Aquinas Student Activities Guide The theme of Aquinas' student activities program is "Developing Leaders for Life." Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities and more than 80% of them participate in at least one activity. At Aquinas, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom, thus students are given the opportunity to utilize their talents and exercise their leadership abilities in real-life situations. Students may participate in the following activities at Aquinas: |
Name of Club or Activity | Open to: | Description | Moderator | |
| Art Club | 7-8 | The art club meets twice a month on Thursdays and creates and talks about art. Sometimes the projects are "crafts" but the things that we make are always done in a creative way. All junior high students are welcome and we always have a good time while using our art skills! | Mrs. Nosky | |
| AQ Dance | Grades 7-12 | Ms. Brett | ||
Grades 7-12 | Theatre Productions: AQ puts on three plays per year. AQJH performs one production every other year, but may try out for the high school productions. | Mrs. Krickmire | ||
| AQJH Leadership | Grades 7-8 | The AQJH Leadership course explores different types of leaders and leadership strategies. Students will understand and work collaboratively to analyze both effective and ineffective leaders throughout history. Students are allowed to explore and delve into the different leadership roles and characteristics that propel their own self to want to lead. Students are expected to demonstrate and promote leadership throughout both the AQ community as well as their own communities. AQJH leadership students strive to become more effective leaders through group and self exploration. | Mr. Higgins | |
| AQJH Student Government | Grades 7-8 | Five seventh graders and five eighth graders are elected to represent the Junior High and plan activities and events. Additional students may serve on planning committees. | Mr. Grosodonia Ms. Giralico | |
| AQJH Yearbook Committee | Grades 7-8 | Students photograph AQJH activities through the year and assist with designing the yearbook. | Mr. Sifain Mrs. Lynch | |
| Aquinas Institute Student Chapter of Habitat for Humanity | Grades 7–12 students must be 16 or older to physically work on builds. | Aquinas Habitat for Humanity is one of only five Habitat for Humanity High School Campus Chapters in New York! Incorporated in the Summer of 2009, Aquinas Habitat for Humanity is officially recognized by Habitat for Humanity International. Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity has provided housing for over 1,500,000 people. In Habitat's tradition of compassion for all mankind, Aquinas is now working to build more sustainable housing in Our chapter holds monthly meetings after school, where teachers, staff, and students are invited to attend. | Mrs. Oberst | |
| Arete | Grades 9-12 | Students photograph activities through the year and design the yearbook. | Mr. Shook | |
Grades 9-12 | Students are assigned to be buddies with an incoming freshman at orientation to tour school. Big Brother/Big Sisters attend two breakfasts during the year. | Mr. Shook | ||
Grades 9-12 | This eight-week course is part of a program designed to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds. The program, held at the Public Safety Training Facility on Scottsville Road, included training in basic disaster survival and rescue skills, and required participants to stage a mock disaster, during the final class. | Ms. Bills | ||
Any student currently enrolled in a Business class including Economics. | DECA consists of competitive events that prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. | Mrs. West | ||
Grades 7–12 | Fitness for life is the AQ philosophy. All students and staff are encouraged to take advantage of following a fitness program. Trainers are available to work with students to set up individual or sports-related fitness training programs. This is an after school program. | Mr. Lombardo | ||
| Games Club | Grades 7-8 | Dice games, card games, board games, and pen-and-paper role playing games are the domain of the Aquinas Games Club. We meet once a week to play designer hobby games more fun than anything you played when you were younger. Settlers of Catan, Ascending Empires, Small World, Dominion, Eminent domain, Midgard, Carcassonne, Zombie Dice, and many, many more games are available to learn and play at Games Club. Also playing at Games Club is at leas one long running Dungeons and Dragons or other RPG game. come join the fun. | Mr. Durham | |
| Improv Group "Catawumpus" | Grades 7-12 | AQ Improv practices improvisational comedy and performs regularly for both AQ students and the public. Improvisational comedy is a series of acting games and scenes that are made up on the spot based off of audience suggestions. | Mr. Durham | |
Grades 7-12 | Aquinas offers a wide variety of opportunities for musicians, both as courses and as extra-curricular activities including concert, pep, marching and pit bands and jazz ensemble. | Ms. McTammany | ||
| Le Cercle Français | Upper level French students or students who have finished French (those partially fluent/fluent) | Students meet to learn about French culture and customs, plan special fundraising events, trips to France and host French students on alternate years. | Ms. Rybak | |
Grades 9-12 Grades 7-8 | Book club participants read more than 40 books last year. Some students even took 15 or more books home for summer reading. The club meets in the library during lunch – chips and drinks will be provided. Sign up in the library. | Mrs. Stevens | ||
| Maroon & White School Newspaper | Grades 9-12 | Aspiring journalists wanted to report school news. | Mr. Shook | |
