CLUBS

Shawnee Heights High School has numerous clubs for you to join. Clubs are a great way to get involved and have fun doing things you love to do. Clubs typically meet once monthly during T Bird Time during school hours as well outside of school hours as indicated.

ANIME CLUB and COMIC CLUB (SHAACC)

Sponsor: Mr. Simons
Room #: PD Center
Meetings: once a month during club time; anime viewing parties once a month at a member’s home.
Members:
Requirements:
 attend meetings! Get involved!
Club Dues: none, but bring snacks to viewing parties, and money is required to attend Nakacon in the spring

Mission, Goal or Purpose: Student-run group that celebrates the Japanese art of animated filmmaking, Japanese manga/graphic novels

ART CLUB

Sponsor: Mr. Paget
Room #: 206
Meetings: After school on Tuesdays until 3:30pm.
Members: 20-25
Requirements: Interest in art. Anyone is welcome, whether they are enrolled in an art class or not.
Club Dues: $5.00 per year.

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To promote the love of art and art-related activities in our school and community.

Activities/Projects: Art Club is a student-run organization. Each year, there are different activities that the club is involved in, according to the interests of the members. In the past, we have worked at the elementary schools in the creation of a mural and worked on a Halloween project with the Special Education classes. We have done artwork to improve the aesthetics of the school. We have worked on installation artwork for the pediatric area of an area hospital.

BLACK EXCELLENCE CLUB (Formerly BSU)

Sponsor: 
Room #: PD Room
Meetings: Once per month during club time.
Members: 40
Requirements: Any student of SHHS is eligible upon payment of dues. 
Club Dues: $2.00

Mission, Goal or Purpose: 1. To promote a better understanding between African Americans and other races at SHHS and in the community of Topeka. 2. To foster activities that will aid African Americans in their struggle for self-awareness. 3. To work with the administration, faculty, and students in an effort to make school life relevant to all students regardless of race, creed or color. 

Activities/Projects: Fundraisers: Bake sales, candy sales. Activities Membership Drive, Black Leadership Symposium at KU, adopt a family from The Villages Group Home, attend Martin Luther King Celebration, sponsor Black History Month, and attend Black College Tour during spring break.

BOOK CLUB

Sponsor: Ms. Bradshaw
Room #: Library
Meetings: Once a month during club time.
Members: 10
Requirements: Any student of SHHS
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: The goal of the SHHS Book Club is to encourage reading by providing a safe environment where literary discussion can take place in a respectful manner.

Activities/Projects: Each month students read and discuss at least one book.  Members also share book recommendations.

CHESS CLUB

Sponsor: Mr. Propps
Room #: S 305
Meetings: Once a month during club time.
Members: 10
Requirements: All SHHS students are eligible for membership, but they must not be on the AWL and need to attend most meetings.
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To provide a relaxing and fun way of playing chess with other people. Members will learn new moves and create puzzles that other members can try. Playing chess can raise your IQ, increase creativity, improve memory, etc.

Activities/Projects: Play chess

DnD Club

Sponsor: Ms. Sturges-Brown
Room #: S 326
Meetings: after school on Fridays
Members: new club
Requirements: All students will be allowed to join DnD club no matter experience or playstyle, however students who are on the AWL list will not be permitted to join until that status is removed.
Club Dues: No dues

Mission, Goal or Purpose: The purpose of DnD is to unite kids who want to, know how to, or just love playing DnD and allow those kids to meet in an easy to access location.

Activities/Projects: DM/Advisors will lead groups to complete DnD.

FAMILY, CAREER & COMMUNITY LEADERS OF AMERICA (FCCLA)

Sponsor: Mrs. Deever
Room #: N 707
Meetings: 3rd Thursday of each month
Members: 20-40
Requirements: Open to any student who will be or has taken a FACS course
Club Dues: No dues; our organization sponsors the Winter Dance to pay our National, Regional and State dues.

