Student Clubs and Activities

Contact:  Shawn Racignol, (231) 348-2296

A.M.I.M. is a program offering structured morning physical activity with seasons and tournament games in Volleyball, Basketball, and other activities.  It is open to all students beginning in November and running through the end of the school year from 7:40-8:10AM prior to homeroom on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  The only requirements are that you have clean, dry shoes and a great attitude.

Contact:  Liz Racignol, (231) 348-2284

PMS Art Club will start mid-November and continues through mid-March.  We will have Art Club in the MS Art room on Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:30. Art Club is open to 6th,7th and 8th graders who have a passion for Art -  no artistic skill or talent is needed to participate.  The purpose of the Art Club is to offer students a fun, creative outlet to explore and experience art beyond what is offered in the school curriculum.

Contact: Jason Purcell, (231) 348-2288

7th Grade:  Jeremy Stempky, (231) 348-2166
8th Grade:  Andrew Stevens, (231) 348-2117

Middle school boys basketball is an interscholastic sport for 7th and 8th graders.  Student/Athletes try out for the teams and must have an MHSAA physical on file  and meet eligibility requirements in order to participate.  The season is 12 games and runs from the end of October through December.

Contact:  John Cowan, (231) 348-2245

Boys intramural basketball is an after-school activity held at the Ottawa Elementary gym.  It is for 7th and 8th grade boys who would like to improve their skills as well as those who just want to have fun playing the sport of basketball.  Practices focus on individual and team drills as well as scrimmage-type games.

Contact:  Jason Purcell, (231) 348-2288

7th Grade:  Larry Tracy, ltracy.cmaphoto@gmail.com
8th Grade:  Jeremy Stempky, 231-348-2166

Middle school girls basketball is an interscholastic sport for 7th and 8th graders.  Student/Athletes try out for the teams and must have an MHSAA physical on file and meet eligibility requirements in order to participate.  The season is 12 games and runs from January through the beginning of March.

Contact:  Mel Zamarron, (231) 348-2276

IM Girls Basketball is a winter athletic after school program that is held twice a week for five weeks.  This is a non-travel team that focuses on basic skills and drills to help enhance abilities. 

Contact:  Anne Kurburski, (231) 348-2280

Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle schoolers worldwide.  Our club is sponsored by our local Kiwanis organization.  Members learn to work together and develop servant-leaders skills as they serve their school and community.

Contact:  Laurie Lewis, (231) 348-2261

                 Rachel Erickson, (231) 348-2246 

Petoskey Cross Country is competitive running open to all students. Cross-country runners compete in distance races that typically take place on non-paved running paths.  The team will compete in a 2 mile race with other schools both at home and away meets.  No prior running experience is needed. The goal is for each runner to improve individually and have fun while doing it.

Contact:  6th Grade:  Kelly Brey, (231) 348-2240
                 7th & 8th Grade:  Jen Hopkins, (231) 348-2259

In dance team students get to pick out a song and choreograph a dance to go along with it, which will be performed at the end of the season.  There is no experience necessary, just a positive attitude and willingness to work with a team.

Contact:  Morgan Saunders, (231) 348-2238

Every fall, middle school students get to take part in a very fun and educational theatre experience!  Our fall musicals are NO CUT (which means that everyone receives a part).  We rehearse after school until 5:00 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and perform in November.  We have a stellar team that creates a safe and enriching atmosphere for our budding actors!  The Fall Show has been a "highlight" of many students and we are very happy to provide this opportunity!

Contact:  Jason Purcell, (231) 348-2288

Coaches:  

Kevin Pike, pike.kevin@gmail.com

Mike Wargel, (231) 348-2241

Middle school Football is an interscholastic sport for 7th and 8th graders.  Student/Athletes must have a MHSAA physical on file in order to participate.  Practices begin in late August, games begin in early September, and the season lasts until the middle of October.

