LEAP Activities

LEAP programming at Jefferson Middle School is funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the Iowa Department of Education. Learn more at: www.dbqschools.org/leap

Jefferson LEAP activities are offered:

Monday through Friday afternoons
from 2:30-4 p.m.

Here are a few upcoming activities…

Mondays through Fridays
Homework Help
Take advantage of the quiet space to complete homework, plus assistance is available for those challenging assignments.
Provided by: TJMS Staff

Mondays and Thursdays, beginning September 15-December 18th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
🎲Gaming Unplugged Card & Board Game Club🎲
Step away from the screen and dive into the world of strategy, creativity, and connection! Gaming Unplugged is your chance to unplug and unwind with friends through a wide variety of card and board games — from classics to modern favorites. 📵 Phones down, game on!
To fully immerse in the fun, phone use is discouraged. Let’s focus on face-to-face play and real-time interaction.
🃏 What to expect:
• A rotating selection of games for all skill levels
• Friendly competition and collaborative play
• A welcoming space to learn new games or master old ones
Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just curious to try something new, Gaming Unplugged is the perfect way to end your day.
Provided by: William Wehrspann, TJMS Teacher

Mondays and Tuesdays, beginning Monday, Sept 15th through Tuesday, December 16 (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Musical Theater Extravaganza
In this program, students will learn about some of the great musicals of old and new. Students will learn the important details, structure, and historical context of the musicals while we watch them.
Provided by: Tom Taylor & Leticia Oyervides, TJMS Teachers

Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Monday, Sept 15th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Arts & Crafts Around the World
Are you ready to submerge in the beauty of learning various art forms? Come and join us in a fun-filled and colorful Friday afternoons. Origami, drawing, lettering designs, painting, and academic related arts and crafts are only some of the great projects/activities that we will do in this course. Together we can bring color to our world.
Provided by: Maria Elaine Macuha, TJMS Teacher

Wednesdays and Fridays, beginning Wednesday, Sept 17th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Dungeons & Dragons Club
Description: Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure? Join our D&D club and become a hero! Create your own character, explore fantastical realms, battle fearsome monsters, and solve ancient mysteries. No experience necessary – just bring your imagination!
Provided by: Robert Daughters, TJMS Mentor & Erin Beatty, TJMS Paraprofessional

Tuesdays, beginning Tuesday, Sept 16th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Chess Club and Retro Gaming
Do you love playing chess? Whether you have been playing chess for years, you just learned how to play chess recently or you would love to learn how to play chess for the first time, come and join us Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Have fun as we play chess, create camaraderie with one another and make new friends. Let us add some fun with retro video gaming (with 100 games to choose from). See you there!
Provided by: Maria Elaine Macuha, TJMS Teacher

Thursdays, beginning Thursday, Sept 18th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Karaoke & DIY Projects
Do you love singing? Has music been a great part of you? Do you love Karaoke? We are inviting you and your friends to come and join us. We will help you bring out the uniqueness of your singing voice and gain confidence to share your talents with others. Let us add some fun by working on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects. We cannot wait to have you!
Provided by: Maria Elaine Macuha, TJMS Teacher

Fridays, beginning Friday, Sept 19th (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Bingo Social and DIY Projects
Spend your afternoon with your friends in our Bingo social. Let’s play Bingo and win not only with small prizes but also win new friends and socialize! Let us add some fun by working on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects. I hope to see you there!
Provided by: Maria Elaine Macuha, TJMS Teacher

Wednesdays, beginning September 24-December 10 (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Cake Decorating 101
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make butter crème icing and then how to do different decorating techniques to decorate cakes and cupcakes? Come Join Ms. Payton for hands on learning. Around the holidays we will do holiday themed decorating.
Provided by:Janette Payton, TJMS Food Service Manager

Wednesdays, beginning September 24-December 17 (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Baking 101
Have you always wanted to learn how to make different sweet treats from scratch? Come Join Ms. Payton and we will do different items from cookies, muffins, cupcakes, cakes or anything you want to learn come with your ideas and we will discuss those options as well. Around the holidays we will do holiday themed items.
Provided by: Janette Payton, TJMS Food Service Manager

Tuesdays, October 7,21| November 4,18| December 2,16| January 6,20| February 3,17| March 3,17| April 7,1 & May 5 (excluding non-school and conference dates)
Self-Defense Seminar
Boost your confidence & improve your self-defense skills in this hands-on class. We will cover a mix of basic moves & techniques that work in many scenarios that participants of every size can use effectively. In addition to learning effective moves students will also learn how to harness & control their inner strength, increase their focus and relieve stress. Permission slip required.
Provided by: Eryka Cook, Co-Owner/Kickboxing & Self-Defense Instructor Empowermental

Students will meet in the cafeteria right after school. They’ll grab a free snack and head to the location of the LEAP activity.

When the program concludes at 4 p.m., students taking the activity bus will meet the bus and depart from the back of school. Students not taking the activity bus will exit from the front or back entrance.

Complete the LEAP Parent Permission Form (PDF) and have your student return it to the main office. Students can’t participate without this form on file for 2025-2026.

Students will have the opportunity to sign-up for LEAP activities in their school’s main office as they are announced. Remember, it’s expected that students attend all sessions offered for each activity. Students will sign-in each day so we can keep participate records, but we won’t monitor daily attendance – so there is no need to let us know if for some reason your student can’t make it.

Students will be held to the same conduct standards as they are during the school day. Failure to follow established rules may result in loss of participation.

Contact the main office or guidance counselor.