High School Clubs: A Comprehensive Guide to Extracurricular Activities

High school clubs offer students a fantastic avenue to engage with their peers, cultivate a sense of community, and acquire valuable skills outside the traditional classroom setting. The SCHS Associated Student Body supports a variety of clubs of various interests. Before a club can officially be rostered at SCHS, the club president must attend a club charter meeting. Clubs will have booths all around campus at lunch for students to enjoy. It's a great opportunity to learn more about clubs that interest you!

The Importance of Extracurricular Involvement

Extracurricular activities allow students to explore existing passions and discover new ones. Joining clubs is a great way to become involved in the high school community, which is beneficial for personal growth and college applications. While it's a common misconception that colleges want to see students involved in a multitude of clubs, they actually prefer to see focused dedication and deep skills or interests in one or two main areas.

Tiering Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities can be categorized into tiers based on their prestige and competitiveness:

Tier 1: Reserved for the highest and rarest honors a high school student can receive, often represented by national distinctions in academics, athletics, or nationally recognized summer programs.
Tier 2: Includes distinctive leadership positions in established clubs or organizations within the community.
Tier 3: Recognizes minor leadership roles or distinctions in extracurricular activities.

It's advisable for students, especially in their early high school years, to explore various activities to identify their interests before committing to specific ones. The ultimate goal is to build an extracurricular profile that demonstrates depth of involvement.

Starting or Joining a Club

Santa Teresa High School offers a wide variety of clubs, including community service clubs, robotics, hacking, dance clubs, drama, business, and many more. These clubs provide opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and make lasting friendships. Whether you're interested in performing arts, technology, or community service, there's something for everyone.

Club Rush (Recruitment) will occur at the outdoor stage on August 21, November 6, and February 5.

If you're interested in starting something new, you can also create your own club. This page provides information on how to create clubs, join existing ones, and keep your club running smoothly. You'll find resources and guidelines to help you with everything from club paperwork and forming a constitution to maintaining an active membership and planning events.

Creating a club requires you to complete the paperwork on this page, which includes drafting a sample budget, creating a constitution, finding an advisor, and gathering at least six members. Existing clubs still need to reactivate their clubs each year.

The forms below are required paperwork for spending money and organizing fundraisers; check the ASB meeting minutes and ASB Works to see if your forms have been processed. You can find the process for paperwork approval by clicking here. When you create a purchase order to spend club money, you must complete and attach meeting minutes found in the same document.

Drop off hard-copies of paperwork in bins in front of ASB room.

The videos linked below will guide you through the process of filling out club paperwork, including RPOs, fundraising requests, meeting minutes, and more. You can also look at the Paperwork Tracker or ASB Meeting Minutes to see if your forms have been processed.

All official clubs on campus are led by the Inter Club Council (ICC). This is an extension of our Associated Student Body (ASB), composed of the officers of all certificated clubs and organizations at Santa Teresa High School.

The ICC's purpose is to supervise in the planning and operation of our various clubs, as well as to provide a forum to schedule upcoming activities and collaborate regarding student issues. Club participation is integral to the function of our entire student government, for it is through clubs that the student body takes organized steps to building and improving our community.

The meetings for ICC will be during tutorial period. You will be required to submit 3 forms in order to start a new club: the digital Google form application (digital), the physical application form (you will print a copy a fill), AND the club constitution (you will print a copy a fill). All 3 forms must be submitted before a club is even considered for the approval process. Need an Activities Request Form? The three pages of the PDF are below. Print and fill or pick up a copy from the Activities Office Window. Please plan at least three weeks in advance!!!

Specific High School Clubs

Here's a detailed look at a variety of clubs commonly found in high schools:

Read also: Directory of ASU Student Groups

Academic and Intellectual Clubs

Art History Club: Analyze and present historic artistic masterpieces, discuss art history, and potentially visit museums or artistic hubs. You may also get to discuss and practice techniques that art historians use to preserve valuable pieces of art. Some art history clubs take field trips to local museums and even plan international trips to artistic hubs like the Louvre, the Vatican, and Istanbul.
History Club: Learn about and discuss important historical eras and events, and hear from historians and other professionals who utilize history in their work.
Literary Magazine Club: Showcase student creative writing, poetry, art, and other literature in a yearly publication. A literary magazine is a great motivator to get students involved in the literature and the creative arts. In this club, you’ll work with a team to select student work and to encourage students to play with different themes or subjects throughout the year.
Science Olympiad: Compete in science-related events and deepen your knowledge in various scientific fields. Even if you may not have all the science background that you need through your classes, this club will be a great way for you to pick up some material and get ahead in your science classes.
Mathletes: Engage in competitive mathematics and problem-solving. If math, statistics, or numbers in general spark your interest, consider working with them competitively by joining Mathletes.
Academic Decathlon: Participate in a team-based competition testing knowledge in multiple academic subjects. You get to work in a team, and you can compete no matter what your grades and GPA are.
Quiz Bowl: Test your knowledge across a wide range of academic subjects in a competitive format.
High School Newspaper: Develop journalism and writing skills by reporting on school events, current events, and various topics of interest. High school newspapers cover topics ranging from the arts and sciences to current events and from school-related stories to editorials. Working for a school paper gives you the opportunity to explore a variety of interests while developing your voice and writing skills.
Model Congress: Develop legislation and participate in simulated debates on current issues. Similar to Model UN, Model Congress offers students the opportunity to develop legislation on current issues, participate in various committees, and represent their assigned position through simulated debates.
French/Spanish/Foreign Language Club: Immerse yourself in a foreign language and culture through various activities. Every high school student is required to learn a foreign language, and what better way to get better at a foreign language than to immerse yourself in it through a club? Depending on which foreign language club you’re joining, the activities may vary.

