Chess Club: The chess club is made of students that want to learn how to play chess. They meet once a week and compete in several scholastic chess tournaments throughout the year. The chess club has a president, and a vice-president who presides over the group meetings and helps organize chess club events. Learning chess helps players develop critical thinking skills and creativity skills and much more!
Science Olympiad: Science Olympiad is made up of 4th - 6th grade students that love science. They have to prepare for a competition between other schools in LA County. There are 20 events that involve memorizing facts; creating scientific devices requiring knowledge in aerodynamics, trajectory and thermodynamics; and activities that require being able to “think on your feet.” The competition has been held every year at Occidental college in Eagle Rock. This current year, the Science Olympiad team received the Silver medal.
Battle of the Books – Accelerated Reading Program: It is a program created by the Santa Fe Springs library staff that Rancho Santa Gertrudes is proud to be part of for the last eight years. All students in grades fourth and fifth grade have the opportunity to participate. The challenge is to read 30 books from a list compiled by Mr. Peña and the city literacy service staff. At the end of the year, the students compete with other three elementary schools in the Santa Fe Springs area. Rancho is the only school in the area to have won first place three years in a row. Team coaches are Mrs. Chavez and Mrs. Emily.
Rancho’s Robotic Club & STEAM Program: It is program designed to expose Rancho students to future careers at an early age. This program was offered during some specific Saturdays at Rancho. The program was open to all student grades 2 – 6. Some of the classes offered were: Art painting, ceramics, journalism, web page design, computer essentials skills, and robotics.