Carterville Junior High
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Students in grades 6th – 8th are eligible for sports teams. All other CJHS clubs or groups are grades 7th and 8th only. All sporting teams require a physical no more than 1-year-old to participate.
SPORTS
Baseball
Tryouts for baseball are usually before school starts in the last week of July to the first days of August. These will be posted on our website. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. The season starts in mid-August and ends in early October.
Basketball (Boys)
Try-outs are usually in mid-October shortly after girls. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. Tryouts are announced in advance. The season runs from late October to late January or early February. The coaches usually have open gyms for anyone interested Mid-Mady through June. They also might attend camps.
Basketball (Girls)
Tryouts are usually in early to mid-October. Sometimes softball is still playing. Arrangements are made to allow softball players to try out. Tryouts are announced in advance. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. The season runs from late October to late January. The coaches usually have open gyms for anyone interested once school ends through June. They also might attend camps. Future Lady Lions camp is usually in July (grades 1-8).
Bowling (Boys and Girls)
Tryouts for bowling are usually in January or February. The team participates in several tournaments as well as SIJHSAA post-season competition.
Cheerleading
Cheerleading tryouts are usually at the end of May (before the new school year). The team participates in a camp and other summer practices to prepare for competition. Therefore, tryouts must be completed before the school year starts in August. Tryout dates are announced in advance. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. Cheer season consists of all boys' basketball games (home and away) and 4 - 5 competitions on Saturday/Sunday from early December to mid-January. Cheer ends when the last basketball game is played in late January / early February. The team also competes in a state series (ICCA) in Springfield, IL in early-mid January which requires an overnight stay.
Cross-Country
The coach usually schedules some summer run times for any student interested in potentially trying out for cross-country. These are posted on our website. Once school starts, regular practices will be set after-school. If a student wishes to be on the team he or she needs to commit to attending those. We attempt to keep as many runners as possible. However, we reserve the right to make cuts. Some meets limit the number of runners allowed, and the coach uses run times and other criteria to determine those that can go versus those that do not. The meets usually start in late August/early September and end in mid-October.
Softball
Tryouts for softball are usually before school starts in the last week of July to the first days of August. These will be posted on our website. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. The season starts in mid-August and ends in early October.
Track (boys & girls)
Tryouts are usually in early to mid-March. Sometimes volleyball is still playing. Arrangements are made to allow volleyball players to try out. Tryouts are announced in advance. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. The season runs from late March to early May. Sometimes conditioning sessions are scheduled before tryouts depending on the weather. Those would be posted and announced.
Volleyball
Tryouts are usually in mid-January. Sometimes girls’ basketball is still playing. Arrangements are made to allow basketball players to try out. Tryouts are announced in advance. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made. The season runs from early February to late March.
CLUBS and OTHER EXTRACURRICULARS
Art Club
The CJHS Art Club is an after-school activity for students interested in using their creative and artistic skills to help create artwork and decorations for school events. Those students interested in being in Art Club need: parent approval, no grade lower than a C in any class, a way home after meetings, and an interest in painting, drawing, and creativity. Students are allowed to apply shortly after school starts in August. This will be posted and announced at school. You do not have to be enrolled in art classes to be a club member.
FBLA-Middle Level (Future Business Leaders of America)
CJHS chartered an FBLA-Middle Level chapter in 2014. The FBLA-Middle Level program introduces junior high students to the world of leadership and business with career exploration, community service, and immersive educational programs, including competitive events and awards and recognition programs. Some activities take place with the CHS FBLA chapter. Students interested in FBLA-Middle Level complete a membership application and pay a small membership fee (which is sent to the National FBLA headquarters for State and National dues). Meetings are run using parliamentary procedure, and officers are elected. To be elected as an officer, participate in competitive events, or attend activities outside of school, members must have no grade lower than a C in any class. Chapter meetings are held twice a month and usually meet before school. Officers may have additional meetings.
Gaming Club
The Gaming Club is offered to 7th Grade and 8th Grade students. It meets every Monday after school from 3:15 to 4:00 pm in the Study Hall in the main hallway.
Games: We divide the Game Play into three sections. Section #1 is D & D (Dungeons and Dragons). Section #2 is Board Games. Section #3 is Video Games.
Requirements: You must display appropriate school behavior. You must not miss more than three meetings (without a written excuse). You must not be failing more than two classes.
Sponsors: Mr. Jerrells and Mr. Dixon
*Additional information will be provided at the first meeting of the school year. We will post our first meeting time on the school website and Google Classroom.
Golf Club (becoming a regular sport soon)
The CJHS Golf Club is an after-school activity for students interested in learning about and playing the game of golf. This is used as a springboard for those who may consider playing golf in high school. Students meet 1-2 times a week at Crab Orchard Golf Club to practice their skills and experience playing on the golf course. Students need to purchase a junior membership at the course or become a member of the “Youth on Course” to be a member of this club. Contact Crab Orchard Golf Course for more information about “Youth on Course” memberships. More experienced players may have the opportunity to compete in a few matches as well at the SIJHSAA post season tournaments. Those students interested in being in the Golf Club need: parent approval, no grade lower than a C in any class, a ride to and from practices, and learn the golf etiquette. Students are allowed to apply a week before spring break or just before term 4 of the school year. This will be posted and announced at school.
Scholar Bowl
In Scholar Bowl, participants attempt to quickly and accurately answer trivia questions from all academic areas of study. It is similar to Jeopardy but with a team concept. The game rewards both individual excellence and teamwork. The CJHS Scholar Bowl team conducts tryouts in mid to late September. The team is selected based on an administered academic test, grades, teacher recommendations, and attendance. The season starts in October and ends in February. There is a limit to the number of individuals on the team, so cuts are made.
SLC (Student Leadership Council)
Student Leadership Council is a group of top students who display leadership qualities daily and are seen as leaders by their peers. SLC members are required to have good grades, show school spirit, and desire to build their leadership skills. SLC puts on many school events, such as (but not limited to) the Halloween dance, any other school dances, homecoming week, and other school spirit weeks. Students interested in SLC complete an application. This rigorous application is completed the spring before the upcoming school year for 8th graders, for 7th graders the applications are completed during the first quarter of school. There is a limit to the number of individuals that can be a part of SLC, so cuts are made.
Yarn Club
The CJHS Yarn Club is an after-school activity for students interested in using their creativity to practice crochet, knitting, and other yarn or crafting skills. Those students interested in being in the Yarn Club need: parent approval, passing grades in all classes, no major referrals within the school year, a way home after meetings, and an interest in crochet, knitting, and/or other crafts. Students are allowed to apply shortly after school starts in August. This will be posted and announced at school.
Yearbook Staff
Students interested in the yearbook staff complete an application in mid to late October. The book is created online between November and April of each school year. There is a limit to the number of individuals that can be a part of the staff, so cuts are made. Many of the selection is based on student grades, responsibility level, maturity, etc. Teachers complete recommendation forms on students interested in becoming members.