Creative and Performing Arts Clubs

Drama Club: Act, practice interpretation skills, and participate in theatrical productions. Drama club is traditionally home to a school’s theatre enthusiasts. If you want the opportunity to act and practice your interpretation skills with a group, this is the club to join.
Improv Club: Develop quick-thinking and public speaking skills through improvisational exercises and performances. People who do improv and participate in improv performances and competitions say it’s one of the most fun activities they do. By joining this club, you’ll learn how to think on your feet and become comfortable with presenting in front of an audience.
Film Club: Watch and analyze films, and potentially create your own film productions. This is the club for people who love to watch movies, and for those who want to become a director or be a part of the film industry one day. Through film club, you may get to watch great films, but you’ll also have the opportunity to create your own film productions with a group of like-minded individuals.
Photography Club: Learn about photography techniques, analyze famous photos, and potentially develop photos in a darkroom. If you’re interested in snapping photos or if you have a fancy camera that you don’t know how to use, photography club is for you. You could talk with fellow team members about how to take a great photo and how to analyze famous photos. You might also get access to a dark room where you can expertly develop the photos you take.
Ceramics Club: Create art from clay, stone, and other molding materials. If you’re interested in forming art from clay, stone, and other molding materials, a ceramics club could be for you. This club requires access to your school’s Ceramics studio, but pottery and other similar art forms are a great pastime that can also be tied to subjects learned in school. In this club, you can discuss how pottery has changed throughout history, from Ancient Greece to today.
Music Club: Explore various aspects of music, including listening, writing, recording, and learning about music production. One of the most overlooked extracurricular topics students can explore is music, and a Music Club can take many different forms in high school. Whether the club is dedicated to listening to and discussing new music, writing and recording original music, or even learning about how music is made, Music Club is a great way to stimulate interest in the arts in an accessible manner.
Fashion Club: Explore and develop an interest in the fashion industry. Fashion represents another interest that many students may have that might not necessarily be covered by your school’s curriculum. As such, getting involved in a Fashion Club is a great way to explore and grow an interest in the fashion industry without the pressure of needing formal experience.
Glee Club: Perform popular songs in a large ensemble, often student-led. Despite what you may think, Glee Club is not just for fans of the TV show “Glee”-rather, it’s an outlet for students interested in music to perform in different capacities. Glee clubs have been around since the mid-19th century and usually entail a large ensemble covering and singing popular songs. Unlike a high school choir, however, Glee clubs are entirely student led.
Creative Writing Club: Develop your writing skills and explore different genres of writing. Want to write short stories or novels, or be the next Stephen King? A creative writing club is a good place for you to start.

Social and Cultural Clubs

Multicultural Club: Learn about different international cultures and connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Multicultural Club is a great way for students to not only learn about other international cultures, but to meet other students who may come from diverse backgrounds. Students can bring various things that represent their cultures, including traditions, recipes, currencies, languages, flags, and more.
International Club: Learn about other countries, their histories, cultures, and traditions. Outside of history class, there is probably no better way to learn about other countries and their histories, cultures, and traditions than International Club.
Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs: Provide a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students and their allies. It’s important that students, no matter what their sexual orientation is, feel valued at their school. The Gay-Straight Alliance club is meant to provide a safe environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and their straight allies.
Anime Club: Share your passion for anime with fellow enthusiasts. If you’re an anime fanatic, here is your opportunity to participate in a fandom with your classmates.
Video Game Club: Play and discuss video games with like-minded individuals. If playing video games is your favorite pastime, a video game club may be perfect for you.
Political Affiliation Clubs: Express your political interests and engage in political discussions. Regardless of your political affiliation, there may be a club for you to join and express your political interests. This can take the form of a Young Democrats Club, a Young Republicans Club, or even an Independents Club.
Religion Clubs: Connect with others who share your religious beliefs or learn more about a particular religion. If your religious faith is very important to you, and you would like to get acquainted with other individuals who share your beliefs, consider joining a religiously affiliated club at your school. You can join a religious club simply if you want to learn more about a particular religion even if you do not practice it.

