Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Activities and Clubs

- Students in grades 4-6 can participate in our music program.
- Students gain an appreciation of music through the playing of an instrument or by singing
  in the chorus. Students attend lessons and perform at concerts throughout the school
  year.
- Minecraft Club is a club for 24 fifth and sixth grade students, offered on a first come,
  first serve basis.
- Students explore, create, and collaborate in various Minecraft worlds.
- Two sections of Minecraft Club are offered each year; one from September through
  December, the second from January through April.
- Student Council is a group of students who are elected by their classmates to do
  community service for the school and local community.
- The Student Council is comprised of two representatives from each 5 th and 6 th Grade class
  and one representative from each 4 th Grade class.
- Some of the activities the Student Council participates in each year include the annual
- Van Rensselaer Elementary School Spelling Bee, Make-A-Wish’s Adopt-a-Wish, toy drives
  and drive to increase recycling at the school.
- Odyssey of the Mind is a hands-on program for kids and hands-off for adults.
- For the long term portion of this program, the students select a problem to solve, write
  the script, create all props, backgrounds, and costumes, and compete/perform in front of|
- a panel of judges.
- Throughout the year, the team will also practice spontaneous problems.
- This is where the team will be given a verbal, hands-on, or verbal/hands-on situation.
- The students need to work together in just a few short minutes to creatively solve the
  problem or answer the question.
- Teamwork, creativity, and improvisation are extremely important.