Sweetwater Branch Academy After School Clubs start at 3:30 pm and end at 4:15 pm. SWBA also provides weekend and morning studies.

SWBA 2010-2011 Weekly Club & Academic Team Schedule

Please click here for Club Change Request Form

Middle School Clubs and Academic Teams

Student Council

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Cairns Room 101 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

This is the club for students who are interested in the politics of the school. Students who want to make a change in the way things go at the school should be in this club. Students who want to help plan parties and events for the school should apply. The members of this club will also be responsible for reporting the changes to their homeroom classmates. Student government is a club geared towards civic minded students who want to play an important role in their school and community. Members must run campaigns and be elected by their peers. As members of Student Government, students will work to improve both the school and the surrounding Gainesville community. We will meet once a week and projects are TBA.  Elected positions include: President (7^th or 8^th Grader), Vice-President, Historian, Treasurer, and Representatives (one from each grade level).  You can get further information from Ms. Cairns.

Yearbook Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Baig Room 105  Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

This is the club for those people that would rather be behind a camera than in front of it. We will take the pictures for the yearbook except for the individual student professional photos. We will also work on the layout and design of the yearbook. It should be an exciting year where we will have a final product to sell at the end of the year. This club will be school -wide and the layouts, editing, formatting, and captions, artworks, etc. may be submitted for consideration throughout the year. All students who love working with films, photography, graphic artist, journalism, creative arts, and scrapbooking will be ideal for this club. We encourage all faculty and family/guardians or other community members to volunteer in our first annual tradition of the Sweetwater Branch Academy Yearbook!

Lego League Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Gurcan Room 110 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

First Lego League is a program that combines hands-on, interactive robotics programming along with a research presentation. We will focus on such things as team building, problem solving, creativity, and analytical thinking.

Spelling Bee Academic Team

Coach: Ms. Ross Room 104 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

Any student who wishes to compete in the Alachua County spelling bee may participate in this club. This club will focus on preparation for the spelling bee by learning etymology, researching and learning vocabulary, and participating in practice bee’s.

Sports Club

Coach: Mr. Lazear HB Soccer Field Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

Do you enjoy sports?  Then this is the club for you.  Club members with participate in various different sports including but not limited to basketball, soccer, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, etc.  We will also spend some time learning about sports history, the different rules of different sports, and strategies that go into becoming a successful player.

SECME Academic Team

Coach: Mrs. Ranade Room 111 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

SECME - began as a collaborative effort of school districts, engineering universities, business and industry, and government. SECME's goal is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, geographically under-served, and differently abled students who will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thus creating a diverse and globally competitive workforce. (www.secme.org). The club will foster a love for engineering through hands-on projects. Several schools in Alachua school district are already members of the consortium and they participate in the competitions (similar to Olympiad). The resources needed to start the club are relatively small and we can get guidance from other schools.

Journalism Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. White Room 102 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

The journalism club is open to any and all students who are interested in writing and research. Those who are in this club will write and publish the Jaguar Digest, which is a SWBA publication. Students will participate by writing articles; developing ideas for articles and design; interview students, staff, parents and/or members of the community; and many other exciting journalese tasks. Come join the Jaguar journalist team and help keep our students informed and entertained.

Future City Design Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Gurcan Room 110 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

The mission of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition is to provide a fun and exciting educational engineering program for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students that combine a stimulating engineering challenge with a "hands-on" application to present their vision of a city of the future.

Board Games & Puzzles Club

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Kuyucu Room 108 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Students will be able to play their favorite board game. Some of the games include Connect Four, Scrabble, Risk, and Clue just to name a few

Science Olympiad Academic Team

Head Coach: Dr. Baslanti Room 107 Tuesday & Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

Assistant Coach: Mrs. Ranade

Science Olympiad is an academic competition designed especially for those students who enjoy science and want some extra challenge. It has 23 pre-defined events that cover the entire spectrum of middle school science curriculum. It addresses different branches of science like life science, physical science, earth science, chemistry and astronomy, robotics, and criminology; as well as different abilities like laboratory activities, building events, presentations, and problem solving. The competition is conducted in local, state and national levels.

