Student Organizations
Through a broad range of clubs and activities, Catholic High School provides rich opportunities for students to explore other cultures, learn new skills, develop leadership, form new friendships and simply have fun. All of the organizations listed below are open to all students; invitations to Honor Societies are based on academic performance and members of Student Government - Executive Council and Class Officers - are selected by vote of the student body.
Dates, times, and locations of meetings will be announced in the morning announcements, which are read and posted in homerooms and on Renweb. Any student who wishes to participate should attend a meeting or contact the moderator of the activity.
Clubs
- Anime
- Asian Pacific Islander Culture Society Club
- Art Club
- Blue Crab Bowl Team
- Board Game Club
- Chemistry Club
- Chess Club
- Environmental Crusader Club
- Film Club
- Forensics and Debate Team
- German Club
- International Cultural Club
Anime
Asian Pacific Islander Culture Society Club
Art Club
Blue Crab Bowl Team
(Dr. Carol Stapanowich) The Blue Crab Bowl Team is named after the Virginia regional competition for the National Ocean Science Bowl. Representing Catholic High School, this team competes annually in the Blue Crab Bowl academic competition at either Old Dominion University or the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences in alternating years.
Catholic High School teams have proven to be very competitive in the Blue Crab Bowl, winning nine times and finishing second in an additional four Blue Crab Bowls. As Blue Crab Bowl champions, our team won trips to the national finals in Miami, Florida in 2001; Anchorage/Seward, Alaska in 2008; Washington, DC in 2009; St. Petersburg, Florida in 2010; Galveston, Texas in 2011; Baltimore, Maryland in 2012; Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2013; Seattle, Washington in 2014 and Ocean Springs, Mississippi in 2015.
Additionally, the team competes annually in the National Science Bowl, Virginia regional competition at Jefferson Labs. A competitive team has 4 members and an alternate who are selected from students with an interest in science who are willing to have lots of fun and work hard to train for the competitions. CHS usually fields an “A” and a “B” team.
Only in our seventh year of competition in the National Science Bowl, Virginia regional, CHS finished third in the state in 2009, 2010, 2011 and fourth in 2013.
New members are always welcome.
Board Game Club
Chemistry Club
Chemistry Club
- Instructor: Mrs. Jennifer McMullen
- Occurrence: monthly
- Start Time: 3:00 p.m.
- End Time: 4:00 p.m.
- Description: ChemClub invites, motivates, and encourages high school students to explore the many ways that chemistry connects to their world. Supported by the American Chemical Society, ChemClub provides fun, authentic, and hands-on opportunities for members to:
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experience chemistry beyond what is taught in the classroom
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learn about study and career opportunities in the many and varied fields of chemistry
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provide service for the betterment of their communities
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discover and pursue connections within the larger chemistry community
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develop leadership and communication skills.
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Chess Club
Environmental Crusader Club
Film Club
Forensics and Debate Team
(Ms. Deborah Plummer) Forensics and debate are academic activities and events designed to develop students’ skills in public speaking, performance, critical thinking, argumentation, and communication. The Forensics and Debate Team strives to foster academic competition, collaboration, diversity, and the intellectual, spiritual, and cultural growth of its students within and beyond the school community.
German Club
International Cultural Club
(Mrs. Eileen Monacchio) Students will explore different cultures and traditions in addition to cultivating cross-cultural friendships. Students will recognize that by experiencing the traditions, foods, and history of different cultures we increase our cultural awareness, and can appreciate our similarities and differences.
- Latin Club
- Literary Magazine Club (Paladin)
- Medical Club
- Model U.N.
- Operation Smile
- Philosophy Club
- Robotics Club
- Science Fiction Club
- Spanish Club
- Stitches for a Cause
- Student Council Association
- Students for Life Club
- Technology Club
- Yearbook Club
Latin Club
(Ms. Molly McOsker) Latin Club is dedicated to the study and enjoyment of the Latin language, Roman culture, and the Classical world. We are affiliated with the Virginia Junior Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, and our members have the opportunity to attend the VJCL Convention held in Richmond annually in November to meet and compete with scholars and students of Latin from all over the state.
