Clubs & Activities

Art Club provides materials, instruction and support for those students who are seeking a creative outlet in addition to their academic schedule. We place an emphasis on students using their artistic talents to benefit their school and community. Projects are driven by the students, and we allow students the opportunity to cultivate their interest in art history by visiting local museums, galleries and exhibitions. 

For more information, please contact: Morgan Bucci mbucci@northcatholic.org

The chess/board game club is an exciting opportunity for students of any age to participate in friendly competition with their peers while testing their wits and luck. The moderators aim to create a fun, competitive, and relaxing atmosphere while students pit themselves against each other for glory. This club welcomes anyone with a good attitude and a desire to be a champion. There is no commitment involved. Come on the days that please you. You can bring your own game from home, or you can use the games that are provided. 

For more information, please contact: Kristy Pietrone kpietrone@northcatholic.org

Chemistry club is based on applications of the chemistry topics learned in the classroom. Students will learn about topics through laboratory-based experiments and demonstrations. Some of the topics covered include chemistry of cooking, biochemistry, natural and synthetic polymers, and material science. Students have the opportunity to suggest topics or experiments, if they have a particular area of interest within chemistry.

For more information, please contact: Nick Crano ncrano@northcatholic.org

This club aims to bring the understanding and acceptance of disabilities to our campus by establishing an environment of inclusion and providing opportunities to improve social skills by building multiple circles of friendship with non-disabled peers. Each student with special needs meets with a “circle” of two to three friends from general education. The general education students are there to form relationships with their peers. The program has the dramatic impact of bringing students with disabilities out of isolation and increasing their self-esteem, thus leading them to a more successful and self-sufficient adult life.

For more information, please contact: Cindy Horgan chorgan@northcatholic.org

If you play a Concert Band instrument but couldn't sign up for the class, this is the perfect opportunity to come down and join. Students can learn the music outside of school to prepare for the concerts. Students in the class may come down for extra practice time. 

For more information, please contact: Michael Rudick mrudick@northcatholic.org

Environmental Club is dedicated to conservation awareness and action.  The students will meet twice a month for the entire school year.  During activity period, approximately 20 students will be needed monthly.  These students will go around and collect the paper recycling from the classrooms to take outside to the recycling bin. 

For more information, please contact: Carly Steininger csteininger@northcatholic.org

A club where young men learn skills that will help in becoming a gentlemen.  The skills learned in this class will hold value not only for adolescence, but for years to come.

For more information, please contact: Keith Zielen kzielen@northcatholic.org 

The Knitting/woven arts club aims to introduce students to various fiber arts. New students will learn the fundamentals of knitting, crochet, and/or weaving. No experience or supplies are needed for the beginner, but students will have to purchase their own supplies for more experienced projects. Experienced crafters are also welcome to join us for camaraderie and help on projects. 

For more information, please contact: Emily Bouch ebouch@northcatholic.org

Communities of faith for high school students 

Marianist LIFE (Living InFaith Experience) is a national faith-formation program rooted in Catholic and Marianist tradition and targeted to the needs of high school students. LIFE offers students an opportunity for fellowship and fun in a caring, upbeat context. 

Marianist LIFE provides students at Marianist and non-Marianist institutions opportunities to share faith, to learn from each other, and to become instruments of peace. 

For more information, please contact: Maria Campbell mcampbell@northcatholic.org

Literature and History in Film 

We will examine how film has attempted to portray both Literature and History.  This will be accomplished by answering questions such as: 

1.       How does film alter Literature and History? 

2.       How can film be used as propaganda? 

3.       How can the agenda of an artist alter the understanding of Literature and History? 

For more information, please contact: Anna Neal azimmerman@northcatholic.org

Students can receive math related-tutoring. 

For more information, please contact: Kevin Henry khenry@northcatholic.org

In conjunction with the counseling office members, this club will discuss issues that impact the students and surrounding communities.  Club members will take action by researching the issues and getting speakers to come in and give a presentation to the group.  They will then act as positive role models to their peers in school and take the information from the presentation and serve the elementary school communities on these issues.

For more information, please contact: Megan Benzing mbenzing@northcatholic.org 

Ping-Pong Club is for anyone who wants to play and have a good time. Depending on turn-out for each meeting, we may play a bracket to decide a champ, or just take turns playing singles or doubles. All ability levels are welcome, and we encourage everyone to learn-as-they-go to play by official table-tennis rules (as best as we can).

For more information, please contact: Jon Hoffman jhoffman@northcatholic.org

PJAS (Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science) is a competition where students in grades 6-12 present original independent research in many areas in science and math. PRSEF stands for the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Each year students in grades 6–12 present their independent research projects in the fields of science, mathematics and engineering. In both competitions, students begin work on their projects in early fall and compete in February for PJAS and late March for PRSEF. Winners in the local PJAS competition move on to compete at Penn State in May. Winners of PRSEF continue on to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair later in the year.

For more information, please contact: Amy Murray amurray@northcatholic.org

“. . . We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the “culture of death” and the “culture of life”. We find ourselves not only faced with but necessarily in the midst of this conflict: we are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life.” (Evangelium Vitae)  

This quote from John Paul II calls us to challenge our participation in the defense of human life:  are we actively seeking to uphold the dignity of human life in all of its stages or do we keep silent as our brothers and sisters are disregarded and often destroyed?  If you want to play a role in the defense of human dignity but don't know where to start, pro-life club is the club for you.  Throughout the year we participate in prayer vigils, abortion clinic outreach, and seek to become leaders for the pro-life movement among our peers. 

For more information, please contact: Teresa Cardone tcardone@northcatholic.org

The mission of the robotics program at NC is Building students of creativity, leadership, and professionalism – connecting them to a future enlightened by their STEM experiences. We aim to accomplish this by investing students in FIRST Robotics, a wholistic program in which teams of students design, build and compete with their robots. It’s about more than just robots. It is about sharpening character traits such as gracious professionalism. It’s about networking with peers and industry professionals from around the globe. And, it’s about problem solving in a project-based learning environment as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills. 

For more information, please contact: David Yackuboskey dyackuboskey@northcatholic.org

Swing Dancing & More Club offers students an opportunity to learn different types of partner dancing, with a focus on swing dancing. Other dances may include Latin dances such as Cha-Cha, Merengue, and Salsa, line dancing, and ballroom dancing depending on student interest. The club uses both classic swing hits from the 1920s-1950s and also modern music. Students do not need any experience or a partner to come. If you can step on the beat to a line dances like the Cha Cha Slide or Cupid Shuffle, then you can learn to dance! 

For more information, please contact: Emily Bouch ebouch@northcatholic.org

Do you have dreams of bantering with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy?  Or are you someone who simply enjoys knowing that an aglet is the proper term for the plastic tip at the end of a shoelace?  The NC Trivia team welcomes both the casual trivia fan and those seeking a more competitive outlet for their vast stores of knowledge.  Meetings will consist of answering trivia questions or preparing for competitions such as College Bowls, the Academic Triathlon, and KDKA's Hometown High Q.  This club is open to students of all grade levels. 

For more information, please contact: Sean Malone smalone@northcatholic.org

This is a study hall that is completely silent and focused on academic work.

World Language club offers students an opportunity to explore other cultures through interactive meetings with speakers, videos, activities, and food. Meetings are usually focused on holidays, language, traditions, or food. Students can also choose to go on trips abroad to Winter Carnival in Canada or the Europe trip to France, Spain, and Italy. There is a small fee to help cover the cost of food. 

For more information, please contact: Tressa Denninger tdenninger@northcatholic.org