All students are eligible to participate in club activities as long as they maintain behavioral standards. Dates and times of each activity are announced on daily morning announcements, posted in the office and on the website calendar.
Art Club - This club is open to all students in 6th, 7th and 8th graders. We have grade-specific meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays and gives students an opportunity to use different art mediums in a creative atmosphere. Students’ work is displayed around the school at various art shows in the community and at the District 23 Art Show in the spring.
ASL Club - ASL club is open to all students and staff members who want to learn American Sign Language. This 10-week club meets in the Winter after Winter Break and every Tuesday until Spring Break. Every week a new theme or topic will be taught (i.e. alphabet, colors, family, food, etc). If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Salyards. Come learn a new language in room 202.
Bowling Club - MacArthur's Bowling Club is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. It runs for six weeks from February through March at Arlington Lanes after school. Students will need their own rides, so carpooling is highly encouraged. By joining Bowling Club, students have an opportunity to socialize across grade levels with their friends while improving their bowling skills.
Chamber Strings - Chamber Strings is an upper-level ensemble at MacArthur Middle School; students are introduced to an array of advanced string & chamber repertoire, allowing them to develop technique, musicianship, and concepts in music appreciation. This ensemble offers students opportunities to develop individual performance skills through live concerts and events.
Creativity Club - Discover your creative side in the kitchen! All MacArthur students are invited to join Creativity Club, where they explore various recipes designed to provide students with fun and easy meals they can make independently at home.
Dance Club - Dance Club is open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders that are interested in dance. This club starts after Spring Break and goes until May. During this time the girls are improving their technique, learning a dance routine, and creating part of a routine. The club meets before school at 7 AM two to three times a week. The girls should wear appropriate clothing and gym shoes.
Innovation Club - Innovation club is open to all students who are interested in exploring new computer programs, apps, websites and more. This club meets 2-3 times a month during the fall season. The topics are decided by the students with a new topic every session. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Teramoto for more information.
Jazz Band - The MacArthur Jazz Band is an extra-curricular band that meets three days a week outside of the school day. The jazz band focuses on the fundamentals of playing different styles of music such as jazz, latin, funk, R&B, blues, and rock. The Jazz Band has had a long history of success, consistently ranking as one of the most successful middle school jazz ensemble in the area. The Jazz Band performs at all MacArthur band concerts and also at different community events, so come check us out!
Musical Production - Students may participate in the production as performers or tech crew behind the scenes. Actual parts onstage or in the accompanying bands are competitive and selective and involve auditions. The dates of the musical are set by the sponsors (usually in late winter/early spring). Rehearsals are usually daily, particularly as the opening date approaches. Students must meet academic and behavioral criteria on a weekly basis in order to remain eligible to participate in the musical.
Newspaper - Our school newspaper,
The Monthly Marauder, welcomes all students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade who are interested in writing about school news and current events. Meetings are generally held after school once or twice per month. Students who join must be creative, enjoy writing, have excellent grammar skills, and be adept at meeting deadlines. This club is student-driven, giving all students a choice of what they want to write and publish.
PAWS - The PAWS (Positive And Worthwhile Support) program provides an opportunity for students to get one-on-one or small group assistance with their homework, projects, and upcoming tests. Students are recommended into PAWS by their teachers. However, requests for students to be placed into PAWS by parents, if not recommended, will be considered if there are still spots available. This activity takes place one hour per week after school. Parents are responsible for transportation home.
Recital Night - Each year, usually in late February, students from the various music programs are asked to perform in an evening recital. The selections are generally made by the directors, from students, who received "firsts" in Solo-Ensemble Contest. This gives these outstanding performers an opportunity to showcase their talents for their families, friends and the community.
Robotics Club - The Robotics Club is open to all students who are interested in learning about building and programming robots, learning about strategy and working cooperatively with others. The club meets throughout the school year and ends with a school competition! Please contact Mr. Dudic for more information.
Science Club - This after school club is open to all students. We meet approximately once a month for the entire school year. A primary job this year is to reduce waste in the cafeteria and encourage recycling school-wide. We also will plan meetings based on student interests such as gardening, lab experiments, and guest speakers.
Student Senate - Any student can become a member of the Student Senate by attending meetings regularly. Student Senate is responsible for promoting various activities including school dances, fundraisers, spirit weeks, and selling of candy grams throughout the school year. Meetings are typically held after school and meet periodically throughout the school year depending on the activity being planned. Further information can be obtained by contacting either of the two sponsors.
Swing Choir-Swing Choir is an extension of the Mac choral classes and will meet before/after school. It offers students a chance to dive into more pop and jazz music. They will learn simple and fun choreography to go along with new music in the winter season. They will perform at the winter concert, and for off-campus events, like the VFW, Knights of Columbus, Prospect Heights Public Library, and other community functions.
Unified Poms - Unified Poms is a club affiliated with the Special Olympics organization that is run through MacArthur. There are no tryouts involved and there are two practices each week. It encompasses a group of students who learn one to two dances and a few cheers throughout the duration of the season (which runs from October to January). Participants perform at one to two home basketball games (during half-time), assemblies, and Pom Night. Students continuously promote an inclusive, respectful, and compassionate school atmosphere.
Unified Soccer - Unified Soccer is a Special Olympics Unified Sports program that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on a soccer team for training and competitions. Our season runs from August through October and is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
WildStang Robotics - WildStang Robotics is open to 8th grade students who are interested in robotics. Students in this program explore the basics of robotics and will cover topics such as the mechanical, electrical, and software components of robotics. Students are mentored by high school instructors and professionals in the engineering field. Students will build an entire Vex Robot and will compete in an in class competition. This program is year long and will meet Monday evenings from 5:30- 7:00. The program is run at MacArthur working with High School District D214. Admittance to this program allows a student a guaranteed spot on the WildStang Robotics Team the following year in high school. Dual high school credit will be given to the students once they successfully complete the program. This program requires students to apply through an application. Students are selected by D214 instructors based on application responses, class performance, and teacher recommendations.
Yearbook Club - Yearbook club is open to all students who are interested in joining a fun and creative club that runs throughout the entire school year. Students will explore yearbook design and publishing, as well as photography. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Teramoto or Mrs. Moon for more information.