Contacts:   Kelly Wagner, (231) 348-2265

                    Julie Platte-Yurek, (231) 348-2252

                   Brooke Carlson, (231) 348-2397

Any student is welcome to show kindness throughout the year.  Teachers will nominate kind students who show compassion, empathy, and motivation to be part of this Crew.  The Crew creates projects to acknowledge and spread kindness to everyone.

Any student may attend Mindful Minutes to learn and practice tools for self-regulation and kindness. This is a great practice to help you improve in sports, academics, and build stronger friendships. Mindfulness can support you with feelings of excitement, joy, stress, and anxiety. It has also been proven to help develop focus, attention, and kindness. This is a drop-in activity.

Contact:  Jeff Brey, (231) 348-2281

This is an opportunity for 8th grade students who take Industrial Arts classes to extend and expand their project work from class.  In the spring we enter projects in an exhibit and competition.

Contact:  Laurie Lewis, (231) 348-2261

Outdoor Rec Club is for any 6th grader interested in participating in outdoor recreational activities. This club is for those that enjoy outside fun after a long day of school. We go sledding, play games, have scavenger hunts, etc. Having fun outside with others is the primary focus. Outdoor Rec club meets a couple days a week in January and February.

Contacts:    Mel Zamarron, (231) 348-2276

                     Jen Hopkins, (231) 348-2259

Peer to Peer is a friendship group for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.   We focus on increasing appropriate social skills through positive peer modeling and relationships. 

Contact:  Robin Ingalls, (231) 348-2237

Photo Club meets to promote creativity through the joy of photography, share and critique the photographs of peers, educate and improve technical skills, and spread the love of photography throughout the P.M.S. community.

Contact:  Ray Swidorski, (231) 348-2247

Physh (PMS Help for Young anglers; Strategies; Hints for fishing) Club supports PMS students who enjoy being outdoors and in touch with nature, through a mutual interest in fishing. The club is free, open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, and generally meets once a month after school. Past activities include: classifying macroinvertebrates from the Bear River, working with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, visits from Little Traverse Conservancy, fly tying classes with Trout Unlimited, learning and improving casting techniques utilizing fly fishing rods, studying invasive species, discussing strategies and sharing tips for catching different species of fish, organizing and selecting tackle, practicing safety, knot tying, and a fishing equipment loan programs through the local library.

Contact:   Brian Forster, (231) 348-2436

This is an intramural club that meets once a week after school to give kids an opportunity to learn/play ping pong in a social environment.  We play fast-paced games on several different tables at once.  Ping pong club welcomes players of all ability and experience levels and is open to all PMS students.  

Contact:  Lisa Burris, (231) 348-2150

Petoskey Middle School's 'Geeks, Gears, and Gadgets' is a  S.T.E.M. Based Robotics Club. Teams of up to 15 students attack an annual robotics mission, assigned through the First Inspires ® Program. Students work in small groups, as programmers, designers/builders and media teams to plan, problem solve and produce. The season culminates in the team presenting their robot, engineering process, and tactical play at judged competition(s).  

Contact:  Laurie Lewis, (231) 348-2261

Running Club is for any middle school student that enjoys running or one who is just getting started with running. The focus is to get outside to run and have fun while doing it. Running club meets a couple of times a week October through December.

Contact:    Kristen Ketvertis, (231) 348-2257
                   Elsa Martin, (231) 348-2243

The Petoskey Middle School Science Club will explore the scientific method and the engineering process through a series of hands-on explorations.  The club will culminate with a science fair showcasing student projects.

Contact:  Megan Hintz, (231) 348-2461

If you want to learn to ski or snowboard this is a great opportunity to learn.  Students are given a huge discount for pass, rental and lessons at The Highlands.  A bus takes students to The Highlands after school for 10 consecutive weeks starting in January.  Students who have a Freeride Pass or a season pass and their own gear are also allowed to take the bus over on Wednesdays (You'll just need to pay a bus fee).  Parents must pick students up at The Highlands each week by 8:45pm at the latest.

Deadline to sign up is Thursday, January 5.

We are no longer accepting new members for the 2023 season.