Mission, Goal or Purpose: A dynamic nation-wide student-led leadership organization that helps young men and women become leaders and addresses important personal, family, work and societal issues. Leadership skills are gained through improving our community and school through our service projects.

Activities/Projects: Our service projects include hosting the Winter Dance each year for the student body, serving the dinner at the Scholars’ Bowl tournament, and other service projects are decided upon each year by the organization.

Other Information: FCCLA received their Charter in the school year 2013-2014 and is a growing organization.  Goals for the next school year have already been set and many exciting activities and events have been planned. 

FCS

Sponsor: Mr. Oshel
Room #: N Gym
Meetings: Once a month during club time
Members: 
Requirements: Attend meetings consistently
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To lead every coach, athlete, and student into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.

FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA (FBLA)

Sponsor: Brooks and Watgen
Room #: S109
Meetings: Once a month during T-Bird time
Members: 20
Requirements: Attend SHHS and have an interest in Business.
Club Dues: See Mr Brooks or Mr Watgen

About: FBLA-PBL inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

GENDER SEXUALITY ALLIANCE (GSA)

Sponsor: Vetter
Room #: Library
Meetings: Once a month during club time and after school as determined by members.
Members: 15
Requirements:  Any student of SHHS is welcome to attend 
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose:  The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) guarantees a safe and accepting community for queer students and allies while learning about, relating to, understanding, and experiencing queer culture. 

Activities/Projects: The SHHS GSA provides a safe space for students to make friends and to talk about the various issues they face.  Students learn about sexual orientation, gender identity, and some of the issues that surround them.  The GSA works to make SHHS a more accepting and safe environment for all students.  The GSA sponsors Day of Silence activities.

GIRL UP

Sponsor: Shannon Bryne
Room #: Cafeteria
Meetings: 2nd half of T-Bird Time, occasional meetings held on Monday or Wednesday nights as needed for activity planning/preparation.
Members: TBD
Requirements:  Participate in at least three meetings, activities, and fundraisers per semester.
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose:  To encourage students to advocate for girls and women around the world to be empowered, safe, and equal.

Activities/Projects: During meetings, SHHS Girl Up members will be learning about issues regarding women’s rights, engaging in discussions about the issue, and brainstorming ways that the club can help educate others and support those affected by the issue. Possible community activities or fundraisers include a “Galentine’s Day” celebration, hygiene product drives for donation to women’s shelters or homeless shelters, and contacting local representatives showing support for bills that will improve the lives of women in our area

HELPING HANDS HUMANE SOCIETY

Sponsor: Mrs. Morgan
Room #: S 406
Meetings: Once a month during activity period
Members: 
Requirements: None
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To support the animals and staff members at Helping Hands Humane Society.

Activities/Projects: Sales to raise money for SHHS, Lake Shawnee Bark Night, Animal supply drive, Volunteer work at HHHS

HISPANIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION (H.A.L.O)

Sponsor: Mr. Serrano
Room #: 317
Meetings: Once a month during activity period.
Members: 30
Requirements: None
Club Dues: $2.00

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To promote Hispanic cultural awareness at SHHS and to encourage Hispanic student leadership.

Activities/Projects: Celebrate Hispanic diversity, customs, holidays and culture.  Create homecoming floats, adopt families for Christmas, help local charities and organizations, and create new opportunities for future club members. 

INTERNATIONAL/FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Sponsor: Mrs. Linenberger
Room #:  N 624
Meetings: Second Half of T-Bird time on Club Days. (10:22-10:33)
Members: 30
Requirements: None! Be adventurous and enjoy the food samples from the various countries.
Club Dues: $2.00 per year

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To help our exchange students get to know America, Kansas, our school, and SHHS students. It also offers the opportunity for us to get to know the Foreign Exchange students and their cultural background.

Activities/Projects: We visit some Topeka landmarks, eat at a restaurant, and organize some potluck dinners, i.e., Octoberfest.  

