Clubs & Organizations

Student Activities



The Student Activities Program empowers students to become service-oriented leaders who aid their communities. The program provides opportunities that reflect student interest, nurture school pride and support the SHC ESLRs while developing relationships and community across all grade levels.

Student Government

The Student Council is a representative group of the student body that organizes, coordinates and runs a variety of social, service and spirit activities throughout the school year. These students are elected or appointed to positions that require time, dedication and perseverance to provide the leadership that will inspire and enhance a sense of school pride and spirit. 



Student Clubs

Big Green

Description

Big Green is a student group that promotes schoolwide spirit through rallies, Spirit Weeks and class competitions. Big Green also supports all the athletic teams at Games of the Week, Bruce Mahoney games and selected home games. Go Big! Go Irish! Go Green! ...or, Go Home! Meetings are held biweekly and monthly depending on a student’s role in Big Green.

Core team members (about 10-15 upperclassmen who have shown dedication throughout their years on Big Green) meet biweekly on White Days or Blue Days in Room 502. The entire club meets monthly on club collaboration days in Room 502. Members are notified of meeting dates via email. Transcript Requirement

Participation requirements vary according to level:

Core Team

  1. All club meetings
  2. Freshmen welcome
  3. Fall, winter and spring rallies, including all prep work
  4. Bruce Mahoney football, basketball and baseball games, including Mahoney Madness, which will take place the day before and day of the game
  5. Three Games of the Week per season (nine total)*
  6. Spirit Weeks

Non-Core Team

All club meetings

  1. Fall, winter and spring rallies, including all prep work
  2. Bruce Mahoney football, basketball and baseball games, including Mahoney Madness, which will take place the day before and day of the game
  3. One Game of the Week per season plus three important games (12 total)*
  4. Spirit Weeks

Moderator

Pete Gresh

Block Club

Description

Students who have earned an SHC Block through involvement in Visual and Performing Arts, Athletics (varsity level) or Community Life are eligible to apply for membership in the Block Club. The members of Block Club choose to serve the SHC community as representatives of the student body in various forms of leadership and service, including SHC community events (Back to School Night, Open House, liturgies and prayer services, alumni, development and Parents Association events).

Meetings

Meetings are held three times a semester. Three meeting options are offered for each meeting. Students must attend one of the three meeting options.

Transcript Requirement

To maintain an active membership in Block Club and to receive transcript credit, attendance at meetings is mandatory. Additionally, members must also serve at several SHC community activities or events each semester and at least three outside events each year.

Moderator

Janet Shapiro

Book Club

Description

Book Club is a way for students to expand and explore literary boundaries outside of the classroom. It inspires students to work independently and collaboratively to achieve a goal. Book Club also furthers the SHC school mission of providing students with a great education within an inclusive community. Being introduced to a variety of reading material, the students in our club are educated in different writing styles and methods.

Meetings

Book Club meets twice a month on White Days in room 504 during lunch.

Transcript Requirement

Students must attend 80% of all scheduled meetings.

Moderator

Jan Bechelli

Broadcast Club

Description

The Broadcast Club provides students with a vehicle for learning and enhancing verbal communication skills through the exciting medium of electronic broadcast. It  produces daily broadcast announcements (events, sports results, club news, etc.) for the entire school community, always maintaining the school’s ESLR’s as a top priority.

Meetings

The Broadcast Club meets in the main office every White Day during break, which is when members read live announcements over the PA. The club also meets exactly 30 minutes after the final bell the afternoon before Blue Days. This is when members record podcasts of the next day’s announcements in the “greenroom” (little room with blue chairs and couches) inside the main office, on the right as you walk in.

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in at least two podcast recordings per quarter to receive credit or to gain the privilege of reading live announcements on White Days.

Moderator

Jim Jordan

 

California Scholarship Federation

Description

The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) emphasizes high standards of scholarship and community service for California high school students. Founded in 1921, the California Scholarship Federation is the oldest scholarship institution in the state of California.

Approximately 1,000 chapters are located in various secondary schools across the state. The organization continues to promote the education of academically motivated students, encouraging them to get involved in their communities through volunteer service.

Meetings

The CSF meets in room 203 on designated White Days at lunch. There is one meeting per class per month; notification is via SHC email and the school website.

