Extracurriculars

The Middle School Math Team is open to students of all ability levels; all you need to bring is a great attitude and readiness to work hard and be challenged! 

Representatives from every advisor group are elected to the student council. This council provides student leadership for a variety of activities. They plan parties, sponsor food drives and other service projects, and support other student-led initiatives in the Middle School.

Student Council hosts all-school parties to raise funds for school improvement projects. Party activities typically include a variety of games and activities in and around the building, food in the cafeteria, and a dance in the upper gym. Teachers and staff members supervise all party activities. Other social events are planned by grade level teams throughout the year.

Every spring, Middle School students the opportunity to try out for the spring play. There are also opportunities for students to get involved in set building and other technical aspects of play production.

In February, the entire 7th grade class spends three days at Covenant Pines Camp in McGregor, Minnesota. Activities during the retreat are centered on friendship (strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones) and forming a class identity, as well as enjoying skiing, tubing, skating, basketball, floor hockey, and a talent night.

The Middle School ski club is a fun, non-competitive club that is great for beginning skiers and advanced skiers alike. During the winter, the club skis once or twice a month at Afton Alps. 

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The Minnehaha Debate Team is proud to participate in Minnesota’s oldest competitive co-curricular activity; Minnesota has been crowning high school debate champions since 1902. Our primary purpose is to honor God through the use of the intellectual gifts He has given. In addition, the educational purpose of the debate program is to sharpen students’ minds through the extensive research, critical thinking ability, and public persuasion skills required in competitive debate.

The Minnehaha Debate Team is open to all students at the Upper School and currently debates in the Classic Debate League, which offers divisions for novice, junior varsity, and varsity debaters. This provides for a competitive level of debate for all interested students, regardless of experience. In Classic Debate, each debater works with a partner to write speeches, find and compile evidence, and compete against opposing teams at debate tournaments. Our team typically debates at 6-8 weekend tournaments from October through early December, with the season split between two compelling topics.

The benefits of debating are many for Minnehaha students: increased confidence in their public speaking skills, enhanced analytical ability, better research skills, team camaraderie, and the satisfaction that goes with winning and learning at the same time!

Advisor
Nathan Johnson
johnsonnathan@MinnehahaAcademy.net

All are welcome to participate in Diversity Club. This club encourages students to celebrate diversity by crossing over lines of racial stereotypes. The mission of the Diversity Club is to provide student activities that promote racial and cultural understanding through Biblical reconciliation.

Our goal is to help our community to celebrate and appreciate the wonderful diversity in God’s kingdom. We are a group of students from different cultures and backgrounds who desire to see authentic racial and economic reconciliation at our school.

Diversity Club meets in room B303 every Tuesday during the activity period (9:55 a.m. – 10:23 a.m.).

Group members plan campus events designed to help our student body appreciate a diverse array of cultural expression. Annual events are Culture Fair, Student Diversity Leadership Conference, Gospel Choir Concert, Mix It Up Day, Minnesota Prayer Breakfast and the planning of various speakers and performers during all-school assemblies. During weekly meetings, we plan events and discuss current event topics.

If you would like to make a positive impact and help tear down walls that separate us, you would be perfect for Diversity Club!

French Club is a student-led organization that provides opportunities for students to discover the world of francophone culture and civilization outside of the classroom. Events happen approximately once a month. Examples of past French Club events are: Getting together in someone’s home to learn to bake French desserts, voyageur canoeing on the Mississippi River, a French game night where students learn to play French card games, going to the University of Minnesota to see a French movie and then out to eat at a French bistro.

French Club is open to all students studying French at Minnehaha Academy.

Intramural Sports at Minnehaha Academy gives our students an opportunity to use their athletic talents during a break in the school day. Students enjoy participating in these sports: touch football, volleyball, basketball and softball. We play during activity periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and students are allowed to organize their own teams. Intramurals are a great chance for students to meet and make friends. It’s all about fun!

