Different clubs meet every day before, during and after school. Some clubs stay under the radar, while others routinely make the morning announcements. However, all the clubs partake in activities within their group or the community, making an impact no matter big or small.

Academic Decathlon-Brandon Austin

Fourth block Academic Decathlon students meet in Brandon Austin’s room to work on their 10 official categories they are studying, including working on their four minute speech and interviewing techniques. During registration, students may sign up to be in the class, but only a select number are chosen. Mr. Austin chooses the members based on their transcripts, and then selects three ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ students and one alternate for each GPA grade. Jan. 28, the students compete in a Regional Tournament in hopes to advance to State.

Anime Club-Ramsay Garner, John Davis

In John Davis’ class after school on Mondays, Anime Club meets to watch videos and design and show costumes of their favorite characters. The videos are often played in Japanese with English subtitles to help understand the show. John Davis co-sponsors the club over the second semester while Mr. Garner covers the first.

Art Club– David Mason

Thursdays after school, students meet in David Mason’s room for Art Club. Members do not have to be in any art classes to join the club, nor do they need any background in art. Designed for the students, the club offers students a chance to do some of the art they normally wouldn’t do. The students volunteer at different places, mainly doing murals and sculptures but are also there to help. The students have the option of using the volunteering hours for community service, and the club offers an opportunity for more college choices available to them.

BASIC-Dena Schimming

Brothers and Sisters in Christ meets every Friday afternoon at 2:45 in Dena Schimming’s room. BASIC allows students a chance to enter a place full of people who share mutual beliefs. Anyone may attend the meetings to participate in activities such as helping others in their time of need.

Book Club-Sandra Villarreal

Wednesdays after school book club members meet in Mrs. Villarreal’s room to discuss the book they are reading. The members read between two and three books per semester, and in order to get books on the reading list the members vote at the beginning of the year. Students do not have to be a member of the club to participate in the discussion, they can come to the meetings for a particular book if they choose. So far the club has had a dress up day where they dress as their favorite character, and are working with Art Club making bookmarks and decorating boxes for the children at Erma Nash Elementary School.

Chess Club-Sara Kamphaus

Chess Club meets every Friday after school in Sara Kamphaus’ room. Students meet to play for fun, and new people are welcomed anytime to learn the game or just watch others play. There are no dues or requirements for signing up and currently the club has few members but are are actively recruiting new students to increase their numbers.

Crime Stoppers– Shaw Hatley

No details for Crime Stoppers are set in stone as of now. However, few members have joined the club sponsored by Shaw Hatley.

Community Service (class)- Rena Long

Juniors and seniors who take Rena Long’s community service class are out of the classroom 95% of the time. The only time they are in the room is when they discuss where they will voluteer and when Mrs. Long assigns places. The class looks good on college applications, and also gives the students another teacher to use for references.

Environmental Club– Michelle Fagan

Every Wednesday after school Environmental Club meets to offer students a chance to learn about, and care for the environment. The club has been collecting batteries from various places, such as old batteries from the math department’s calculators in order to recycle them and give back to the planet. Sponsor, Michelle Fagan, plans to communicate with the school district about recycling water bottles. The club also hopes to sell reusable water bottles and use the profits toward planting a tree.

FCA:Fellowship of Christian Athletes- Lacy Beckler

Fellowship of Christian Athletes consists of athletes and coaches coming together to spread the word about Jesus. FCA meets on Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the varsity gym to worship, pray and play icebreaker games. To be a part of the club students do not necessarily have to be an athlete, in fact sponsor Lacy Beckler encourages non athletes to join the club too.

Fencing Club– Catherine McGuinness

Feb. 8 Fencing Club will have their first meeting to determine later meeting times and discuss match times as well. The club offers students a chance to experience a tradition dating back to Shakespearean days. Participants will have an opportunity face off against fellow club members as their rivals and fully experience the challenging sport. Fencing club welcomes beginners, who will be taught how to compete by fencing veterans.

FFA: Future Farmers of America- President: Cody Markwood

To participate in FFA a student must take an Agriculture class at Ben Barber. The cost of membership per year is $20, and officers and group members hold monthly meetings. Students compete in different competitions around the state, attend the FFA State and National Conventions and also attend and compete at livestock shows.

French Club– Margret Leach

French Club allows any student presently or previously enrolled in French class to join. The members enjoy activities involving food or sometimes movies and over the past couple of years have found that an informal structure works best for our group. Because of the loose structure of the club, there are no elected officers and the students plan outings for dinner at La Madeleine and occasionally go to a movie after school every few months. Currently the members are in the stages of planning a trip to Frisco to see the Cirque de Soleil show ‘Ovo’ in February.

Guitar Club– Julie Gross

Thursdays after school from 2:30 to 3:30 students meet in Julie Gross’ room to practice playing their guitars.The members bring their own guitars and they play songs for each other or get in groups and play what they know. Sometimes the students teach each other songs but mostly meet to play songs and socialize.

Interact Club-Danielle Jones, President:Alana Miller

Tuesdays at 2:45 p.m. in English teacher Danielle Jones’ room members several members of the Interact club meet to discuss service projects that they might be interested in doing. Some of things that the club has done involved working the concession stand at Pink Fest and mentoring students from Donna Shepherd. They also had planned to have a booth at the Pecan Festival, but due to rain the festival was canceled. Members plan to participate in L.U.C.K. Week and will sponsor an event in either February or March to raise money and awareness for polio treatments around the world. Anyone interested may join, and there are no dues or a specific number of service hours that need to be acquired in a semester.

Invisible Children-Catherine McGuinness

Members meet in Catherine McGuinnes’ room after school on Mondays. Club sponsor, Mrs. McGuinnes, helped make Invisible Children to promote the interest of children especially in Africa who go ignored because of turmoil that rages the countryside. One goal of the club was to raise money to help restore Northern Uganda. The money was then sent to the Invisible Children Corporation who then took care of putting it into proper use. Along with the change drive, purple shirts with the Invisible Children logo are being sold for $15.

Key Club– Shelly Burkett

On Tuesday ‘A’ days Key Club meets in Shelly Burkett’s room. Anyone may join as long as they complete the required community service hours and pay $15 to join.Throughout the year Key Club members have volunteered at elementary school carnivals, takes charge of the Christmas adopt a child activity and the food drive competition with Timberview. The club also had a fundraiser night at Alley cats that raised $300 and participated in a leadership conference over the Martin Luther King Holiday break. In May they plan to create a team to participate in the Relay for Life Walk.

NHS: National Honor Society-Michelle Hurst

National Honor Society meets once a month, typically on a Thursday to discuss topics such as community service hours. To become a member students must fill out an application based on points such as grades, volunteering services and academic awards. NHS students are required to earn 10 hours of community service per semester, and keep their grades up to par.

Our list is not complete. Did we accidentally leave your club off? If so, leave a comment about your club.