Club and Activity Descriptions
 
(Please note the descriptions are Alphabetized)
 
ART CLUB:  The Art Club meets at least once a month after school to provide a time and place for interested Nardin students to come together to “do art.”  Attendance is flexible to accommodate those girls who have other after school commitments.  Members may focus upon assembling a college portfolio or merely come to share their art interests and talents.  They may paint, sketch, work with clay, view art videos or even work on class assignments involving an art project.  Space is limited but all students are welcome.  Miss Turici is the adviser.

CHAPEL SINGERS: The Nardin Academy Chapel Singers is a chamber sized vocal ensemble whose primary purpose is to provide the music ministry for all school liturgies and prayer services.  This includes singing at the school’s Baccalaureate Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.  Occasionally, the Chapel Singers are asked to sing at events off-campus in local churches for concerts as well as liturgies.  The ensemble specializes in acappella, late medieval and early renaissance music.  Their second love is the group’s own arrangements of music that finds its sources in early American tunes.  The singers also enjoy performing music drawn from a variety of other styles including folk and contemporary.  Each spring the Chapel Singers hosts a Charity Concert along with professional performers from the Nardin community to raise money for Roswell Park.  Rehearsals are held Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Nardin Chapel under the director of Miss Karen Podd. Please see her or email her at kpo@nardin.org for more information.

CHEM CLUB:  Chem Club will give girls an opportunity to understand various chemistry topics through fun, hands-on experiments.  Experiments include: ice cream, and creating invisible ink.  This club will help to erase the “boring and uninteresting” stereotype of chemistry that many girls have.  Chem club will take place during club period; however, the co-presidents will additionally offer optional review sessions for chemistry students before major tests.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION CLUB:  You know the game that people crowd in arcades to watch people go crazy on? The one with the flashing arrows and intense dance steps?  It’s called Dance Dance Revolution, and it is the Japanese import that is sweeping the nation.  In DDR club, you can exercise, meet new people, and have fun at the same time! Each time the club meets we will have a sign-up sheet so, even if you don’t have a chance to play at one meeting, you will at the next.  Whether you are a novice or an expert, you will learn to improve your skills through the advice, tricks, and tips of your fellow club members.  In addition to regular club meetings, there will be one or two after-school competitions in which anyone can participate.  So come learn a fun new game, or just impress us with your sweet moves: Join DDR Club!

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB:  This is an activist organization formed to help promote environmental awareness within Nardin Academy.  Our focus is to help clean up Nardin Academy while promoting awareness within the school community.  During the school day, students are involved in various type of recycling.  It is our hope that each student will develop a sense of responsibility for the care of the earth and recognizes her own civic duty.

FASHION CLUB:  In this club, you will explore the world of fashion, right down to the very basics.  You’ll begin with a blast from the past, the trends from the 19th century up until current day trends.  When was your favorite clothing line established?  You’ll study the history of many popular fashion lines!  Then move right into the basics of fashion and sewing.  If your button popped off, would you know exactly how to sew it back on?  Maybe not, but after this club you will! Come join us and learn all about the thing you know you love.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLUB:  The purpose of the Foreign Language Club is to foster multi-cultural awareness.  It offers students the opportunity to experience various aspects of different cultures.  Members must participate in at least 2 activities of the club.  Among the activities are “International Week” and the “International Dinner”, held every year in March.  To be considered an active member, students must also attend club meetings (one per month) and be available to help before and after activities.

GRANDFRIENDS CLUB:  The Grandfriends Club is a group of Nardin students who make holiday cards and decorations for residents of area nursing homes.  Our members enjoy using their creative and artistic skills to bring happiness to the elderly members of our community.  Members also enjoy personally delivering the items.

HORSEBACK RIDING CLUB:  This group of students meets at the Buffalo Equestrian Center every Thursday from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. starting Sept. 27th.   They receive a total of 5 classes, but must provide their own transportation to the Center.  Through this activity, students develop discipline, responsibility and a sense of caring for an animal.

IMPROV CLUB:  Improv Club is for any student interested in learning about several facets of theatrics.  Through performing skits, improvisation, learning about audition techniques and stage combat, the club members will learn about developing themselves as actresses.  Girls will be challenged to fulfill the roles of an array of characters, which, in turn, will open participants and build their confidence.  This club is open to anyone, regardless of previous experience in theater. 

ITALIAN CLUB:  This group meets monthly as an opportunity to learn the Italian language and culture.  Students participate in activities that will allow them to experience cultural events and express their interests.