Advisor

Josh Thurow
thurowjosh@minnehahaacademy.net

Minnehaha Academy Jazz Band provide the opportunity to play a variety of musical styles ranging from swing to Latin to rock. In addition to learning the fundamentals of playing in different styles, students learn the basics of improvisation. Any student enrolled in Concert Band or Symphonic Wind Ensemble is encouraged to participate.

The Jazz Ensembles rehearses in the band room and chapel. We perform for Homecoming Coronation, Fall Band Concert, Jazz Festival, Pop Concert and other special events throughout the school year.

Directors

Diane Hallberg — hallberg@minnehahaacademy.net
Ryan Larson — larson@minnehahaacademy.net

Group members lead and produce the school newspaper, yearbook and student-media website. They must be self-starters who can meet deadlines and work well independently and in teams. With advanced practice in writing, editing, photography and desktop publishing – as well as leadership, planning and project management – students gain real-world experience with many practical applications beyond high school. Although involvement with student publications is considered by colleges as an extracurricular activity, at Minnehaha it is also offered through elective classes.

Students start with Beginning Journalism and then choose to continue in Yearbook or Newspaper/Website classes.

Visit the student-media website at www.redhawksonline.com

Advisor

Reid Westrem
westremreid@MinnehahaAcademy.net

Hear ye! Hear ye!

The Minnehaha Madrigal Singers provides a fun challenge for eighteen of the school’s finest vocalists. We explore many of the beautiful songs from the Renaissance period and work to develop a superior vocal blend and performance ethic. The main focus of the group is the annual Madrigal Dinner held each February. The gym is transformed into Minnehaha Manor and 700 guests enjoy an authentic feast, play and concert over the two performances. Members of the three MA choirs also participate fully in this showcase event. The Madrigal Singers serve at various community and school events which afford us the opportunity to explore different a cappella styles of music.

Rehearsals are held each Tuesday and Thursday 7:40 – 8:30 a.m. in the choir room. Although our main focus is the Madrigal Dinner we also participate in homecoming activities, choral concerts, contest, and several community events throughout the year.

Any student enrolled in Singers is eligible to audition each May. Vocal skill, sight-reading, dramatic readings and improvs make up this audition.

Director

Karen Lutgen
lutgenkaren@MinnehahaAcademy.net

The Minnehaha Math Team competes in the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League each winter, with five Tri-Metro Conference Meets from October to February, plus the State Math Meet in March.

Everyone who joins the Math Team participates at all of the conference meets and is eligible to compete to be a member of the eight-student scoring team. The events are designed so that students at all levels can participate.

The Math Team is a great activity for those who enjoy academic competition and enjoy learning things that may go beyond the normal classroom topics.

Advisor

Rich Enderton
endertonrich@MinnehahaAcademy.net

Interns are Grade 11 and 12 leaders who possess a high degree of commitment to the school’s values and ideals. They model the values of sacrifice and servant leadership. They are capable of overseeing the work in their particular areas and managing the underclassmen involved therein. The emphasis of their job is service, not privilege.

The purpose of the program is as follows:

1. To foster more student leadership opportunities
2. To foster healthy and productive student followership. Student interns may and should elicit the help of other students to accomplish their duties.
3. To foster a healthier community
4. To provide help to students and faculty in the life of the school

Advisor

Lance Johnson
johnsonlance@MinnehahaAcademy.net

The Production Team at Minnehaha is comprised of students in all Upper School grades. This team manages the theatre facility and provides production services for events including weekly chapels and assemblies, major theatre productions, band and choir concerts, outside rentals, and a variety of other events.

The team is multi-disciplinary with students learning about audio, lighting, media, control systems, film production, set design and construction. In addition, students gain experience in a number of general areas such as project and production management, budgeting, and computers.

Minnehaha’s production schedule allows students to gain experience in a number of different environments from rock-and-roll with the Praise Band to traditional orchestra performances to a variety of dramatic productions.

Advisor

Shannon Elliott
elliottshannon@minnehahaacademy.net