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Student Clubs, Organizations, and Activities 2012-2013

This list will be updated as new information is received. (print .pdf). Students should listen to the morning announcements and look for posted notices on the school’s many bulletin boards to receive current information about activities and club meeting times and places. Also, many clubs and organizations have additional information posted on Edline in the “activities” section.

Alliance: Our mission is to work toward a more accepting environment for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, through education, support, social action, and advocacy. We believe that schools can be truly safe only when every student is assured of access to an education without fear of harassment or violence. The Alliance welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, questioning youth, and their heterosexual allies.
Meetings: Every other Thursday in Room 364 – See announcements for specifics.
Advisor: Mr. John Wanninger (jwanninger@lfschools.net)

Big 2 Little: Through a program sponsored by the Gorter Family Foundation of Lake Bluff, interested students will have the opportunity to travel to a nearby North Chicago elementary school one afternoon a week to work with children in their after-school activities.
Meetings: Every Wednesday after school.
Advisors: Ms. Christine Jankovich (cjankovich@lfschools.net)
Ms. Kathy O’Hara (kohara@lfschools.net)

Chess Club: Any student is welcome!  Club members will be taught all aspects of the game, Openings, Middlegame techniques, Endings, and Chess Strategy. During the Chess Team season, members compete against other schools in official matches and participate in the IHSA State Team Chess Tournament.
Meetings: Every Wednesday and Friday in the Library Media Center after school until 5:00 PM.
Advisors: Mr. Phil Woodruff (pwoodruff@lfschools.net)
Mr. Stephen Forgette (sforgette@lfschools.net)

CROYA: Students are aided in communicating their needs or problems and CROYA then provides programs to meet these youth-identified needs in conjunction with other resources. Activities include meetings, retreats, work trips, community service and much more. For more information, visit www.croya.com.
Meetings: Every Wednesday night at CROYA Student Union (400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest) from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
Advisor: Ms. Joanne Yorro (yorroj@cityoflakeforest.com) or 847-810-3984

Cum Laude Society:  The Lake Forest High School chapter of The Cum Laude Society, a national organization, honors scholastic achievement.  Election to membership is granted to Juniors and Seniors by a faculty committee on the basis of outstanding academic achievement.  Induction is held in conjunction with the National Honor Society and is usually held in April, preceded by a dinner.
Advisor:  Ms. Elizabeth Jensen (ejensen@lfschools.net)

Debate Club: Members participate with the LFHS Debate Team in the Illinois Congressional Debate Association, National Forensic League, Junior State of America Tournaments, Public Forum, and EuroChallenge. Tournaments are as close as Highland Park and as far away as Washington, DC. Active members have improved their speaking skills, learned about current events, developed an appreciation for the fine art of politicking, and enjoyed the camaraderie of teammates and competitors. The team is active all year and students may join at any time.
Meetings: Every Tuesday in Room 330 from 3:20 to 4:15 PM.
Advisors: Mrs. Carol Clark (cclark@lfschools.net)
Mr. John Wanninger (jwanninger@lfschools.net)

Environmental Club:
Club members are provided opportunities to realize their goals of environmental service. Most projects are student initiated. Last year’s activities included: the LFHS Courtyard Garden upkeep, Ride Bike to School Day with free cocoa and snacks, hosted an “eat local” 100-mile dinner, recycling solutions for LFHS, composted cafeteria waste, beach cleanup though the Great Lakes Alliance, and Earth Week celebrations.
Meetings: First Friday of the month in Room 55 at 7:00 AM.
Advisors: Ms. Mary Beth Nawor (mnawor@lfschools.net)
Ms. Ariel Landvick (alandvick@lfschools.net)

Fall Intramural Sports:   Fall intramural sports currently include flag football for girls and boys.  The fee is $10. Listen to the Public Address System announcements at the beginning of the school year for sign-up information.
Meetings:  Flag football plays at least 2 days per week.
Advisor:   

