Clubs & Organizations
Clubs
MJHS Clubs
Anime Club
The Anime Club is a unique club for students at both MHS and MJHS who are interested in Japanese manga and anime.
Goals & Objectives:
- To bring diverse students together
- To encourage creativity through artwork and writing
- To bridge the gap between cultures
- To share ideas
Members meet every other Wednesday in the Ed Harmon room at MHS from 3:30-4:30. The fee is $20.00 to join.
Sponsor - travis.tidwell@maryville-schools.org
Archery Club
The Maryville Archery Club is open to all interested students. Archery meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. in the MJHS cafeteria. The first meeting for the 2023-2024 season is on Tuesday, September 5th. This initial meeting is mandatory to participate in the 2023-2024 season. Interested students must turn in a signed permission form, club contract agreement, and a participant waiver before they can participate. There is a $25 club fee that can be paid by cash or check made out to MJHS Archery Club. Due to high interest, No additional members will be accepted after September 5th.
Art Club
The mission of the Maryville Junior High School Art Club is to offer art experiences to students who have creative interests in art, keeping the art “process” and community (coming together with common interests) in mind, and focusing on group production as well as an individual production. This is accomplished by providing different forms of media, additional time, and techniques beyond and in addition to those offered in regular classroom art (and other) classes. The MJHS Art Club will meet every third Wednesday of each month during the school year in the art room #209 from 3:30—4:30.
Sponsor – julie.drakeroberts@maryville-schools.org
Book Club
If you enjoy reading, exploring new books and genres, and sharing your love of books with others, then join the MJHS Book Club! The book club is open to all MJHS students. The mission of the book club is to connect and inspire avid readers through books of every genre. The book club reads a different book each month, and books are chosen by club members. Members are not required to read every book; though the club encourages all members to step out of their comfort zone and explore new genres, members may pick and choose which books they read. Meetings are held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Library Conference Room on the last Wednesday of every month. Meeting dates may vary as needed, so listen for announcements. During after-school meetings, members will discuss characters, plot, writing, style, and more. Members should bring a positive attitude and open mind to every meeting. The Book Club is free to join. Members are expected to obtain their own books through purchase, or library checkout.
Sponsor - megan.stromer@maryville-schools.org
Climbing Club
The MHS Climbing Gym comprises climbing walls ranging from 31 feet to 28 feet in height. The climbing walls present a variety of top rope climbs that range from easy climbing to a steep overhanging wall. All of the climbing routes can be top rope belayed. Some routes are also lead walls where perma-draws are used as anchors that allow advanced climbers to practice their lead climbing skills.
The climbing gym also includes a boulder wall where team members can work on short powerful boulder problems. The climbing gym floor is designed with climbing in mind. It is covered with open-celled foam, which is covered with closed-cell foam, which is glued to a thin layer of the carpet.
The climbing season begins in September and lasts through early March. Climbing comps are held at the Climbing Center in Knoxville. There are five comps that start in October and end in February. After the end of the regular season, there is an All-Comers Boulder Comp, which includes the best climbers from the sixteen area high school teams.
The MJHS Climbing Team practices are held during the season at the MHS Climbing Gym on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30. Each team member is required to have a waiver on file that has been signed by their parents before they can participate. The Climbing Center also requires a signed waiver before climbing team members can participate in the climbing comps.
The MJHS Climbing Team consists of a men‛s team and a women‛s team. Team members must have at a minimum a pair of climbing shoes, a chalk bag, and climbing chalk. Most team members purchase a personal climbing harness but "one size fits all" harnesses are available at the gym. The team members are also expected to purchase a team t-shirt that is worn as a uniform during climbing comps. This club is for grades 9-12 only.
Sponsors – andy.hebert@maryville-schools.org
9th-Grade Climbing Team Waiver
You can also find the waiver/permission slip at bitly.com/mhsclimb
*The Climbing Team is an MHS activity and is not open to 8th-grade students.
Cornerstone Club
The Cornerstone Club is related to the Builder's Club from the intermediate schools, and partners with the Maryville Kiwanis Club to help with service projects in our school and community. This club is open to any student at MJHS who would like to design and participate in local community service projects and build strong leadership skills. Our organization meets weekly to plan or discuss a service project for that month, and then we organize dates to complete the service projects. We will also be volunteering to work with some of Kiwanis' projects throughout the school year, such as their annual pancake breakfast in November. The Cornerstone Club is a great opportunity to help serve the community we live in and get to know and collaborate with other students here at MJHS. Meetings will be held in Room #209 (Art Room) on Wednesday mornings from 7:40-8:10.
Sponsor - frank.kusiowski@maryville-schools.org
Creative Writing Club
The purpose of the MJHS Creative Writing Club is to allow students the opportunity to write more creatively and freely than otherwise permitted. Students will have the chance to enhance their writing skills in a less formal setting. Members can work collaboratively on their writings and give constructive feedback to others. The club meets two times a month on Thursday from 3:30-4:15 p.m., in room 308. All are invited to attend. Members are not required to attend every meeting. Creative Writing Club is free to join.
Sponsor -
FCA
FCA (The Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is a non-denominational club that meets every Thursday morning from 7:45 – 8:10 in the auditorium, or the 9th-grade Wellness room when the auditorium is not available. FCA is a nationwide club that started in 1954 and meets on hundreds of middle school, junior high school, high school, and college campuses weekly. The club is led by student leaders who are selected each new school year. Activities include devotionals from various speakers, games, skits, and occasional praise music.