Turkish Club
Teacher Sponsor: Mr. Kaya & Mrs. Gokkurt Room 109 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Join the Turkish Club to learn more about Turkish Culture through:

1. Turkish food: A dish from Turkish cuisine, such as Turkish delight, Turkish baklava,      
Turkish tea and more, will be served at each meeting!

2. Turkish Music: We will listen to Turkish music (pop, folk, art, and more) together!
3. Turkish Language: You will learn how to say Hi! How are you? What’s your name?
Have a nice day!  And more in Turkish!
4. Cultural Activities: You will be more familiar with the Turkish culture.
5. Turkish videos and films: We also watch videos to learn more about Turkey.
6. Preparation for Turkish sketches:  We will have an activity like small group sketches in
Turkish.
7. Qualifying students will have a chance to participate in the Southeast United States 
Turkish Olympiad competition.

Coach: Ms. Cairns Room 101 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Step Dance Club (for girls)

Teacher Sponsor:  Ms. Lawrence Room 111 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Math Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Uncu Room 103 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

FCAT & Math Lab Club

Teacher Sponsor:  Mrs. Kuyucu Room 108 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM 

Students will bring their math homework and projects. Students will have an opportunity to work on their assignments with extra help from the teacher. Students can take the opportunity to ask for extra help with any topic that may be confusing to them. Also this club prepares students to FCAT with extra grade level worksheets.

Turkish Folk Dance Club

Coach: Mrs. Gokkurt & Mr. Kaya Room 109 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

Odyssey of the Mind

Coach: Ms. Cairns Room 101 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

Spanish Drama Club

Teacher Sponsor:  Ms. Baig Room 105 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

Robotics Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Gurcan Room 110 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

Chess Club

Coach: Mr. Uncu Room 103 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

Poetry Club

Teacher Sponsor:  Ms. Ross Room 104 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

This club will foster the creative writing environment for students. In this club students will be safe to create written art in an environment that will foster creativity and the willingness to explore new possibilities in writing. In this club we will explore different types of poetry. We will also create poetry. Students will have the chance to display their poetry as well as recite their poetry during designated poetry nights.

Model United Nations (MUN) Academic Team

Coach: Mrs. White Room 102 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

The MUN club engages students in an authentic simulation of the United Nations system by learning about the UN system, the skills of debate, compromise, conflict resolution and negotiation. MUN team members have fun learning about the workings of world diplomacy through the lens of current events.  As well as our club interactions and discussions, there are conferences throughout the year we can take part in.

Elementary School Clubs and Academic Teams

Book Club K-2

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Friedman Room 206 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

This club will meet every other week. Students will form groups of 3-4 based on reading interests, where they will read a different book every month.  There will be a group leader in each group that will alternate bi-weekly. The leader will be in charge of coming up with appropriate questions relating to the book to discuss with group members (a sample question list will be provided which students can choose to use). Each month, the groups will present a summary of their book, and whether or not they would recommend others to read it. This club is open to all grades.
Book Club K-2

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Marshall Room 208 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

The book club would be for grades 3-5. Students and I will pick age appropriate books to read together and discuss.  I will prepare discussion questions and an activity or two for the students to complete.  The discussion and activities will help promote deeper comprehension and vocabulary.
Volleyball Club

Coach: Ms. Howell Volleyball Court Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

The volleyball club will give students the opportunity to learn about the basics of volleyball and how to bump, set, and spike the ball! We will work on passing the volleyball with the correct form as well as how to serve a volleyball. This will help students develop and improve their hand-eye coordination as well as the importance of working together as part of a team.
Yearbook Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Diaz Room 207 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

Create and edit the Elementary Yearbook with the students’ assistance. Developing computer and photography skills.

Jump Rope Club

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Clark Playground Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

The children will learn and practice the various types of games, skills and competitions done with jump ropes. Examples of these include longest time, most complicated jumping style, as well as possibly participating In the Jump Rope for Heart charity event.