Transcript Requirement

  1. Members must attend one meeting a month, and are allowed to attend the meeting of another class. For example, a senior can make up a meeting by going to the junior meeting and vice versa.
  2. Members must commit to and perform five hours of community service. They are required to turn in a letter stating the amount of time served, the name of the recipient of the service, and the contact information for that recipient to a club officer or the club moderator.

Moderator

Phi Le

Chorus

Description

The SHC Choruses enjoy a tradition of two annual public concerts at Christmas and in the spring. Local performance venues have included the Basilica of Mission Dolores, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ghirardelli Square and the Herbst Theatre. The Chorus has traveled to Italy, London, Paris, the Philippines, Austria, Hungary, New York City and, most recently, Hawaii. Recently, the chorus sang at the convocation of the president of the Philippines at the University of San Francisco. They also have competed in national choral competitions, taking home both gold and silver medals.
The SHC Concert Choir, which is 175 strong, strives to enrich the community by performing for local audiences and charitable foundations. They also perform at major school liturgies. The Concert Choir repertoire consists of sacred literature, as well as contemporary and popular music. In addition to the Concert Choir, SHC has three other choral groups. The SHC Chamber Choir and the SHC Women’s Ensemble are select groups of 20 singers who perform a cappella and more challenging repertoires. The Jubilee Choir is a liturgical choir that serves at school and community liturgies.

Meetings

Concert Choir: Blue mornings and Thursday afternoons

Chamber Choir: Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm

Women’s Ensemble: Monday and Wednesday after school

Jubilee Choir: Tuesday after school

Moderators

Christian Bohm
Rhonda Cruz

 

Dance Team

Description

The SHC Dance Team is composed of students dedicated to building school spirit and community through their talents and creativity. Members are given the opportunity to create new, mostly hip-hop influenced choreography and have the opportunity to showcase these works. Performances include (but are not limited to) school rallies, Bruce-Mahoney games, festivals and Bay Area dance competitions. The SHC Dance Team is a year-long commitment.

Meetings

The Dance Team rehearsal schedule is posted in the Dance Studio at the beginning of every month and can also be found online on the Dance Team Groups page. The team meets in the Dance Studio unless otherwise noted on the schedule.

Transcript Requirement

  1. Attendance is required at all scheduled practices and performance events (members are allowed three “stuff happens” absences from September through December and another three from January through June. Beyond those three, a letter for excusal must be submitted to Ms. Padierne). Members with four unexcused absences in one semester will no longer be considered a member of the SHC Dance Team and forfeit their participation requirement.
  2. Members must support a community charitable drive or perform an approved service project once during the year (to be determined by members on a year-to-year basis)
  3. Members must show respect for others and a willingness to help, encourage and inspire.

Moderator

Laura Padierne

Earth Action

Description

The Earth Action Club’s mission is to help protect San Francisco’s and SHC’s environment through education and action. This club publicizes sustainable ways to help the environment and engages in activities to help preserve the environment.

Meeting Times and Locations

Earth Action Club meets during Club Collaboration periods (1:30-2:30 pm). Meetings are held in the library. Detailed information is posted on the Earth Action board on the second floor.

Transcript Requirements

Members must attend at least six meeting per semester and two events per semester.

Moderator

Lauren Wild '99

Drama Club

Description

The Drama Club welcomes students interested in learning more about theater and performance. Activities include field trips to theatrical events, socializing (such as movie/pizza night) and theater games.

Meetings

The club meets in the Sister Caroline Collins, DC Theater on designated White Days after school. Please be advised that during show times, meetings may be on hold until the production is over.

Transcript Requirement

Members must participate in 80% of all meetings and stay at least 30 minutes.

Moderator

Francine Torres-Kelly

French Club

Description

The French Club welcomes anyone who is interested in French culture. Members watch classic and blockbuster French films. They also cook favorite French recipes, go to movie theaters to watch French movies, to museums to see French exhibits and to French restaurants and cafés to acquire a real taste of French culture.

Meetings

The French Club meets in room 502 once a week. Meeting time is decided by members on a weekly basis.

Transcript Requirement

Members need to attend the French Club at least twice a month to get full credit.

