Ways to be involved
Fort Dodge Middle School has 10 clubs that aim to spark the imagination of students
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Michael Wagner, 10, a fifth grade student at Fort Dodge Middle School, responds to a question about a Quidditch Quaffle ball during the after school Quidditch club at the middle school Tuesday. It was the first meeting of the new club.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Trish Taylor, a counselor at the Fort Dodge Middle School, shows students a stick used in the game of Quidditch Tuesday afternoon. One student thought it looked more like a giant Q-Tip. The game, inspired by Harry Potter, is one of many new clubs at the school.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Noah Glass, 11, left, and Caron Hulsebus, 11, both fifth graders at Fort Dodge Middle School, react to music created by students in previous years who were part of the same after school music club.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Michael Wagner, 10, a fifth grade student at Fort Dodge Middle School, responds to a question about a Quidditch Quaffle ball during the after school Quidditch club at the middle school Tuesday. It was the first meeting of the new club.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Trish Taylor, a counselor at the Fort Dodge Middle School, shows students a stick used in the game of Quidditch Tuesday afternoon. One student thought it looked more like a giant Q-Tip. The game, inspired by Harry Potter, is one of many new clubs at the school.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Noah Glass, 11, left, and Caron Hulsebus, 11, both fifth graders at Fort Dodge Middle School, react to music created by students in previous years who were part of the same after school music club.
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There's no shortage of clubs at the Fort Dodge Middle School to spark the imagination of students.
Between cheerleading, the Quick Fixin' Young Chefs Club, music and even Quidditch, there's bound to be something that entices students to get involved.
Students can choose between 10 different clubs, according to Kim Bodholdt, culture and climate grant coordinator.
The teachers are responsible for creating the clubs.
"The teachers choose whatever their interest might be," Bodholdt said. "They design the club, they pick the grade levels and the content of the club."
A school climate transformation grant covers the cost for teachers to have the clubs and pay for needed supplies, Bodholdt said.
The different clubs met Tuesday after school.
Connor Thoma, 11, was interested in something in which he could get physically active.
He joined the Quidditch Club.
Quidditch is a game made famous in the fantasy world of Harry Potter.
Thoma said he liked the Harry Potter movies and even has a Harry Potter video game at home.
"You get to throw balls around," Thoma said.
Trish Taylor, school counselor, is leading the Quidditch Club.
She spent the afternoon laying down some ground rules for the game.
At one point Thoma picked up one of the balls, pretending to be LeBron James, a famous athlete from another sport entirely.
In Quidditch, there are two balls -- one for scoring and one to get people out, according to Taylor.
Taylor held up one of the balls and asked the students if they could identify it.
Michael Wagner, 10, knew right away that it was the Quaffle ball.
Of course, students won't be able to play the game in mid-air like the movies.
But with broomsticks, some rackets and a couple of balls the club is set.
Katlyn Ashenfelter, 12, wanted to join a club that was a little more calm.
She settled on the Yoga Club.
"It's really relaxing," Ashenfelter said. "After tests and everything during the day it's nice to relax."
She added, "and it's better than sitting on the couch."
Down the hall, the Music Club also made its debut.
Tara Smith, middle school band instructor, is running that club.
The students there will have an opportunity to create their own music using a program called GarageBand, which can be accessed on their iPads.
"We have so many ways of composing music electronically now," Smith said.
Within the program, one possibility is to have an orchestra playing behind the students in their music.
Smith showed videos to students of previous recordings that were composed in the club.
One was a rendition of "Let it Be" by the Beatles.
Students reacted with excitement as they saw the possibilities of what they could create.
Smith said one of the goals of the club will be to have each student make a video of them playing an instrument.
"By the end, we will have a recording of you playing a song," Smith said.
A website will also be available so parents can listen to what their kids create, Smith said.