will be posted in Microsoft Teams.
Drama Club Commonly Asked Questions
Homework Club
Meets: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays September-May
Sponsor: Mrs. Matz- [email protected]
This is a guided study after school club to assist students with work completion, organization and executive functioning skills.
Intramurals
Fall
Soccer- aziemba@fsd157c.org and [email protected]
Dance [email protected] and [email protected]
Yoga- [email protected]
Fitness Room [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected]
Winter
Fitness Room [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected]
Spring
Basketball [email protected]
Volleyball [email protected] and [email protected]
Badminton [email protected]
Dodgeball [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Fitness Room [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected]
Makers Club
Meets: Weekly on Wednesdays in September-October
Sponsor: Mrs. Caruso- [email protected]
About: Students will be introduced to Cricut design space to plan incentive prizes and create them to fill the school-wide PBIS reward store.
Maroon and Gold Club
Meets: 5 total home games per year in the fall and winter
Sponsors: Mrs. Klutcharch and Mr. Stein
About: Students will meet and organize theme days for 5 home games during the school year. Students will have freedom and choice to develop the theme, organize cheers and events, and be on the front lines of showing school spirit and showing support for the HCMS tigers!
Mathletes
Meets: Mondays August-November
Sponsors: Mrs. Jeglinski and Mrs. Rutovic [email protected] and [email protected]
About: Mathletes is an activity for students who are enthusiastic about math and want to challenge themselves in weekly competitions against other mathematicians from HCMS! Students will be divided into teams, each consisting of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Teams will engage in exciting weekly competitions of various styles and earn points throughout the season. At the end of the season, points earned by each team will be totaled and the winning team recognized! Participants are required to pay the school activity fee. Please contact us with questions! We hope you’ll join us for another fun-filled Mathletes season!
National Junior Honor Society
Meets: September- May 2nd Friday each month
Sponsors: Mrs. Caruso [email protected] and Mrs. Frederick [email protected]
National Junior Honor Society established its first NJHS chapter at Hickory Creek Middle School in 2016. National Junior Honor Society is one of the most distinguished organizations in the nation. NJHS recognizes academic scholarship and students who exemplify character, leadership, service, and citizenship. as active members of the school chapter. The objectives of the organization are: “to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in the students.”
National Junior Honor Society established its first NJHS chapter at Hickory
Creek Middle School in 2016. National Junior Honor Society is one of the most distinguished organizations in the nation. NJHS not only recognizes
academic scholarship, but in addition celebrates students who exemplify
character, leadership, service, and citizenship. The objectives of the
organization are: “to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in the students”.
All Applicants Must Meet the following Criteria to be eligible:
- 3.8 cumulative GPA without rounding up (all eligible applicants will receive an invitation through Microsoft Teams)
- Completed online candidate application form submitted by due date
- Completed essay (prompt & rubric provided in online application)
Rating of Applicants:
- Essay
- Faculty Council (scored with rubric in areas of leadership, character, citizenship, and service)
Important Dates
Late November: NJHS invitations to apply sent out to qualifying 8th grade students after Q1 report grades and GPAs are finalized.
February: NJHS invitations to apply are sent to all qualifying 6th & 7th grade students after Q2 report grades and GPAs are finalized.
Two Weeks Later: Applications are due back for review.
March: Candidates will be notified of acceptance based on the total score of the rubric.
May: New candidates are inducted in NJHS.
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers
Meets: February
Sponsor: Mrs. Dotson [email protected]
About: READ! All reading will be documented by the 2nd week in February Point Logs will be completed in class in February Voting Celebration will be held in February. Any HCMS student who reads 3 or more of the 20 nominated titles before the deadline is eligible to vote for their favorite book. Students will be required to document the books they read according to their teachers' requirements. Any student who reads all 20 current nominated titles will be offered a personalized READ poster.
Scholastic Bowl
Meets: January-April
Sponsor: Renee Grady - [email protected] and Shawna Dukes [email protected]
We meet once a week for either practice or a match. Specific dates are determined by a match schedule that is created in early winter. Practice is from 2:30 to 3:30 and meets are from 2:30 to 6:00 (generally). This is a competitive team, and a try-out will take place prior to the start of the season.
2023-24 Scholastic Bowl Overview
Spelling Bee
Meets: Prior to competition in late winter
Sponsors: Mrs. Cumbee [email protected]
About: Spellbinding excitement awaits you at our Spelling Bee competition! Sharpen your spelling skills and expand your vocabulary in a fun and challenging environment. Whether you're a wordsmith in the making or simply love the thrill of friendly competition, our Spelling Bee is the perfect opportunity to showcase your linguistic prowess. Join us for a chance to spell your way to victory, earn bragging rights, and, most importantly, have a blast with words! Let's spell it out loud and clear - the buzz is on, and the challenge is spell-tacular!
Student Council
Meets: September – May 2-3 times per month
Sponsors: Mrs. Phillips - [email protected] and Mrs. Freiberg - [email protected]
About: The HCMS Student Council consists of students in Grades 6-8. Student council is a terrific way for students to demonstrate their leadership skills by leading committees and representing their class. This is a yearlong commitment where the students will meet once a week. Students who are members of the student council will have the opportunity to do a variety of community service activities, help organize and plan school dances, plan spirit days, and assist with running the concession stand during home games.
Student Government Day
Meets: January-March
Sponsor: Mrs. O'Hea- [email protected]
About: 8th grade students are welcome to apply to attend Student Government Day. This program is a collaboration between HCMS and the Village of Frankfort to give students the opportunity to learn more about local government in an immersive experience. The selected students will take a field trip to various sites around Frankfort such as the village hall, police station, fire station, and public works building. Then, in the evening, the students will conduct a mock village board meeting where they assume roles of various government officials such as mayor, trustee, fire chief, etc. We meet for 4 sessions prior to our field trip and evening mock village board meeting.
Talent Show
Meets: Rehearsal is prior to the show in March
Sponsors: Mr. Wonder- dwonder@fsd157c.org
About: Lights, camera, action! Get ready to showcase your unique talents and dazzle the audience at our upcoming Talent Show extravaganza! Whether you're a singer, dancer, comedian, magician, or have any other special talent to share, this is your moment to shine on stage. Join us for an evening of entertainment, creativity, and applause as we celebrate the diverse talents within our school community. From show-stopping performances to heartwarming acts, our Talent Show promises to be a night to remember. So, grab the spotlight, unleash your creativity, and let your talent take center stage! The stage is set, the audience is waiting - it's your time to show the world what you've got!
Tiger TV
Meets: Every other Thursday for Recording Production Teams; Once a month for all Tiger TV club members
Sponsors: Mrs. Bartolomeo- [email protected] and Mr. Wonder [email protected]
About: Tiger TV is a club open to all students at Hickory Creek. There are multiple levels of participation including being a part of a production team, live-streaming events and completing video challenges.
Technology Club
Meets: Weekly on Wednesdays February-March
Sponsors: Mrs. Caruso - [email protected] and Mrs. Fletcher - [email protected]
About: Tech Club is an activity for students who enjoy learning about computer programming and robotics. Students will meet in the STEM lab. We will code computer games, create green screen photo and video edits, complete robotic obstacle courses, and more!