Literary Magazine Club (Paladin)
(Mrs. Lisa Moskowitz) The Paladin Literary Magazine is a student staffed, literary and arts publication. Members of the club edit and contribute to the annual publication of the magazine. Students are welcome to join the club in the fall and earn staff positions in the spring based on their contributions to the editing process. Club meetings (Wednesdays) are working meetings on the publication. Additional staff duties may include: sponsoring writing events, marketing and advertising submission and publication windows, archiving past issues, selecting and editing submissions, and copy writing for the magazine.
Medical Club
(Mrs. Julie Mazzeo) The Medical Club provides students the chance to learn about careers in the medical field through guest speakers, shadowing opportunities, and summer internships. It also encourages student participation in service activities including the blood drive and mental health awareness day.
Model U.N.
(Mr. Doug Ziegenfuss & Ms. Lauren Kirchner) Model United Nations is a club that practices for and competes in simulations of diplomatic events. That would sound boring, except these events gather hundreds of worldly, Type-A humanities terminators from around the region and country. The club meets regularly and Model UN conferences occur regularly around the region. Our most commonly-attended event is ODUMUN in February.
Operation Smile
(Mrs. Julie Gray) The Catholic High School Chapter of Operation Smile was established during the 2000-2001 school year to raise money for the children's worldwide organization that helps treat facial deformities such as cleft lips and cleft palates. The goal of the club is to raise $500 per year. We look forward to fundraisers, donation drives, and getting students involved in community service hours.
Philosophy Club
Robotics Club
Science Fiction Club
Spanish Club
Stitches for a Cause
Student Council Association
(Mrs. Julie Mazzeo & Mrs. Julie Gray) SCA members are expected to work together sharing ideas and concerns of the student body with sponsors and administrators. Members are to be a point of contact and seek bonding opportunities. SCA will work towards school wide service projects that give back to the community.
Students for Life Club
(Mr. Connor Edgington) The Students for Life Club exists to educate students, raise awareness, and lobby for the protection of life from the moment of conception until natural death. We take a special emphasis on service to our local community, and State as it has become ever more important to advocate for the right and respect for life with our own State and communities.
Technology Club
Yearbook Club
(Mrs. Kiesha Morrison-Poole) Yearbook club members will coordinate to develop our school’s annual publication, The Crusader. Member activities will focus on supporting the construction of the yearbook in conjunction with the photojournalism class. Taking pictures, formatting layouts, editing photographs, copy writing and editing the yearbook are all activities that club members undertake.
Honor Societies
National Honor Society (Mrs. Anita Ridge, Melissa Gismervik, P. Guccio, Laura Morse)
The National Honor Society is an organization that recognizes students for scholarship, character, service, and leadership. Students in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, who meet eligibility requirements as described in the school handbook, are invited to submit credentials. Faculty selection of new members occurs each spring. NHS members tutor fellow students one afternoon per week. The Catholic High Chapter of the National Honor Society is known as the Meehan Chapter.
Foreign Language Honor Societies
Each foreign language at Catholic High School has an honor society. Each of these honor societies promotes the study of its language and culture. Service activities are also undertaken. In order to be considered for membership in any of the foreign language honor societies, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and maintain at least an A- average in the language for a minimum of three consecutive semesters.
The honor societies are:
German National Honor Society - Delta Epsilon Phi, Virginia Gamma Rho Chapter (Frau Laroussi)
Latin National Honor Society - Association Ad Promovendum Studium Latinum (Mrs. McOsker)
Spanish National Honor Society - Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Cápitulo Popocatepetl Chapter (Sra. Glenn)
Science National Honor Society (Mrs. Jennifer McMullen)
Membership in the Catholic High chapter of the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) is conferred during the last two years of secondary school education. The SNHS recognizes high achieving students who particularly enjoy math and science and pursue advanced or honors classes in their junior and senior year. A student must have and maintain a 3.0 (4.0 scale) overall grade point average (GPA) and a 3.5 GPA across all science classes to be a member. In addition, students must enroll in and complete at least one honors or AP level science class during their junior and senior years.
