Co-Curricular & Extra-Curricular

Chess Club meets on Monday afternoons after school for chess practice. Mr. Burnham will teach you or give you tips on your chess game. There are team and individual tournaments on the weekends, and then the Eppler Elimination Tournament at Eppler at the end of the season. See Mrs. Byron for paperwork on Chess Club, or come see us in action Monday after school in the media center!

Sponsor: Mrs. Byron renee.byron@uticak12.org 

Eppler Student Advisory Board (ESAB) is an appointed board of students whom had to apply for acceptance in this position. They meet to share the concerns of the student body with the principal. The focus of ESAB is to improve the school in every probable aspect.

Sponsor: Mr. Pantano gerard.pantano@uticak12.org 

At Eppler Junior High School, we are interested in taking positive steps to help your child have a successful school year. In the fall, we will be offering students the opportunity to attend Homework Club which will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:11pm to 3:11 pm in the Eppler Media Center. This service is free of charge to Eppler students. Students can use this time to get academic assistance, complete assignments, work on projects, and/or study for tests.

Each child in attendance should bring all necessary materials and books to the media center by 2:15 pm. Please be advised that if a student comes to Homework Club with nothing to work on, he/she will not be admitted to Homework Club that day. All students will be expected to remain in the Media Center until 3:11 pm. Students will need to sign in each day that they participate. Students are to arrange for their own transportation home.

Sponsors: Ms. Carlson emily.carlson@uticak12.org and Ms.Mazzio paula.mazzio@uticak12.org 

The National Junior Honor Society is a co-curricular activity that actively supports the educational goals of Eppler Junior High School. The organization provides chapter members with opportunities for significant learning experiences, especially in the area of service. A minimum grade point average of 3.45 is required to apply for membership. Only 8th -grade and 9th -grade students may apply. The National Junior Honor Society is a nationally recognized program established in 1929 by NASSP and can currently be found in public and private schools in every state as well as in schools in more than 70 countries overseas.

Sponsors: Ms. Gleason scarlet.gleason@uticak12.org

Utica is part of the Michigan State High School Clay Target League. More information about the league can be found at https://mi.usaclaytarget.com/

Sponsor: Coach Mark Kosanke Phone 248-892-0829

The Science Olympiad Team increases a student’s awareness of science. It’s fun, competitive, and rewarding. Students who love science and challenges should join.

Students work in a team to compete in challenges that include lab events, tests and building events. Some events follow the format of popular board games, TV shows, and athletic games. These events are balanced with various science disciplines like biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, as well as computers and technology. Students compete each year with other students from Macomb County in competitions that include: bottle rocketry, identifying mystery powders, meteorology, and bridge building.

Sponsors: Mrs. Markus lesley.markus@uticak12.org and Ms. Tafoya erin.tafoya@uticak12.org

The Club will be snowboarding/skiing at Mt. Holly on Friday nights weather permitting. To attend the Snowboard/Ski Club events, all students must return to the Club sponsor a permission form.

Sponsor: Kristi Carpenter Kristi.Carpenter@uticak12.org (586) 797-6811

Social Studies Olympiad involves many events in which 7th, 8th, or 9th grade students compete individually or in teams. Competitions take place either “on site” at a designated school in April, or “mail-in” competitions that are sent to a designated location for scoring. Each year there is a different social studies topic such as regional or world geography, transportation, etc. Students use posters, poetry, quiz bowl competitions, essays, etc. to illustrate the topic.

The team begins to meet after the winter holiday break. Students who love social studies should join.

Sponsor: Mr. Collins patrick.collins@uticak12.org 

Student Council is a service organization comprised of students from all three grade levels - 7th, 8th, and 9th. Its goal is to represent the student body and our neighboring communities in many ways.

Council members meet at least once a month before school to organize and sponsor a variety of student activities such as dances, spirit weeks, random acts of kindness, fundraisers, and other special events. They are also involved in charitable community projects such as the annual Utica Lions Club canned food drive, the Marines’ Toys for Tots Drive, etc. Funds raised by the Student Council benefit the school, students or charitable organizations.

To become a student council member, students must complete an application, have a teacher recommendation, and have good citizenship. If you have great leadership skills, use them to be a student council representative or student council officer. Get involved in your school!

Sponsor: Ms. Tafoya erin.tafoya@uticak12.org