All links, forms, and directions can be found here:

PMS Ski & Snowboard Club Information Sheet

How to join our Remind group:

• Add the Remind app and use this code: @downhill23
• text @downhill23 to 81010
• or click this link

FAQ's

Contact:  Jason Purcell, (231) 348-2288

Coach:  Noah Honaker

Middle school Ski Team is an interscholastic sport open to 6th - 8th graders.  Student athletes must have a physical on file and meet academic eligibility requirements.  Practices begin in December (weather permitting) and the season goes through the middle of February.

Contact:  Jeff Brey, (231) 348-2281

This after school club will give you an opportunity to safely condition and strengthen your body using the equipment in the weight room.  This opportunity is for students at any fitness level to improve their core strength by working hard and practicing proper procedures.

Contact:  Heather Giammalva, (231) 348-2270

Student Council is available to all students at the middle school.  In September, we hold homeroom elections where two students are elected in to be the homeroom class representatives.  We have bi-weekly meetings, organize the Halloween dance, have many "Drives" to support our community, distribute locker signs and help daily by saying the pledge over the intercom. 

Contact:  Morgan Saunders, (231) 348-2238

This program takes middle school students "behind the scenes" to train important skills for producing the Fall Show in the fall and the Elementary Enrichment Play in the spring.  The program features the following areas to learn about what it takes to develop a show:  Set Design, Set Painting, Costumes, Props, Makeup, Backstage, Lighting Crew, and Sound Crew.  Students receive the training and put it into practice during the rehearsal and performance process.

Contact:     6th Grade: 
                    Julie Platte-Yurek (231) 348-2252

                    7th & 8th Grade: 
                    Rachel Erickson, (231) 348-2246
                    Laurie Lewis, (231) 348-2261
                    Jason Stolarski, (231) 348-2145

Track is a great sport that allows you to compete and improve both as an individual and a team.  We hope that you will enjoy this opportunity to get in shape, compete, and have fun. Practice starts in mid-March and the season ends in May. Athletes have the opportunity to focus on sprints, distance, or hurdles, along with 3-4 field events. Practice is held during ALL types of weather Monday-Friday. During the season we'll have approximately 5 track meets, ending with the Big North Conference meet at the end of May.

Contact:        7th Grade:  Becky Bell, (231) 348-2256
                       8th Grade:  Katie Cruse, (231) 348-2263

The Middle School volleyball team is a group of hard working individuals with a variety of abilities, experiences and backgrounds coming together to play a sport we all love. Middle school is a great time for students to find new passions, and volleyball is a great way to stay active, make new friends and to become a team player. We challenge and inspire each other to follow the Full Value Agreement:  Work as a team, Speak up, and Be Safe.

Contact:  Dana Pinney, (231) 348-2289

Intramural Volleyball is open to all middle school students interested in working on fundamental volleyball skills in a non-competitive atmosphere.  This fun opportunity starts the second week of school and runs through mid-October.  We meet after school twice per week to work on a combination of drills, practice, and scrimmages.  The focus is having fun, improving skills, and feeling part of a team!

Contact:  Jason Purcell, (231) 348-2288

Coaches:
TBD

Middle school wrestling is an interscholastic sport for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that runs during the winter season.  Student/Athletes must have an MHSAA physical on file and meet eligibility requirements in order to participate.  There are no cuts.  Wrestling is a sport that teaches self-discipline and instills a sense of self-pride, yet we have fun learning the basics of the sport.

Contact:  Robin Ingalls, (231) 348-2237

Yearbook club is an opportunity for students to represent their school! Our middle school yearbook is completely student created. Students take photos, create layouts and help sell the yearbook.

Contact:     Molly Werden, (231) 348-2254

YIG is a state YMCA student run program. Students act as Michigan state representatives and senators as they draft bills and work to pass them through the legislature. During a conference in Lansing students debate their bills in committees and in the chambers with students from all over the state. Students use the core values of the YMCA - respect, responsibility, caring and honesty to learn about how the Michigan government works and to learn to become active and informed citizens.