Moderator

Marie Bernard

Guitar Club

Description

Guitar Club is a gathering of students of all abilities who love to play, learn and teach guitar. The goal is to teach curious students how to play guitar and for them to have fun! All levels are encouraged and welcomed. Much of the club time is dedicated to learning songs to play in rallies and activity lunches. Students must have their own instrument.

Meetings

Guitar Club meets every Thursday after school at 930 Gough Street.

Transcript Requirement

To get credit for Guitar Club students must show up to 3/4 of all meetings and must be no more than 10 minutes late to meetings unless there is a valid excuse such as sickness or academic work.

Moderator

Riaz Abdulla

History Club

Description

The History Club researches a variety of topics related to the history and traditions of Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Vincent’s High School, Sacred Heart High School, Cathedral High School and other Vincentian and Lasallian works in San Francisco and the surrounding area. The students research and write stories based on these histories. Some of these stories may be published in the Emerald or the Shamrock.

Meetings

The History Club meets in the Library Conference Room or the Counseling Office in the morning during the first Blue Day each week, and at other selected times as needed.

Transcript Requirement

Participation is determined by attendance at 75% of the meetings.

“You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been!”

Moderator

Bill Krueger

Japanese Club

Description

The Japanese Club welcomes any student who is interested in Japanese culture and language. This club enhances students' understanding of Japanese culture and society through presentations and discussions. Members watch Japanese movies, play Japanese video games, eat Japanese snacks, and so on. Members do not have to be enrolled in a Japanese course to participate.

Meetings

Meetings are held in room 801; the schedule is located on the school website.

Transcript Requirement

Members must participate in 75% of all meetings.

Moderator

Chikara Abe

Lasallian Vincentian Youth

Description

Lasallian Vincentian Youth is a community service group based upon the model of SHC’s Lasallian and Vincentian Founders. The group has ongoing service activities such as tutoring and homeless outreach. It also has large on-campus events aimed at serving and socializing with San Francisco’s Tenderloin community throughout the school year such as a winter carnival, a spring barbecue and a clothing store. All are welcome to join; no previous service experience is necessary.

Meetings

Meeting times are posted online and in Campus Ministry.  Meetings take place in room 103.
LVY also has a community group on the website.

Transcript Requirements

Members must attend two full meetings and perform two service activities per semester.

Moderator

Tom Farrell

Theresa Flynn Houghton

Multimedia Club

Description

The Multimedia Club is made up of students who are interested in the technologies and skills needed to film, edit and produce video and music. The club explores many different types of media, and focuses on editing and production to create high-quality content. The group films events in and around school, and incorporates music mixing into live performance and production video. The club welcomes any student interested in music mixing, video editing and filmography.

Meetings

The multimedia club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the Little Theatre on the De Paul Campus. Members attend SHC functions throughout the year to record the many school activities. Smaller groups of students work on editing projects during free periods.

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in at least four school activities as camera operators, and must participate in editing at least two videos. Monthly meetings will consist of technology training and live mixing practice.  Students must attend 75% of these meetings.

Moderators

Tim Mahoney 
Lewis Scaife

NetWorld Club

Description

NetWorld Club is for students who are interested in and/or adept at using the Internet and computers. Members maintain the Library iPads each day by clearing programs, photos, videos and wallpaper. They create presentations for different school departments using Photoshop, PowerPoint and scanners. They also delete files from the Library network. 

Meetings

Meetings are held during Club Collaboration time in the library. At these meetings, held at the beginning of each month, members schedule time to work in the Library.

Transcript Requirement

Members must work 2-4 times each month.

Moderator

Judy Scudder

Old Glory Club

Description

The Old Glory Club is for students who enjoy discussing current world and local events that pertain to politics, religion, war, “hot-topic” issues such as gun control and abortion rights, illegal immigration, foreign policies established by the American government and issues that affect our local community. Students themselves actively debate and present PowerPoint slide shows to defend their viewpoints. All are welcome.

Meetings

The Old Glory Club meets two times a month on White Days in room 812 on the De Paul Campus. At the end of each meeting a new topic for discussion is agreed upon for the next meeting and a projected date is set. Verbal and electronic announcements remind members of the next meeting.

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in 75% of all meetings and stay for at least 30 minutes.

