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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tuesdays, beginning Tuesday, Sept 23 through Tuesday, May 12 (excluding non-school and conference dates) Minecraft Club Build magnificent structures and explore an endless world with your fellow students in the Minecraft Club. We will work together and independently digging deep mines to find valuable resources, building homes and communities, farming to prevent starvation, terraforming the land to fit our needs, crafting tools and weapons, and surviving through the night on the popular game Minecraft. Provided by: Kelly Bonnette, 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 |
| September 25 Theatre Fun & Games Students will show off their vocal and movement skills in a series of fun theatre related games! Be ready to move and participate in this fast-paced session guaranteed to sharpen your acting skills and keep you smiling! Provided by: Rising Star Theatre Company |
| Wednesdays & Thursdays beginning October 1 Bits & Bricks Club Build it. Code it. Make it yours. At Bits & Bricks, you’ll snap together awesome LEGO creations on Wednesdays and bring ideas to life with Scratch coding on Thursdays. Whether you’re a brand-new builder or a coding pro, this club is all about creativity, problem-solving, and fun! Want to check out LEGO League? Bits & Bricks is the place to start. Provided by: Stacy Seyer, TJMS Teacher |
| October 2 Costumes, Props, & More Students will learn some fun facts about theatre costumes and props and try their hand at quick changes and shifting just like the pros! If you’re a backstage kid, this session is for you! Some fun theatre games will be added in the mix! Provided by: Rising Star Theatre Company |
| 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 |
| October 8 Skeleton Fashion Show Design an outfit for a mini skeleton to display at our fashion show or to keep. Decorate a skeleton that is extremely humerus or a bone-afide supermodel. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| October 16 Let’s Improv! If you like making things up on the spot, this session is for you! Students and staff will engage in a series of improvisational games to keep you on your toes! Get ready to jump right into this unscripted fun! Provided by: Rising Star Theatre Company |
| Tuesday, October 21 Creating a Character Students will explore movement and vocal techniques to create a character totally unlike yourself! A whole new you will emerge through fun games and some props and costumes too! Be ready to move and participate! Provided by: Rising Star Theatre Company |
| November 12 Beary Cute Keychains Looking for a no-sew craft you can take anywhere? Create your very own mini teddy bear keychain with yarn. These little buddies are perfect for backpacks! Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| November 13 Theatre Fun & Games Students will show off their vocal and movement skills in a series of fun theatre related games! Be ready to move and participate in this fast-paced session guaranteed to sharpen your acting skills and keep you smiling! Provided by: Rising Star Theatre Company |
| December 4 No-Sew Sock Penguins What do you get when you combine one fuzzy sock, some fluff, and a little imagination? The cutest winter penguin you’ve ever seen. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| January 13 Tin Foil Stain Glass Turn simple foil into shining masterpieces! Design your own “stained glass” art using aluminum foil, bold colors, and creative patterns. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| February 10 Mini Pom Pom Pets Cute, fuzzy, and totally customizable! Create mini pom pom critters using yarn, glue, and accessories. Whether it’s a fluffy animal, a silly monster, or something entirely new, these pets are perfect for keeping or gifting. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| March 10 DIY Bird Feeders Get crafty while helping our feathered friends! Build a simple bird feeder using everyday supplies. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| April 14 Mini Zines Become authors, illustrators, and publishers all at once! Learn how to fold and fill a single sheet of paper into a mini zine. Perfect for comics, stories, art, or sharing your own ideas. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
| May 12 Fingerprint Art Glass Magnets No two magnets will be alike! Using fingerprints, markers, and glass cabochons, you’ll make one-of-a-kind magnets. Provided by: Haidee Cordoso, Carnegie-Stout Library |
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.