Clubs & Activities - Natick Public Schools

Academic Decathlon
Dr. Richard Geckle, 231
*Students compete against other schools in
various academic disciplines, including
math, music, economics, art, science, and
literature. The team must be composed of
students with a range of grade point
averages. Meets Tuesday & Thursday right
after school in Room 231.
Anime Club
Mr. Brian Wong, Library
*The Anime Club seeks to provide students
interested in the art medium of Japanese
Anime a venue to get together and watch it
with opportunities to discuss different series
and their merits. Students will generate a ist
of series to watch with a vote being taken to
determine which one to view during the
year. This will allow the club to follow a
series to its completion and watch a
storyline unfold. In addition, if you happen
to draw Manga or produce art in the Anime
style and would like to show it to the group,
the Anime club is a great venue for that; the
most appreciative audience is already there!
You may even meet someone for a
writing/drawing collaboration. Perhaps one
of the Anime shown will inspire your work.
The club will meet every Wednesday from
2:30-3:30 pm, except the second Wednesday
of each month, in the library conference
room to watch the Anime chosen with time
to discuss it afterwards.
Art Club
Ms. Angela Ruo, 145
*The art club will meet every other week
starting 9/11/12. Its goal is to explore
various art mediums such as drawing,
painting, bookbinding, digital art and
printmaking. Art club will also pair up with
the drama club to assist in painting sets.
Under the guidance of Ms. Ruo, students
will be able to create portfolios for college
applications or personal use, blog about their
work, develop new skills, and display the art
they create. See the NHS Calendar for
meeting dates or visit Ms. Ruo’s website and
Natick High School
Activities 2012-2013
click on the Art Club link at
http://msruosartroom.weebly.com
Board Game Club
Mr. Michael Lipson, 200H
Mr. Brian Wong, Library
*Come down to room 200H and try out a
new game with Board Game Club! We’ll be
playing board, card and all kinds of other
tabletop games from all over the world.
Have a great game you’d like to share?
Bring it with you! We’ll be trying out lots of
new games in addition to old favorites. No
matter what type of game you prefer, you’re
sure to find others who enjoy it too. See Mr.
Lipson with any questions, and come join us
soon! Meetings will be Mondays from 2:30-
3:30 pm in Room 200H
Business Professionals of America
Mr. Doug Scott, 200F
*Students interested in competing in state
competitions in any area of Computer and
Information Technology.
Chamber Singers
Mr. Tyler Turner, 148A
*Chamber Singers is an advanced choral
ensemble open to all students by audition.
Historically a women's group, the ensemble
performs the most advanced literature on our
concert programs, at competition, on tour,
and in the community. Auditions are held at
the end of each year for current high school
students and again at the beginning of the
year for freshman and other interested
singers.
Chess Club
Mr. Michael Brenneman, 127
*Join us for chess in a fun, social
environment! Everyone from beginners to
grandmasters is invited to attend! We play
exciting games such as Bughouse and speed
chess, and will be competing in some
tournaments as well! The first meeting will
be Thursday, 9/27/12 from 2:30-3:30 pm in
Room 127. Further meetings TBA.

Concert Choir
Mr. Tyler Turner, 148A
*The Concert Choir is the largest choral
ensemble at Natick High School which
rehearses during the last period of every
other school day. This large ensemble sings
regularly on concert programs, travels on
tour, competes with other high school
choirs, and performs in the Natick
community. No audition is necessary to join
the group. See your guidance counselor to
sign up. All students who participated in
chorus at the middle school level are
encouraged to join this class as freshmen.
Dance Team
Kelly Marino, 326
*The NHS Dance Team is a club for
students to get together and do what they
love - Dance! The Dance Team will also
show their school spirit at pep rallies and
home athletic events. Schedule TBA.
Debate Team
Dr. Richard Geckle, 231
*Debate Team is a student-run organization
where lively and interesting debates are
conducted. Meets the last two Mondays of
each month right after school in Room 231.
Drama
Ms. Margaret Hagemeister, 205D
-Director
*Opportunities exist for students to perform
on stage, be part of the crew and/or to play
in the pit band. Two productions per year:
one full musical in the fall and one smaller
production in the spring. Fall no-cut policy.
Earth Club
Mr. Douglas Milch, 329
*An environmental club that sponsors Dug
Pond clean-ups, hikes, recycling, and trail
clean-ups around the region. We have guest
speakers and show eco-friendly movies and
participate in Natick Earth Day in April.
