How to Start An After School Gaming Club in Your Parochial Middle School
Starting an after-school gaming club in a parochial middle school offers a unique opportunity to combine faith-based education with the benefits of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). These games foster creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking while providing a fun and engaging way for students to connect with their peers. This guide is tailored specifically for educators in parochial schools, highlighting the steps necessary to create and sustain a successful gaming club that aligns with your school’s values and educational goals.
1. Aligning the Gaming Club with School Values
Faith and Fun: Integrating School Values
When introducing a gaming club in a parochial setting, it’s important to ensure that the activities align with the school’s mission and values:
Spiritual Growth: Choose games that promote positive moral lessons and reflect Christian values such as kindness, honesty, and cooperation.
Community Building: Emphasize the club as a way to strengthen the school community, helping students develop strong, supportive relationships.
Educational Benefits: Highlight how TTRPGs can reinforce academic skills, particularly in areas like reading comprehension, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Games to Consider:
Holy Lands: A faith-based TTRPG that focuses on biblical themes and moral decision-making.
The Light of Christ: A custom campaign setting that incorporates Christian virtues into traditional fantasy gameplay.
Standard Games with Faith Adaptations: Dungeon Crawl Classics or Powered by the Apocalypse can easily be adapted to include faith-based storylines that reinforce the school’s teachings.
Supporting Resource: Check out Christian Gamers Guild for resources on integrating faith with gaming.
Sample Values Alignment Table:
School Value
Gaming Club Focus
Example Game/Activity
Spiritual Growth
Encouraging moral and ethical decision-making
Holy Lands campaign on virtues of the Bible
Community Building
Fostering collaboration and supportive relationships
Group storytelling and cooperative gameplay
Academic Reinforcement
Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Puzzle-based quests with ethical dilemmas
2. Securing Approval from School Administration and Parents
Building Trust and Support
Gaining approval from both the school administration and parents is a crucial step in establishing your gaming club:
Prepare a Detailed Proposal: Include how the club aligns with the school’s mission, the educational benefits, and how it will be supervised.
Parent Involvement: Host an informational session for parents to explain the club’s objectives and the types of games that will be played. Address any concerns about content or time commitment.
Administration Meeting: Schedule a meeting with the principal or school board to present your proposal and answer questions. Be prepared to discuss how the club will reflect the school’s values.
Tips for Addressing Concerns:
Content Concerns: Offer to provide parents and administrators with game materials in advance for review.
Time Commitment: Clearly outline the schedule and emphasize that participation is voluntary and flexible.
Sample Approval Process Table:
Step
Action Items
Outcome
Proposal Preparation
Align club goals with school mission, outline benefits
Comprehensive proposal ready for review
Parent Information Session
Host session to explain club objectives and address concerns
Parent understanding and support
Administration Meeting
Present proposal, discuss alignment with school values
Official approval to start the club
Supporting Resource: For tips on gaining administrative support, visit Edutopia and explore their resources on school clubs and activities.
3. Recruiting Students and Promoting the Club
Generating Interest and Excitement
To create a thriving gaming club, you’ll need to effectively recruit students and build excitement around the club’s activities:
Flyers and Announcements: Create visually appealing flyers that can be posted around the school. Use the morning announcements to promote the club.
Faith-Based Themes: Highlight the club’s alignment with Christian values, which may appeal to both students and parents.
Demo Games: Host a demo session after school where interested students can experience what a typical game session is like.
Inclusion Strategies:
Open to All: Emphasize that the club is open to all students, regardless of their prior experience with gaming.
Variety of Games: Offer different types of games to cater to a wide range of interests, from fantasy adventures to puzzle-solving games with moral dilemmas.
Sample Recruitment Poster:
Join the Adventure!
What? Faith-Based Tabletop Role-Playing Game Club
When? Every Thursday after school
Where? Room 305
Who? Open to all students—no experience needed!
Why? Grow in faith, make new friends, and go on epic adventures!
Student Interest Pie Chart:
A pie chart can visually represent potential student interest based on a survey or signup sheet.
Interest Level
Percentage
Highly Interested
40%
Moderately Interested
30%
Slightly Interested
20%
Not Interested
10%
Supporting Resource: For ideas on engaging students in extracurricular activities, refer to Youth First.
