Middle School
Clubs & Organizations
Students may host a before/after school “club” by filling out the proper paperwork and meeting our non-curricular club requirements (minimum of 6 students to form a club, must have a teacher sponsor, etc). Parent permission forms are required from each student to participate in a before/after school club. Each student-initiated club must have a staff sponsor who also fills out appropriate paperwork. For questions regarding student run clubs, please contact Mrs. Kahler (akahler@nisdtx.org).
Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination
What is DI? Destination ImagiNation, also known as DI, is the world's largest creative problem solving program for students from kindergarten to university level. DI is currently active in all 50 states and in 40 countries, with more than 12,000 teams supported by more than 40,000 volunteers. Find out all the details on the DI program by visiting www.IdoDI.org
How DI Operates in Northwest ISD: Our district has over 40 DI teams participate in the Regional Tournament. A team from Lakeview Elementary and a Medlin Middle School team advanced from Regionals to the State Championship in 2008. The Medlin team went on from State to take 4th place in the WORLD at the Global Finals competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. The DI competition levels within our school district include Elementary (K-5th grade), Middle (6th-8th grade) and Secondary (9th-12th grade). Applications can be picked up from the D.I. sponsor, the front office of the school, or on this web page. Teams of up to seven students, managed by a volunteer Team Manager parent (usually a parent of a student on the team) work together in after-school or weekend weekly meetings to solve one of several Challenges and present their final solution at a Regional Competition. They compete against only those students at their competitive level who have selected the same Challenge.
The Central Challenge: DI is divided into two separate segments of competition: the Central Challenge and Instant Challenge. Teams select one of several complex Central Challenges to solve, with each having required elements but plenty of room for creative elaboration. Teams meet for months, working on solutions to their Challenges, creating scripts, props, costumes, and sets. Teams have to create each element of their solution on their own. They can have instruction on general concepts, but everything you see on performance day is designed, written and constructed solely by team members.
The Instant Challenge: During months of working on solving their Central Challenge, teams also practice general creative problem solving skills to solve theatrical, structural and hybrid Instant Challenges (IC). ICs are designed to teach students to think quickly, creatively and strategically. At tournament, each team is given an IC it has not encountered before. For example, a team may be asked to create and perform a play using a given set of items, manipulate materials to build a structure, or develop a non-verbal communication system with team members to complete a given task. The team is required to create and present a solution in just minutes, thus testing a team's ability to work together in a spontaneous atmosphere.
Long-Term Benefits of DI: The benefits are HUGE! DI teaches kids how to become independent thinkers and innovative problem-solvers. They learn the value of being part of a team, as well as the importance of commitment. They learn to experiment, to try many different methods to accomplish their goals, and become increasingly confident about their own abilities. They learn invaluable self-motivation, time management, and public speaking and presentation skills. Academic organizations have determined DI enhances students' ability to meet National Education Standards, provides Gifted and Talented (GATES) level learning, and develops skills needed to perform well on the TAKS. As an added bonus, long-term DI participants are eligible for numerous college scholarships, and employers of major corporations routinely seek out potential employees with past DI experience on their resumes.
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
OVERVIEW
National Junior Honor Society, NJHS, is a service organization that is dedicated to serving the school and community. We participate in group and individual projects to earn service hours. Tracy Romero is the advisor. Meetings are held once a month during Pride Time. Please watch the NJHS bulletin board for current announcements.
Applications for NJHS are available in early spring.
If you CANNOT attend a meeting, please email Tracy Romero before the meeting, then come in to read the meeting notes or you will have 10 merits deducted.
NJHS Information
National Junior Honor Society
Medlin Middle School Chapter
Est. 1998
Sponsor: Tracy Romero
NJHS Application Process
You may apply to Medlin's NJHS if you are currently a 7th or 8th grade student.
Applications are available below! If you need a hard copy because you don't have a printer, please visit Mrs. Romero in room C116 for a copy.
Thank you for your interest in the Medlin Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society: a prestigious academic and service organization. We select themes and try to complete service projects about that theme. Some of the activities that the NJHS has been involved with include: helping out with registration/Pony Camp before school, purchasing Christmas presents for local families in need, helping out with Beck's field day, and having an end of the year banquet. We have lots of fun while giving service to the school and community.
If you are currently enrolled in two pre AP classes and have at least a 90% average in your core classes, then you are eligible to apply for membership.
Please fill out the application below and return it to Mrs. Romero (room C116) no later than January 31 by 9:00 am. The faculty council will review your application and determine if you qualify in the five ideals of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. The application must be completed as instructed, or you will not be assured acceptance. If you are accepted, you will be notified, be expected to attend the induction program, and then be governed by the bylaws of our local chapter.
The faculty council looks forward to reviewing your application, and we hope to see you in National Junior Honor Society!
Please use the following links to complete the NJHS application process.
Constitution and Bylaws (read this before signing your compliance form.)
NJHS 2024 Application (This is the application that must be completed.)
Remember: Application (and all the parts) are due Wednesday, January 31 by 9:00 am in room C116 or C101 Please be sure to hand them to Mrs. Romero. Please do not just leave them on a desk.
Service Hours
NJHS is a service club and members are required to do 30 hours of community service a year (from the time they are inducted). Earning Silver Star is an expectation and the easiest way to obtain 30 hours in a year. Summer service hours are encouraged.
Submit service hours on x2VOL.
