Clubs & Activities

West Aurora High School
Clubs, Activities and Organizations

All Clubs and Organizations are open membership unless otherwise indicated.

* Must be invited or audition to join
**Can join if you are a part of the class

Competitive Clubs
Performance Based Clubs
After School Clubs
Student Government Structure

Competitive Clubs

Club	Staff	Description
Academic Challenge	N. Gross (Math)	To gain a deeper appreciation of Science and Engineering through contests and group activities (formerly titled WYSE). Contact: ngross@sd129.org
Bass Fishing Team	J. Dahle (Jewel MS Science)	For students who want to develop fishing skills in a competitive setting. Contact: jdahle@sd129.org
BPA**	M. Cikesh (District)/C. Sparks (Library)	For students who are interested in computers, business skills or career prep. Contact: mcikesh@sd129.org OR csparks@sd129.org
Chess Team	S. Carroll (Soc Studies)	To learn / perfect the game of chess and increase strategic thinking. Contact: samcarroll@sd129.org
Culinary Club**	L. Brennan (CTE)	To develop culinary skills through catering and events. Contact: lbrennan@sd129.org
DECA**	L. Treadway/J. Whiteaker (CTE)	For career exploration in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Contact: ltreadway@sd129.org OR jennifer.whiteaker@sd129.org
E-Sports	J. Favela (Div)	Participate in a multiplayer video games played competitively for spectators. We turn video game playing into a sport! Contact: jfavela@sd129.org
FCCLA**	K. Armstrong/ L. Nudera (CTE)	To explore careers in Family and Consumer Sciences. Contact: karmstrong@sd129.org OR lnudera@sd129.org
HOSA**	A. Sonnefeldt (HSCA)	To promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. Contact: asonnefeldt@sd129.org
JROTC Drill Team**	S. Hellinger/E. Pettyjohn (USAF)	The purpose of the Drill Team is to enable a team to move as a cohesive unit in an orderly manner. It aids in disciplinary training by instilling habits of precision and response to a leader’s orders, which then provides the development of strong character, attention to detail, and excellence. Contact: shellinger@sd129.org OR epettyjohn@sd129.org
Mathletes	M. Love/N. Gross/J. Maston (Math)	To gain a deeper appreciation of math through contest / group activities. Contact: mlove@sd129.org, ngross@sd129.org, OR jmaston@sd129.org
Scholastic Bowl Team	C. Bourjaily (CTE)	To compete in a Jeopardy-like team against other schools. Contact: chris.bourjaily@sd129.org
Skills USA	K. Phillips (CTE)	A national organization serving students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Contact: kphillips@sd129.org
Speech Team	TBD/TBD	To develop skills in defending one’s opinion in a competitive setting. Contact: N/A
StellarXplorers	S. Freitag (CTE)/E. Pettyjohn (USAF)	To function as a team in a competitive environment, solve complex engineering problems, and develop critical thinking skills. Subject matter focuses on creative solutions to optimize satellite design and launch planning. Contact: sfreitag@sd129.org OR epettyjohn@sd129.org

Performance Based Clubs

Club	Staff	Description
Band**	P. Sampson/R. Schueller/J. Sierakowski (Fine Arts)	To provide entertainment and develop skills in music. Contact: rschueller@sd129.org, psampson@sd129.org, OR jsierakowski@sd129.org
Choir**	B. Smith/G. Currie (Fine Arts)	To develop skills and appreciation for singing. Contact: briansmith@sd129.org OR grace.currie@sd129.org
Comedy Club	S. Stern (Science)	A student group who writes, casts and performs an annual sketch comedy show. Contact: sstern@sd129.org
Drama Club	K. Ruffalo (English/Fine Arts)	To provide opportunities for backstage, onstage and theatre activities. Fall Play -* J. Pauley (English): to produce and participate in a Main stage production of a drama or comedy. Contact: jpauley@sd129.org Winter Play -* S. Becker (English): a Main stage production of a drama or comedy open to freshmen/sophomores or students new to Drama. Contact: sbecker@sd129.org Winter One Acts* - All Drama Staff: to allow a venue for student-directed and produced one-act plays. Spring Musical* - K. Ruffalo (English): to produce and participate in a Main stage production of a musical. Contact: kruffalo@sd129.org
Madrigals*	B. Smith (Fine Arts)	To develop skills and appreciation for music through madrigal music. Contact: briansmith@sd129.org
Step Team*	T. Towles / T. Walls (Div)	To be part of a competitive spirit squad which uses rhythmic sounds in a drill team fashion. Contact: ttowles@sd129.org OR twalls@sd129.org

