Clubs - Thunder Mountain High School

TMHS CLUBS AND STUDENT LIFE

Clubs and organizations play a vital part in the extracurricular activities and adding value to Thunder Mountain High School. In addition to athletic teams, these activities allow TMHS students to enhance their school relationships and growth beyond the classroom. Students develop leadership skills, budget their time wisely, improve their communication skills, make friends, and have fun by participating in clubs and activities.

Alpine Club - Julie Herman

In the winter when many people hibernate, the TMHS Alpine Club provides an opportunity for students to get outside in the snow to participate in a potential lifelong recreation opportunity. With Juneau’s snow and mountains, this is a unique opportunity that so many high school students in the US do not have access to. This club is open to everyone, from people who have never skied or snowboarded to those who are avid snowsport enthusiasts. Because Eaglecrest is owned by the city of Juneau, the Eaglecrest Snowsports School works with the TMHS Alpine Club Advisor to offer special discount pricing for lessons, gear rental, and lift tickets for our students. Scholarships for those who have financial need. Five outings are scheduled throughout the season from January through April. Students learn how to ski and/or ride and continue to advance skill development.

Alumni Panel - Kay Knapp

4-6 TMHS alumni representing post-secondary training in the military, apprenticeship, trade school, on the job training, state college and more rigorous private school sectors, and higher level education come to talk about their experiences after leaving TMHS. This typically is scheduled in December or January and is open to juniors and seniors.

Art Club - Angela Imboden

Art Club---The TMHS Art Club is a chapter of the National Art Honor Society. We promote excellence and awareness in visual arts through participation in group projects, community service projects, art shows and art competitions Our culminating activity is Art Fest held in the spring, usually the last week in April. We travel to a SE Alaska host school and participate in 4 fun filled days of creating art with an art show and award ceremony on the last day.

AVID - Randy Quinto

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit college-readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college and beyond. The program places special emphasis on growing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization and reading skills. AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. The AVID Elective course is one period a day where students receive the additional academic, social, and emotional support that will help them succeed in their school’s most rigorous courses teaching tenacity, grit, perseverance, persistence.

Battle of the Books - Raandi Miller

The AK Battle of the Books program motivates students to read widely across genres. Specific books are chosen for each grade level (K-12) and questions about each book are written by librarians across the state. Student teams compete against each other in a “quiz show” format and points are given for the correct title and author. Each question begins with “In which book…”

This year’s group of students are currently reading through the list of ten young adult titles and meeting to practice once a week at lunch time. The high school district Battle of the Books will be held at the end of January, and the winning team will participate in the State Battle of the Books the second week of January.

Band and Choir - Brian Van Kirk and Alan Young

Our music offering includes Concert Choir, Concert Band, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Band and Modern Band. As elective courses, it is at this level that students begin to master their art and grow as musicians. Over the course of the past several years, our program has grown in both ways of participation and quality, frequently traveling to perform. Additionally, these students are no stranger to local performances including Christmas caroling, singing Valentines, national anthem appearances, Solo & Ensemble, and more.

Capital City Fire and Rescue’s Cadet Program – Kay Knapp

Introduces high school students to the fire service through regular training in emergency services activities. Activities include firefighting, emergency medical services and technical rescue under direct supervision of firefighters. Cadets will learn necessary skills to assist the fire department on emergency scenes. Cadets may develop a sense of public service, teamwork, leadership, improved physical fitness and enhanced social development. Last year was a success. The program runs September 17th-May 6th. It is held the first three Saturdays of each month, 9am-12pm.

College and Career Fair - Kay Knapp

This is an EXCELLENT opportunity for students to learn what types of colleges, vocational and technical training options, apprenticeships and military options are available. Students visit with all of our college and career vendors who are here to support our students in planning for their post-secondary education. This is held on odd numbered years at TMHS for all students, and we bus Juniors and Seniors to the fair at JDHS on even numbered years.

Drama, Debate, and Forensics (DDF) - Jamie and Corrine Marks

Drama, Debate, and Forensics is an activity that offers thirteen events in which students can compete while preparing for numerous real-life endeavors. Forensics (the art of public speaking) events offers a variety of speeches and interpretation events students can present. Drama events range from solo acting, duet acting, reader’s theater, and pantomime. Public Forum Debate has two person teams competing to defend either the affirmative or negative stance on a national, internation, or statewide topic. Students prepare at least three different events and can travel to 5 regional competitions. DDF is a perfect activity for the bold, the dramatic, and the curious!

