School enriches students' experience

Camp Sherman is well known for its quiet, but several students at Black Butte School keep the action going when the school day is over. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, after-school clubs meet and their participants play strategic games, create drama and make music.

The Nugget visited the school last Thursday while the music club was jamming in the gymnasium. Sounding a bit like a garage band warming up, the musicians' enthusiasm was apparent.

Seventh-grader Oli Samek is the club president and began gathering the musicians just before Christmas. Samek plays seven instruments - guitar, bass guitar, drums, ukulele, piano, fiddle and baritone - and comes from a musical family. The oldest of six children, he's taught his siblings how to make music and is working on doing the same for his fellow students.

"Right now we're just trying to get everyone on an instrument," he said.

Even though not everyone plays, they all know how to keep a beat and have fun. Their goal is to entertain the school families and community at the end-of-year program.

Adults come along occasionally to give pointers. Josh Flud, Samek's neighbor at Santiam Junction, was present on Thursday to help with the drums.

The after-school clubs are student-run and are proposed by students. When an idea is floated, Erin Conway, the full-time teacher who is in charge of grades four thorough eight, asks for a plan and then steps back to let the club dynamic take shape.

The drama club, started by seventh-grader Megan Ellsworth, did a performance at the school's Christmas program. They are currently on the lookout for a play to do for the end-of-year program and welcome any input from current or retired thespians in the community.

The strategic games club engages its members in strategy games such as chess or cribbage. Jackson Morgan, another seventh-grader, is the club president.

Adult mentors are welcome to inquire about helping out the clubs, and parents also drop in occasionally. If you're interested in helping or have a play idea for the drama club, call Black Butte School at 541-595-6203 and ask for teacher Erin Conway.