Photo by Tim Hacker
Mesa Public Schools offers a variety of extracurricular academic activities in which students can participate throughout the year.
The teacher-sponsored activities are designed to supplement school curriculum, and provide additional opportunities for students to explore academic interests.
Students have fun digging deeper into their studies, and developing good character traits and leadership skills. Some students find their voices and break out of their shells. They make lifelong friends, and learn the art of networking. Ask students what their favorite part of the day is, and the answer will be participating in their favorite activities.
From the student’s perspective
For two consecutive years, Tristan Covington, eighth-grade student at Stapley Junior High School, had qualified to compete in the Arizona State Geography Bee. He competed for the first time as a sixth-grade student, and advocated to bring the competition to his junior high school.
“I met with Mr. Erickson, the principal,” Tristan said, “and inquired if our school could host the National Geographic Bee competition and he was receptive.”
When asked how he prepares for the competition, Tristan had a smile and an answer. “The Bee has a lot of variation and covers every aspect of geography,” he said. “I study for the Bee by analyzing maps and atlases, reading various informative books on countries, taking prior National Geographic tests, playing geography games and researching on the Internet.”
Tristan admits he loves to travel, and has had opportunities to see many places, including some foreign countries, with his family.
“Actually visiting places helps me to really learn my geography,” he said.
Wanted—students to participate
To find out what activities are available through your school, consult the school website, sign up for school newsfeeds, or speak with your student’s favorite teacher.
Here are a few upcoming activities:
The District Spelling Bee is open to fourth- through eighth-graders, and will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, in the Franklin at Brimhall Junior High School auditorium. Check with your school for requirements to compete.
Schools registered to participate in the National Geographic Bee will hold their competitions between
Nov. 3 of this year and Feb. 6 of next year. The state Bee will be held on March 27, 2015, at Arizona State University, in the Memorial Union.
Mesa Public Schools is, once again, sponsoring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Creative Writing, Art, Multimedia and Oratorical Contest. The art, writing and multimedia contest is for all grade levels, and the oratorical contest is open to fourth- through 12th-graders.
Voices 2015 is the annual district writing contest, sponsored by the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Students in grades kindergarten through 12, as well as all staff members, are invited to submit writing in a variety of categories. The deadline for submitting entries is Friday, Jan. 23, 2015. For more information, please see www.mpsaz.org/bskills/secondary/write_sec/voices/.