Clubs & Organizations

At Parker School, we understand that when students get involved with their school, offer their service and explore opportunities for leadership, they have an opportunity to feel a sense of connectedness to their school family and wider community, develop the self-confidence that comes from success, and learn from the mistakes that come with taking responsibility and engaging in the process of experimentation and trial and error. Our many opportunities for involvement make the Parker community a thriving and fun environment for students at all grade levels. Clubs and organizations offer a way for new students to start making friends and feeling like a part of the ‘ohana from their first days on campus. Parker School’s mission to nurture and honor the whole child is in part rooted in participation in our clubs and organizations. We encourage every student to find ways to get involved.

Lower School

Buddy Program: Every student in the lower school has a buddy; students in grades K-2 pair with older students in grades 3-5 to read and explore projects and activities together, creating a feeling of connection between students of different grades and fostering a sense of competency and self-esteem.

Chorus: Students in grades four through six may participate in chorus each week, learning vocal techniques such as unison singing and two-part harmony, as well as beginning music reading skills.

Little Techies (grades 1-3): “Little Techies” provides a fun introduction to robotics, featuring structured activities using the Lego WeDo 2.0 Set and Lego Bricks. Students work in pairs to build various robots, experimenting with mechanical parts. They program their creation to perform desired actions, or just experiment to learn. Developing good teamwork habits is paramount to the program. Students develop problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and technology proficiency. Science and engineering topics are discussed, as they often provide the backdrop for learning.

Lower School Tech Club (grades 4-5): In this program, students learn to creatively build and to program LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robots. In the fall students compete in the FIRST LEGO League, as they learn teamwork, research and how to program robots to achieve missions. In the second part of the year, students hone their skills at a relaxed and exploratory pace, and may engage in a friendly intramural competition!

Peer Mediation: Students in grades four and five are trained as peer mediators by West Hawaii Mediation, giving them the tools to settle their own difficulties and to mediate disputes among their peers on a rotating schedule at lunch and recess.

Stewardship Opportunities: Fourth graders take charge of classroom and office recycling, while fifth graders collect lunch scraps and green waste for garden composting and take charge of daily flag-raising; in so doing, they come to understand the importance of stewardship of one’s community.

Middle School

Chorus: Students in grades four through six may participate in chorus each week, learning vocal techniques such as unison singing and two-part harmony, as well as beginning music reading skills.

Dramatiques: Students in grades six through twelve are eligible to join Parker’s after school drama club, Dramatiques, for course credit. Auditions are held for the fall play and spring musical, and students may get involved both onstage and behind the scenes as stage managers, costumers, make-up artists, assistant directors, choreographers, lighting designers/technicians, props managers, program designers and house managers.

Math Counts: Interested math students may join the Parker chapter of the national Math Counts Competition Series. The team practices together for district competitions which include both written tests and bee-style rounds. In the past, students have qualified for and attended the state tournament on O‘ahu.

Middle School Tech Club: This is a space where students interact and experiment with various technologies, with one highlight being robotics and the FIRSTLEGO League competition. At other times we invent and program our own video games. We also explore “making” objects or art pieces in the design Lab with 3D printing, laser cutting or art bots. Another highlight is hammering silver jewelry with experts!

Spelling Bee: Eager spellers are encouraged to join the spelling bee team. Parker School is a member of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and the team competes annually at the district bee.

Student Council: Middle school students may join the Student Council, with rotating leadership each trimester. The names of three representatives from each grade are drawn at random, and these students work together to create fun events such as dances.

Upper School

Upper School students have an array of opportunities for involvement, and all clubs offer elected leadership roles as well as membership at large.

Class Leadership: Students may run for election to serve as class officers, leading their classes in fundraising, school event participation and service, and class retreats. The four-class presidents automatically serve as Student Council representatives as well.

Diversity Club: The Diversity Club is a unique blend of empowered students who have been brought together by their desire to make a change in the world. As a mission, members aim to promote understanding, awareness, and activism within the school and the greater community.

Dramatiques: Students in grades six through twelve are eligible to join Parker’s after school drama club, Dramatiques, for course credit. Auditions are held for the fall play and spring musical, and students may get involved both onstage and behind the scenes as stage managers, costumers, make-up artists, assistant directors, choreographers, lighting designers/technicians, props managers, program designers and house managers.

International Thespian Society (ITS): Outstanding theatre arts students meet to plan activities such as participation in various community events, leading the last family meeting of the year, and providing arts-related activities for young people in the community.

Investment Club: Students learn investment strategies using actual donated funds, as well as financial planning and money management.

Math League: Math League’s motto is “building student interest and confidence in mathematics through solving worthwhile problems.” Students may sign up to take a series of six tests known as contests, competing against students nationwide.

National Art Honor Society (NAHS): Students who show outstanding artistic ability become active participants in art education in the school community, hosting open studio hours and art nights, the annual pit fire and campus art exhibitions as well as the annual Parker School Arts Awards.

National Honor Society (NHS): High-achieving students offer their time in service to the community, particularly the annual Relay for Life fundraiser to fight cancer and the annual Easter egg hunt.

National Spanish Honor Society (NSHS): Dedicated Spanish language students spread intercultural awareness while raising money to aid citizens of Latin American countries.

Playwrights’ Guild: Playwrights Guild is Parker School’s first guild, created for students who want to learn about playwriting. In this group, students develop a strong understanding of new styles of writing, narrative development, character development, reading comprehension, and other useful tools for writing and performance. Students write a ten-minute, one-act or two-act play or screenplay and have the option of directing and or performing in their work once it is showcased in the Parker School Theatre.

Speech & Debate: Parker has an award-winning debate team that annually competes at the State Tournament, routinely placing students in the top three and qualifying for the national tournament. At Parker, Speech & Debate is a course for credit that meets during the regular school day.

Student Council (StuCo): Students may run for election as grade level representatives or officers on the Student Council, which plans and hosts school dances, pep rallies, and events as well as weekly “family meetings,” charitable fundraisers and the annual food drive and serves as the voice of the students. Student Council meets twice weekly during the lunch period and is a course for credit.

Yearbook: Students who are interested in photography, journalism, and graphic design are invited to join the yearbook staff. Parker has repeatedly produced yearbooks that win awards among our publisher’s schools for student photography and writing. In 2017, it won first place for best layout in the state, and in 2016, it won second-best overall book in the state. Yearbook is a course for credit that meets during the regular school day.