Purpose: Selected 4th graders meet at B.E.S. with visiting students from Duckworth Special Center, to develop supportive relationships through the joint completion of various art projects. Also, they will participate in Duckworth's Challenge Day in May.

Advisor: counselor from Duckworth

Meeting Schedule: once a week during regular classroom time

Beltsville Chorus

Purpose: The Beltsville Chorus strives to foster choral music skills through exposure to a wide variety of musical backgrounds, styles, and languages. The group is made up of interested students in grades 5 and 6 who are selected based on their singing ability,their willingness to follow directions, and their ability to catch up on any assignments missed during chorus rehearsal. A holiday concert is presented in December.

Teacher: Mrs. Barone, Ms. Kauffman; music teachers

Meeting Schedule: Wednesdays and Fridays during first semester

Black SAGA Competition

Purpose: Students in grades 4-6 learn of significant contributions to the world by African Americans. The students compete in teams of three against other Beltsville teams, and later against students from other state schools.

Advisor: Mrs. Mushala, Mrs. Harrell-Frasier; teachers

Meeting Schedule: To be announced

Chess Club

Purpose: Students in grades 4-6 learn the rules and strategy of chess, and play against each other during weekly competitions. A tournament is planned for the end of the school year.

Advisors:

Meeting Schedule: Thursdays 1:20 - 1:45 pm

Geography Team

Purpose: The B.E.S. Geography Team, comprised of interested students from grades 4-6, meets roughly twice a month after school to study geography through assorted games and activities. Contestants in the annual Geography Bee (held in early January) are members of the Geography Team. One field trip (to be announced) is part of the year's activities. Students may bring $1.00 to each meeting to purchase a soda and a snack.

Advisors: Mrs. Dyson, Mrs. Fadely, Mrs. Hefnawy, Mr. Isaacs, Mrs. Matukonis, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Pinchotti, Mrs. Templin; teachers and staff

Meeting Schedule

Homework Club

Purpose: Students are invited to stay after school on scheduled dates for extra assistance with homework.

Advisors: Mrs. Cervantes, Mrs. Aguiniga

Meeting Schedule: Tuesdays after school. Children can only stay if they have a ride home!

Instrumental Music

Purpose: Students in grades 5 and 6 are challenged to learn the rudimentary skills in woodwind, brass, or string instruments. Instrument technique, basic music-reading, and ensemble playing are learned. Evening and assembly concerts are scheduled for December and May.

Teacher: Mr. Harrell, instrumental music teacher

Meeting Schedule: Small groups generally meet twice per week on a pull-out basis from the students regular classrooms. Therefore, the students must be able to catch up with the work missed while out of the classroom.

Knowledge Master Team

Purpose: The Knowledge Master Team is a group of 12 sixth-graders who earn the highest scores in the qualifying test. They practice answering academically-challenging questions, then compete at B.A.C. against other sixth grade teams nation-wide in two competitions during the winter and spring.

Advisor: Ms. Bryant, guidance counselor

Meeting Schedule: Thursday 1:20 - 1:45

News Team

Purpose: The Center of Attention is a student-generated newspaper which is published monthly by a group of sixth graders. The newspaper's purpose is to encourage reading and writing, to publicize school and regional activities, and to highlight special work of B.E.S. students in all grades.

Advisor: Mrs. Miller, technology teacher

Meeting Schedule: During lunch once per week. Typists and layout students work after school approximately two days per month, as announced.

Peer Mediators

Purpose: Thirty students in grades 4 through 6 have been trained to assist students to resolve conflicts with their peers. The mediators work in teams of two. Students/disputants refer themselves via their teacher. The times will be announced. If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Carey at the school (301-572-0630).

Advisor: Mrs. Carey; guidance counselor

Meeting Schedule: Each team is assigned one day per week to mediate students.

Safety Patrols

Purpose: Selected 5th and 6th grade students help maintain a safe environment at B.A.C., primarily at the beginning and ending of the school day. Some patrols are posted in school hallways or outside the building to help maintain order, and others determine the sequence of busses as they load students for departure.

Advisor: Mr. Guisewite; physical education teacher

Meeting Schedule: Patrols serve on a.m. or p.m. shifts. Meetings are to be announced

Student Council

Purpose: Two students from each 3-6 grade classroom are elected as representatives to plan and carry out school-wide events to boost school spirit, promote democratic procedures, and provide outreach to the community.

An election of officers is held in November

Advisor: Ms. Bailey, physical education teacher

Meeting Schedule: monthly during school, or as announced