Moderator

Coach Lee

Oracle

Description

The Oracle is a literary magazine, enabling students to express themselves through visual art, creative writing, photography or other means. As a club, members of The Oracle screen, read and critique submitted works from other students. Members also help with layout and distribution.

Meetings

The Oracle meets during either the morning or afternoon collaboration period once a week in room 505.

Transcript Requirement

Students must attend and participate in 80% of the meetings in order to get credit each semester.

Moderator

Paul Barnes

Outdoor Adventure Club

Description

The Outdoor Adventure Club is dedicated to exploring nature and our connections to it. Members have fun in the natural world by embarking on single- and multiday trips into the great outdoors.

Club Requirements

Members must attend at least five club meetings and/or adventures per semester, one of which must be an adventure. Additional meetings may be required for certain adventures.
***If members are concerned about the cost for a trip and want to participate, they can save money throughout the year or apply for a travel scholarship (costs can range from $0-$160). Contact Mr. Dempsey or Ms. Pfahnl for more information.

Expectations

  1. Students will be representing SHC while out in the field. They are expected to behave in the outdoors according to school policy and to adhere to the directions given by the club moderators and leading adults.
  2. Cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices will be allowed but under limited use on outdoor adventures.

Leadership Opportunities

We need you! Are you interested in a leadership position within the club? Below are a few positions we would like you to consider.

Core Team

  • Secretary: attendance and minutes
  • Indoor Display Designer: update and design display case on second floor
  • Communications Coordinator: maintain communication with club members through email, school publications, website and PA announcements
  • Adventure Coordinators: Help research, plan and organize outdoor adventures for the club

Moderators

Garrett Dempsey
Angie Pfahnl

Photography Club

Description

Photography Club is a place students can learn about the art of photography including: how to use a camera and its many settings; how to use photo-editing software such as Photoshop, Lunapic and PhotoBucket; and how to turn a good photo into a great photo. Students in Photography Club can participate in the frequent exhibits of photography around the school and photograph special events throughout the year.

Meetings

Photography Club meets twice per month in Room 809 approximately every other Tuesday, usually on Blue or White Days.

Transcript Requirement

To qualify for transcript credit, students must attend at least five meetings per semester and participate in one Photography Club-sponsored field trip or student exhibition, or photograph one SHC activity.

Moderator

Darin Little

Percussion Club

Description

The Percussion Club is open to all students. Students play grooves from around the world on congas, djembes, timbales, drum sets and most importantly, cowbell. The Percussion Club performs at most liturgies. Since many Percussion Club members are also in the band, Percussion Club also performs at games and rallies.

Meetings

The club meets on Blue Days from 7 am - 9:20 am

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in 80% of daily practices and in all major performances.

Moderator

Curt Moore 

Polynesian Dance Club

Meetings

The Polynesian Dance Club meeting schedule is posted in the Dance Studio at the beginning of every month and can also be found online on the Polynesian Dance Club Groups page. It meets in the Dance Studio unless otherwise noted on the schedule.

Moderator

Laura Padierne

Spanish Club

Description

The Spanish Club enables students to meet new friends and participate in fun activities that build skills. Participants enjoy culture, dances, fiestas, cooking, food, movies, arts and crafts, and field trips. This club enhances students’ appreciation of Hispanic language, history and culture.

Meetings

Spanish Club meets on the De Paul Campus in room 803 during Club Collaboration period.

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in 80% of all meetings and stay at least 30 minutes.

Moderators

Martha Melara
Gloria Huerta
Mercedes Gonzalez-Marrow

Speech and Debate Club

Description

Interested in honing your ability to win an argument? What about developing confidence in public speaking and memorization abilities? Speech and Debate has something for everyone. If you love to argue with your parents, and they'd rather you didn't, then debate may be a better forum for you as you learn the fine art of combining argumentation with effective delivery.
On the other hand, if you lean toward humorous, dramatic or oratorical presentations, the speech component may be more appealing. You can memorize your own work, someone else's, or, if presentation isn't your style, you can learn how to compose speeches on the spot.
The Speech and Debate Team, a member of the National Forensic League (NFL), can take you places you might only dream of right now. Prominent NFL alumni include President Lyndon Johnson, Senators Russ Feingold and William Frist, media visionary Ted Turner, Emmy award winners Kelsey Grammar and Shelly Long, television host Oprah Winfrey, news anchor Jane Pauley, C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and Federal National Mortgage CEO Franklin Delano Raines, as well as Jim Belushi, James Earl Jones, Adam Sandler and Malcolm X.
Speech and Debate has consistently been ranked as one of the top extracurricular activities sought by college admission offices.

