Calhoun Elementary School

Athletics: All 6th-grade students are allowed to try out and participate in CMS extracurriculars/sports. Transportation from CES to CMS will be provided for practices and games. Any student trying out for a middle school activity must have a current physical on file. Students should listen to morning and afternoon announcements regarding tryout times.

Art: Students in grades 4-6 have art class as part of their activity rotation. During art, students can create in various artistic styles and are exposed to art history.

Art Show: All students in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to display a piece of their original artwork in the spring art show.

Band: Students in 6th grade have the opportunity to participate in band class as an elective. Band meets every other day (Black/Gold schedule) during the activity block and is a year-long class. Students will learn the fundamentals of reading music and begin to learn their selected instrument. Several concerts will be held during the school year in the evenings.

Boy Scouts / Cub Scouts: An informational meeting is held at CES each fall for the local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts troops. A representative from Boy Scouts attends Open House or other schoolwide meetings to provide information to students as well. Flyers are available in the office for students who may be interested in joining these clubs.

Chorus: Students in grades 4-5 may audition at the beginning of the school year to become a member of the Jacket Jammers. Choral groups perform in conjunction with many community service organizations. The Jacket Jammers produce a musical production each year and present in May at the Calhoun Performing Arts Center (CPAC). Students in sixth grade may sign up for chorus as one of their elective classes. This group also performs in conjunction with many community service organizations and produces a musical production during the school year.

Cross Country Race: At the beginning of the year, students in grades 4-6 are allowed to qualify by time for a slot at participation in the cross country race. This race is typically hosted by Menlo or Trion Elementary School.

Environmental Education Program: Students in grades 4-6 participate in a comprehensive Going Green initiative each year. Plastic, aluminum, paper, used markers, etc. are recycled. Raised beds and a composting system allow students to be involved in a farm-to-table initiative. Students enhance the aesthetics of the campus on planting days by adding trees, shrubs, and bulbs.

Girl Scouts: An informational meeting is held at CES each fall for the local Girls Scouts troop. A representative from Girl Scouts attends Open House to provide information to students as well. Flyers are available in the office for students who may be interested in joining this club.

IGNITE 316: A free club for students in grades 4-6 that is sponsored by Belmont Baptist Church. Trained volunteers meet weekly with groups of students for activities such as Gospel time, a Bible lesson, songs, Scripture memory, games, and other activities focused on the lesson’s theme. The club includes strong discipleship training to build character and strengthen moral and spiritual growth. IGNITE 316 understands the importance of and encourages daily prayer time, family involvement, and strong peer-to-peer relationships. Students must register for this club each fall.

Odyssey of the Mind: OOTM is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in exciting and productive ways. Students involved in OOTM practice during and after school, as well as on the weekends. They compete regionally, at the state level if placing, and may even move on to the World competition at the international level. Please visit odysseyofthemind.com for additional details about this program. Students in grades 4-6 are eligible to try out for a team at the beginning of each school year.

Math Mania: Math Mania is an annual school-level math competition in grades 4-6. Students qualify to compete in Math Mania as a result of their winter MAP benchmark scores. Students compete at the individual level. Medals are issued to the top three individual winners at each grade level.

Poster Contests: Students in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in various poster contests throughout the year. Two annual events include Drugs Don’t Work and School Bus Safety. Students complete poster work during art class to coincide with the given theme and specifications. Rat work is judged and school-level winners are selected. In the Drugs Don’t Work competition, the 4-6 winner has their work displayed at the Harris Art Center and on a community poster sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. One piece of art is selected 4-6 for the School Bus safety contest and submitted to the state for the next round of competition.

Project-Based Learning (PBL):  All students in grades 4-6 have PBL/STEM as part of the activity rotation. PBL allows students to engage in a high-interest unit of study outside of their regular curriculum for an extended period. Students utilize critical and creative thinking skills while developing their ability to collaborate and communicate to complete given tasks and projects.

Rota Kids: Rota Kids is a club that provides kids 12 and under with an opportunity to lead and engage in important and lively activities that will make a positive difference in their school and the local community. Rota Kids helps students develop the ability and confidence to take their place in society as responsible, successful, and effective citizens both now and in the future. The club is sponsored by the local Rotary Club and meets weekly after school. Students in grades 5-6 are eligible for participation through an application process.

Science Fair: Students in grades 4-6 may enter a project in the school-level science fair each year. Detailed step-by-step information about the process is communicated to students at the beginning of the second semester. Project due dates are set and students participating meet with judges to explain their process. Medals are awarded to the top three projects in each grade.

STEM: Students in grades 4-6 have STEM and the engineering process built into their PBL/STEM activity course. Classrooms also incorporate the engineering process into units of study in the academic areas. The school also designates full STEM days throughout the school year and an annual family STEM night. Within STEM-based activities, students work through the creative and engineering design process to learn through experimentation and adaptation. STEM leads students to the construction of new ideas and innovation.

Spelling Bee: Students in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to earn a seat in the school spelling bee each year. Spelling is assessed in each classroom to determine who will represent the group. One student per classroom competes in the school-level Spelling Bee held in the spring of the year. Medals are given to the top three places.

Technology Competition: Students in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in the district’s technology competition. Students placing first at the CCS Tech Competition will compete at the Northwest Regional Tech Competition in January. Students placing first at the regional level will compete at the GA Student Technology Competition in February. 

Young Georgia Authors: The purpose of YGA writing competition is to encourage students to develop an enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and the recognize student achievement in arts and academics. Students in grades 4-6 work through the writing process daily. During the second semester, a piece of writing is selected from each student for refinement. Once the story is sleeted per class t compete in the grade-level competition at the school level. Outside judges select the top piece of work at each grade level. School-level winners proceed to the RESA level competition and RESA level winners move on to the state competition.