Activities

Student Safety Patrol:

Comprised of volunteer fifth and sixth graders and are on duty at various sites around the perimeter of the school, assisting all students to cross streets and driveway areas safely. Patrol members are on duty in the morning from 8:10 – 8:25 and after school from 2:55 – 3:10. Patrol Members also assist with A.M. Kindergarten dismissal from 11:05 -11:15 A.M.
Teacher sponsor: Diane Claver Kelly Wyatt

Student Council:

Comprised of Fifth and sixth grade elected officers and class representatives from third through sixth grade. These students are Involved in organizing, planning and implementing school-wide activities such as “Spirit and Pride” days, Annual student Variety Show, assistance with school-wide Recycling Program and Earth Savers Club, Mitten (any new or slightly used clothing or toy items, as well) Tree for donations to needy families, Animal Humane Society projects, Red Ribbon Week, etc.
Teacher sponsor: Pat Pfaff

Earth Savers Club:

Comprised of over 80 volunteer fifth and sixth graders who assist with all paper and lunchtime recycling. An annual project is the collection of used gym shoes which are given to the “Nike Reuse-a-Shoe effort. These shoes are ground down and processed into “Nike-Grind” to be used in making such surfaces as basketball courts and soccer fields. Earth Savers also helps to collect old crayons, cell phones, ink jet cartridges, glue sticks, and glue bottles which are delivered to S.C.A.R.C.E. (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education). Crayons in usable condition are put into mint tins and offered to needy children. Remaining crayons are melted and poured into candle molds to make large size crayons for physically challenged students. Earth Savers also assist during Earth Week by cleaning up the butterfly garden in the front of the school.
Teacher sponsors: Megan DuPass and Amber Bennett

El Sierra Choir:

Fourth through sixth grade volunteers meet once per week to rehearse for two musical singing presentations throughout the year. It is rare that there is not 100% participation among all students in those grade levels.
Teacher sponsor: Mrs. Schwenker

Downers Grove Children’s Choir:

District-wide, fourth through sixth graders meet once per week at Fairmount Elementary School for rehearsals. This group performs at five Dist. 58 elementary schools per year, as well as sharing their musical talents at various area retirement homes. Membership is on an audition/tryout basis only.
Teacher sponsors: District 58 Music Teachers

El Sierra – Beginning Band: Christine Kaminski

Beginning band is an introduction to band instruments and band ensemble playing open to all students in grade 5. Students do not need to have any prior musical training to participate in the beginning program. Students will receive small group instruction once a week during the school day to learn fundamentals of tone production, musical notation, and care of their various instruments. Pupils are to report to each small group lesson unless absent from school. Students are responsible for making up any class work that is missed due to band lessons. Students in the beginning program participate in the after school full band rehearsal for all south side elementary schools once a week at O’Neill Middle School. After school full band meets in the band room (Rm. 128) on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. Mr. Kidonakis is the director of this group. Here the students receive large ensemble training and prepare as a full band for two evening concerts (winter and spring). Attendance at rehearsals, lessons, and concerts is required for the success of the individual as well as the group.

El Sierra – Intermediate Band: Christine Kaminski

Intermediate band includes those students in their second year of the school band program. This is comprised almost exclusively of students in grade 6. Students receive small group instruction once a week during the school day to build upon their foundation of musical fundamentals, adding more attention to concepts of balance, blend, and tuning. Pupils are to report to each small group lesson unless absent from school. Students are responsible for making up any class work that is missed due to band lessons. Students in the intermediate program participate in the after school full band rehearsal for all south side elementary schools once a week at O’Neill Middle School. After school full band meets in the band room (Rm. 128) on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. Mr. Balika is the director of this group. Here the students receive large ensemble training and prepare for two evening concerts as a full band (winter and spring). In addition to the full band concerts, each member of this group studies one solo piece of music to be performed at the annual Solo Day in February. Attendance at rehearsals, lessons and concerts is required for the success of the individual as well as the group.

Orchestra at El Sierra: Lisa Rose

The orchestra program at El Sierra is made up of students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, and it includes instruction on violin, viola, cello, and bass. All orchestra students receive one small group lesson per week with Mrs. Rose during the school day, which includes drill of fundamentals and sectional rehearsal of orchestra music. In addition, all orchestra students attend one large group rehearsal once per week after school.These rehearsals provide a large ensemble experience for students, and also serve as time to prepare music for the two evening concerts that students participate in during the year.