After School and Lunch Clubs

Battle of the Books (4^th – 6^th Grade) 

The 4^th – 6^th Grade students meet every Friday at lunch time. 

Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading incentive program for students in grades 4-6. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while reading books. The students gain knowledge and enjoyment from reading good books, sharing them with friends, parents and teachers, plus a fun day of playing in the "Battle."

Mini Battle of the Books (3^rd Grade) 

The 3^rd Grade students meet every Monday at lunch time. 

Mini B.O.B is a voluntary reading incentive program for students in 3^rd grade. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while reading books. The students gain knowledge and enjoyment from reading good books, sharing them with friends, parents and teachers, plus a fun day of playing in the "Battle."

Elementary ECOLOGY Club (4^th – 6^th Grade)

The 4^th – 6^th Grade students meet Thursday after school.

This activity will involve projects that are designed to develop an awareness of nature and our physical surrounding. Projects such as growing living gardens, planting native trees, making birdhouses, and nesting boxes and others activities will involve those who sign up for this activity.

Story Time Club (1^st – 2^nd Grade)

The 1^st Grade meets Monday 2:45 pm-4:00 pm
The 2^nd Grade meets Tuesday 2:45 pm-4:00 pm

GOALS

The goal of this club is to encourage an enjoyment of reading through variety of activities, which we hope will enhance the students listening skills and reading level.

 Lunch with a Book (1^st – 2^nd grade)

The 1^st Grade meets Monday at lunch time
The 2^nd Grade meets Tuesday at lunch time

In this club students read books. When they finish, the students do a fun activity, which relates to the theme of the book. Arts and crafts projects, Accelerated Reader quiz, games, and book reports are a few examples that we do to enhance what the student learned from the book.

GOAL:

The goal of this club is to encourage an enjoyment of reading through variety of activities, which we hope will enhance the students reading level and listening skills.

 Lunch with a Book (2^nd – 6^th )

The 2^nd Grade meets Monday at lunch time
The 3^rd Grade meets Tuesday at lunch time
The 4^th – 6^th Grade students meet Thursday at lunch time

In this club students read books. When they finish, the students do a fun activity, which relates to the theme of the book. Arts and crafts projects, Accelerated Reader quiz, games, and book reports are a few examples that we do to enhance what the student learned from the book.

GOAL:

The goal of this club is to encourage an enjoyment of reading through variety of activities, which we hope will enhance the students reading level and listening skills.

Ecology Club: 

The High School Ecology Club meets every other week during lunch.

GOALS:

• To give students an opportunity to learn more about the ecology of Panama so that they will become better decision makers in the future.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Raised money for the Metropolitan Natural Park by selling calendars.

• Completed activities such as river rafting on the Chiriqui River, caving on Madden Lake, and crocodile hunting in Gamboa.
• Visited Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Amador, Smithsonian Tropical Research Center on Barro Colorado, and toured the Metropolitan Natural Park.
• Students serve as unpaid guides to the Metropolitan Natural Park.

High School Student Council: 

The High School Student Council meets every Monday during lunch.

GOALS

• Develop leadership skills in students

• Provide an organized avenue for school activities

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Attended Association of American Schools of Central America (AASCA) leadership conference

• Sponsor hot dog eating contest, field day, Halloween costume day, spirit week, and school picnic.

• Provided support in class money-making activities Held school wide elections.

Story Time Club:

The 1^st Grade, Group 1, meets Monday 2:45 pm-3:45 pm
The 1^st Grade, Group 2, meets Tuesday 2:45 pm-3:45 pm
The 2^nd Grade meets Thursday 2:45 pm-3:45 pm

GOALS

The goal of this club is to encourage an enjoyment of reading through variety of activities, which we hope will enhance the students listening skills and reading level.

Harvard Association Cultivating Inter-American Democracy Debate Team:

The high school Harvard Association Cultivating Inter-American Democracy (HACIA) debate team meets twice a week, Tuesday and Thursdays, to practice the skills of debate by role-playing and guided research.  The students become proficient in using Robert’s Rules of Order, and writing resolutions.

GOALS:

The goal of the  HACIA debate team is to foster, celebrate and advance democracy ideals in Latin America.  We seek to provide the future leaders of the region with the skills necessary to participate fully as citizens and to lead in a modern democracy. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Balboa Academy students attended its first Summit of the Americas in Managua, Nicaragua in March 2002.  Two out of the eight students received an award for Best Delegate.  The debate team is also involved in organizing the Middle School Debate activity.  Twice a year, the entire Middle School (grades 6-8) participate in a half day debate.

