Activities

Open to all students, this activity competes against other metro area teams. Students quickly answer general knowledge questions at South Suburban and Quiz Bowl League tournaments from November to March.

Fee: $40

This is a joint project of ISD 191 Community Education, the BHS Art Department, and the BHS Youth Service Program to raise funds for BrainPower in a BackPack. Activities include making ceramic soup bowls, teaching others, and hosting a meal for this hunger cause.

BrainPower in a BackPack is a community service project of the BHS Youth Service Program that provides weekend food for elementary school children in need. Volunteer activities include collecting food items, raising funds, shopping, and packing backpacks every Thursday.

The chess team competes in Minnesota State Chess Association tournaments, South Suburban Conference tournaments, and several special tournaments. A letter may be earned by attendance and performance at practices and league play. Team and individual awards may be earned from league competition and special tournaments.

Fee: $49/89*

*$49 for fall or winter quarter only; $89 for the full year

In this exciting activity, students will first explore and then select one of 13 possible competition categories that offer a wide range of interests as well as varying levels of time commitments. The categories include Creative Expression, Discussion, Dramatic Duo (done with a partner), Extemporaneous Reading, Extemporaneous Speaking, Great Speeches, Humorous Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, Serious Drama Interpretation, Serious Prose, Serious Poetry Interpretation, and Storytelling. Individual practice times are set up by coach and student allowing for flexibility and greater student success. You may earn a letter by competing in at least 5 meets and accumulating 25 hours of practice time. Speech practices begin in December and meets begin the last week of January and continue each Saturday through the second or third week of April. Competitive Speech is a great way to improve speaking skills that will endure for a lifetime.

Fee: $45

Members of the Debate Team compete on intramural and interscholastic levels to learn advanced methods of organized argumentation on highly controversial issues. (An activity particularly worthwhile for students planning on becoming lawyers).

Team Fee: $35

DECA is the leadership network that prepares students for careers in marketing, entrepreneurship, hospitality, business management, and finance. Through real-world experiences and classroom curriculum, DECA gives students a competitive edge for college and career success.

Fee: $110

The drumline is for all band students to enrich their band experience. Large and small group instruction on percussion instruments will be the focus as participants develop a performance for competition in Minnesota Percussion Association (MPA) events. Students are expected to participate in weekly practice sessions and any scheduled events. Students (7-12) currently enrolled in the District 191 Instrumental Music Program are eligible to participate. Eight band letter points are awarded for each season of participation.

Fee: $55

Blaze Robotics, Team 3184, is comprised of high school students in good academic standing from grades 9 through 12. The team is supported by high school staff members and adult mentors from corporate sponsors and the community. This is a year-round program which includes a six-week “build season” to design, build and program a competition robot. Each spring, the team competes with the robot at regional competitions around the country, as well as at a championship event. There are many aspects to the program including Java Programming and CAD Design, photography and videography, marketing, communications, electronics, engineering design and build, social media, and much more! Snacks are provided.

Fee: $50

Contact: Blaze Robotics at team3184@gmail.com

The Burnsville FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a robotics competition open to students interested in STEM in grades 7-12. Teams of 8 students design, build, and control competition robots for each season. No previous experience in robotics is necessary. Robots are created using Android phones and Tetrix parts (www.tetrixrobotics.com). The season runs from early September through February, with regional competitions in the Midwest, and the FTC World Championship in late April in Detroit, Michigan.

See www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc for program and game description.

Fee: $50

Contact: David Peters at ftcburnsville@gmail.com.

FTA is a student organization encouraging students to pursue post-secondary education in the field of education with a focus on urban learners in an urban, suburban and/or rural setting/environment through events, field trips, guest speakers and other hands-on experiences.

This club allows students to compete in video gaming competitions with peers and online in competitions with students from other schools. Students do not need prior computer programming knowledge to be a part of the club. This club is for students who love to create and play games. We will use lots of different software as well as share some of your favorite games to play. This club meets throughout the school year.

Burnsville's Gender-Sexuality Alliance, or GSA for short, is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting our school and community. GSA serves as a vehicle for social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice. GSAs in schools have been proven to provide a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance. All students, no matter your gender or sexuality are welcome.

The Marching Band is responsible for supplying music and generating enthusiasm at fall sporting events and school assemblies. The band consists of a wind section (woodwind and brass) and percussion (drumline). Admission to scheduled events is free for Marching Band members. The group rehearses two or three times per week, beginning with a mini-camp experience at BHS in August. Students (9-12) currently enrolled in the District 191 Instrumental Music Program are eligible to participate. Eight band letter points are awarded for each season of participation.

Fee: $55

The Math League Team stimulates interest and learning of mathematics and trains members for competitive participation in the Minnesota High School Mathematics League (MHSML). The MHSML gives awards to the top teams, the top individuals, and to the top student on each team. Attendance and performances at practices and meets may earn a letter.

