Westbrook High School

Environmental/Hiking Club
Advisors: P. Laudano, N. Giangreco, H. Bull

We have discussion/planning session meetings on Tuesdays immediately after school and Thursdays at break (this schedule accommodates the students).   Soon we will be assigning smaller committees within our whole; these committees are needed so students will take command of projects.  Plus we are involved in a lot such as:

• Once a month guided interpretive hikes with lessons in outdoor skills
• Assisting/Volunteering at Special Events, once a month, and biweekly Wildlife/Environmental (Programs through Potapaug Audubon and USF&WS)
• Clean-ups in our town and USF&WS properties
• Trips for Ecosystem Studies (Outer Island)
• The 2010/2011 Courtyard Project
• Eco Friendly Fund Raising promotions for our ventures
• Environmental/Wildlife Surveys/Studies on our school and surrounding town forest properties
• Maintaining a Winter Bird Feeding Station in Courtyard
• School Recycling Program

*The Courtyard Project being our main Focus for this school term.

Art Club
Advisor: M. Toth

Art Club is open to all Westbrook High School students.  It is a great opportunity for students at WHS to express their artistic side after a long day of schoolwork.  The purpose of Art Club is to promote the arts in Westbrook, to give back to the community using our talents and to provide all students with a fun learning experience with after school get-togethers with arts and crafts sessions as decided by the Art Club members.  Our first activity planned is a service project for the Senior Center of Westbrook to create a ceramic tile mural.  The Art Club received the Westbrook Healthy Youth Assets mini-grant to create the tile mural. The goals of the grants are to provide funds for projects in the community that involve youth working with adults to promote healthy relationships. Meeting days are every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 6:00 – 8:00 in room 220 and the following Tuesday if Monday is a NO SCHOOL DAY. 

YAT: Youth Asset Team
Advisor: L. Connery

This club came out of the Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth of Westbrook’s Asset Development Initiative. They serve as a catalyst for mobilizing the community to provide meaningful experiences, opportunities, skills and relationships that benefit students in grades K to 12. 

Membership is always open. Meetings are after school. Days and rooms change due to availability.

Theater Arts Society and Musical
Advisor: N. Malafronte

A performance-based group, the Theater Arts Society and Musical had been originally designed to broadcast the abilities and performance talents of Westbrook High School students. Open to all students, 9-12, the theater group prepares an annual play during the fall and an enlivening musical in the month of March.  For those students who prefer to work back stage, there are opportunities to contribute in particular areas, ranging from set construction, lighting, sound and technical aspects. The schedule requires a large time commitment as rehearsals take place week-days after-school, weekend mornings and afternoons, and as the show approaches, longer hours as necessary. Often, a student-directed production in the spring offers another means for involvement.

Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Advisor: M. Doherty

A community service oriented club, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), seeks to build service and spirit towards the school and community. Activities involve preparing a delightful dinner for the school theater productions, attending the annual spring Leadership Conference, sponsoring a family in need during the holiday season, selling Swirl drinks for fundraising and various other activities.  Meetings are held about twice a month, upon announcement.  Meetings are more frequent dependent upon the project.

High School Bowl Team
Advisor: C. Hal

The High School Bowl team challenges students to trivial questions, relating math, history, science, English, music and various worldly topics.  It is welcome to all students, grades 9-12 and meetings are generally held on Mondays and Wednesdays after-school in Room 105. A range of questions, testing the student's knowledge, are practiced during meetings, and matches against schools across the district are held about once a month.

Model United Nations Program
Advisor: L. Boehme, B. Dailey

 An independent study program, Model United Nations unites students from schools throughout the state through on-going political experience and knowledge. Students are assigned to a specific nation and are responsible in researching and developing the social, political, economic and militaristic issues, threatening the government and economy.  Students interact and communicate with other student ambassadors from 40 different schools, and have the chance to meet actual ambassadors from around the nation. Open to all sophomores, juniors and seniors, Model UN delegates take a trip every couple of years to New York City, where students can meet representatives from their assigned country.  Students meet a few days after school in November and December to write resolutions.  The mock United Nations session takes place on a Friday and Saturday in February at the University of Hartford.  Model UN provides students with a realistic viewpoint of dealing with global affairs as a universal competitor and participant.  It offers the practice of becoming familiar with international concerns and matters and taking action as a world-wide leader.