Earth Club has formed a partnership with
Sassamon Trace Golf Course to make it
Audubon Certified. Meetings are on the 1 st
and 3 rd Tuesdays after school in the library
from 2:30-3:00. You can follow us on
twitter at @NHSEarthClub.
Fitness Center
Mr. Bob Anniballi, Director of Wellness,
159
*The new NHS Fitness Center is available
for all students and staff. The FC will be
open M-F from 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
Anyone who chooses to access the fitness
center must complete an orientation with
one of our staff members. Your school ID is
required to enter the facility. Rick Blackadar
is our resident fitness expert. He is in the
Fitness Center from 2:30-6:00 M-F. He is
there to help students and staff work on
reaching their fitness goals. Proper attire is
required. No sandals, boots, flip flops or
open toed shoes.
Foundations for Christians
Mrs. Linda Plachy, 111
*This group meets Tuesday afternoons 2:30-
3:00 in 111 for a time of Bible study,
fellowship and prayer.
French Club
Ms. Michael Jane Buss, 228
*Students will have the opportunity to
encounter and explore Francophone culture
with a variety of activities and experiences.
All are invited to participate.
Visits from Viry-Chatillon: 12 French
students will arrive at NHS, stay with
families and attend classes from Oct. 27 to
Nov. 10, 2012. NHS students will travel to
France as exchange students during the
April vacation. Last year’s executive board
will organize elections for this year’s new
execs. The new board will organize and
announce the meetings.
German Club
Mrs. Alese Ruggaber, 226
*Students meet to discuss and experience
various aspects of German culture through
film, food, stories and crafts. Meetings are
on Tuesdays in Room 226.

Junior Statesmen of America
Mr. Josh Hanna, 348A
*The Junior State of America, founded in
1934, is the largest student-run organization
in the United States with over 500,000
student members. These students all have
one common bond: they are interested in
politics, government, foreign affairs, the
law, and education. Natick members will
hold debates during chapter meetings, mock
trials and follow political events. They may
attend regional conferences and overnight
conventions where they will be able to
improve their knowledge of government and
politics, hone their public speaking skills,
learn about participating in a democracy and
mock government, and make amazing
friends and connections.
Meetings are on Blue days during CDS in
Room 348A.
Key Club
Justin Voldman, 336, 305
Natick Kiwanis
*The NHS Key Club is a service leadership
organization for high school students. Its
purpose is to develop initiative, leadership
ability and good citizenship. Key Club
offers leadership opportunities and provides
service to the school and community. Our
chapter is sponsored by the Natick Kiwanis
Club. Meetings will be held after school
with occasional evening meetings and
activities on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00pm
in Room 102. (Dates TBA)
Math Club
Mr. John Astill, 305G
Ms. Alyce Burnell, 328
*All students are welcome to participate in
monthly 30-minute New England Math
League competitions held during the year.
Students compete against their peers from
the area. Certificates are awarded at the end
of the year to the top scorers. Some students
are selected each year to compete in a faceto-face
competition each year at WPI.
Meetings will be in Room 328.
Medical Club
Ms. Caitlin Connery, 214
Mr. David Wilson, 312
*The goal of the Medical Club is to provide
opportunities to gain knowledge, skills and
leadership development for students seeking
a future in the medical field. Club activities
would include local doctors and medical
student guest speakers, trips to various
medical facilities to learn more about the
field and be introduced to career
opportunities as well as community service
opportunities at hospitals and other medical
facilities. Meeting dates and times TBA.
Mock Trial Team
Ms Cynthia Crohan, 344
*The NHS Mock Trial Team participates in
the Massachusetts Bar Association’s High
School Mock Trial Tournament. The trials
rotate between criminal and civial cases and
teams perform both the defense and
prosecution/plaintiff roles in three
preliminary trials in a designated district
beginning in January 2013. This year’s case
will be a criminal one. Case specifics will be
shared with the teams in October.
Last year was our first year in the
tournament. While it was a lot of fun,
students need to understand participation
requires students to learn applicable case
law and attend practice sessions. The
preliminary trials take place immediately
after school and require travel to various
locations. Any student interested should
contact Ms. Crohan in Room 344 or at
cycrohan@natickps.org.
Model United Nations
Mr. Ivor Ford, 336
*The United Nations is an organization that
allows representatives of the world’s nations
to debate, negotiate, and try to create
solutions to the world’s problems, while also
achieving their own national goals. In Model
UN we simulate this process by learning to
be representatives of a country. We attend
regional conferences where other high
schools represent other countries. We work
with (and against) other countries in order to
pursue our nation’s goals. Come to Model
UN if you like to: Negotiate; Debate; Meet

students from other schools; Learn about the
world and current events. Meetings on
Thursdays 2:20-3:20 in Room 336.
