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Urbandale elementary pilots 'Passion Clubs' to boost belonging and leadership
Summary
Principal Laura Jessman and students described 'Passion Clubs,' a monthly after-school program for K–5 that matches student interests with staff- and community-led clubs to build connectedness and leadership. Students and staff reported positive engagement and plans to align clubs with district career-strand work.
Principal Laura Jessman introduced ‘‘Passion Clubs,’’ a K–5 program designed to strengthen belonging and relationships and to align student interests with learning. The program meets monthly after school and is open to all students in grades K–5; staffing combines teachers and community partners depending on the club topic.
Students at the meeting described clubs they had joined, including coding, origami, karaoke, reading, running and gardening. A student said, "What I like about Passion Clubs is how it's engaging and you get to do something you are passionate about in school." Presenters emphasized that older students help younger classmates in K–5 pairings, providing leadership opportunities for fifth graders and role models for kindergarteners.
Selection process: staff said students complete a Google form ranking their top five interests; clubs are assigned by randomization among ranked choices and then organized by staff. Community partners cited included local therapy-animal groups and Master Gardeners located near the school.
Administration said the program began with staff-identified passions to ensure leads were available, then expanded by soliciting student ideas for additions. Visit days are planned for community members and board members to observe club activities.
Next steps: staff will run another sign-up cycle (presenters referenced a late-February date for the next round) and continue aligning club offerings with high-school career-strand work.
