- Griffin Elementary
- Clubs and Activities
Get Involved
Clubs and Activities
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Band
Sponsor: Mrs. Palmer
Contact: sally.palmer@browardschools.comThe goal of Band is to provide students with an opportunity to learn and perform music as a part of a group, develop their skills as musicians, and gain an appreciation for band music. Being a part of a group can help your child build their social skills. It can shape self-confidence, it gives a sense of self accomplishment, fosters teamwork, and provides children with a safe social setting to make long-lasting friendships and a feeling of belonging.
Band is offered to students in grades 4 and 5. Band meets after school on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 PM to 3 PM in the music room. Band is offered from the months of September to May. There will be no band on Early Release days or Teacher Planning Days. Band students perform on stage for two concerts. Our winter concert in January and our spring concert in May. Students will need to wear black pants and our new band t-shirt for our band concert attire. Band t-shirts are $12.00 each.
Band instruments include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and snare drum. Students interested in band will need to have their own instrument for band. Instruments can be rented at area band stores. Band students will need to leave their band instruments with them in their classrooms while they are in school. Students cannot leave their instruments overnight on school property. Griffin aftercare students will need to report to their aftercare area for attendance before coming to band. This year, band students will need to purchase one book: The Standard of Excellence Band Book One, which has a red cover.
The purpose of Band is to prepare students for Middle school band and High school band.
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Book Buddies - Peer Mentoring Program
Sponsor: Mrs. del Corral and Ms. Vega
The purpose of our Book Buddies program is to promote literacy and a sense of belonging amongst our students. It also provides an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful dialogue with their peers, express their opinions, and learn to respond to differing opinions with respect.
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Chorus
Sponsor: Mrs. Palmer
Contact information: sally.palmer@browardschools.comChorus affords children the opportunity to develop social responsibility. They learn dedication to a group, school pride, stage manners, and self-
discipline. Students learn memorization skills, often memorizing twenty to twenty-five pieces of music a year. Students improve their reading skills while reading the lyrics to the songs. Students gain confidence as they learn to perform on stage and learn an appreciation for choral literature.
Our chorus performs for our Veterans Day Breakfast, our Holiday Gift Wrap, Light Up Cooper City, Our First Responders Breakfast, and our Spring Concert. Chorus students will need to wear black pants and our new Griffin Chorus t-shirt for all of our concerts. T-shirts are $12.00 each.
Chorus is offered to students in grades three to five. Chorus meets on Monday afternoons from 2PM to 3PM in the music room. Students will need to audition for chorus. They will need to sing a c major scale with accompaniment and the song America (My Country tis’ Of Thee). Chorus rehearsals begin in October. Chorus rehearsals will continue until the month of May.
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Debate
Sponsor: Valerie Burd
Contact information: valerie.burd@browardschools.comDebate is offered to a selected number of our fifth-grade students. In this club, students learn effective communication and debate skills, which are put to the test in a district-wide debate competition. Students learn research skills, logic, organization of ideas, manipulation of language, assessment of audience, self-esteem, and engagement in world events. These skills not only build better students, but they also build better college candidates, better employees, and better citizens.
2024-2025 Debate documents
Speech Wire Electronic Ballots
Debate Congressional Procedures
PF Elem Argument Structure for Cases
PF Elem Debate Argument Explanations
Sept Oct PF ADVTopicAnalysis 2024
DebateUS! The US should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border. 17min. Intro to Topic Video:https://youtu.be/4cqrmgLQg0M?si=nisOmBg05vyxU09U
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ECO Patrol
Sponsors: Jacqueline Sanchez and Alicia Hammell
Contact information: jacqueline.sanchez@browardschools.comEco Patrol is an environmental club for 4th and 5th grade students, which brings awareness to local and global environmental challenges facing our earth. Our members also make up our school's student led recycling program.
We meet once a month, usually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 2-3 pm for 4th Grade and on the 4th Wednesday of the month for 5th Grade. Remember, you must arrange to pick up for your child at 3:00 pm. Aftercare students will be dismissed to aftercare.
Students should not miss more than one meeting. Also, students must be very well-behaved, since they will be walking throughout the school to pick up recycling once a week. Any reports of bad behavior might result in their dismissal from Eco Patrol.
We have a great year planned and we are looking forward to having your child in Eco Patrol. Please view some of our past environmental event videos below.
Purchase waste-free items
National Wildlife Federation Blog Post
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Media Helpers
Sponsor: Mrs. BergerContact Information: valerie.berger@browardschools.comMedia Helpers meet in the Innovative Learning Commons every morning from 7:30-7:55 a.m. Fifth graders may choose to apply the end of their fourth-grade year or by September of their fifth-grade year. They’ll enjoy assisting students find books, shelve books, and collaborating in our Media Makerspace areas, helping all Griffin students. -
Safety Patrol
Sponsor: Mrs. Alicia Hajaree and Deputy Gordon
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S.A.V.E. Promise
Sponsor: Mrs. Novack
Contact information: teena.novack@browardschools.comS.A.V.E. Promise ClubThe SAVE Promise Club is comprised of students who are committed to helping others feel included and keeping their school safe by promoting kindness, good character, and a sense of belonging. These leaders and upstanders are socially inclusive and encourage others to connect and build new healthy relationships with one another through various school-wide activities.We meet once a month and implement one activity a month. -
Student Council
Sponsors: Mrs. Shapiro and Mrs. Gallagan
Student Council is a student-run organization that dedicates itself to creating memorable Griffin experiences for every student at Griffin Elementary. By encouraging involvement, we provide a medium for all students to become active in the workings of our community. This includes hosting a number of inclusive activities. Not only do we bridge the gap between students and administration, but we are also involved as members of the Cooper City community. On an annual basis, Student Council participates in Harvest Drive and other service-based projects that are aimed at exposing our Griffin students to service and learning. Every year our goal is to improve the lives of our student and faculty population by implementing creative and fun ideas to make each year unforgettable!
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Teachers of Tomorrow - Peer Mentoring Program
Sponsor: Ms. VegaEmail: christinaalyssa.vega@browardschools.comTeachers of Tomorrow is a chance for our students to model appropriate classroom behavior, strive for academic excellence, and develop a positive self-concept.
Students who join the TOTS club will volunteer their time to help another teacher with various tasks in the classroom for about 20 minutes (1 or 2 times per week as needed by the hosting teacher).
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WGES
Sponsors: Mrs. Chmura and Mrs. Novack
Contact information: teena.novack@browardschools.com
WGES is the school's TV network. Fifth grade students make up the crew who are televised daily on the Griffin Elementary news. The crew arrives at 7:50 a.m. and our broadcast ends by 8:15.