4. Gathering Resources and Materials
What You’ll Need
To run a successful gaming club, you’ll need to gather the right materials and resources:
Faith-Based Game Materials: Look for or create game materials that incorporate Christian themes and values.
Dice and Character Sheets: These are essential for gameplay. Many TTRPGs offer free printable character sheets online.
Rulebooks and Guides: While some games offer free rules online, having physical copies available for students is helpful.
Snacks and Refreshments: Providing light snacks can make meetings more enjoyable and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Where to Source Materials:
Local Churches: Reach out to local churches for donations or to collaborate on creating faith-based game content.
Online Communities: Join online communities, such as the Christian Gamers Guild, to access free resources and connect with other faith-based gaming groups.
Educational Grants: Explore grants specifically for faith-based extracurricular activities.
Budget Planning Table:
Item
Estimated Cost
Notes
Faith-Based Starter Kits
$25 - $60 each
Look for specific Christian-themed games or adapt existing ones.
Dice Sets
$10 - $15 per set
Bulk purchases can lower the cost.
Rulebooks
$30 - $50 each
Check for used or discounted options.
Snacks & Drinks
$20 - $30 per week
Optional, but recommended.
Fundraiser Materials
Varies
Could include bake sales, raffles, etc.
5. Structuring Your Club Meetings
A Typical Meeting Agenda
Structuring your meetings is key to ensuring that students are engaged and the club runs smoothly:
Opening Prayer: Start each meeting with a short prayer or reflection that ties into the day’s game or theme.
Game Introduction: Briefly review the rules and introduce any new players.
Main Gameplay Session: Dive into the game session, focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, and the day’s moral or spiritual lesson.
Reflection Time: After gameplay, spend a few minutes discussing how the game’s events relate to Christian values or teachings.
Closing Prayer: End the session with a closing prayer, thanking God for the time spent together.
Tips for Structuring Meetings:
Flexibility: Be open to adjusting the schedule based on the needs and energy levels of the students.
Leadership Roles: Encourage students to take on leadership roles, such as leading the opening prayer or managing the game session.
Sample Meeting Agenda Table:
Time
Activity
Details
3:00 PM - 3:05 PM
Opening Prayer
A short prayer or reflection to set the tone for the meeting.
3:05 PM - 3:15 PM
Game Introduction
Review game rules, introduce new members, and set objectives.
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Main Gameplay Session
Engage in the day’s adventure, focusing on teamwork and Christian values.
4:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Reflection Time
Discuss how the game’s events relate to faith and Christian teachings.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Prayer
End with a prayer, thanking God for the fellowship and fun.
Supporting Resource: Visit Catholic Education Resource Center for guidance on integrating faith with extracurricular activities.
6. Addressing Potential Challenges
Navigating Common Issues
Running a gaming club in a parochial school setting may come with unique challenges. Here’s how to address them:
Content Concerns: Ensure that all game content is reviewed and approved by the administration. Avoid games that contain themes or imagery that might conflict with Christian teachings.
Parental Concerns: Keep an open line of communication with parents. Provide them with information about the games being played and the values being taught.
Inclusivity: Make sure the club is welcoming to all students, regardless of their gaming experience or level of interest in faith-based themes.
Tips for Overcoming Challenges:
Regular Check-Ins: Hold regular check-ins with the administration and parents to address any concerns.
Adaptability: Be willing to adapt the games or themes to better align with the school’s mission and values.
Conclusion
Starting an after-school gaming club in your parochial middle school is an excellent way to enrich students’ educational experience while reinforcing Christian values. With careful planning, effective communication with parents and administrators, and a focus on faith-based gaming, your club can thrive as a positive and engaging space for students to grow both spiritually and socially. By addressing challenges and maintaining alignment with the school’s mission, you’ll create a club that is not only fun but also meaningful and enriching.
Resources and References
Catholic Education Resource Center: Articles and resources on incorporating faith into education.
Witch Pleas Publishing Official Site: Your source for deep discounts for educators, librarians and teachers on education-oriented tabletop roleplaying games.
DriveThruRPG: A comprehensive resource for RPG rulebooks and materials.
Education Week: Articles on the educational benefits of roleplaying games.
DriveThruRPG: Offers a vast selection of RPG rulebooks and supplements.
The Roleplaying Game Guide: A comprehensive guide to different RPG systems and game masters’ advice.
Tabletop Gaming Magazine: Offers reviews, guides, and news on the latest tabletop RPGs.