National Mathematics Honor Society (Mr. Rick Pugsley)
Membership in the Catholic High Chapter of the Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society is open to students in grades 11 and 12, who have completed the equivalent of two years of college preparatory mathematics, including algebra and/or geometry, and in addition have completed or are enrolled in a third year of college preparatory mathematics providing their mathematical work was done with distinction. A student must have and maintain a 3.0 (4.0 scale) overall grade point average (GPA) and a 3.5/4.0 (no rounding) GPA or higher in all semesters of mathematics in which they receive high school credit. Induction to the chapter will be conducted during the first quarter of the school year.
Students in grades 10 through 12, who have completed one year of algebra, or its equivalent, with distinction and are currently enrolled in a higher math course are eligible to be associates of Mu Alpha Theta. Associates are not members of Mu Alpha Theta but are likely candidates for membership. Associates do not pay the initiation fee but are eligible to be listed with the National Office, should they wish to participate in Mu Alpha Theta national math contests. While they are not entitled to vote nor hold office in their chapter, they are entitled to attend and be heard at meetings. A student may remain an associate for only one year and then, if eligible, must be inducted as a member of Mu Alpha Theta.
National English Honor Society (Mrs. Laura Morse)
Membership in NEHS is an honor bestowed on individuals selected for their accomplishments in the field of English and in overall academic achievement. Qualifications for entrance into NEHS include a 3.5 (4.0) grade point average in English classes and a 3.0 GPA overall. Students must complete two semesters of English prior to induction as members, complete an application form, engage in service projects (Young Readers Competition) in the spring, and attend chapter meetings.
Tri-M Music Honor Society (Mrs. Teresa Browndorf)
The Tri-M Music Honor Society (Chapter 8026) recognizes students that have gone above and beyond both academically and musically. It is a service organization that focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Candidates for membership must have taken two semesters of music with a grade of 3.7 or better, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, desire to improve their musicianship, exhibit leadership qualities, and have performed at least 10 hours of community service.
Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society (Ms. Sarah Orleans)
Membership in the Catholic High chapter of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society recognizes students for their accomplishments in the field of Social Studies and in overall academic achievement. Students must have completed two years of Social Studies and have a Social Studies and overall GPA of 3.5.
National Art Honor Society (Mrs. Kiesha Morrison-Poole)
Since 1978, the National Art Honor Society Programs support student members in their efforts to attain the highest standards in art scholarship, character, and service. The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) or National Junior Art Honor Society (NJAHS) are more than “art clubs.” Students are required to meet eligibility criteria for membership as detailed in the chapter’s constitution and bylaws.
Student Government
(Faculty Moderator, Mrs. Rosalynn Pattison)
The Executive Council is composed of four school-wide elected officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Both the Executive Council and the Class Officers support the mission of Catholic High School by developing servant leaders. The SCA addresses student needs and promotes school welfare, fosters effective communication between students, staff, administration, and the school community, embodies and promotes school spirit, and promotes exemplary character and good fellowship. The SCA plans and coordinates many activities such as the Homecoming spirit week and pep rallies, the Winter dance, the March Madness Dodgeball Tournament, and the Spring Color Run.
2024-2025 Representatives
Sophomores:
- President - Mason Weed
- Vice President - Joe Welch
Juniors:
- President - Joshua Seidensticker
- Vice President - Adriel Agene
Seniors:
- President - Aarya Rajashekara
- Vice President - Deeya Rajashekara
Class Moderators
Senior Class
- Jen McMullen-Head Moderator
- Maggie Hudson
- Maddie Junge
- Adam Kelkis
- Jeff Jackson
- Rosalynn Pattison
- Scott Melson
- Caroline Dwyer
Junior Class
- Lisa Moskowitz-Head Moderator
- Kiesha Poole
- Lauren Kirchner
- Doug Ziegenfuss
- Connor Edgington
- Anita Ridge
- Phillip Gruccio
- Austin Benda
Sophomore Class
- Liliana Quiroga-Head Moderator
- Suzanne Glenn
- Mike Muehling
- Carol Stapanowich
- Sarah Orleans
- Nicole Laroussi
- Melissa Gismervik
- Laura Morse
Freshman Class
- Annie Gallagher-Head Moderator
- Deb Plummer
- Molly McOsker
- Sam Laskowski
- Martha Bradley
- Rick Pugsley
- Greg Lusk
- Julie Mazzeo