JAG

Sponsor: Kami Mead
Room #: N614
Meetings: 1st Half T-Bird Time
Members: N/A
Requirements: Meet at least 6 of the 40 selection criteria.
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that partners with students facing multiple barriers to success. A trained JAG Career Specialist provides individual and group instruction to 45-60 students in the using the competency-based JAG National Curriculum. The curriculum emphasizes graduating from high school and preparing students for post-secondary education or entering the workforce directly.
The JAG-K classroom is a Career Association with opportunities for leadership, community service, career exploration, and on-site job shadow experiences. The unique 12-month follow up program allows the Specialist to continue providing support and encouragement to the student for the first year after graduation.

JUNIOR CIVITAN

Sponsor: Dr. Dexter
Room #: 709
Meetings: Once a month during activity period.
Members: 40
Requirements: A genuine desire to make the world a better place.
Club Dues: $20.00 (Dues include T-shirt, International, and District Junior Civitan dues).

Mission, Goal or Purpose: The Shawnee Heights club is one of only two Junior Civitan Clubs in the State of Kansas.  It is a service club for young people looking for leadership opportunities and those wanting to improve the world. Join with other caring young adults who want to contribute their talents and time to aid people who are coping with physical or mental exceptionalities, promote environmental awareness, and give the general community and school support. There are approximately 20,000 members in over 500 Junior Civitan Clubs worldwide, with active clubs in Canada, Norway, the United States, Germany, Hungary, Romania, and Belize.

Activities/Projects: The Junior Civitan Club at SHHS is involved in many activities. We volunteer locally and team up with the Topeka Area Civitan Club on many activities.  We assist with the annual Civitan Club car show (at Shawnee Heights), Civitan Golf Tournament, Polar Bear Plunge, Festival of Trees, and Winter Wonderland.  Many of our members volunteer at Special Olympic events which include bowling, basketball, and the annual Northeast Special Olympic track meet.  Other projects are the Yellow Ribbon Project (suicide prevention) as well as other initiatives to support our school and others. 

Members will also have leadership opportunities at several levels.  Several of our officers have become officers at the District (7 state) level.  They may also run for International officership.   In the Spring, we attend the annual district workshop in Arkansas and also have the opportunity to participate in the annual International Junior Civitan conference often held in the Eastern part of the nation.  We have had officers who have also attended international fundraising activities like Dance-A-Thon (Murtle Beach, SC) and Sno-Do (Canada).  Proceeds are donated to the Civitan International Research Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

KEY CLUB

Sponsor: Mrs. Johnson
Room #: S 306
Meetings: Once a month during activity period.
Members: 20-25
Requirements: Participate!

Club Dues: $5.00 per year-given to Key Club International. Goes toward member benefits and administrative costs.

Mission, Goal or Purpose: Key Club is an organization oriented toward community service. Numerous leadership positions at the state and international level are attainable. Key Club is the world's largest high school service organization with over 206,000 members around the world.

Activities/Projects: In years past, we have helped at the Rescue Mission, serving dinner and donating toiletries from our school-wide drive. We have also read to kids at the local elementary schools, participated in highway cleanups, and thrown parties for nursing home residents.

MATH CLUB

Sponsor: Mrs. Bailey
Room #: Cafeteria
Meetings: In the North commons
Members: about 75
Requirements: All are eligible for math club, but for Mu Alpha Theta there are requirements: 1. Math 3 or above, 2. Teacher recommends, 3. Math high school GPA is 3.0 or higher

Club Dues: Mu Alpha Theta it is $15 (first year members only)

Mission, Goal or Purpose: National Honor Society for Mathematics.  We are dedicated to inspiring a keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics in high school and two-year college students.

MODEL UN

Sponsor: Mrs. Aeschliman
Room #: 202
Meetings: Approximately once a month from October thru February, from 3:00-5:00 on Wednesdays.
Members: Approximately 40.

Requirements: Active interest in learning about the United Nations, world geography, and current events, and attendance at a 2-day event that is held on a Monday and Tuesday in late February or early March.

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To prepare delegates who will effectively and accurately represent a specific country in a specific council at the Topeka Model United Nations.