"The Magazine"
Advisor: C. Hall, N. Malafronte

Open to all Westbrook High School students, the "Magazine" is an authentic collection of poetry, short stories, drama, essays, non-fiction literature and artwork submitted by students, from grades 9-12.  It displays the writing ability and techniques of students throughout the school. A Magazine staff of editors (all students are welcome) compile and edit all submitted pieces towards the final project.  The book is $3.00 in advance and free to students who submit a piece.

Math Team
Advisor: G. DiChiara, H. Joslyn

The Westbrook High School math team challenges students to a variety of math equations and numerical problems in the Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-calculus and arithmetic areas.  Students from grades 9-12 are qualified for varsity and grades 9 and 10 for the JV level.  The team competes once a month against high schools throughout the shoreline, including Daniel Hand, Guilford, Portland, RHAM, Middletown, Xavier, Lyme-Old Lyme, Morgan and Haddam-Killingworth High Schools.  Each participant is responsible for three different topics out of five each month, and is accountable for competing in the team round.  The School with the highest score ranks for first place at the end of the season.  The Math team meets every Tuesday and Thursday, and provides satisfactory practice for the SATs while enhancing thinking skills.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Advisor: L. Connery

The SADD chapter, an in-school committee, provides students with prevention tools and information, dealing with the issues of underage drinking, drug use, and other destructive decisions targeting high school teenagers. Meetings are held every Wednesday during break-time and are open to all students, anytime during the school year.  Students also have the flexibility of choosing a range of service activities throughout the year, such as assisting with middle school fun nights, adopting a family during the holidays, and conveying the severity of drinking and driving.

Peer Counselors
Advisor: L. Connery

Students throughout the school are highly encouraged to become positive role models and leaders by interacting and mentoring children ranging from grades k-8, by becoming a motivated peer counselor.  Training begins sophomore year and students meet once a week for six months.  Juniors and seniors, as enabled peer counselors, meet with their corresponding buddy about once a week and share a positive perspective of the teenage world, by influencing affirmative decision-making and providing a fresh outlook of high school experiences. Peer counseling allows students to gain a first-hand experience in communicating and working with children and young adolescents.

Student Council
Advisor: K. Savage

The student council committee consists of positions involving a school President (seniors are qualified), Vice President (all students), Secretary (all students), and a school Treasurer (all students).  It allows students to become an active leader within the high school by representing the student body, and having the ability to make potential changes and organizing particular events throughout the school.  Student Council provides the opportunity of developing into an experienced and motivated student leader during and after high school.

National Honor Society
Advisor: R. Synott

A academic- honoring society, the National Honor Society annually inducts juniors and seniors through areas considering qualified grade point average of 87, community service, work experience, acquired leadership positions, roles and influence, after-school involvement, and a personal essay assigned upon subject.  Students will be inducted during the fall year this year, and upon induction, students are strictly expected to follow the code of honor, of character, scholarship, leadership and service, through commitment to a wide range of community and school oriented activities.  Students are also liable for developing a personal project of contribution to the school or community.

Instrumental Music Groups
Advisor: E. Gerhardt

The Instrumental Music Groups, or Jazz Band, is an extension of the study of Jazz literature, and a further emphasis upon a variety of instrumental styles, including the blues and swing.  It is offered to any grade level, requiring past experience in the concert band program, entailing students to read and play chosen pieces of music.  An audition is obliged to all interested students, and meetings are held two days week, from 7:00AM-7:45AM.   Instruments include the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and drums.  See Mr. Gerhardt for details and further information.

Vocal Music Groups
Advisor: R. Allen

Westbrook High School’s extra-curricular vocal groups include Kina Mama and Chamber Choir. Kina Mama is open by audition to female singers grades 9-12, and explores a variety of repertoire including classical, pop, jazz, and world music. Chamber Choir is a mixed choir for boys and girls grades 9-12, also open by audition. This group performs music from a variety of styles similar to Kina Mama, but usually delves into more advanced repertoire.  Both ensembles perform out in the community at various public events throughout the year, including holiday gatherings, senior center performances, and joint concerts with local community choirs. The groups rehearse Tuesday nights, Kina Mama from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and Chamber Choir from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.  See Ms. Allen for details.