After School Clubs

Club	Staff	Description
Above The Influence	R. Norkett/J. Diestelkamp (Soc Studies)	Encourages students to remain “above the influence” of Drugs, Alcohol, Distracted Driving and other Negative Influences that teens face in today’s society. Contact: rnorkett@sd129.org OR jdiestelkamp@sd129.org
African American Heritage Club	T. Walls (Div)	To promote cultural pride and explore influences that shape the African-American community. Contact: twalls@sd129.org
Alianza Hispana	O. Delahoya (World Lang)	To promote cultural pride and influences that shape the Hispanic community. Contact: odelahoya@sd129.org
American Sign Language (ASL) Club	K. Szkola (Diversified)	To increase awareness and knowledge of communicating with individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. Contact: kszkola@sd129.org
Anime Club	S. Schultz (Art)	To provide opportunities to explore the world of anime. Contact: sschultz@sd129.org
BE (Biblical Escape)	C. Sendzimer (World Lang)	A student-led club that brings fellowship and fun, offering an escape of the busyness of high school by reading the Bible and talking about God. Contact: csendzimer@sd129.org
Book Club	C. Sparks (Library)	To read and discuss books to promote the love of reading and critical thinking. Contact: csparks@sd129.org
Breakthrough	B. Farren (English)/C. Tammen (Soc Studies)	A student-led Christian/Catholic club that brings in guest speakers and worship leaders, attends concerts and conferences, and participates in community service and outreach events. Contact: bfarren@sd129.org OR ctammen@sd129.org
Broadcasting Club	T. Mielcarz (Auditorium)	To teach broadcasting skills and practice them at school events. Contact: tmielcarz@sd129.org
Campaign 4 Kindness	C. Winchell (Math)	To promote and spread acts of kindness at school. Contact: cwinchell@sd129.org
Clay Club	E. Bogucki (Fine Arts)	To develop or expand on skills creating pottery and other clay artwork. Contact: ebogucki@sd129.org
Coding Club	L. Treadway (CTE)	To learn how to code and experience new coding languages in the world of computer programming. Contact: ltreadway@sd129.org
Creative Writing Club	C Hill (English)	An opportunity to share your poetry or short stories and learn about upcoming writing competitions and events. Contact: chill@sd129.org
Educators Rising	J. Coy (Health)	To provide an atmosphere for those students who want to be educators. Contact: jcoy@sd129.org
Empowered Women of the Future	T. Shepard (English)	To empower the young women at West High to discover their voices and make them known in our school, community, state and country to promote social justice. Contact: tshepard@sd129.org
Film Club	M. Persons (English)	An opportunity to study and enjoys movies of various genres. Contact: mpersons@sd129.org
French Club**	A. Schultz (World Lang)	To learn about the French culture and language. Contact: aschultz@sd129.org
French Honor Society*	A. Schultz (World Lang)	To promote scholarship and to recognize high honor achievement in the French language. Contact: aschultz@sd129.org
Games Club	R. Payne (Soc Studies)	To provide opportunities for gaming - both board and interactive. Contact: rpayne@sd129.org
Global Minds	A. Cyrus/K. Orchard (Guidance)	A for-youth by-youth organization inspiring students to form social bonds, intercultural friendships, and consider global issues in order to combat the issues of cultural intolerance and discrimination. Contact: acyrus@sd129.org OR korchard@sd129.org
Gospel Choir	J. Howard (BH Campus)/A. Smith (Out-of-District)	To foster the love of gospel music and prepare for performances. Contact: jhoward@sd129.org OR angelasmith@sd129.org
Homework Club	J. Hartland (Diversified)	Need help on your homework? If so, drop in any time after school to get assistance; meet Monday-Thursday in Room B268. Contact: jhartland@sd129.org
Key Club	K. Ludwig (Div)	A student-led organization whose goal is to encourage leadership through serving others. Contact: kludwig@sd129.org
Making History	R. Payne (Soc Studies)	An opportunity to create historical models and dioramas as well as discuss historically significant events. Contact: rpayne@sd129.org
Mental Health Awareness Club	W. Ha (Soc Studies)	To promote an understanding and acceptance of mental health issues. Contact: wha@sd129.org
Muses	J. Pauley (English)	To produce a literary magazine which includes poetry, stories and more. Contact: jpauley@sd129.org
National Art Honor Society*	J. Goeringer (Art)	To honor and promote scholarship, leadership, character and service through the arts. Contact: jgoeringer@sd129.org
National Honor Society*	T. Shepard (English)	To honor and promote scholarship, leadership, character and service. Contact: tshepard@sd129.org
PAWS	J. Black/J. Larson (Diversified)	To promote awareness of animal welfare efforts and help homeless pets. Contact: jblack@sd129.org OR julielarson@sd129.org
Photography Club	K. Rhodes (Fine Arts)	To develop creativity through photography. Contact: krhodes@sd129.org
Pride Club	A. Packard (World Lang)	To promote a safe and welcoming school environment for all students. Contact: apackard@sd129.org
Robotics	TBD	Teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge. Contact: N/A
SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Promise Club	R. Payne (Social Studies)	A place for young people across the country to show their leadership, creativity and passion for protecting their friends, school and communities from violence BEFORE it happens. Contact: rpayne@sd129.org
Sewing Club	L. Nudera (CTE)	Whether a new or experienced sewer, come to develop skills that will help you succeed in completing your projects. Contact: lnudera@sd129.org
Spanish Club**	A. Scharm (World Lang)	To learn about Hispanic cultures and the Spanish language, while providing social activities and community service. Contact: ascharm@sd129.org
Spanish Honor Society*	C. Aguilar (World Lang)	To promote scholarship and to recognize high honor achievement in the Spanish language. Contact: caguilar@sd129.org
Stage Crew	S. Tait (Auditorium)	To learn and provide all lighting, sound, scenery & special effects for West High events. Contact: stait@sd129.org
Student Ambassadors*	E. Kegarise (Director of Activities)	To provide a venue for service to the school, district and community. Contact: ekegarise@sd129.org
Student Government	C. Fischer (Div)	An organization devoted to student voice and involvement at West High. Contact: cfischer@sd129.org
West Buddies	C. Davidson/E. Hernandez (Div)	To provide opportunities for building relationships between all students. Contact: cdavidson@sd129.org OR ellenhernandez@sd129.org
World Relief Homework Club	C. Gomez (World Lang)	To provide extra assistance and guidance for students who are new to the United States. Contact: cegomez@sd129.org
Yearbook Club	M. Kucia (English)/K. Skogsberg (Math)	To learn publication techniques and publish the annual yearbook. Contact: mkucia@sd129.org OR kskogsberg@sd129.org

Student Government Structure

Meetings: Tuesday and Friday mornings.

Meetings are open to all West High students. Student Government is an opportunity to support school spirit, support Blackhawk teams, develop and mobilize service endeavors, plan and organize activities and dances, and develop leadership skills.