Sponsors – jay.malone @Maryville-schools.org
angel.babely@maryville-schools.org
Girls Bible Study
Any 8th or 9th-grade girl interested in Bible study can meet before school in Mrs. Clark's classroom (# 314) every Wednesday morning from 7:50 - 8:10 a.m.
Sponsor - jessica.clark@maryville-schools.org
Math Competition
Math competition is for students who excel in mathematics. Members compete in the TMTA Mathematics Contest at Maryville College. Students must take a placement exam to be eligible for consideration for the math team. Members must attend all practices and tutoring sessions. Activities other than the math contest will take place on the MJHS campus.
Sponsor - chris.hollander@maryville-schools.org
scott.harness@maryville-schools.org
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is a simulation experience where students represent countries during debates about real-world problems. Students prepare for these simulations through research, writing position papers, and the creation of resolutions. The Maryville High Model UN (9th - 12th graders) club will compete at the SHSMUN conference in November as well as VOLMUN in February. Although this is a "club", it does not meet at regular times. Once country assignments have been made, students work independently to prepare for the conference, and meetings are held on an as-needed basis only.
Sponsor - Please reach out to Maryville High School.
Robotics Club
If you have an interest in mechanical and electrical systems, metalworking, computer programming, marketing, fundraising, or having fun, then the robotics team is for you! The BC Robotics Team is currently composed of students from grades 8-12 from MJHS, MHS, and other schools within Blount County. We are a FIRST Robotics Competition Team, www.usfirst.org. The team consists of a technical team and a business team. There is something for everyone! The team will meet bi-weekly in the fall but requires a greater time commitment in January and February.
Sponsor - andy.hebert@maryville-schools.org
Honor Society
MJHS Honor Society
The Maryville Junior High School Honor Society is a service and honor organization for 8th-grade and freshmen students. Students making all A’s or all A’s and one B at the end of the first semester in either grade will be invited to become members.
Members are expected to uphold high standards of leadership, character, and service through exemplary behavior. A minimum of 10 hours of community service will be required. On awards day, students who meet the criteria and have completed their service hours will be recognized for their excellent work.
If your student is interested in being in the National Honor Society, Maryville Scholars, or eligible for the Lamar Alexander Scholarships at Maryville High School, please refer to the Maryville Junior High School Scholar’s Prep Guide.
Volunteer Opportunities in Our Community
Blount County Animal Shelter
Blount County Animal Shelter needs volunteers to make life better for the homeless dogs and cats of Blount County. Volunteers will be provided with necessary training on-site, however, most jobs are easy to learn. Walkers and kennel cleaners are high-priority needs. Help is also needed with laundry, organizing supplies, washing toys, and food bowls, and with special events. Please contact the Blount County Animal Shelter at 980-6244 to volunteer or for more information. *Must be 16 or otherwise accompanied by a parent/guardian during volunteer hours.*
Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center
We can use volunteers to help with outdoor activities such as weeding, light trimming, and maintaining our therapy garden. Depending on our schedule, we can also use assistance with mailings, house cleaning, and sanitizing/organizing toys. Volunteer opportunities are decided on a case-by-case basis and availability. If interested, please contact Danielle Reggio at dreggio@blountkids.org or 865-981-2000.
Habitat for Humanity (Jobsite)
Habitat for Humanity needs help on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with construction on homes. Volunteers must be 16 or older. Days to work are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8-1:30. Seasonally there are other opportunities for ages 10 & up as needed for admin, outreach, and special projects. If interested contact Mona Nair at 865-982-8717 or mona@BlountHabitat.org.
Habitat Restore
Habitat Restore needs help with the cash register, admin work, and various areas throughout the store like: clothes, electronics, and books. Volunteers should be 14 or older to work in the Restore. Possible hours include 9-6 on Saturdays and any time after school until 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. If interested, contact 865-379-9299.
Harmony Family Center at Camp Montvale
Harmony Family Center has several opportunities for volunteers aged 14 and older at historic Camp Montvale located in Maryville. These include weekly volunteer sessions with horse and barn-related duties, events such as the Mudder's Day Madness 5k coming up on May 13th, and more. For more information on volunteering, email connect@harmonyfamilycenter.org.
Keep Blount Beautiful
There are several opportunities on the website at, http://www.keepblountbeautiful.org/upcoming-events-1. Keep Blount Beautiful can be reached at 865-681-4809.
Second Harvest
Our volunteers work in our Product Recovery area here in our Maryville warehouse where we process donated food for distribution. This is a set of basic quality/date checking, sorting, and labeling steps. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age, and anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
There are two volunteer shifts Tuesday-Saturday, they are from 9 am-12 and 1-4 pm. We are limited to 25 volunteers per shift, know that some shifts will fill to capacity and will be unavailable.
Opportunities are available through the Second Harvest website at https://secondharvestetn.org/volunteer/. If you have questions, please call 865-243-8213.
United Way of Blount County
The United Way of Blount County is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. They collaborate with multiple organizations throughout the county, region, and state to make a bigger difference in our community. The United Way would be happy to connect you with volunteer opportunities in our area. If interested visit their website at https://unitedwayblount.org/, or contact them at 865-982-2251.
Chamber of Commerce
Please check out the opportunities on the Chamber of Commerce website, https://www.blountchamber.com/newcomers/welcome-information/volunteer-opportunities/.
Students:
Please note the volunteer opportunities above are only suggestions for you. You do not have to limit yourself to these alone. Service hours can be obtained in many ways throughout our community. Where you choose to volunteer should be decided at your parent’s discretion. If you have any questions, please contact the MJHS Counseling Office.