Educators Rising – Jamie Marks

Educators Rising is a diverse, teacher and student-led grassroots movement that aims to inspire high school students to serve their communities by entering the field of education. Students practice the necessary skills to lead a classroom while adding student voice to State and National discussions around education.

eSports – Clayton Douglas

Students have the opportunity to rep Thunder Mountain and play video games competitively against other schools in Alaska. The games offered each year depend on teacher availability and the games offered on the PlayVS platform. The e-sports offered this year are Rocket League and Hearthstone.

Enigma: Math Club - Carol May, Kent Mearig, Lai Hinckle

Math teachers at TMHS take turns leading this exciting group in games, logic puzzles and practice problems for the American Math Competition, which they participate in every November. Students work in groups to compare answers, and we celebrate when we find different ways to solve the same problem! Members also provide tutoring on Thursdays after school in F205.

Equity Committee

Examines the practices, identifies and removes systematic barriers to success and develops sustainable systems that support equity in education at TMHS. Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a world-class educational setting that is respectful and free from bias. The board champions the dignity and worth of all people and recognizes that identification and removal of systematic barriers are essential to achieving equity in education.

Exam Prep

AP Exam Prep-AP Teachers in General

Many AP teachers offer extra time in their classroom, after school or on weekends to students who need additional time. In the Spring, prior to the AP Exams in all classes, many teachers offer full practice exams often done in the evenings after school or on weekends to accommodate the stress and preparation of taking AP exams.

SAT, ACT, ASVAB, WorkKeys Exam Prep - Kay Knapp

Starting in 2023, free online courses (no grade, no credit). Offered for students who want to improve their score to:

● Qualify for scholarships including the Alaska Performance Scholarship ● Strengthen college admission application

● Enlist in the military (ASVAB)

Bring your current score report (ASVAB, PSAT, SAT, WorkKeys or ACT) to the career center to register.

Financial Reality Fair - Kay Knapp

With help from our community, this event brings financial planning education to high school seniors to help prepare them for the world outside. Homes, cars, insurance, entertainment, etc. There are 8 stations in a game-type format complete with door prize monetary gifts.

Future Women of STEM - Adriana Northcutt

Future Women of STEM is a high school club based at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau, Alaska. FWoS is a community of young women dedicated to encouraging fellow young women and girls to learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects and careers. Club members connect with the greater community of students, teachers, and women in STEM on a local, state, national, and global level. Every school year, our club members listen to current women of STEM tell their stories; serve as peer tutors; volunteer at local elementary school science nights; produce the FWoS Podcast; connect via the FWoS Network; and sponsor the FWoS Special Awards at the annual Alaska Science and Engineering Fair. Through our work, we hope to not only inspire girls to study STEM but also give them the resources and community needed to do so.

Health Careers Job Shadow program - Kay Knapp and Adriana Northcutt Our job shadow program in coordination with Bartlett Regional Hospital allows students to explore careers in the health fields. Students interested in this type of experience should register for our Human Anatomy and Physiology course here at TMHS or come to the Career Center to speak with Ms. Knapp.

Interact - Randy Quinto

The TMHS Interact Club is a well established Junior Rotarian Club with a long standing tradition in Juneau, Alaska. Interact is a service club, service above self. We started a school wide paper recycling program, we collect all recycling for the school weekly, and we volunteer in the community for numerous events. We read to school aged children at the Valley Public Library, we attend ice cream socials monthly with our elders at the Pioneer’s home, we support an orphanage in East Africa, and each member completes 15 hours of service each year. We support our local teens at Spruce Root, we plant flowers in the spring, we clean up the school grounds and organize litter pick ups, and try to give back to the community of Juneau that has given so much to us.

Juneau Police Cadet Program – Kay Knapp

Students considering a career in law enforcement get a chance to learn crime scene investigation,

forensic photography, fingerprint lifting and more. Students typically meet 3 times a month on Wednesday night from 6-8pm. Possible ride-alongs one time a month in the evening as well.

