Programs Overview
Art Club offers members a wide variety of opportunities to work on student led projects in a social atmosphere. Students will participate in fine, applied, and multi-media based art activities. And may have the opportunity to showcase their projects within the local community.
Jazz Groups include Jazz Ensemble, Julian Jives and Jazz Band 3, gives students the opportunity to learn to play and perform jazz in a big band setting. Jazz Ensemble and Julian Jives are chosen by audition in the fall, while JB3 is open to everyone. Rehearsals are before school.
Jazz Lab Band for sixth graders is offered every Friday morning before school. In addition to learning jazz styles and improvisation, the students have the opportunity to perform several times during the year.
Rock Band is for guitar, bass and piano players, drummers and vocalists who want to play different kinds of rock and pop music.
Symphony Orchestra provides students the opportunity to rehearse and perform music in a full orchestra setting. Rehearsals are held each Monday before school.
Basketball is offered for both boys and girls. Four teams are organized by grade level and gender creating a seventh and an eighth grade boys’ basketball team and a seventh and an eighth grade girls’ basketball team. The teams provide interscholastic activity in basketball for those students who successfully tryout for one of the teams. Instruction is given in basketball strategies and skills. Team membership requires attendance at practices and games that may be either at Julian or another middle school.
Best Buddies is a Middle School Chapter of an international organization that provides opportunities for friendship and activities between students with developmental disabilities and general education students. There are monthly meetings, field trips, service projects and a fundraiser.
CAST (Communication Arts, Speech and Theater) provides a number of theater and performing arts opportunities. Performances include large cast musicals as well as smaller ensemble pieces. In addition, Actors Studio which performs student-written improvisational work, Dance Troupe and Speech Team. Students interested in behind-the-scenes activities will find plenty to do building sets, painting and learning stagecraft by joining Crew. Auditions are held twice a year for performances. Rehearsals are after school, some Saturdays. Crew is open to all interested students and meets on Saturdays as needed.
Do Re Mi, Jukebox, Men’s Ensemble are small vocal ensembles that meet before or after school. The groups sing and perform a variety of music from pop to Broadway, Motown to traditional.
Cross Country is offered in the fall for all students. Conditioning begins in mid-August. CC is a “no-cut” sport so anyone who wishes to come out for the team is offered a spot. Cross country practices before school with meets after school and/or Saturdays. Race distances are 1.5 to 2 miles depending on age. Season “runs” through mid-October.
French and Spanish Clubs Join us as we celebrate our global community. Activities are centered around the French and Francophone cultures. Activities include: tasting and cooking French food, watching French movies, listening to French music, playing games such as boules, celebrating French holidays, and more. Students will also learn more about the Spanish language and various Hispanic cultures through hands-on activities such as: singing, eating, dancing, playing games and making crafts.
Gaming Club allows students of all levels the opportunity to learn and compete in a wide variety of games. Students can play chess, Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! or other awesome strategy games. Bring your friends, your cards and let the games begin!
Math Club/Math Team provides students with the opportunity to participate in various mathematics competitions. In the past, Julian has sent teams to the following events: Fenwick Junior High School Math Contest, Illinois Math and Science Academy Junior High Mathematics Contest, Latin School of Chicago Mathematics Contest, MathCounts, and Trinity High School Math Contest. The primary emphasis of math club is team work and problem solving. Weekly meetings will be held on Wednesdays, after school. All students, all abilities welcome.
Rainbow Tribe is Julian's first LGBTQ+ club for everyone! Created by students for students, the goal of the club is to make our school a safer, and more comfortable environment for everyone.
Oak Park Education Foundation offers both an in-house league and a competitive league for those interested in learning how to design, program, and build remote control robots. The in-house league meets once a week for 12 weeks and is recommended for those with less robotics experience, as well as those who want a lower time commitment. The competitive league meets twice a week for 20 weeks. Both clubs participate in exciting competitions and events.
Speech Team is a component of the CAST program here at Julian. It is a competitive activity in which students are selected to compete against local area schools in the West 40 Speech and Drama Festival. The District 97 Speech Team is made up of Brooks and Julian students who rehearse for several months to prepare for an annual festival.
This Oak Park Education Foundation club empowers students to find and cultivate their unique voices through reading, writing and performing poetry. Students will work with a teaching artist and OPRF high school mentors. And will have opportunities to attend open mic events, showcases and poetry slams.
Track is offered to all students and is a “no cut” sport, so anyone who wishes to join the team will be offered a spot. The team travels throughout the Chicago area to compete in 13-14 events. Track practice is before school with meets after school and/or Saturdays. Season begins mid March and runs through May concluding with State Championships.
Ultimate Frisbee Club meets weekly and will play in several competitive tournaments against other middle schools during the Fall and Spring seasons. Whether you are totally new to the sport or already have a solid forehand, everyone is welcome to come check it out.
Volleyball is offered for both boys and girls. Four teams are organized by grade level and gender creating a seventh and an eighth grade boys’ volleyball team and a seventh and an eighth grade girls’ volleyball team. The teams provide interscholastic activity in volleyball for those students who successfully tryout for one of the teams. Instruction is given in volleyball strategies and skills. Team membership requires attendance at practices and games that may be either at Julian or another middle school.
Yearbook & Yearbook Photography activities center on the production of the annual Percy Julian School Yearbook. Students photograph school events, write sections, format the book, sell books, and distribute at the end of the year.