Mountaineering
Mr. Joel Bradford, 202
*The Natick High School Mountaineering
Club is for students who like to hike in the
great outdoors. We welcome both novice
and experienced hikers. Over the course of
the school year, we organize hikes of
various difficulty, from an easy walk to a
strenuous climb over 4,000 feet. For more
information, contact Matthew Yeager
(mayeager@students.natickps.org)
Natick GSA
Mrs. Katherine Milkosky, 317
Ms. Amanda Egan, 321
*Meets every Wednesday from 2:30-3:30pm
in Room 317. This gay/straight alliance
works to promote diversity and tolerance in
our schools. We go on field trips to
conferences, movies, other area GSAs, etc.
We provide resources and materials to the
school that promote diversity. Our students
have discussions, work on projects, and just
hang-out in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
EVERYONE is welcome! We are on
Facebook at Natick GSA.
NTY-Natick Together for Youth
(A Leadership Group of Natick Together for
Youth)
Ms. Beth Heffler, School Resource Officer
Mr. Rick Halloran, School Resource Officer
*Plan “out of school” activities for your
peers and create educational social media
campaigns using video and posters to
encourage healthy choices among your peers
and for younger children, using the national
“Above the Influence” model. Develop your
skills as a leader and be part of this new,
youth run club. If you were a part of a
Leadership Group at your school, then this
Club will be perfect for you!
Meets Tuesdays from 2:30-3:30 pm in the
Library Conference Room.
National Honor Society
Mrs. Linda Plachy, 111
Mrs. Susan Camiel, 320
*Membership is an honor bestowed upon
students who meet the academic
requirements in junior and senior years. The
purpose of this organization shall be to
create enthusiasm for scholarship, to
stimulate a desire to render service, to
promote leadership and to develop character
in members and in others.
Orange Sky Mediation Club
Mrs. Camille Napier-Bernstein, 220
*The Meditation Club will resume
meetings in the spring 2013. We practice
mindful meditation and relaxation
techniques for stress relief. All students and
staff are welcome.
Parade Band
Mr. John Cice, 152A
*Plays at the Veterans’ and Memorial Day
parades and Thanksgiving Day Football.
This band is the NHS Symphonic Band.
Pep Band
Mr. John Cice, 152A
*Plays at all the home NHS football games
and at the Thanksgiving Day football game,
and is made up of members from the
Symphonic Band.
Peer Leadership
Ms. Marnie Musante, 241
Mrs. Janice Simms, 245
*Designed for students who would like to be
role models for fellow students. Involves
peer education for middle school students
and activities to benefit the high school and
the community at large. Meets bimonthly.
Programming Club
Ms. Alyce Burnell, 328
*Students in the Programming Club utilize
coding languages, such as Java and Python,
to create and design software. This club is
primarily for novices who wish to learn
about software development or for people
who love to code. Our club offers a fun and
friendly environment and is open to

everyone regardless of their expertise. We
meet Thursdays in Room 328.
Robotics
Mr. Doug Scott, 300
*RoboNatick Team is a club open to those
students interested in technology, robotics
and a good time. All skill levels are
welcome. There is a fairly large time
commitment to the club; our season runs
from September through February. The club
participates in FIRST FTC Challenge at
regional and sometimes national events, as
well as competitive intramural challenges.
Team members often participate in CAD,
programming, mechanical, electronic,
computer, design, marketing, and
fundraising tasks. All members participate in
problem solving and teamwork. Join us by
visiting Mr. Scott in Room 300 for details
on upcoming meetings and events.
SADD
Students Against Destructive Decisions
Mrs. Jennifer Godin, 103
Ms. Kerryn O’Sullivan, 166A
*The NHS Chapter of Students Against
Destructive Decisions is a member of the
Massachusetts and National SADD
organizations. The focus of this student run
organization is to develop programs that
help students avoid harmful behaviors such
as driving under the influence, speeding and
not using seatbelts. Natick High SADD
members perform several seatbelt usage
checks annually. Massachusetts SADD and
the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau use
our high school seatbelt usage statistics to
determine the effectiveness of our and their
seatbelt campaigns. Recent SADD programs
and activities include Keepin' It Red and
Blue, Reduce the Use Night, Seatbelt Usage
Surveys, the Sticker Shock Campaign, the
Unity Project, and the SADD Prom Fashion
Show. Meets on Wednesdays in Room 103.
