Besides learning about geometry, reading classic novels and learning about American history, Jamie Weeks wants to make sure students at Tumwater High School also get an added boost.
That boost includes social time and having fun as they take part in school clubs. And Weeks, as the school’s activities director, makes sure all kinds of clubs are available for all the students.
“Yeah, there’s quite a variety of clubs,” Weeks said. “Every year, we have a couple of new clubs that crop up.”
One of the newest is the “Nerd Club.” It’s for video gamers.
“They have fun,” said Weeks, who has taught at Tumwater since 1984.
Having fun is part of the objective. From fall to spring, Tumwater offers 18 varsity team sports from football to basketball to baseball. Weeks figured there were about 600 kids who participated in sports at Tumwater High School each year. Weeks has coached high school baseball for 36 years, so he appreciates the lure of sports.
But, as Weeks understands, not every student is into sports. As an option to catching touchdown passes or belting singles into the outfield, Tumwater offers 21 different clubs, activities that engage students with fun activities. Those options over the years include student council, Souled Out Club, Cultural Awareness Club, Drama Club, Debate Club, FBLA, Key Club, Knowledge Bowl, Rifle Club, Honor Society, Robotics Club, Young Life, Strength Club, Window Panes, the Card Club, Knitting/Crocheting Club, Equestrian Club, Fantasy Sports Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Nerd Club and Metal Bands.
Each year, Weeks estimates that about 200 to 300 kids are involved in clubs at Tumwater High School. A big and popular club at Tumwater is the Drama Club, which is under the direction of Harrison Fry. The Drama Club is centered around all of the plays the school puts on each year. The school’s musical is coming up in a couple of months.
“Mr. Fry does a great job. He’s a young guy,” Weeks said. “Very much an advocate for theater. He also teaches kids how to build sets. He’s really gained a lot of interest in the students for that kind of stuff.”
Another popular club at Tumwater is the Knowledge Bowl, which is coached by Doug Peltier. Weeks compared the club to the popular TV game show, Jeopardy. It’s a question/answer game that deals with science, English, social studies, math, current events and random trivia. Teams have four students and compete against teams from Olympia, Lacey, Centralia, Chehalis, Shelton and Aberdeen. In February, there is a regional tournament where the top teams from each school compete and the top placers advance to the state competition in Marysville.
Another club at Tumwater is the equestrian team, which is made up of students from Tumwater, Black Hills, Olympia, Capital, Rainier and Tenino high schools. Tumwater was one of the first schools in the program and has remained successful.
“It is a great way to be involved in the school and community and the memories you make will be unforgettable,” said coach Marcia Hallman.
The takeaway for being involved in clubs at school is simple. It’s about having fun with a friend.
“It allows kids to get involved with their friends with like interests,” Weeks said. “It allows them to have a place to go that’s not academic and socialize with their friends. And meet a different teacher maybe that they don’t have. And just learn more about the club.”
Instead of having after-school clubs, where students have to miss the school bus and find another way home, the club get-togethers at Tumwater are held during regular class times. Many of the clubs meet on Friday mornings from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.
The involvement in the clubs, the students’ motivation for going outside of their regular classrooms, goes beyond wanting to learn something. They also to hang out with their friends.
“Absolutely,” Weeks said. “Kids come to school, I’d venture to say, to be with their friends. Of course they want to learn, to get their diplomas, to prepare for college. But they also really enjoy the social aspect of high school and what the high school offers for them.” And clubs at Tumwater just add to those kinds of moments for students.