The Yearbook
Advisor: C. Bialicki

The Yearbook Committee is responsible for designing and editing a photograph and literary based chronological collection of annual events through an online production. All seniors are welcome, and juniors, sophomores and freshmen are encouraged to take part in the learning process.  The time-committing work process generally requires ambitious students of good work ethics, basic computer skills and heartfelt responsibility and dedication.  Students receive a realistic perspective of the highly-complex career of graphic designing and online publishing and production. Tasks include, editing various sections, capturing, uploading and editing pictures, organizing the overall layout and producing an effective and memorable yearbook. Meetings are held Thursday nights at 6:00 PM.  See Mr. Bialicki for details and further information.

The Newspaper
Advisor: E. Syzdek

The Westbrook High School, Newspaper Cub motivates all students, 9-12, in creating and publishing The Knight Times.  There will be seven issues this year and students can take part in writing various sports, current news, updates, reviews and articles, as well as, editing, constructing the outline and design, taking pictures, and contributing to the overall production of the paper.  Participation in the Newspaper, permits students to recognize the varieties of duties and responsibilities involved in the hectic, time-consuming career of establishing a real-life newspaper issue.

Interact
Advisor: C. Eichler

A branch of the Rotary Club, The Interact Club, seeks to provoke school spirit and excitement through assorted events and projects throughout the year.  It allows students to boost the character and quality of the school by hosting an annual spirit week and introducing a pep-rally.  The Interact club also takes part in a range of community service projects, benefiting and contributing to the town and district. Past projects include the involvement in the Relay for Life walk through the American Cancer Society and the Denon Project, of raising money for the needs of Africa.  The Interact Club meets every Tuesday during break and permits all students to become a dynamic part of the school and town.

Technology Student Association
Advisor: P. Anderson

A student engineering committee and class, the Technology Student Association builds upon the mechanics and thinking skills regarding practical machinery and equipment. Held through an engineering drafting class during the course of the school day, students generate inventive ideas and projects to benefit the society while using their creative and logical thinking methods.  Past projects include, the Canstruction representation, where students designed a unique sculpture in the form of 1600 to 2400 cans of food and donated the finishing model to the food bank, located in Hartford.  All students are welcome and this year, students plan to donate to the local shoreline food bank.  See Mr. Anderson for details.

Ski Club
Advisor: H. Joslyn

The WHS ski club invites beginner to advanced skiers and snowboarders to participate in the healthy winter activity of skiing or riding.  Students are offered a choice of three trips: Ski Sundown on four Thursday nights in January and February, a weekend trip to Smuggler’s Notch in March, and/or a weeklong invigorating trip out west to Park City, Utah during February vacation.     See Mrs. Joslyn for details and further information.

Oratorical Club
Advisor: N. Malafronte

The Oratorical club challenges all students, grades 9-12, to take part in the thought-provoking experience of public speaking. Students have the opportunity to gain life-long, effective qualities to become an active speaker in the school and community.  The oratorical club assists students in adapting specific techniques by strengthening technical aspects such as vocal enhancement, on-stage behavior, clarity and overall performance. Students are expected to prepare an 8-10 minute oral presentation on a particular aspect of the constitution and five additional 3-5 minute mini oral speeches, focusing on chosen topics of the constitution.  Students compete in front of a panel of judges and are enabled to succeed to the statewide level.  Upon participation, all students receive a $100 savings bond towards future educational purposes.

Future Business Leaders of America
Advisor: S. McManus

Future Business Leaders of America welcomes all students, grades 9-12, to become involved in exploring the challenges within the business world.  FBLA students participate in business competitions at the Annual Spring Leadership Conference, where student competitions range from objective tests and presentations to community service projects prepared prior to the conference.   This national organization is offered to all students and meetings are generally held on Wednesdays, about twice a month.