 

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Sponsor: Mrs. Borjon
Room #: 301
Meetings: Once a month before school
Members: Over 40

Requirements: Beginning in the spring of student's sophomore year, students with a GPA of 3.5 or above will be notified of their eligibility to apply for membership into NHS. The nominee will fill out the student activity form, get references, and be evaluated by a faculty council. Students will be notified of selection into NHS by letter.

The criteria for selection into NHS are based on the four pillars of NHS:

  • Scholarship

  • Character

  • Leadership

  • Service

Students are evaluated on participation in school activities, leadership in the school and the community, community service, and awards.

Club Dues: $8.00

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To recognize outstanding students that demonstrate excellence in scholarship and service that supports the community.

Activities/Projects: Through volunteering in the local community, the NHS organization hopes to build and reinforce a pattern of respect and service in the students' lives. Members accomplish this task by tutoring and volunteering for numerous service projects during the school year. Members have a strict time commitment required for volunteering and tutoring.

Other Information: The National Honor Society is a very prestigious and elite group of individuals who have exhibited excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. 

SCHOLARS' BOWL/ACADEMIC TEAM

Sponsor: Mrs. Deever
Room #: N707
Meetings: Wednesday morning 7:30-8:00
Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To hold academic team meetings in preparation for Scholars' Bowl invitational competitions, including hosting a tournament at SHHS.

Activities/Projects: Participants in Scholars' Bowl increase their knowledge in many academic areas, particularly in English, social studies, science and math. Fine arts and current events are also addressed. Students are expected to attend one or more practices per week, compete at two or more tournaments during the season, and contribute questions to the central file. 

SPIRIT CLUB

Sponsor: Mrs. Underwood & Mrs. Granado
Room #: South Commons
Meetings: Officers-once a week until end of February.
Members: Members-special event planning and participation.

Club Dues: $1.00, encouraged to support teams.

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To support school athletic teams. Instill school spirit. Be a good host for visiting schools. Promote good sportsmanship and citizenship.

Activities/Projects: Cheer at events. Fundraising and spirit projects (ribbons, shirts, poms, etc.), Homecoming, Winter Festival activities, poster parties, ceremony participation, dance.

Other Information: Enthusiasm-a vital part of our high school. 

STUDENT COUNCIL

Sponsor: Mrs. Borjon & Mrs. Granado
Room #: S301
Meetings: As determined by the executive board.
Members: Elected by students.

Requirements: Participation, leadership, and character.

Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: Elected positions that provide leadership throughout SHHS by creating and organizing activities geared towards successful academics, building community and creating a positive school culture.

S.W.O.R.D.

Sponsor: Ms. Thompson
Room #: S 412
Meetings: Club day & the first Wednesday every month after school
Members: ~10

Requirements: Any student of SHHS is welcome to join. No knowledge or skill of prior tabletop games is required.

Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: The purpose of the Students Who Occasionally Roll Dice Club is to promote the development, understanding, and appreciation of tabletop games. S.W.O.R.D. appreciates tabletop games as a timeless and important social bonding activity.

THESPIANS / DRAMA CLUB

Sponsor: Mr. Boyer
Room #: Auditorium
Meetings: Once per month during activity period; generally one activity per month.
Members: 40

Requirements: Anyone can join Drama Club; however, special requirements must be met to join Thespians, an honor-level international society of theatre artists.

Club Dues: $5.00

Mission, Goal or Purpose: To promote the love of theater in our school and community and to develop theatrical skills in our personal life.

Activities/Projects: Attending community and professional productions. Supporting school theatrical productions.

Yoga Club

Sponsor: Mrs. Mead
Room #: N 614
Meetings: Once per month on late start club Wednesdays
Members: 

Requirements: Students will be required to participate appropriately during meetings in order to continue being a member.

Club Dues: None

Mission, Goal or Purpose: Students will take part in a yoga class and mindfulness practice to reduce stress and have fun moving their bodies.

Activities/Projects: Yoga and mindfulness practices.