Student Life/Extracurricular

A fundamental building block for a successful school is student participation.  Elected members of Jr. Beta Club have an opportunity to be active participants in the culture of the school and community by giving opinions to key decision makers.  

Jr. Beta Club provides an excellent opportunity for students to experience the democratic process for which elections are an integral part.  By voting for representatives, all students have the opportunity to participate in an important element of the school community. 

Responsibilities of elected Jr. Beta Club representatives include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assisting with peer conflict resolution.
• Calendar year planning.
• School mission and vision.
• Assisting with school-wide service and action projects.
• Serving as ambassadors for your class and school, and assist guests in the building.
• Giving a student voice to issues and policies like the school-wide Essential Agreements, service project ideas, technology to purchase, and playground improvements.

A quality Jr. Beta Club representative exhibits and models the attitudes supported by the IB program.  Qualities of a good representative include confidence, empathy, integrity, independence, respect, tolerance, appreciation, cooperation, enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity.

Math Olympiad was created in 1977 by Dr. George Lenchner, an internationally known math educator, the Math Olympiads went public in 1979. Nearly 150, 000 students from 6,000 teams worldwide participated in the Olympiads. All 50 states and about 30 other countries have been represented. Our team has been named to the National Math Olympiad Honor Roll for two consecutive years. To earn this honor teams must score in the 90^th percentile.

The math team is open to 4th and 5th graders and meets weekly for an hour. Team members explore a topic or strategy in depth, using Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics (or other sources), or they practice for the contests, using non-routine problems from both Math Olympiad Contest Problems Volume 2 or Mathematical Olympiads Contest Problems for elementary schools.

The highlights for students are the five monthly contests, given from November to March. No traveling is required. These contests provide an incentive for students to intensify their study of math.

Coaches

Mrs. Carla Kendall, Ed.S., cckendall@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Ms. Christina Malcangi, MS, Christina.malcang@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Mrs. Dorothy Chu, MS, ddchu@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Mrs. Lena Minock, MS, elene.minock@atlanta.k12.ga.us

About Reading Bowl 

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (“HRRB”) is a unique reading competition offered to 4th and 5th graders at Brandon. The “bowl” is a competition between schools and uses questions from the Georgia Book Award nominees in a quiz bowl-like format.

About the Team

Our reading bowl team consists of 10 dedicated students selected through a tryout process lasting approximately six weeks. During this period, we evaluate potential team members based on several criteria. To qualify, students must read as many books on the HRRB list as possible, submitting ten questions (and answers) for each book. Additionally, we consider their AR quiz scores, attendance at pre-selection meetings, and their ability to answer questions about the books. Lastly, a spirit of competitiveness is essential, as we seek enthusiastic readers eager to excel as part of the team.

Coaches

Mrs. Lander – lwaddell@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Mrs. Morehart – Emily.morehart@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Book List 2025-2026

• BAGLEY, J. (2023). DUEL. SIMON AND SCHUSTER.
• BAPTISTE, T. (2024). MOKO MAGIC: CARNIVAL CHAOS. FREEDOM FIRE.
• HARRELL, R. (2024). POP CORN. DIAL BOOKS.
• HAUTMAN, P. (2024). ANSWERS TO DOG. CANDLEWICK.
• KESSLER, L. (2023). CODE NAME KINGFISHER. SIMON AND SCHUSTER.
• KORMAN, G. (2024). FAKER. SCHOLASTIC.
• MILLER, C. (2024). MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL. PHILOMEL.
• NESS, P. (2024). CHRONICLES OF A LIZARD NOBODY.WALKER.
• PONTI, J. (2024). THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY. ALADDIN BOOKS.
• SMITH, N. (2024). STRANDED. SCHOLASTIC.

Morris Brandon is proud to have Girl Scout Troops and Cub Scout Dens as part of their community.  Please see below for more information.

Girl Scouts

Brandon girls can join Girl Scouts starting in 1st Grade.  Meetings are usually held once a month during the week at the school until approximately 3:30 or 4:00pm.  Registration takes place in the Spring and troops are assigned over the summer.  We will do our best to accommodate all girls that wish to be a part of the troop!  If you are new to the school and/or your daughter wishes to join the Girl Scouts and is not already assigned to a troop, email Darla Hays, Area Executive, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, at dhays@gsgatl.org. For more information about Girl Scouts, please visit the Atlanta Council website https://www.girlscoutsatl.org.

Cub Scouts

Cub Scouts is a year-round program designed to meet the needs of young boys and their families. The Cub Scout program allows boys and their parents to do fun things like camping, hiking, and racing Pinewood Derby cars while meeting new friends, building character and social skills, improving physical fitness, and developing a spirit of community service.  Boys begin as Tiger Cubs in the first grade, then move into the Wolf and Bear Cub Scout programs (second and third grades), and then into the Webelos Scouts program (fourth and fifth grade). Cub Scouts transition into the Boy Scout program near the end of the fifth grade.

Boys from Morris Brandon are eligible to join Cub Scout Pack 298.  Pack 298 consists of about 150 boys, mostly from Morris Brandon.  Pack 298 is sponsored by Northside Methodist Church and meetings are typically held at the Scout Lodge there, but the Cub Scout program is not affiliated with any particular faith or denomination and boys of all faiths and denominations are welcome.

The Cub Scouts in each grade are organized into Dens of about ten boys led by an adult volunteer, who serves as the Den Leader. The Dens typically meet twice a month. The Den Leader picks the meeting days and location for each Den.

If your son is interested joining Cub Scouts or if you are interested in serving as an adult volunteer, please contact the Cubmaster Mark Edwards at 404-579-1600 or medwards711@gmail.com.

Girls on the Run® is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grades. The program teaches life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. It culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

Morris Brandon Contact: 
Emily Morehart
emily.morehart@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Girls on the Run