Forensics:  Forensics is a competitive speech and drama club.  Members of the team compete in any of 14 individual events which include speaking events, such as Original Oratory and Prose Reading, and acting events, such as Duet Acting and Interpretation.  Competitions are held on Saturdays from November through January.  For more info, see the team’s Facebook page.
Meetings:  Every Monday in Room 305 from 3:20 to 5:00 PM for community connection, business meeting, coaching session, and (usually) food, with additional coaching sessions available all week after school.  First meeting of the year will take place on Monday, September 17.  All members are required to meet with their coaches at least once each week (usually after school) to work on their pieces.  Advisors are flexible in working around students’ other extracurricular activities.  All of our senior captains are especially focused on working with novices to help them learn the ropes.
Advisors:  Mrs. Karen Topham (ktopham@lfschools.net)
                   Mr. Joe Pulio (jpulio@lfschools.net)   
                   Ms. Jane Eccleston (jeccles@lfschools.net)
                   Mr. Lance Ferges (lferges@lfschools.net)
Captains: (Seniors) Mollie Blahunka, Mari Uchida, Sarah Perret, Peyton Moore

Forest Trails: Forest Trails is responsible for creating and publishing the LFHS yearbook. Interested students who are able to dedicate the majority of their extracurricular time to yearbook make up the editorial staff, usually one editor-in-chief and several co-editors. Students who are involved in other extra-curricular activities can also participate by being paired with their peer editors and working on specific pages and themes throughout the year as these meeting times are flexible.
Meetings: The Forest Trails staff meets regularly on Wednesdays after school on the second floor of the library, with occasional dates added depending on deadlines.  The advisors encourage interested students to attend all Wednesday meetings, but for those students who are involved in a sport or other activities, arrangements can be made so that all students have an opportunity to participate.    Those seeking an editorial position are expected to attend every Wednesday meeting, along with an additional Monday afternoon meeting with advisors.  Editors are expected to dedicate as many mornings and afternoons as needed to ensure completion of the book. 
Advisors: Ms. Kerry Littel (klittel@lfschools.net)
Ms. Elizabeth Christofylakis (echristofylakis@lfschools.net)
Ms. Bridget Mobile (bmobile@lfschools.net)

Gamer’s Club:  Gamer’s Club provides a social outlet for students who are into gaming.  Members can play card games such as Magic the Gathering or Munchkin, board games such as Risk or Settlers of Catan, or various cooperative video games such as Super Smash Brothers.
Meetings:  Every Friday in the Library from 3:15 to 5:00 PM, beginning September 7th.
Advisors:  Mr. Matt Lowry (mlowry@lfschools.net)
                  Ms. Laura Grigg (lgrigg@lfschools.net)

Girl Scouts: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character by challenging them with opportunities that encourage leadership, mentoring and community service. Members will have the opportunity to participate in national and international high adventure destination trips, Camp CEO and local social events. Girls are encouraged to work on the Girl Scout Gold Award which is the highest award attainable.
Meetings: Once a month, location and time to be decided by members.
Advisors: Ms. Terry Ann Nissly (tanissly@comcast.net)
Ms. Kathy O’Hara (kohara@lfschools.net)

Glee Club: The LFHS Glee Club is comprised of students, teachers, staff, parents and community members. All singers are welcome! Rehearsals are scheduled before the school day begins.
Rehearsals: Tuesday mornings in the Choir Room (Room 83) at 7:00 AM, beginning September 11.
Advisor: Mr. Timothy Haskett (thaskett@lfschools.net)

Human Rights Club:  This club was created to foster and develop an understanding of human rights in the 21st century among club members and the school community.  Each year the club chooses a human rights topic/issue to promote understanding and awareness among the LFHS student body and community. Last year the Human Rights Club raised $1,000 to help support “Little By Little,” a non-profit organization that provides health care to women and children in Haiti.
The 2010-11 campaign focused on child soldiers in Uganda.  The club hosted Invisible Children at LFHS and raised $500 that was donated to this group. The 2009-10 campaign focused on hurricane relief efforts in Haiti, raising $500 that was donated to Shelter Box USA, a branch of Rotary International. A speaker from Shelter Box spoke at LFHS to share the impact of Shelter Box in Haiti.  The 2008-09 campaign was poverty and education in America.  Our club hosted speakers from LINKS Unlimited, a not-for-profit organization in Chicago that supports K-16 educational initiatives among Chicago’s disadvantaged youth.  Again, we raised over $500 through school fundraising activities to donate to LINK Unlimited.  The Human Rights Club also sponsors activities to promote International Human Rights Day on December 10th and we hold our annual awareness day in April/May of each school year to share information about the annual campaign.
Meetings:  Every other Tuesday in Room 380 from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM.
Advisor:    Ms. Kelly McKee (kmckee@lfschools.net)
Club Leader: Kelsey Simet