Junior Day - Kay Knapp

With permission from their Parent/Guardian, students get a chance to visit UAS during the school day to see what life on campus is all about. Students attend mock lectures in UAS classrooms with UAS professors, do a campus tour including the recreation center and dorms, learn about the study-away program to other states and countries, and have a chance to ask questions to a panel of current UAS students from here and outside Alaska.

Junior Night, Senior Night, Financial Aid Night and FAFSA Night

College and Career planning information nights typically happen in September and October to help students stay on track and meet their post-secondary goals.

National Honor Society - Carol May and Jeannette Sleppy

NHS is a 100-year-old national organization for juniors and seniors that show outstanding Character, Service, Leadership, and Scholarship. Students do a variety of service projects to support the school and community. NHS members help with Freshmen First, 8th Grade tours, College Fair, events at Riverbend and nearby schools, blood drives, and food drives. Twice a year, they collect food and cook at the Glory Hall. They are partners with Family Promise, a local organization to prevent homelessness among families. NHS students take 2 weeks of each year to host and cook for families, participate in all of the fundraisers, and fold their quarterly newsletters for them.

Native Youth Olympics – Kyle Worl, Eliza Chappell, Kaytlynne Lewis

Native Youth Olympics (NYO) is a sport held across Alaska and the Arctic based on indigenous games to build fitness, survival skills and hunting techniques. Games include the One-Foot High Kick, Two-Foot High Kick, Seal Hop, Scissor Broad Jump, Kneel Jump, One Hand Reach, Alaskan High Kick, Dene Stick Pull, Inuit Stick Pull and Wrist Carry. For generations people across the far north used the games to test skills of strength, agility, balance, endurance and focus. In NYO, athletes are striving for their personal best while supporting other athletes. In this sport we work together and uphold our Alaska Native traditional values.

Juneau NYO is a year round after school activity across the district. At the highschool level students practice up to 3 times a week starting in October and ending in April. Each year we host a local fall event in November, the UAS Kick-Off games and a spring event, the Annual Traditional Games in April. Throughout the year we travel to a few different events, including the Yukon Arctic Sports Championship, State NYO Games and World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.

NYO is a great way for students to stay active and healthy as well as upholding the traditional values and culture of the Alaska Native people. Students have also shared that NYO builds confidence and improved academic performance! NYO is open to anybody and no experience necessary!

NOAA Ocean Guardian Program – Kristen Wells

The NOAA Ocean Guardian program by design fosters a stewardship model. The focus is reducing single use plastics in our everyday lives. Additionally we hope to support the work to diminish the impact of the green crab, an invasive species, as it moves up the west coast. TMHS was the first High School in Alaska accepted, and we are in our 5th year.

Robotics - Carol May, Adam Doten-Ferguson

Twenty three students in grades 9-12 make up five robotics teams this year. Each year of competition presents a new challenge and teams must design, build and program a robot that can score as many points as possible in a 2.5 minute round. Students learn about physics, programming, design, community outreach and creating business plans. We have had 2 teams win state (2019 and 2020), and frequently return from regional and state competition with numerous awards. We practice Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the Purple Commons.

Sources Of Strength – Kelly Whistler

Sources Of Strength is a mental health wellness program that utilizes the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture to ultimately prevent suicide, bullying, violence and substance abuse. It is one of the nation’s most rigorously researched peer leader programs.

Student Government - Holly Ireno

Student council offers a representative structure for students, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school administration, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students. Student council is an extracurricular activity to help share students’ ideas, interests, and concerns with teachers and school principals. They often also help raise funds for schoolwide activities, including social events, community projects, and helping people in need.

Student of the Month - Kriegmont, Whistler, Buzzell, Miller and Watts

In partnership with Glacier Valley Rotary, Culinary Arts, and UA; each month staff nominates students who are the unsung heroes of TMHS. The students that give in ways that are not always measurable in the GPA but through right action. Recognized students, families, and their teacher gather for a monthly luncheon to celebrate the students that give to our school community. One lucky senior that commits to attending UAS, our local university will be awarded a $1000.00 tuition waiver to attend UAS. This is a wonderful community building event at TMHS.

Summer Job Fair - Kay Knapp

Employers offering great opportunities come to TMHS during one lunch period in February to recruit students for summer job opportunities. Get the great jobs before they are gone!