FRENCH CLUB:

The High School French Club meets twice a week after school for an hour.  It targets students who are eager to improve their speaking and listening techniques in French.  A wide range of topics are discussed, such as current events, French cuisine, shopping, travel opportunities and language drills.

GOALS:

The French Club of Balboa Academy provides an opportunity for students to practice conversing in French and to enjoy hands-on activities related to French culture.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

The club held a Christmas program including French carols and foods prepared by the students and shared with a class of third graders at the academy.

Elementary  After-School Music Program

The students  receive a personal one on one lessons, with enrichment, based on learning to play and perfect their instrument skills.  We meet on Monday’s after school for one hour from 2:40-3:40 pm.

GOAL:

The goal for the after-school music program is to enrich their learning development and to provide a small classroom environment with one on one attention. To allow the student to perfect the art of their instrument.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

We have perfected the skills of all wood winds in our music program.

National Honor Society

Students in Grades 10-12 are eligible for membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) if they meet the following criteria:  Minimum of 3.5 GPA, turn in the Activity Form with their and parents’ signatures and recommendations by faculty and selection by Faculty Council.

GOALS:

• To instill and promote leadership skills

• To perform social service at Balboa Academy and throughout the community
• To serve as an example of academic and personal integrity to peers and community

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• NHS at Balboa Academy was chartered in 2002.
• First induction ceremony took place March, 2002 (ten members-three who have graduated)
• 2003 induction will take place in March.
• Participation in food drive for charitable causes
• Operation of school store
   

Lunch with a Book

The 2^nd Grade meets Monday 11:15 am – 11:55 am
The 3^rd Grade meets Tuesday 11:34 am – 12:15 pm
The 4^th Grade meets Thursday 11:55 am – 12:35 pm
The 5^th Grade meets Tuesday 11:34 am – 12:15 pm

In this club students read books. When they finish, the students do a fun activity, which relates to the theme of the book. Arts and crafts projects, Accelerated Reader quiz, games, and book reports are a few examples that we do to enhance what the student learned from the book.

GOAL:

The goal of this club is to encourage an enjoyment of reading through variety of activities, which we hope will enhance the students reading level and listening skills.

Cooking Club:

This is an weekly high school after school club.  A very nominal fee is charged to cover the cost of supplies.

GOAL:

Provide students an opportunity to develop their culinary skills.  Celebrate diversity using international recipes.  Help students to be self-reliant.

Panamanian Typical Dance Club

A Panamanian typical dance class is taught by a guest folkloric teacher from the community. Students are selected from the elementary grades through interest surveys and parental referrals. Each class lasts for one hour, twice a week, for a total of ten weeks. For the final performance students are encouraged to wear a typical costume of the Republic of Panama.

GOAL:

To provide students at Balboa Academy the opportunity to experience the culture of Panama through dance.  Students will be able to participate in a performance for parents , teachers, and students at Balboa Academy.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Invitations are accepted from the community for the typical dance class to perform at public functions.

After School Fun Sports, Grades 1-5

The organized play fun session includes activities such as indoor & outdoor soccer, basic gym dodge ball, and basketball. This program has two activity groups meeting on different dates.  Grades 1 & 2 meet every Monday and Grades 3,4,&5 meet every Friday.

After School Soccer Training, Grades 1-5

After school soccer training for grades 1 & 2 meet on Fridays and grades 3,4, & 5 meet on Wednesdays.  A Panamanian soccer coach, who has coached Panamanian teams in international competition, teaches a soccer clinic for the school.

After School High School Team Sports

Boy's and girl's soccer teams play against Panama high school teams.  The teams also participate in the AASCA soccer tournament of Central American international schools.

Boy's and girl's basketball teams play against Panama high school teams. The teams also participate in the AASCA basketball tournament of Central American international schools.

Boy's and girl's volleyball teams play against Panama high school teams.  The teams also participate in the AASCA volleyball tournament of Central American international schools.

After School Middle School Team Sports

Boy's and girl's soccer teams play against Panama Middle School teams.

Boy's and girl's basketball teams play against Panama Middle School teams.

Boy's and girl's volleyball teams play against Panama Middle School teams.