International Club:  Club arranges opportunities for students to experience cultures outside of their own through art, film, food, and activities.
Meetings:  First and third Wednesday of the month after school in Room 42.
Advisor:    Ms. Heather Song (hsong@lfschools.net)

International Thespian Society: As students work on theatrical productions during their high school career, they receive points as determined by the adult supervisors. Each point represents 10 hours of quality work in a theater production. Students are inducted into ITS upon receiving 20 points. The induction ceremony is held in conjunction with the end of the year banquet and Senior Roast.
Meetings: The club tries to meet once a quarter for social and theater-oriented activities, the meeting place being determined by the activity planned. Membership in ITS is not required to participate in the activities.
Advisor: Mr. Brad Balonick (bbalonick@lfschools.net)

Latin Club: Club plans monthly events for Latin students to get together socially and have some fun doing activities related to Latin and the Romans. Scheduled events for Fall 2012 are: October, Olive Garden Banquet; November, movie night with movie relating to the ancient Romans or Italy; and December, celebration of the Saturnalia (an ancient Roman winter holiday). Club members also participate in the Illinois Certamen League, which is a jeopardy style contest (all questions are about Latin grammar, vocabulary, mythology, or history), against local high schools.
Meetings: No meetings, just the monthly events which are announced in the Latin classes. Although most participants in the events are Latin students, non-Latin students have also been known to participate!
Advisor: Ms. Ariel Landvick (alandvick@lfschools.net)

Math Team:  The Math Team competes in a variety of mathematics competitions including North Suburban Math League, Mandelbrot, and Illinois Council of Mathematics Regional and State Math Contests.  The Math Team has placed at the State Math Contest 15 out of the last 16 years.
Meetings:  Every Monday in Room 203 at 3:15 PM.
Advisors:  Ms. Laura Gibson (lgibson@lfschools.net)
                  Mr. Steve Aronson (saronson@lfschools.net)

Men’s Club:  Men’s Club members are dedicated to performing community service activities that often have a physical requirement.  As dictated by its name, Men’s Club is a one-gender club which meets every other Wednesday morning, on a good day attracting almost 40 members. Club members help out many individuals and organizations in Lake Forest/Lake Bluff as well as other communities up and down the North Shore.  Whether it is large events which the club participates in every year such as the ELAWA Farms Christmas Greens Sale, the Polar Plunge Special Olympics benefit, the yearly car wash to benefit Kids Uganda or just helping out individual members of the community with small chores like raking leaves or moving furniture, the Men’s Club is there to help.
Meetings:   Every other Wednesday in Room 273 at 7:15 AM.
Advisor:     Mr. Brian Runft (brunft@lfschools.net)
Club Leaders: Brian Murphy and Jack Troller

Model United Nations: Participants try to develop solutions to the world’s most significant problems by simulating the United Nations. Problems are worked out through diplomacy and debate with each club member representing a different country and point of view. Club attends several conferences during the year to compete with other schools.
Meetings: Every Tuesday in Room 382 at 6:30pm
Advisor: Mr. Greg Simmons (gsimmons@lfschools.net)

National Honor Society:  The National Honor Society recognizes outstanding high school students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character, and service.  Students are considered for membership starting at the end of the first semester of junior year.  Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 4.5, have at least 30 hours of volunteer service dating from the beginning of their freshman academic year, and have strong leadership skills and character as evaluated by LFHS faculty and staff.  Once inducted into NHS, members continue to contribute their leadership and service to many community organizations such as GLASA, LEAD, PADS, and Catholic Charities’ “Adopt-a-Family” program.  Members are required to volunteer at least 20 hours of service per year, through NHS sponsored activities. An executive committee comprised of 8 members is selected by their NHS peers and is responsible for the day to day operations of the organization on an annual basis.
Meetings:  NHS members can attend, on the first Tuesday of each month, either the morning meeting from 7:15 to 7:45 AM or the afternoon meeting at 3:15 to 3:45 PM in the Library classroom.
Advisor: Ms. Elizabeth Christofylakis (echristofylakis@lfschools.net)