Science Olympiad Academic Team

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Gokkurt Room 205 Monday 3:30-4:15 PM

The purpose of the Science Club is to explore the world of science through studies, investigations, activities and have in local, state and national field trips. The club will be both academic and extracurricular by nature but students with academic or discipline concerns are asked to other related clubs. The students will also participate in science competitions such as science fair and Science Olympiad. The local community projects will be done with parental support such as environmental projects, school landscaping.

Puzzle Club

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Goeckel Room 204 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Elementary age students can attempt puzzles of various difficulties. This can strengthen students’ spatial reasoning, patience, and persistence in a relaxing environment.

Art Club

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. McFarland Room 202 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

More advanced art projects, such as drawing, oil painting, water colors, and mixed media.  Separate clubs for elementary, middle, and high children.

Math Club/Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Koc Room 206 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

Math team welcomes all students who enjoy math.  We will usually meet once a week.  We will be solving problems, learning new strategies, and preparing for the competitions at the same time. This is not a tutoring session. See Mr. Uncu for tutoring hours.

Dance Club
Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Howell Room 209 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

The dance club will focus on hip-hop and jazz dance. We will learn various dance routines that can be performed for school assemblies. Students can help improve their rhythm, coordination, and confidence while moving to their favorite songs!

Green Club

Teacher Sponsor:  Ms. Swink Room 205 Tuesday 3:30-4:15 PM

This club will be designed to help students learn and understand more about going green and the environment. Students will watch videos, read articles and engage in discussions about the environment. Students will also learn what going green is and how to do their part. I hope that towards the middle or end of the year the students can work to build a school garden.

Travel the World Club

Teacher Sponsor:  Ms. Marshall Room 208 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

The Travel the World Club will focus on the cultures and geography of different countries of the world and how to travel there.  I will be discussing and doing hands-on activities with topics such as time difference, currency, their flags, capital cities, typical customs, local food, clothes and music.  I will try to bring speakers in from each country, including Japan, The Netherlands, Scotland and Columbia.

Spanish Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Diaz Room 207 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM 

Conversational Spanish, learning the basics of the language while participating in social activities.

A cappella & Music Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Lawrence Room 203 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

Students will learn about popular a cappella and be involved in composing, learning, practicing, and performing popular songs. Students in this club should have a desire to and be willing to sing in front of others.

Movie Club

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Swink Room 205 Thursday 3:30-4:15 PM

This club will be designed to teach students the "in" and "outs" of movie making. Students will learn the process of movie making and how every detail is important. Students will read, watch and have discussions about how music effects a scene or how a camera angle can effect mood. This club will be designed to help students view movies through a director’s eye. I would like the students to also work towards creating their own mini movie.

Game Club K-2

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Goeckel Room 204 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

I will teach the lower grades how to play various board/card games (i.e. Connect 4, Old Maid, etc) and help them learn teamwork, creative thinking, strategizing, and losing with grace.

Game Club 3-5

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. McFarland Room 204 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

Board games such as Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Boggle, and other word games.  Separate clubs for elementary, middle, and high school children.

Drama Club (grades 4-9) 

Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Friedman Room 206 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

This club will meet weekly. It will include different drama exercises and activities that involve and engage all students. Also, we will do a play performance where parents and students will be invited to attend. Lastly, we will do a dance performance where students will work in groups to come up with a dance routine performed to a music selection of their choice (I will have to approve it). This will also be open to parents and students. This club would be best for upper elementary and middle school.
 

Craft Club

Teacher Sponsor: Mrs. Clark Room 201 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

We will be making various types of crafts to go along with the theme of the week.  Themes will be things such as holidays, sports, music, food, movies, etc.

Lego League Academic Team

Coach: Mr. Koc Room 207 Friday 3:30-4:15 PM

First Lego League is a program that combines hands-on, interactive robotics programming along with a research presentation. We will focus on such things as team building, problem solving, creativity, and analytical thinking.