Clubs/Activities
Activity Period
There is an Activity Period at Griswold Middle School on the last Friday of each month. During this period, students have the opportunity to choose an enrichment program hosted by a GMS teacher. Programs are educational and fun!
Student Council
The Griswold Middle School Student Council is a chance for students to be heard, make a difference, and grow their leadership skills. Students meet during Activity Period and select Thursdays after school.
Service projects to benefit the school community have included donating Thanksgiving meals, hosting a Winter Clothing Drive to donate cold-weather attire to the Griswold Youth Center and Madonna Place in Norwich, and holiday Candy Cane Sales.
The advisor for Student Council is Karen Scholl.
National Junior Honor Society
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is an international organization that elevates Griswold Middle School’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.
Students are eligible for NJHS in their second semester of 7th grade, and can retain membership through 8th grade. To qualify, students must have a cumulative GPA of 95 or higher for the period stretching from the beginning of 6th grade through the midpoint of 7th grade. In addition, prospective students must demonstrate a dedication to community service and student leadership as well as consistently model good character. Students become members after being reviewed and accepted by the NJHS Faculty Council made up of representative teachers from all grades and subject areas of GMS. Inductions into NJHS take place annually in early May.
Each class of NJHS students elects officers to direct the organization throughout their 8th grade year. Officers and members create group service projects to help bolster GMS, the Griswold School District, and the Griswold community at large. The activities and events are unique to each class and represent the interests of the current group of NJHS members.
Participation in NJHS does not automatically transfer over to the National Honor Society chapter at Griswold High School; students would have to maintain their academic and leadership performance to be eligible for NHS.
The faculty advisors for NJHS are Doug Scholl and James Young.
Girls Who Code
The Girls Who Code Club is a great opportunity for young women to learn a highly sought after skill. Girls Who Code is a national non-profit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in the technology field.
No coding experience is necessary to join Girls Who Code. The club meets about two times per month on Fridays during WEB in the Launch Pad computer lab.
The club facilitator for Girls Who Code is Librarian Laurie LaBossiere.
Science Decathlon
The club facilitator for GMS's Science Decathlon Club is Matt Dyer.
Ski & Snowboard Club
The Griswold Ski & Snowboard Club is open to students from Griswold Middle and High Schools. The Club has organized bus transportation weekly throughout the winter (January and February) to Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts. There is a cost to students to participate to cover lift badges, travel expenses, and optional rentals and lessons. Space is limited. The club facilitator for the Ski & Snowboard Club is Ray Knolhoff.
Yearbook
The advisor for the Yearbook club is Shae Crosby.
The GMS Paw
The GMS Paw is the school newspaper. Students involved in the school newspaper can practice their writing and reporting skills, photography skills, and more to become better journalists!
Band Buddies
Band Buddies is a group that meets during Activity Period. High School band students visit GMS to pair with students in grades 5 and 6 who play the same instrument as them. They work together to mentor the younger students. These students from GHS and GMS also help out during the "Instrument Petting Zoo" during the 5th grade orientation in the spring and other events. The advisor of Band Buddies is band instructor Amanda Richmond.