After School Clubs

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

WINTER 2026

Please note the different registration dates for each club. If you have any questions, please email afterschoolclubs@highcrestpto.org.

CHESS-ED

Chess-Ed is excited to invite you to their Chess Enrichment Program for winter 2026! The program is designed for beginner and novice players with professional instruction covering the basics and continuing with opening theory, middle game planning, and endgame combinations for more advanced students. Chess offers numerous benefits such as improved memory, analytical and critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, responsibility, sportsmanship, social skills, and more. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn and develop important skills while having fun playing chess!

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Club Days/Times: Thursdays, 3:45-4:45PM, 01/08/2026-3/19/2026 (11 weeks)

Club meeting location: HMS Cafeteria

Club fee: EARLY Registration through 12/29 - $209; LATE Registration 12/30 to 1/6 - $239

Registration is open

Registration Link: https://www.eventbee.com/v/highcrestmiddleschoolchess#/tickets

Your registration is complete when you receive two confirmation emails, one from Eventbee and the other from CHESS-ED LLC, which confirms processing via Stripe. If you do not receive these two emails, your registration is not complete. Please check your Spam/Junk folders as the confirmation emails may be diverted there.

IDEATE MATH CAMP - Winter

IDEATE Math Camp is specifically targeted to middle school children preparing to learn algebra. Our camp is based on the YouCubed® curriculum developed by Professor Jo Boaler and a team of educators at Stanford University.

IDEATE is designed to inspire and boost math achievement for students of a wide array of backgrounds and skill levels. Students will work in groups, build and utilize visualizations, explore mathematical ideas and learn in both indoor and outdoor spaces. The class is uniquely designed to challenge young minds while building confidence and making math fun.

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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T570Bjl2XY4

Website: www.Ideate-US.com

Club Days/Times: Mondays, 3:45-4:45 pm, 1/12/2026-3/02/2026 (6 weeks, No Class: 1/19, 2/16)

Club meeting location: HMS Room 109 & 111

Club fee: $225

Registration is open

Registration Link: https://www.ideate-us.com/register/p/highcrest-middle-school-mathcamp-winter-2025

ACES DEBATE - Winter/Spring

Learn research, writing, and oral argumentation. Programs for beginning and experienced debaters, 5th through 8th grade! All programs consist of weekly class sessions held at HMS for 60 minutes with supplemental debate activities. The program features a 2-hour debate tournament to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their new skills in full debates.

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Club days and times: Thursdays (Intro to Debate) and Fridays (Advanced Debate) 3:45 – 4:45

Club Dates: Thursdays, 1/22/2026-5/7/2026 (15 sessions, No Debate: 4/2)

Fridays, 1/16/2026-5/8/2026 (15 sessions, No Debate: 3/27, 4/3)

Club meeting location: HMS rooms 109 & 111

Club fee: $460

Registration opens: December 2 at 9:00 am

Registration Link: www.acesdebateclub.com/register

HIGH FIVE JUNIOR CHOIR

The Wilmette High Five Junior Choir is an inclusive choir for students of all abilities where we help one another create and experience music, build friendships, and raise awareness against stereotypes of individuals who are differently-abled. This club was designed after the High-5 Choir that is offered at New Trier High School. We perform a variety of types of songs (but mostly pop) using instruments, movement, and props to help us experience music in different ways! If you want to better understand what High Five Junior Choir is, please watch this video.

Club days and times: Thursdays, 3:45-4:45, 2/5/2026-5/7/2026 (13 sessions, No Choir: 4/2)

Club meeting location: Music Room 134 (sometimes the HMS Auditorium)

Winter Concert Date/Times: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 4:15- 4:45 pm, HMS Auditorium

Field Trip to NTHS: Thursday, May 14, 2026, during school hours

Instructor: HMS Music Director, Mrs. Martin

Club fee: $125

Registration opens: December 2 at 10:00 am

Registration Link: https://www.highcrestpto.org/form/m/362771

This session will also be taking a field trip on 5/14/26 to NTHS to perform with their High-5 Choir!

Please note that the High Five Junior Choir is different from the grade level choirs. If you mean to register your child for the 5th or 6th grade HMS choir, please do so with the school provided forms.

YEARBOOK CLUB

Do you want to learn how to produce and promote our HMS Yearbook? Do you enjoy photography? Do you enjoy being part of a team? Then come be a part of the team that will organize photos for our annual yearbook and create videos for broadcast, promoting the sale of yearbooks.

Club days and times: Mondays, 3:45-4:45, 1/26/2026-3/23/2026 (8 weeks, No Club: 2/16)

Club meeting location: Room 209

Club fee: $125

Registration opens: December 2 at 10:00 am

Registration Link: https://www.highcrestpto.org/form/m/362772

SKYLINE CHILDREN’S THEATER

Skyline Children’s Theater: Willy Wonka Jr.

The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. Featuring the beloved songs from the 1971 film classic such as “The Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” and “Pure Imagination,” along with a delightful array of new songs, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. is a scrumdidilyumptious musical treat for audiences of all ages. Skyline's Broadway Performers is a no-cut program designed for middle school actors. Performers will be challenged by a professional teaching artist, and level up by learning advanced performance skills such as solo vocal technique, sophisticated character development, complex blocking, and challenging musical theatre choreography. From the moment auditions kick off on the first day, Performers feel the rush of anticipation as they showcase their talents. Every actor who participates is assigned a named role and receives a script and rehearsal materials. All Performers sessions culminate in a final performance for friends and family!

Choose Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday Rehearsal

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Wednesday Rehearsal Day: Wednesdays, 3:45-5:45PM, 2/11/2026-4/29/2026 FINAL Show: 5/6 (12 sessions, No Reheasal: 4/1)

Rehearsal meeting locations: 2 casts: HMS Auditorium OR Drama Room (Room 123)

Show Day: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Show Times TBD, HMS Auditorium

Club fee: $385

Registration open date: December 2 at 9:00 am

Registration Link (Link will not be live until December 2 @ 9AM): https://www.skylinechildrenstheater.com/service-page/highcrest-wednesday-performers-wonka?utm_medium=page_links

Thursday Rehearsal Day: Thursdays, 3:45-5:45PM, 2/12/2026-4/30/2026 FINAL Show: Friday, 5/8 (12 sessions, No Rehearsal: 4/2, 5/7)

Rehearsal meeting locations: HMS Auditorium

Show Day: Friday, May 8, 2026, Show Time TBD, HMS Auditorium

Club fee: $385