Grades 9–12 | Masterminds is an academic competition in which schools compete in 12 match- play rounds per season. Each match follows a quiz-bowl format where students must ring in and be recognized before answering. Questions cover a wide range of topics including art, biology, chemistry, current events, geography, history, literature, music, political science, pop culture, religion and sports. | Mrs. Barbara Sadler | ||
| Mathletes | Grades 8-12 | A social, yet competitive league, featuring six competitions during the year, one in each month, lasting from September-February. Students compete against other schools answering challenging math questions. Students may join at any time and may attend as many meets they would like. Those who attend 4 out of 6 meets may participate in the Monroe County Math League competition in March. Math League participants earn class bonus points (please see your math teacher for details) | Mr. Sifain Mrs. Vasso | |
Grades 10-12 | Student run television show broadcast to AQ students each morning. | Mr. Shewman | ||
| Mock Trial | Grades 9-12 | Mock Trial is an activity sponsored by the New York State Bar Association. Schools create Mock Trial teams to compete with each other. This activity allows students to learn about the law, the legal system and court procedures. Students are given a fictitious case including the case summary, witness statements, evidence and the law. With the help of a moderator and attorney advisor students then put together opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination questions and present evidence before a judge. As student role play as attorneys or witnesses, they learn the reality of the legal process, how to question witnesses, introduce evidence and most importantly, how to think on their feet. Mock Trial appeals to students who are motivated, are curious about the legal process and like to “get into a role”. | Mr. Oberst | |
Grades 9–12 | The National Honor Society encourages and rewards scholarship, renders service, promotes leadership and develops character among members. Eligible students must attain a cumulative weighted grade point average of 92 by the end of their sophomore year. They must maintain this GPA for the remainder of their membership in the National Honor Society. Students must also exhibit leadership qualities, show evidence of exceptional character as reflected in their disciplinary record, and have performed significant hours of community service. The National Honor Society at Aquinas provides a peer tutoring service available to all students throughout the school year. | Mrs. Smith | ||
Grades Prek-12 | Nazareth Dance Company is an after school dance program offering specific technique styles for beginner through advanced. | Ms. Schickler Ms. Schillaci | ||
| Nazareth Women’s Leadership Program | Grades 9–12 | This program invites each young woman of every class to choose experiences to enhance awareness of self, her role in the community and sharing of her gifts and talents for society. Each student will receive an invitation to explore the wonder of self and to experience other women in roles of leadership in various areas of life. Seminars, mini-sessions, panels of women, film experiences and field trips will be offered. Experiences of service projects will be key and shared with the community service program. Students will be totally involved, sharing ideas and helping in the formation of this new and exciting program. | Sr. Elaine Englert, SSJ | |
| Quidditch | Grades 7-12 | A sport similar to a combination of handball and dodge ball and is based on the fictional sport of the same name from the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. The sport has nearly 1,000 teams worldwide, with over 800 high school and college teams They even hosted a St. Patrick's Day Tournament in 2013 with 12 teams from around the North East represented. The Quidditch Club practices about once a eek (depending on tournament schedule), and is open to all students, and is almost entirely student organized. For more information on how the sport is played, refer to the International Quidditch Association at http://www.internationalquidditch.org/ | ||
| Rachel's Challenge | Open to All | Rachel’s Challenge was founded by the family of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine shootings. Rooted in the inherent characteristics of compassion and kindness, Rachel’s Challenge spreads its message to schools, families and corporations nationwide. Her challenge, presented through her family, is to make permanent, positive, cultural changes in their schools and communities by accepting the challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. | Mrs. Fronckowiak | |
Open to All | Mr. Zeitvogel | |||
Grades 9–12 Grades 7-8 | Students earning an academic average of 95-100 on the quarterly report cards are invited to attend a celebratory breakfast. | Students will be notified following the grading period. | ||
Grades 7-12 | AQ students assist in all aspects of preparing for productions, plays, concerts and special events at AQ. Opportunities exist in lighting design, sound, props, stage crew, set design and wardrobe. Academic credit is available through Tech Theatre Practicum, contact Miss Horton for information. | Ms. Horton | ||
Grades 9-12 | Student Council, a prominent student government organization, gives students a voice in determining school activities and environment. It helps promote activities for the entire student body at the Aquinas Institute of Rochester and fosters a positive climate throughout the school. The focus of Student Council is on developing leadership skills through interaction with students, faculty, community, and other Aquinas stakeholders. | Mr. Catalfano | ||
Grades 7-12 | Assist with giving tours to prospective students. | Mr. Knapp | ||
Grades 7-12 | Aquinas students may take vocal lessons, and participate in choir at the high school and junior high levels. | Mr. Wilson |