Meetings

The Speech and Debate Club meets every White Day after school in room 410; practice sessions with coaches are arranged on an individual basis.

Transcript Requirement

  • Minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Either 70% attendance rate at team meetings or attendance at 10 meetings per semester, whichever is more
  • Participation in 50% of speech and debate tournaments per year (8-10 tournaments are held on weekends throughout the year)
  • NFL membership (earning 25 points/year through points won at tournaments and speaking events)
  • Participation in team service requirement

Moderator

Jonathan Lim

Sports Media Club

Description

The Sports Media Club provides an opportunity for young student writers, photographers and videographers to hone marketable skills of public relations, marketing and branding, and to have their work published on the SHC website and in various SHC publications produced by the Office of Communications.

Meeting Times

This club meets once a week to determine assignments. Meetings are held on the first White Day of the week at 1:30 pm. Meeting locations will be determined and emailed to club members on a weekly basis.

Transcript Requirement

Students must participate in at least 80% of all meetings and meet with Mr. Bergen outside of meetings when necessary.

Moderator

Scott Bergen

Sports Medicine Club

Description

The Sports Medicine Club offers students opportunities to learn firsthand about the care and prevention of athletic injuries. Students work with the goal of becoming Student Athletic Trainers and putting the skills learned to use by eventually working directly with SHC’s athletic teams. Students will have the opportunity to work closely and interact with certified athletic trainers (ATCs), orthopedic surgeons, other medical personnel and other student athletic trainers while learning immediate care of injuries, injury prevention measures, first aid/CPR/AED, basic anatomy and physiology, taping techniques and other skills. Anyone interested in a career in the health care professions would benefit greatly from being a member of the Sports Medicine Club.

Meetings

Meetings are held weekly in the Athletic Training Room from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm on White Days.

Transcript Requirement

Students must attend regularly scheduled meetings and comply with Sports Medicine Club guidelines and policies.

Moderator

Oscar C. Melero

The Emerald

Description

The Emerald newspaper continues a proud tradition begun in 1922 as SHC's source of news, sports, opinion and campus life. The SHC Emerald Club, in association with the other media clubs such as Sports Media and the Yearbook, creates a monthly newspaper about the events at SHC, in the city, and in the nation. Reporters cover school events, athletic results and local issues. Editorials comment on local and national debates. The paper provides a forum for focused, unbiased reporting as well as sound, logical arguments concerning the issues of students' lives. Students who work on The Emerald will demonstrate solid commitment to creating an excellent publication.

View The Emerald Online


Meetings

Meetings take place in Room 508, usually during White Day collaboration period. Members should listen to announcements for exact dates and times.


Transcript Requirement

To get credit for being in the Emerald Club, a student must sign in and attend a majority of meetings. Students need to stay for the entire meeting. Actively participate by writing articles to get published, editing articles that will be published, shooting photos or doing layout.


Moderator 

Ms. Julie Phelan           
emerald@shcp.edu                

 

Yearbook Club

Description

Memories are forever. Produced, written and arranged by a group of dedicated class and club members, SHC's yearbook, The Shamrock, comes out annually for the students of SHC. Staff members write copy, take and crop pictures, design creative layouts and detail events to capture the most memorable moments of the school year. Yearbook Club gives students the opportunity to improve writing skills, learn how to use the latest computer software and meet new people. Teamwork, responsibility and fun are key components of producing an unforgettable yearbook. Using their Yearbook Club experience, staff members are able to integrate these ideals in everyday life.

Meeting

The Yearbook staff meets after school on every White Day during the school year, and extra collaboration takes place online through Schoology. Meetings are held in the Yearbook office (Room 105a, between classrooms 105 and 106).

Transcript Requirement

In order to earn credit for the yearbook on their transcripts, students must participate in club meetings and/or take photos you need to complete yearbook pages. Work on the spreads will include capturing, cropping and placing pictures; writing headlines, captions and copy; interviewing people to get quotes; and tagging photos.

Moderator

Nancy Ingersoll