KALEIDOSCOPE:    The school newspaper is open to students interested in the various facets of producing a publication at least 4 times a year.  Such areas include writing, editing, graphics – art and photography, as well as desktop publishing.  It is open to students of all grade levels.  Students must spend time researching, interviewing in order to write stories.  A student usually signs up for one article per issue.  Those who take the journalism elective often proceed to editing positions that will require extra time for editing and layout, often before or after school.  Students learn to organize their time and priorities, as well as increase their skills in producing a quality newspaper. Depending on availability, speakers from various fields of the media talk to the staff at meetings during activity periods.

MOCK TRIAL:  The purpose of Nardin’s Mock Trial team is to give students a greater sense of the law, a lesson in public speaking and a chance to see the end result of a group effort.  First and foremost, Mock Trial exists to allow high school students the chance to examine how an actual civil case is put together and carried out in a courtroom.  The case presented each year by the New York State Bar Association dictates that the members of a mock trial team must be familiar with all the documents of a civil case.  Participants should be able to use the stated facts, the affidavits and any charts or diagrams given to effectively argue the plaintiff or defense side of a lawsuit.  This group requires an extensive commitment on the part of its members.  They meet twice a week, one-day after school and always on Saturday.  The reward is seen in the courtroom.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS:  Model United Nations (Model U.N.) is a club for students interested in exploring the major issues that affect our world.  Each team represents a different nation in the United Nations and debate according to the foreign policy of this country while following the rules of parliamentary procedure.  Each member is required to attend at least one conference throughout the year.  All members have the opportunity to attend the local WNY conference and other overnight conferences outside the area.  During the class periods in school, we will explain parliamentary procedure and give information on each conference.  All information and research for the nation will have to be done outside of school.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY:  This select group is open only to juniors who have first achieved a cumulative average of 94.0%.  They are selected during the second semester of junior year.  Students must also demonstrate the qualities of character, leadership and service to go along with their scholarship.  The group meets once a month at 7:45 a.m. and requires a commitment of 5 service hours per quarter to the school.

OUTDOOR CLUB:  For girls who like activity in the great outdoors, you’ve found the right place.  Our recent events have included varied activities such as hiking in the Zoar Valley Gorge, hiking in the Niagara Falls Gorge, white water rafting in the Cattaraugus Creek, hiking for the weekend in the Finger Lakes.  Students participate on a “first-come, first-served” basis, as there is always a student limit.  The club generally sponsors both fall and spring events.  Time commitment is generally a half-day, except for the outdoor weekends.  This group fosters an increased awareness of our natural environment and an increased respect for it, along with camaraderie and physical fitness.

PAX CHRISTI: Pax Christi, the international nonviolence and peace movement, has finally made its way to Nardin Academy.  Founded in France in 1945 (after World War II) by Marie Marthe Dortel Claudot, Pax Christi is an international movement to spread Christ’s peace in the world through prayer, study, and action in order to create a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.  Pax Christi, which reached the USA in 1972, promotes nonviolence, disarmament, economic justice, environmentalism, and universal human rights.  At Nardin, our Pax Christi chapter will engage in the programs of both the national and regional offices.  To find out more about us, visit the websites of www.paxchristiusa.org or www.paxchristiwny.org.  Pax Christi has replaced Amnesty International at Nardin Academy.

POLITICAL DEBATE CLUB: Open to all classes, the political debate club meets once a month to discuss current topics in the news selected by the student leaders.  Through this organization, we hope to increase knowledge of current issues, improve public speaking ability, learn to prove your position with facts, speak logically and to learn to meet and listen to girls from all 4-grade levels.

QUARKNET:  This is a new club open to anyone interested in the mysteries of the universe – consider it your portal into the realm of High Energy Physics.  We will perform research into cosmic rays in collaboration with physicists and students around the country.  Cosmic rays are incredibly energetic particles from distant galaxies, which can only be detected with specially designed instruments.  Meetings will take place as announced, and might include after or before school hours and some Saturdays.

QUIZ BOWL:  Student teams of 4 engage in a general information game against students from other schools in after school matches about 12 times a school year.  The teams with the best records make the playoffs.  The playoffs are a double elimination tournament, with the team with the best record winning a trophy for their school.  A total of 26 hours is required from October through April for club members.  While an enjoyable social activity, students also find intellectual stimulation and growth through broadening knowledge in many areas.  Students are imbued with the competitive spirit and they gain self-confidence.

RADICAL MATH CLUB:  The Math Club focuses on fun math activities in order to bring more interest to the subject area.  Our two main projects each year are the annual math newsletter, which is packed full of fun and interesting math facts, and the celebration of Pi Day.  Some members of the Radical Math Club are also available for Peer tutoring.  The co-moderators are Mrs. Millson and Mrs. Schneid.

