Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading incentive program offered to St. Monica students in grades four - eight. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while competing with peers. With a teacher mentor and parent volunteers, this after-school activity challenges teams to divide up a list of books to read on their own. Teams may be given the opportunity to participate in the regional "Battle" in April and also the statewide "Battle" usually held in May or June.
Offered to students in grades two-eight, chess club has been a hit! After school, students learn the basics of the game in a fun and educational format. Matches are played each week, and students have the opportunity to sign up for chess tournaments in the area.
We offer an after school robotics club for students in 5th - 8th grade. Building on the robotics curriculum taught in 4th grade science, students use LEGO Mindstorms to design, build and program robots. For 6th - 8th grade students interested in taking a deeper dive, we have a robotics team that participates in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), an international competition for elementary and middle school students. Each year FLL introduces a scientific and real-world challenge for teams to focus on and research. It is part robotics and part science fair. The robotics portion of the competition involves designing, building and programming Lego Mindstorms robots to complete specific tasks and then compete on a table-top playing field. The science fair portion involves researching a real-world problem and teams are challenged to develop a solution. Further information on FLL can be found at http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/what-is-first-lego-league
At St. Monica one of our winter activities is ski/snowboard club. Ski club is on four friday nights in January and February. It is offered for the grades six, seven and eight. You can bring your own gear (skis/snowboard, poles optional, boots and a helmet) or rent everything you need there. The bus leaves after school to go to Little Switzerland ski/board resort. They arrive around 4:15 pm then the kids are given the lift passes for four hours. Then they can rent their gear and get ready to go. There are lessons offered if it is your first time skiing or snowboarding or if you are looking to get better at it. The lessons are for half the time so you will still have time to ski for fun. Everyone is back at the lodge at eight so the bus leaves at 8:30. The bus is back at the St. Monica parking lot for the kids to be picked up around 9:15.
Master the art of public speaking with the Forensics Team! Forensics is offered to students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade and its purpose is to build self-confidence and oral competency by developing and practicing fundamental public speaking skills. Contact the school office at info@stmonica.school if you’re interested in signing up!