Community Service and Activism Clubs

Key Club: Participate in various volunteering and charity events in your school and local community. Key Club is one of the biggest high school charity organizations in the country. By joining the Key Club chapter at your high school, you’ll get to engage in various volunteering and charity events in your school and local community.
Habitat for Humanity: Build houses for those in need. By joining Habitat for Humanity, you’ll get your hands dirty for a good cause. Members of Habitat for Humanity build houses for those in need. If you’re not inclined to do a bunch of hard physical labor like laying foundation and drywall, no worries! You can volunteer by painting the finished houses or doing some other light tasks.
Amnesty International Club: Work to combat human rights violations around the world. Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights organization that works to combat various human rights violations all over the world. As a high school student, you can join a local Amnesty International chapter.
Red Cross: Support a global organization that helps those in need. If your school has a local Red Cross chapter, you should consider joining in order to support a company that helps those in need all over the world.
Operation Smile Club: Raise awareness and support for children born with cleft lips. Operation Smile is an organization that provides free surgeries to children born with a cleft lip.
Breast Cancer Awareness Club: Participate in efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness efforts have really mobilized in the last few years, and a high school club is one of your chances to get involved.
Save Endangered Species Club: Help protect endangered animals through volunteer work. If you want to help animals through your volunteer work, you can consider joining this activity.
Environment Club: Engage in projects to clean up and improve your local community. If saving Mother Earth is something you’re passionate about, consider joining an environment club, where you will get to engage in various projects to help clean up and green up your local community.
Recycling Club: Promote and implement recycling initiatives within your school. The students in recycling clubs are the ones who make sure that your high school is being eco-friendly in its classrooms. These students establish the school-wide recycling initiative by delivering the bins to each classroom.
Hospital Volunteer Club: Volunteer at a local hospital and assist where needed. Some high schools offer students the opportunity to go to a local hospital and help out wherever they can.
Soup Kitchen Volunteer Club: Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank. Some high schools offer students the opportunity to volunteer at their local food bank or soup kitchen. These places gather and donate food for the needy. You would be donating just a few hours at a time and feeding many people who really need help.
UNICEF: Partner with UNICEF USA to educate, advocate, and fundraise for children's rights. High school clubs partner with UNICEF USA to educate, advocate, and fundraise.

Special Interest Clubs

Chess Club: Learn and practice chess strategies, and compete against other students. Chess is a complicated game that requires strategy, careful thinking, and practice. By joining the chess club, you’ll have the opportunity to learn new strategies to beat your opponents and the opportunity to practice playing against other students, giving you a fun challenge.
Outdoors Club: Participate in outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and canoeing. Sitting inside a high school building for 8 hours a day can be exhausting. Add some adventure to your high school career by joining a club that focuses on outdoor activities. These can include hiking, skiing, canoeing-you name it!
Cooking Club: Develop culinary skills and share recipes with friends. For emerging foodies, Cooking Club is an opportunity to build a repertoire of culinary skills alongside your friends. There are several different ways to organize Cooking Club, whether it be delegating someone each week to bring in a recipe, voting on recipes, or even engaging in a friendly competition to see who can cook the best dish.
Book Club: Read and discuss books with fellow book lovers. If you enjoy reading and want to make sure that the hustle and bustle of a busy high school schedule doesn’t prevent you from engaging with good literature, join a book club at your school. Book clubs are great for getting great book suggestions and keeping you accountable for keeping up with your reading.
Robotics Club: Design, build, and program robots. Robotics professionals are in high demand in today’s tech companies, where machine learning and artificial intelligence are hot topics.
Yearbook Club: Document school events and create the yearbook. If Yearbook is offered as a club in your high school, you ought to consider joining in order to be part of a very special high school tradition. As a member of the yearbook club, you’ll document your fellow students doing amazing things throughout the year, and your reports will be put in print for the entire school to see.

Peer Support and Mentoring Clubs

Tutoring Club: Help fellow students succeed academically by providing tutoring services. You don’t have to go out into your community to make a difference. You can help students at your school by tutoring them in subjects that you’re doing well in!
PALS: Mentor and be a positive influence on younger students at elementary or middle schools. This club is a great idea for anyone who loves working with kids and who wants to be a positive influence on their generation. Students who join PALS get to visit kids at an elementary or middle school, where they are each paired with a younger student called their “Pal.” You get to meet with your Pal throughout the year and do some fun activities with them to make their day better.
Best Buddies Club: Foster friendships and mentoring relationships with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies is an international non-profit organization that lets volunteers be a friend or mentor to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. High school chapters will often pair students within the school, fostering an environment in which any student can get involved and help the overall mission of the organization.
Student Government: Plan events and represent the student body. If you really want to be involved in your high school community and plan important events like dances or pep rallies, consider running for student government-also known as student council in some schools.

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. Accordingly, BUSD programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression; nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy.

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