RAINBOW HERITAGE:  Rainbow Heritage is a multi-racial organization that promotes an understanding of the different cultural heritages of Nardin students.  This group takes responsibility for the celebration of Black History Month at Nardin.  Monthly meetings are used for planning, cultural activities and guest speakers.

RARE PATTERNS:  The Rare Patterns staff produces the student literary magazine.  This annual publication showcases the creative writing, artwork, and photography of Nardin students.  Each staff member needs to attend one monthly meeting after school, submit a minimum of 2 original works by mid-February, devote several hours in the spring to reading and evaluating submissions, and give input on the final product.  Through these tasks, students experience publication work, increase their skills in literary criticism and develop an ability to work with others on a project.

REELS CLUB:  Since Nardin is a great place to learn and share ideas, this movie club may be just right for you.  Members share thoughts and feelings about different issues in movies.  The three main goals of REELS CLUB are:  raising awareness of tobacco use in movies, inappropriate treatment of women in movies and the film industry’s use of excessive violence.  REELS also participates in activities sponsored by Reality Check, which is a non-profit organization that deals with tobacco advertising directed at youth.  In addition to discussion, letter writing campaigns, speakers, REELS members participate in after school activities.  REELS hopes students will see the subtle way that film influences our everyday lives.

ROSARIUM:  In the spring of every academic year, both senior and supporting underclassman editors are chosen through an application process, to produce the following year’s Rosarium, our 200+ page yearbook.  Editors, managing photography, copy, layout, sports, clubs, class selections and business divisions, must commit to extensive time allotments both before and after school, to produce our exemplary yearbook!

SCIENCE TEAM:  This club is open to anyone with an interest in science, engineering, architecture, experimentation, and COMPETITION!  The Science Team pits brains against area high schools at the Physics Olympics in November and the Science Olympiad in February.  We organize Science Daze every other year, in which the entire student body of Nardin competes.  Meetings take place before school on Wednesdays.   Research and construction is done independently.

SERVICE CLUB: Service Club is dedicated to helping the entire Western New York community through a variety of activities.  They include cultural endeavors, tutoring, and donating time to charitable organizations.  Students are required to commit to a minimum of ten hours of community service through the year.  Participation in this club provides them with a sense of community involvement while exposing them to people and issues that offer a global perspective.  It may also introduce them to a possible direction for a future career.

SKI CLUB:  Ski club is offered to the entire student body, based upon availability.  The students are transported to Holiday Valley in Ellicottville.  During ski club, the students have access to rentals, refreshments, lessons and general skiing.  While at Holiday Valley, they must remain on the premises and follow Nardin Academy standards.  The club goes skiing for 7 Friday evenings during the winter months.  This activity allows students to participate in an outdoor activity increasing their physical, mental and social well being.

SPORTSMANSHIP CLUB: Students from all grade levels are welcome to join sportsmanship club.  It is a spirited student organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of sportsmanship and loyalty.  They strive to support the various sports within the high school and encourage unity among the student body.  Each member is required to attend at least 4 fall, winter and spring sporting events.  In addition, members are required to actively participate at monthly meetings.

STOCK CLUB:  Students who want to learn more about investing and managing money primarily use the program.   Students will participate in a simulated stock market game that will enable participants to discover the risks and rewards involved in the decision making process.  Small groups will invest $100,000.00 in common stocks on the American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and the NYSE.  Over the course of 10 weeks, students will track the progress of stocks purchased on line and make decisions on whether to buy, sell or hold.  Our primary focus is not a portfolio value, but learning and understanding economic principles.

STUDENT COUNCIL: The Student Council is the government of the student body.  The members are elected by individual homerooms and officers are elected the previous May for the incoming year.  There are specific events that are planned and implemented by Student Council such as:  Mother/Daughter Mass and Brunch, Spirit Week, Christmas Date Dance, the Father/Daughter Dance, talent show and the School Picnic.  Members must be able to attend meetings after school (approximately one day every other week) and volunteer time at lunch to sell tickets or promote events.  Leadership and problem solving skills can be honed through participation in this activity.

WELLNESS CLUB: This club consists of question/answer sessions with such possible guest speakers as a certified nutritionist, a personal trainer, a chef, a yoga instructor, a fleet feet personnel and a top physiologist.  This club helps students work at their peak performances, stay healthy in a demanding environment, receive tips from professionals, and educate students on the subject of wellness.

W.I.S.E. (Wisdom, Initiative, Strength, Enthusiasm):  This club’s focus is on helping students make responsible decisions in all aspects of their lives as well as promoting healthy life styles.  The girls are educated as to the consequences of such behaviors as underage drinking, illegal drug use and unhealthy eating habits.  Members sponsor activities designed to educate the entire student body in responsible decision-making.  W.I.S.E. meets monthly during activity period and occasionally after school.