Sailing Team
Ms. Susan Tully, 212
*The Sailing Team competes in the spring at
Community Boating in Boston and the fall
season is open to all sailors as a club sport.
Practices are on Dug Pond on our fleet of
Larks and 420’s. New sailors are welcome
in the fall, and experienced sailors can hone
their racing skills in the spring. Tryouts for
varsity are in October and April. Want to
compete but don’t like to run? Sailing may
be the sport for you.
Science Club
Mr. Joel Bradford, 202
Mr. David Shapiro, 206
*The club’s main goal is to give students a
chance to practice and prepare for
competition in the regional science bowls,
the science Olympiad and the Women in
Science Competition. We hope it will also
be a fun experience where students can work
on their own projects. Meeting dates and
times will be determined by the group. We
generally meet after school, twice a month
in Room 206.
Set Crew Director / Lighting Director
Mr. Ben Rogers / Ms. Nicole Harris
*Students work alongside the cast and
production team of the annual fall musical
and learn about lighting, building and
producing a full-length musical play.
Spanish Club
Mrs. Rosa Garcia, 227
Ms. Kelly Tavares, 219
*Spanish Club is an opportunity for students
to learn about the various cultures that speak
Spanish by discussing prominent holidays,
preparing authentic cuisine and engaging in
cultural activities. In addition, students will
be able to speak Spanish while playing
games and discussing cultural topics.
Meeting will be on Wednesdays once or
twice a month from 2:30-3:00 pm.
Speech Team
Ms. Joyce Albert,
Ms. Sarah Donnelly,
Ms. Amanda Parker
*Meets every Wednesday from 7:30-9:30pm
in the Lecture Hall. Students compete in
individual speaking events, such as
Extemporaneous Speaking and Dramatic
Performances with schools throughout
Massachusetts and New England. For more
information, visit

http://natickspeech.weebly.com/ or stop by
one of our meetings.
Student Council
Mr. Tim McDonald, 327
Mrs. Valerie Alfeo, 315
Ms. Jennifer Johnson, 321
*Students are involved in charity events and
fundraisers. They organize the high school’s
annual talent show and Spirit Week events.
Members may be elected to serve on the
Student Advisory Board to the School
Committee and the state run Student
Advisory Council. Meetings are generally
held in Room 327 on Red days during CDS.
Students As Readers
Mrs. Tara McDonald, Library
*Meets the second Wednesday of every
month in the Library at 2:30 to discuss the
selected book of the month. Students
collaborate together to choose the books we
read. All are welcome. First meeting will be
in October.
Style: NHS Men's Chorus
Mr. Tyler Turner, 148A
*Style is a men's chorus open to all male
students who enjoy singing men's repertoire.
This ensemble performs classical and
popular literature on concert programs, at
competition, on tour, and in the community.
No audition is necessary to join the group.
Style meets during the Common Directed
Study/Common Directed Class period every
other day: 7:30-8:10 AM. See your guidance
counselor to sign up.
Ultimate Frisbee Club
Mr. Seth Wolfman, 220
*Ultimate Frisbee is the fastest-growing
non-contact sport in America and this year
you can be a FOUNDING MEMBER of
Natick High Ultimate! At Ultimate Club you
will learn all of the different ways to throw,
catch, and play defense in the exciting game
of Ultimate. You will gain teamwork,
leadership, spirit, and sportsmanship skills
and you will meet lots of great people on
Natick's only coed sports team. Come make
history and be a part of something great! We
will meet every Tuesday after school in
Room 220 at 2:30 pm.
Writers’ Bloc
Literary Magazine
Ms Camille Napier-Bernstein, 220
*Showcases poetry, fiction, non-fiction,
fanfic and artwork created by the Natick
High community. Submissions are accepted
during the first semester. Students are also
needed second semester to typeset and
design the layout of the book. First meeting
is October 3 rd in Room 220. Further
meetings TBA.
Writers Club
Mr. Michael Mortara, 345
*Meets Thursday afternoons at 2:30pm in
Room 345.
Students gather to read and critique one
another’s creative writing, and to offer
support in a casual and friendly atmosphere.
Freshmen Class Advisors (2016)
Mrs. Caitlin Connery-Tenney, 214
Ms. Jennifer Johnson, 321
Community Service
Mrs. Donna Slattery, Guidance,
Administrative Assistant Rev. 10/19/12