Orchesis Dance Club: Students with dance experience work together to choreograph, rehearse and perform dance pieces for the public and for service projects. Dancers also have the opportunity to work with a professional choreographer on a performance piece. The club also choreographs and performs an annual spring concert.
Meetings: Practice times are twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Sheridan School Gymnasium at 3:30 PM.
Advisors: Ms. Ann Marie Snow (annie.snow28@gmail.com)
Ms. Kathy O’Hara (kohara@lfschools.net)

Peer Tutoring: Students volunteer to help fellow students in improving their academic and organizational skills. Students tutor LFHS and middle school students on an individually scheduled basis. LFHS tutors must have proficiency in the academic area in which they wish to tutor, but middle school tutors only need general academic proficiency.
Meetings: All tutoring is done on an individually scheduled basis.
Advisor: Ms. Kathy O’Hara (kohara@lfschools.net)

Red Cross Club:  Students in this LFHS chapter of the Red Cross provide relief to victims of single family emergencies as well as community, national, or international disasters.  Activities include participating in the Library of Congress Veterans Project, organizing blood drives, fundraising for disasters, CPR/AED training, disaster training, and nursing home visits.
Meetings:  Short meetings in the library classroom directly after school, every other Monday.
Advisor:    Mrs. Diane Bower (dbower@lfschools.net)

SADD (Students Aware and DeDicated): Students stage several school wide campaigns throughout the year to educate their peers about issues affecting emotional and physical wellness.  Campaigns include “Clothesline Project”, which promotes awareness of physical and sexual abuse; “Red Ribbon Week”, which promotes awareness of drug and alcohol abuse; “Depression Awareness Week,” which provides education about depression, anxiety and suicide; “Eating Disorder Awareness Week,” which educates students about emotional health in terms of body image.
Meetings:  Meetings happen just prior to the staging of each campaign, in 160J at 3:15 PM.
Advisor:  Ms. Lisa Huffman (lhuffman@lfschools.net)
                 Mrs. Deborahanne Reimer (dreimer@lfschools.net)

Scholastic Bowl: Scholastic Bowl is an IHSA competition academic team that competes in the North Suburban Conference and in Illinois state playoffs. There is a Varsity and a Junior Varsity (Freshmen/Sophomore) team.
Meetings: Every Wednesday in Room 383 from 3:20 to 4:45 PM.
Advisors: Ms. Andrea Lemke (alemke@lfschools.net) – Junior Varsity team
Mr. Mark Kuhl (mkuhl@lfschools.net) – Varsity team

Science Olympiad: Takes all areas of science (biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics) and turns it into a competition. Team competes with high schools from all around the region and state. Students get the opportunity to learn through a process of inquiry by designing, building, testing, and re-designing devices and structures to be used to solve a given problem. Students are also tested on their knowledge of a broad spectrum of specialties in science.
Meetings: Every Thursday in Room 260 from 3:15 to about 4:30 PM.
Advisors: Ms. Lena Kopecky (lkopecky@lfschools.net)
Mr. Nitin Patel (npatel@lfschools.net)

Scout Buddies: Scout Buddies is a friendship club which helps build friendships among individuals with and without disabilities. Club members participate in a variety of social activities both within the school and in the community. Activities include organizing holiday parties in the school, bowling, going to movies, and eating out at local restaurants.
Meetings: Monthly meeting dates vary, but are in Room 134.
Advisor: Ms. Donna Lovitsch (dlovitsch@lfschools.net)

