Student Activities

There is a wealth of activities available for CRS students. We offer a varied sports program for all students in Grades 5-8 during the fall, winter and spring. In addition to the after school sports program, there are a number of non-sports related opportunities, such as the Extended Day program. There are also many opportunities built into the day for Grades 4-8.

Electives (Grades 6-8): In addition to their academic subjects, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students choose an elective class. Electives are held each Friday afternoon and give students the opportunity to learn more about a particular area of interest. Each term teachers present a course list to Upper Grade students with such classes as cooking, darkroom photography, ceramics, volleyball, and jewelry making.

MATHCOUNTS (Grades 6-8) started in 1998 as a way to provide additional challenges for exceptional math students. Mathcounts (https://mathcounts.org/sslpage.aspx – open new browser) has become so popular that it is now both a club and an elective. Students in the club solve a set of 10 Mathcounts “Warm Up” problems a week. Elective students tackle a more difficult set of weekly “Work Out” problems in class. Members of the elective participate in the Metro West chapter competition in February, and in three of the past six years, CRS students have advanced to the state competition.

The CRS Chorus (Grades 4-8) repertoire is an eclectic blend of jazz, pop, folk and classical styles. The chorus performs at Winter Festival and on May Day/Grand Persons’ Day, as well as at sharing assemblies during the school year. The emphasis is on enjoyment of singing and ensemble experience while developing control of pitch, dynamics, diction and harmonization. Chorus meets early Tuesday and Friday mornings.

The Newspaper Club (Grades 7-8) produces The Charles River Rapid, the monthly student newspaper for students in the Upper Grades. Members meet weekly and learn the foundations of reporting, layout and design. Each issue has a different student editor, and student reporters are free to write about the topics that interest them and their readers. Content ranges from articles of current interest to book and movie reviews, editorial cartoons and comics.

The Model United Nations (MUN) Club (Grades 6-8) immerses students in real-world problem resolution using the UN’s structure and rules of procedure. In preparation for a MUN Conference, student delegates prepare “their” country’s draft resolutions and review negotiation techniques, conflict resolution strategies and public speaking skills. The regional conference takes place at Northeastern University, and CRS students also travel to an international conference held in New York City at the United Nations.

The CRS Speech Team (Grades 6-8) began as a fall elective and now meets after school every Friday in preparation for Massachusetts Forensics League tournaments. The “speechies” learn how to offer each other positive reinforcement and thoughtful criticism on their interpretive poetry and oral readings, and they then compete in four to five tournaments a year.

Student Government (Grades 7&8): The CRS student government is based on the Town Meeting model, led by a Moderator, Secretary and grade-level Representatives. Elected Committees include Community Service, which coordinates the 7&8 service initiatives with school-wide efforts, and the Social Committee, which keeps the fun quotient going throughout the school year.