Clubs

Art Club, Mark Mitchell, Sponsor
Mark Mitchell

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

The purpose of the Art Club is to provide students with extra opportunities to experience and explore a variety of artists, artworks, and art media, while also learning about the art elements and principles of design.

The Art Club will meet on Friday mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 AM from October 23rd through April 2nd. 

Space is limited to 15 students, which will be selected by lottery. Letters will be sent home to notify those students that are in the club.

Sponsors: Heather Thorpe/ Kendall Bennett

Purpose: To recognize academic excellence and foster leadership, character, and service among 5th-grade students at Fort Daniel Elementary.

Eligibility: Open to 5th graders meeting academic and character expectations. [grades, test scores, and teacher recommendations]

Meetings: Meetings are held during lunch/recess. Service project dates TBD.

Fall Dates: 2 Wednesdays per month during lunch

https://www.betaclub.org/ 

Chorus, Daniel Castillo, Sponsor
Daniel Castillo

Fort Daniel Elementary Chorus is back for the 2026 – 2027 school year! Read on for more information:

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: Chorus is open to any 4th, or 5th grade students. The target for the size of the chorus is 50. The 4th and 5th graders get the first opportunity, and if there is space remaining, 3rd graders may join. 

The students who have the most success in chorus show the following characteristics:

1. They love singing!
2. They can match pitch.
3. They arrive on time for rehearsals, work hard, and display excellent behavior.

DUES: Membership dues will be $30 per student. We use the money to purchase our handsome chorus polo shirts, as well as music arrangements and accompaniment. This year, I will collect the student ID numbers of participants, and parents will be able to pay via mypaymentsplus. Students may still participate even if their family cannot pay their dues..

REHEARSALS: Rehearsals will be at 7:00AM, every Thursday. I may schedule a handful of afternoon rehearsals when concert time draws near IF NEEDED. Last year we did not, but every year is different! Rehearsal attendance is mandatory, and students must attend 90% of rehearsals to maintain membership.

PERFORMANCES: Chorus will perform two concerts this year, exact dates to be announced. One will occur in December before Winter Break. The other is in the spring semester. We will also plan to return to the Gwinnett Stripers to sing the national anthem.

OUR MUSIC: At Fort Daniel, we have an amazing and diverse student body. The music we will sing reflects this. We sing music from all over the world, from different countries and cultures. We may also sing music from different religious traditions from around America and the world. I approach teaching this material from a strictly musical perspective, and do not endorse any specific cultural or religious views. If you have questions or concerns about any of our songs, please reach out. I put a lot of thought into the music we sing and am always happy to talk about it!

First Lego League Robotics, Robert Morris, Sponsor
Robert Morris

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

The purpose of the Lego League/Robotics Club is for students to learn how to design, program and control fully functional robotic models. Team members will use software to plan, test and modify sequences of instructions for a variety of life-like robotic behaviors. Team members will participate in First Lego League competitions during the year. There is a $75 participation fee.

Practices are Tuesday mornings from 7:15 - 8:00 AM and Thursday afternoons from 3:15 - 4:30 PM from August through December 10th.

The 2026-2027 FLL team applications is currently closed to new members. Applications and information for the 2027-2028 school year will go out at the end of second semester.

Good News Club
Cross Roads Baptist Church, Sponsor
Coordinator - Kathy

2nd - 5th Grade Students

The purpose of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF™) is to EVANGELIZE boys and girls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, DISCIPLE them in God’s Word, and CONNECT them to a local church.

CEF fulfills this purpose through Good News Clubs® during the school year and 5-Day Clubs® during the summer.

Our purpose in the Gwinnett Chapter is to reach every child in Gwinnett County in second to fifth grades with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by hosting a Good News Club in every public elementary school by partnering with local churches.

Our mission is to reach all 55,000 students in grades 2-5 in the 80 public elementary schools in Gwinnett County with the Gospel. It will take the body of Christ working together to reach this mission field.

Meeting Dates
Thursdays beginning September 17, 2026
Pickup time is 4:30 PM

Click here for more information and to register your child.

Hands-On Music Piano Club
Sponsors: Southern Art Music

Kindergarten - 5th Grade Students 
(There will be 2 classes - K - 1st grade and 2nd - 5th grades)

Hands-On Music is a 12-week after-school piano program offered at a variety of elementary schools throughout Dekalb, Hall, and Gwinnett County schools. Each participating school can be found in the registration drop-down menu. The program is designed to make music education accessible, engaging, and fun for elementary-aged students!

Meetings; This club will meet Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:15 PM from September 9th - December 16th.

Tuition: $300 ($25 per lesson) with a $15 registration fee. (Includes a keyboard, bag, book, and online resources)

Click here for information about registering.

Pickleball Club
Sponsor: Kate McKinley

Fifth Grade Students

  Calling all fifth graders! Never played?  No problem.  During practice we will learn the rules of pickleball and practice the fundamental skills.  Students will break into groups to play a game of pickleball each practice.  At the end of the season we hope to host a pickleball tournament where we will invite Teachers & Staff to participate.  The Pickleball Club will meet on Monday mornings 7:00 – 7:45. Students should be dropped off at the school front lobby no earlier than 7:00 & no later than 7:10. I will be in the front lobby at 7:00 to let students in. Come join Coach McKinley in this SUPER COOL club! Below are the meeting dates. Please Return to Coach McKinley ASAP.

Meeting Dates:

Fall Semester:
September 15th, September 22nd, September 29th, October 6th, October 20th, October 27th

Spring Semester:
Dates TBD

Reader's Theater Club
Sponsors: Brenda Hitchcock, Heather Thorpe, Janet Zawacki

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

The purpose of Readers’ Theater Club is to combine reading and performing scripts to help students improve their reading skills and confidence. It can help students develop fluency, comprehension, and expressive reading skills. Reader's theater can also help students learn collaboration skills, integrate reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and foster confidence in public speaking.

This club will meet one Wednesday per month from 7:00 am - 7:45 am on the dates below.

Meeting Dates:
September 16th
October 21st
November 11th
December 16th

Running Club
Sponsors: Cindy Faulkner, Lindsay McDonald, Jacob Williams

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Students

Running Club will focus on increasing students' running times, mileage, and/or endurance. At each practice, we will be running/walking/jogging and playing running games. Students should dress appropriately in athletic clothing and shoes. Students will work toward the goal of completing an optional 5k in October. More details will be provided. 

Fall Running Club will meet on Thursdays from September 3 - October 22. Practice will start right after school and will end promptly at 3:45. Students will need to be picked up no later that 3:55 PM on practice days.

We will have a Spring Club. Sign ups and more information will be sent out in February.

Fall Dates:
September: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
October: 1st, 8th, 22nd