Extra Credit

Extra credit may be earned for participation in math league which consists of an increase in one grade increment in your math course. (For example, an increase from a B+ to an A- or an increase from A- to an A, etc.) If students already have an A in their math courses at the time of the final exam, they shall be exempt from taking a final. This grade increment can be earned first semester or second semester or both semesters. The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for this extra credit:

First semester

• Compete in at least five of the six Math League competitions 
• Accumulate 18 points in the six competitions
• Participate in all practices and meetings
• Sign up and pay for the AMC test

Second semester

• Compete in at least four of the five Math League competitions
• Accumulate 15 points in the five competitions
• Participate in all practices and meeting
• Take the AMC test

*A student will not receive more than one increment bump per course per semester. In other words, if you qualify for an increment bump in two ways, such as in math league and in perfect attendance, you would only get an increase of one increment.

Fee: $45

The Minnesota High School Mock Trial Program is an exciting law-related education program that introduces students to the American legal system and provides a challenging opportunity for personal growth and achievement. Students will exercise their critical thinking and teamwork skills, as well as the basic skills learned in the classroom.

Fee: $45

The National Honor Society is an organization for top-ranking juniors and seniors. BHS students are considered for entry into NHS if they have earned enough credits to be a junior or senior and have at least a 3.6 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for those students who qualify for dual ranking. For those students who do not qualify for dual ranking, the minimum GPA is 3.8. Students who are eligible academically are contacted prior to the start of fall semester. NHS membership is also based on character, leadership, and service. Students must complete and return an informational sheet demonstrating those qualities for review. The faculty council then determines membership. Once students are part of NHS, they must continue to meet the academic, leadership, character, and service standards. Students who take courses under the Pass/Fail option are not eligible for National Honor Society membership. Transfer students must meet all requirements and have attended BHS at least one full semester to qualify for NHS.

The Pep Band is responsible for supplying music and generating enthusiasm at winter season athletic events and school assemblies. Admission to scheduled events is free for members. The season begins in late November and runs through March. Members should expect to perform at no more than two events per week. Students in grades 9-12 currently enrolled in the District 191 Instrumental Music Program are eligible to participate. Eight band letter points are awarded for each season of participation.

This is an after-school activity for people interested in hand-on science and engineering. Learn about radioactivity, weather balloons, Rube Goldberg machines, magnets, electronics, and exotic materials such as liquid Nitrogen and superconductors. Physics Club also participates in regional science activities and competitions.

Science Club gives students an opportunity to hear scientific-career speakers and scientific-research presentations. Field trips and social events are also a part of club activities

Students have opportunities to conduct independent research and compete at the Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Students may move on to the Minnesota Academy of Science State Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Students may enter their projects in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. Research papers may also progress onto the Tri-State and National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Teams of five students comprise the Burnsville Science Quiz Bowl. Teams compete at Macalester College and may qualify to compete at the National Science Quiz Bowl. Students are selected for their ability to answer questions in the areas of chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, current events and computer science.

Fee: $45

Singers and Swingers, run through the ISD 191 Community Education Department, are a group of male and female students interested in swing dancing. The group practices at Nicollet Middle School and performs at various functions and events throughout the year.

The Student Council is the governing organization of the student body. Students interested in membership on the Student Council must complete an application each spring with the student council advisor. Selections are made by the senior council members and student council advisor each spring. All elected members form next school year’s Student Council. Student Council is involved with organizing Homecoming, Relay for Life, leadership conferences, International Dance, Minneapolis Miracle project, Snow Week, and Prom. Numerous activities occur during the school year that require student action, participation and/or representation.

This organization is open to all students at the high school level who have an interest in the entire theatrical experience from ushering to acting, designing to directing and lights to sound. Student managers are selected each year to oversee areas of production and performance. The guild is involved in musicals, full-length plays, one-act competition, student-directed plays, Class Acts and many other activities. Points are earned and applied toward lettering in drama. Each production has an activity fee associated with it. Musicals, full-length plays and SHOWcase are $75 while all one-acts are $55 each. There is no maximum fee associated with the Theatre Guild productions.

Productions for THE 2021-22 school year

• Fall musical (directed by Erika Sasseville)
• One-act competition (Mark Hubbard)
• Spring TBD 
• Winter full-length play (directed by Erika Sasseville)

Fee: Varies

Theater Guild Website

Burnsville Blaze Boys Volleyball is open to boys in grades 7-12 interested in competing in the sport of volleyball. The Blaze compete in the Minnesota Boys High School Volleyball Association. Teams available will be Varsity, JV, and JV2

The Writing Center provides peer tutors who can help students with any writing assignments. Tutors can help with generating ideas, organizing layout, finding and citing evidence and using grammar correctly. The Writing Center meets in half hour sessions before or after school.

The student based staff prepares the yearbook for publication each year by working during study hall, after school, and sometimes weekends and breaks. There are many opportunities available for dedicated students in areas such as art, photography, sports, copywriting, sales and a deeper involvement in student life.

Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government is an experiential learning activity for students interested in public issues. This program gives students the opportunity to research, study and debate public issues. Participants will gain an understanding of the political system by taking part in model government experiences. No prior experience is necessary. There is a fee through the YMCA for this activity.

The Youth Service Program connects students with volunteer opportunities in schools and community. Students can give their time on a regular basis (weekly or other) or volunteer for one-time events on their own schedule.