Opportunities Galore in
Finley Club Program
The experience offered to seventh and eighth graders at J. Taylor Finley Middle School continues to involve much more than just classroom lectures, discussions, projects, tests and homework. It consists of a slate of extracurricular activities, including the respected Falcon sports program and an assortment of clubs.
Club advisors recently held a series of interest meetings for students at the school. The sessions were designed to clarify the mission of each club and lay out some of the activities planned for the groups.
"I am excited about the clubs this year," Finley Principal John Amato said. Late buses are available at the school on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3:45 p.m. Students can stay after school for club meetings and activities or for extra help and take the bus home.
Finley's club program has been extremely popular ever since the school opened its doors for the first time in September 1965. "We have several new teachers involved and several veteran staff members who have become advisors," Mr. Amato said. "I met with all of them and they are eager to get started. I know the students will have a great experience, whichever club they join. Students who are already on a sport can also be involved in a club. The student must discuss it with the club advisor."
The club line-up includes:
Art Club - Teacher Mark Belton serves as advisor. Students who enjoy visual arts will especially enjoy this club.
Audio Visual – Teacher Dee Weinstock serves as advisor. Students who want to assist in setting up audio-visual equipment for instructional use find this club interesting.
Community Club – Teacher Jaclyn Ambrosio is the advisor. Students interested in helping people locally and in the larger community flock to this club.
Drama Club - Students who are interested in performing on stage and those who want to work behind the scenes will love this club, which begins activities in late November and culminates in early spring with a multi-day production. An advisor is expected to be appointed soon.
Honor Society - Teachers Phyllis Sadusky and Amy Hughes are the advisors. Students must be inducted into this club. It is for eighth graders only. Seventh graders who earn GPA's of 95 or higher for three periods during seventh grade will be invited to the induction in May 2011. The group meets to discuss service projects for the year. The first one will be a campaign to raise money for the American Heart Association by holding an exciting "Hoops for Heart" night at Finley.
Mathletes – Teacher Melanie DeMarco serves as the advisor. This club is open to all students who like math and want to try some fun, enriching topics and problems.
Math Counts - Teachers Denise Grodzicki and Betsy Grobe are the advisors. The club is a county and statewide competitive math group. Students are selected based upon the invitation of their math teachers. Students travel to other schools for competitions. Last year Finley's team went to the state tournament at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Newspaper – Teacher Kim Schiller is the advisor. Students who like to write and use technology can add a wonderful dimension to the school community by penning articles.
School Store - Teacher Erica Murphy is the advisor. The school store is located in the "Blue Zone" in the main lobby. It is open each morning and sells various school supplies and healthy snacks. Students interested in participating can help with sales and inventory.
Tri-M Music Honor Society – Teacher Deborah Kim serves as the advisor. Students are selected by their music teachers for the society based on proficiency, effort and love of music.
Student Council - Teachers Frank Battista and Matthew Perlongo are the advisors. The student council is comprised of students who want to be involved in everything from the magazine and gift student council fundraisers to setting up for school dances and such fun events as the pep rally.
Stage Crew – Stage crew members build, paint and set-up props and sets for the Finley drama club production in March. The production cannot go on without these students. An advisor is expected to be appointed soon.
"It's fun to see so many students enthusiastically participating each year," Mr. Amato said.