The following clubs are held during homeroom. Any student can sign up for the clubs listed below unless otherwise noted.
8th Grade American History Club
Eighth Grade American History Club members discuss topics applicable to current research, trends, and/or events, and organize building-wide historic/civic events such as the mock election. Weekend field trips to local historic sites are also planned.
Eighth Grade American History Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Contact: Larry Dorenkamp, dorenkampl@nhsd.net, or Joe Welch, welchj@nhsd.net
Book Club
Book Club is for students interested in anything and everything about books, authors, and reading. While book discussion is always part of our activities, there is much more to do throughout the year. Special activities are available all week long during Teen Read Week in October. At another time during the year we take a field trip to meet national and world-renowned authors as well as participate in virtual author visits right in the Middle School library. In the spring, students can share their book smarts in our annual Battle of the Books, and we finish the year with the Summer Reading Kickoff celebration during which students have the opportunity to "shop" for books to borrow over the summer months.
Book Club meets every Friday.
Contact: Jill Brooks, brooksj@nhsd.net, Ashley Buzzinotti, buzzinottia@nhsd.net or Meghan Clark, clarkm@nhsd.net
Concert Choir
Concert Choir is open to all middle school students but students are invited to audition. Concert Choir meets three days per week for 20 minutes during homeroom and performs at various times throughout the school year as well as at the High Note Festival held at Carnegie Mellon University each spring.
Concert Choir meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by voice arrangement.
Contact: Renee Triscila, triscilar@nhsd.net
Intramurals
Intramurals gives students the opportunity to participate in a variety of competitive and recreational sport activities during the homeroom period. Participants will be given instruction for skills development, learn about rules, sportsmanship, physical conditioning, team building, recreation planning and a variety of different intramural sports. No prior experience in sports is necessary and all athletic abilities are welcome.
Eighth grade meets Mondays by team (each team once a month) and seventh grade meets Fridays by team (each team once a month).
Contact: Franz Ratnavale, ratnavalef@nhsd.net
Literati Writers
Literati Writers is a club that celebrates writing and gives students a chance to discover, practice, and enhance their skills. Students will write and publish in a variety of formats and will also have the opportunity to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the Pittsburgh's City Theatre's Young Playwright's Contest, and other competitions throughout the year.
Literati Writers meeting the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Contact: Nate Wilkinson, wilkinsonn@nhsd.net
Service Club
Service Club members help others in their community. Students organize and implement a variety of service projects throughout the school year. In previous years, students have organized and implemented:
- School-based activities for Unity Day
- Anti-bullying campaigns
- Thanksgiving food drives
- Holiday parties and "senior prom" for Vincentian Nursing Home residents
Members also work with non-profits such as Reflections of Grace Foundation, an organization that supports children and their families affected by pediatric brain cancer, North Hills Community Outreach to provide Easter baskets and meals to families in need, and the Animal Friends animal shelter.
Service Club is a wonderful opportunity for students to not only give of themselves but to improve their community as well.
Service Club meets every other Monday. Officers meet every Monday and every other Wednesday.
Contact: Tina Norman, normant@nhsd.net, or Melissa Baird, bairdm@nhsd.net
Student Council
Student Council consists of four committees: Art, which decorates the school; Service, which organizes school wide activities, Community, which arranges the Holiday Food Drive and Spirit, which creates a more positive atmosphere. Students are selected to participate in Student Council.
Student Council meets every Wednesday.
Contact: Franz Ratnavale, ratnavalef@nhsd.net, or Joe Vozza, vozzaj@nhsd.net
Teacher Helpers
Teacher Helpers is a club that supports our teaching staff and the various activities, events, and initiatives that are occurring in our school. Students will help to promote upcoming events, decorate portions of our building, and assist with a number of projects at our school, making it a better and brighter place.
Teacher Helpers meet the first and third Wednesday of each month.
Contact: Nate Wilkinson, wilkinsonn@nhsd.net
World Language Club
Provides culture and language enrichment. Includes French, German, Latin and Spanish.
World Language Club meets one Monday a month.
Contact: Kurt Zebley, zebleyk@nhsd.net
Yearbook Club
Yearbook Club members contribute to the design and creation of the school yearbook from cover to cover. Students will learn basic photography skills including how to take and edit photos, graphic layout, computer and organizational skills. No prior photography, graphic, editing or computer skills are required however students are invited to participate in Yearbook Club.
Yearbook Club meets every Wednesday.
Contact: Franz Ratnavale, ratnavaler@nhsd.net, or Joe Vozza, vozzaj@nhsd.net