Student Council:  Student Council serves as a representative group of the LFHS student body. Student Council works to address the needs and ambitions of LFHS students, to provide community building and enriching activities, and to serve as a voice of the students to other components of the school. Student Council is made up of about 70 elected students.  The members meet once a week with their respective class and elected officials meet an additional morning each week with all class officers. At different points of the year, all Student Council members assemble in the David Miller Theater when discussing and planning school wide items, including Homecoming festivities, the Winter Dance, and many other service projects.  Traditionally each class also has specific responsibilities.  Freshmen and Sophomore Student Councils focus on service and leadership; the Junior Student Council is in charge of Prom; and the Senior Student Council concentrates on senior activities such as the class graduation gift and the Bike and Bake Sale. With different members each year, and according to the nature of Student Council, new ideas are always welcome!
Meetings:  Head Council meetings (all elected positions) are held Tuesday mornings in room 382 at 7:20 a.m. Individual class meetings are determined within each group.
Overall Advisor:           Ms. Mary Conroy (mconroy@lfschools.net)  
Senior Advisor:            Ms. Carolyn Konz (ckonz@lfschools.net)
Junior Advisor:            Ms. Jennifer Knight (jknight@lfschools.net)
Sophomore Advisor:   Mr. Dan Coad (dcoad@lfschools.net)
Freshmen Advisor:      Ms. Jen Van Skyock (jvanskyock@lfschools.net)

Student to Student (STS):  Our goal is to make all students feel comfortable and welcome at LFHS.  We do this through mentoring and supporting new students, giving tours to new families, and helping direct people around the building for various LFHS events.
Meetings:  Monthly meetings are usually scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month at either 7:15am or 3:15pm in the Library Classroom.  Additional meetings are scheduled when major events are being organized.  Club officers meet more frequently to plan.  Members are encouraged to listen to the daily announcements for meeting time updates.
Advisor:  Ms. Megan Miles (mmiles@lfschools.net)

Technical Crew: Tech Crew handles all of the construction, paint, light, sound, props and special effect requirements in LFHS’s theatrical works; including Junior/Senior play, Freshman/Sophomore play, APT Talent Show, and Spring Musical. No previous experience is necessary; the advisors and student technical directors provide all of the hands-on training. As show time nears, the time commitment increases although accommodations can be made for a student’s involvement in other extracurricular activities or family events as long as advisors are notified in advance. For more information, including the Theatre calendar, please visit www.lfhstheatre.org. Please join us!
Meetings: Most Saturdays from 9:30 to 12:00 and then from 1:00 to 4:00, with the traditional “going out to lunch” in between; occasionally there will be after school work sessions. Prior to shows there are after school and/or evening rehearsals. Mandatory attendance on Mondays after a performance week for set strike.
Advisors: Mr. Ben Davidson (bdavidson@lfschools.net)
Ms. Stephanie Ashmore (sashmore@lfschools.net)
Mr. Brad Balonick (bbalonick@lfschools.net)

Winter Intramurals:  Intramural basketball usually starts in late November or early December.  Players need to submit a team roster of 7 to 10 players.  There is a team fee of $75. 
Meetings: Play is usually scheduled on Sunday nights from 6:00-9:30 PM. 
Advisor:  Mr. Jim Thiel (jthiel@lfschools.net)

Women’s Club: This club provides volunteer service opportunities for LFHS students that meets the needs of our greater community.  The goal of each member is to help with at least two service projects by the end of the school year.  In past years, the club raised money for GLASA and PKD by gift-wrapping during the holidays, made Valentine’s Day kits for Children’s Memorial Hospital, and organized a drive for the Glass Slipper Project, a program that collects prom dresses and redistributes them to girls in the Chicago area who cannot afford them.  The club also sponsored a senior citizens carnival at Lake Forest Place. For more information, visit www.lfhswomensclub.weebly.com.
Meetings: The 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:20am in Wedge Café in the Commons, beginning September 20th.
Advisor:  Ms. Kathy O’Hara (kohara@lfschools.net)

Young Idea:   Young Idea is LFHS’s art and literary magazine.  Students of all ages who love writing and art are encouraged to become part of the staff of this award winning magazine. Young Idea encourages all students to submit art and literature to the magazine, whether they choose to be a part of the staff or not.  From September through February, Young Idea meets on Thursdays after school in the Publick Room to critique the pieces that have been submitted to the magazine and provide feedback for the authors.  Students are welcome to join the discussions when they are able, and may come later in the Fall after their sport season or other Fall activity is over.  From the end of March until early May, the staff works daily after school until 5:30 laying out the magazine using the computer program In Design.  Young Idea staff members must commit to coming daily for this portion of the work.
Meetings:  See above explanation.
Advisors:  Ms. Debbie Zare (dzare@lfschools.net)
                 Dr. Mara Dukats (mdukats@lfschools.net)


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