Currently, there are a variety of Clubs and Activities taking place at Desert Ridge throughout the day. See the links to the left for additional information. (There will be no Out-of-School Time sponsored clubs or activities this year.)
The Desert Ridge Band program has enjoyed much success since the school opened in 1997. Desert Ridge currently offers three levels of concert band: Beginning, Advanced, and Symphonic.
Desert Ridge also offers two levels of Jazz Band for students who are enrolled in a band or orchestra class during the regular school day who play a traditional jazz instrument (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums, guitar). Some of our bass, piano and guitar players have been students that play another instrument in one of our concert bands or orchestras.
MATHCOUNTS is a National math enrichment and competition program for middle school students. At Desert Ridge the coach is a retired mathematician, Dr. Judy Moore. This activity is a club for advanced math students working to improve problem solving skills. From this club, the representatives from DRMS to the chapter competition will be selected. With the change in bell schedules for Fall of 2024, this will hopefully return to an after school program.
Contact
Judy Moore at judyhmoore@gmail.comor 505-710-6082 to learn more about the program.
The National Junior Honor Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes middle-level students’ for their commitment to the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. The 500 NJHS students selected for the Outstanding Achievement Award receive a $500 college savings plan to support their educational aspirations.
WEB, or Where Everybody Belongs, is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout their first year of their middle school experience.
Through this nationally recognized middle school transition program, members of the 8th-grade class are trained to act as positive role models, mentors, and teachers who guide the 6th graders to discover what it takes to be successful in middle school. Schools have reported that the WEB middle school transition program has enhanced anti-bullying efforts, reduced discipline issues, and increased school safety, creating an improved school climate and a greater sense of connection for the whole school.
