This club will run from September through May for 1st grade Japanese dual language students. They will learn hiragana letters through a traditional Japanese card game called Karuta.
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Sanders
This club will be held in April for 1st and 2nd grade Japanese dual language students. Students will learn about the Japanese culture through creating artwork and playing games.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Takahashi
This club is during the fall for 5th and 6th grade Dual students. Students will learn about Japanese culture through cultural crafts and activities.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Vandebogart and Mrs. Abe
These fifth and sixth graders work together to come up with ways to Dream Big, Achieve Bigger. These students will be given leadership opportunities throughout the year and responsible for conducting acts of service.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Meservey and Mrs. Varney
This club is during the winter months for 5th and 6th grade students. Students will learn how to knit or crochet while having fun creating simple knit product and learning simple Japanese.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Yamamoto and Mrs. VandeBogart
Are you interested in becoming a teacher someday? In this 10 session club, you will explore the world of education. Together, we’ll engage in hands-on activities, collaborate, and ignite your passion for teaching!
Students will build connections and relationships, learn how to create a positive classroom culture and environment, interview educators, develop leadership skills, and learn about the various roles within a school. This club is for 3-6 graders and take place in the winter and spring.
Staff sponsor: Ms. Giammarese
This club takes place during the fall and winter for 1st and 2nd grade readers who enjoy reading, work well with others, and are a little competitive. Students will read and remember details about various books. Students will then get to work together and complete by answering questions about these books!
Staff sponsor: Ms. Giammarese
District 54’s Battle of the Books encourages students to read. Students are responsible for reading several novels. In April, we will compete against other schools to see who knows the books the best. No worries, it is a silent competition!
Club Sponsors: Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Rutgens
Come to school a early once a week to try and read as many BOB books to prepare for a district-wide Battle of The Books.
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Varney
This club is during the fall / spring months for 3rd – 6th grade students. Students will learn how to think ahead, solve problems, stay focused, and plan their moves while having fun playing chess with friends.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Giammarese
This club is for grades 3-6 who love to sing! It will meet on Tuesday’s during lunch recess, from January through April. Grades 3 and 4 will practice during their lunch recess, and grades 5 and 6 will practice during their lunch recess. Both choirs will combine for a concert in April!
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Conrad
The Intro to Computer Science course is a series of tutorials and activities designed to teach you about computer science, computational thinking, and programming. It will also teach that success does not come on the first try, just like the world’s most difficult problems aren’t solved on the first try. This course will help you persevere in solving problems. Club is for 5th-6th graders and meets on Tuesdays in the fall. (In progress as of 9/2025)
Staff sponsor: Ms. Meservey
This a club that begins in the spring for 4th grade girls. The club provides the students with various hands-on activities and experiments to explore their interest and curiosity in STEM alongside their peers. The creative, innovative, and collaborative setting encourages students to take risks and become stronger problem-solving individuals.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Wakikata and Ms. Sato
This club is during the winter for 4th – 6th graders. Students will explore the art of Japanese calligraphy by learning basic brush techniques and practicing writing kanji and hiragana characters.
Sponsors: Mrs. Mitsuno and Ms. Wakikata
This club will start after school in January, and end in the beginning of March when we perform at the Multicultural Event at the CRC. It is for 1st and 2nd grade Japanese dual language students. Students will practice singing and dancing Japanese songs and perform on the stage at the CRC.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Takahashi
This club is during Winter months for 4th-6th grade students. Students will learn how to dance Japanese traditional fisherman’s dance, Soran Bushi. They will perform this dance at District Multicultural event on March 7th at CRC.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Saito and Mrs. Matsusue
This club is during the Spring months for 3rd and 4th grade students. Students will learn the Japanese culture through fun and hands-on activities and explore the culture of Japan through crafts, games, language, and more.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Wakikata, Ms. Sato, and Ms. Ishimaru
This club is during the fall and spring for 4th graders. Students will review and strengthen their hiragana, katakana, and vocab skills through playing games and activities.
Staff sponsor: Ms. Wakikata
This club is during the fall for 4th – 6th grade students. Students will learn K-Pop and Hip-Hop moves/dances for fun.
Staff sponsor: Ms. Wakikata
This club is during the spring months for 4th-6th grade students. Students will learn to encourage each other and collaborate while learning lyrics of songs. Students will also express their emotions and build confidence.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Giammarese and Ms. Hernandez
This club meets before school on Wednesdays starting in February. It is open to 3rd and 4th graders. Students will get to check out extra books, help make book displays, make book recommendations, get to know the Library better, and more!
Staff sponsors: Ms. Velasco and Mrs. Wulbecker
Are you interested in meeting new friends, creating positive friendships, working together and having fun? Then Lunch Bunch is for you! This club is available for 3rd-6th graders during lunch! 3rd and 4th graders will have 5 sessions in March/April and 5th and 6th graders will have 5 sessions in April/May. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Chua
This club is during the Spring months for 5th and 6th grade students. Students will discover the art of paper folding and unleash your creativity through origami! They will learn how to transform simple sheets of paper into different designs through fun hands-on sessions, guidance, and a chance to connect with fellow members in the club.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Ishimaru and Ms. Sato
This club is during September to January for 2nd grade Japanese language learners. Students will learn more Japanese by playing the Japanese traditional game, Karuta or talking in Japanese with friends.
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Matsusue
This club is during the fall and winter months for 3rd-6th grade students. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a total beginner, join us to explore different painting techniques, share creative ideas, and connect with a supportive community of fellow art lovers. This is a chance for students to relax and to use their creativity to paint a picture.
Staff sponsors: Ms. Julia Wakikata and Ms. Daniella Mejia
These sixth grade students help keep Dooley safe by assisting younger kids unpack their items and get ready in the morning to exiting safely at the end of the day. Patrols also put up and take down the American Flag on a daily basis and keep cars from entering and leaving the parking lot. All in all, the job of a Dooley Patrol is working together to keep Dooley a safe place.
Staff sponsor: Mrs. Varney
This is a year-round club for 5th and 6th graders. Students engage in activities designed to spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and help students appreciate the power of words in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Tiffany Johnson and Ms. Abby Rutgens
Poms Club is a fun and energetic club where you’ll learn a dance routine that combines synchronized movements with elements of cheerleading. You’ll work as a team to build spirit, confidence, and performance skills while having a great time dancing and cheering!
Staff sponsors: Ms. Hendricksen and Ms. Halazonitis
This club will be held after school in October for 2nd grade Japanese dual language students and in November for 3rd grade Japanese dual language students. Students will practice learning and reviewing kanji by playing games and creating art work.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Takahashi
District 54’s Rocketry Club is ultimately designed to help students build an understanding as to how NASA developed their rocket program, by providing you the opportunity to build a rocket that will be launched at a district rocket launch. This is an intermediate level club.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Abby Rutgens
This club is during the fall and winter months for 3rd through 6th grade students. Students will write a speech draft and practice delivering it to an audience to enter the Japanese Speech Contest that is held in Chicago annually.
Staff sponsors: Mrs. Vandebogart, Mrs. Boyd, and Mrs. Abe
Dooley Elementary