Clubs
Academic Clubs
French Club
The French Club annually attends the state convention, ALCFES, rotating its sites in Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where they tour the French area of the city, have a historical scavenger hunt and eat at the French Market. During the year members participate in cheese tasting, chocolate tasting, the CHS/SJA King Cake party and pastry tasting meetings.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Margarita Ramos-Grasa and Kari Canizaro
Mock Trial
Mock Trial focuses their effort on Mock Trial competitions. The Mock Trial teams worked with volunteer attorney coaches preparing a fictional case to try at the District Tournament sponsored by the Louisiana Bar Association. The club participates in the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk as its service project.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator:
Mu Alpha Theta
In the Fall, Catholic High School Mu Alpha Theta students host the Junior High Math Tournament, which draws over 300 students from local Catholic elementary schools. In the spring, Mu Alpha Theta members host the Annual High School Math Tournament. The club also attended numerous tournaments during the year culminating with its participation in State Convention in April.
Eligible: Students in grades 8-12 enrolled in honors-level or advanced mathematics classes.
Moderators: Peggy Patout and Nancy Patout
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society has spearheaded the CHS Christmas Toy Drive for the past several years by gathering and purchasing toys for underprivileged children. They also provided workers for the CHS Habitat Build, acted as ushers for various CHS events throughout the school year and served as tutors for students who need additional academic help. NHS has contributed financially to their annual philanthropies including Cystic Fibrosis, Podcasts for Peace (Nicaragua), Warrick Dunn Charities, Red Sweater Project (Africa), Baton Rouge Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Boys Hope, Literacy Awareness, Muscular Dystrophy, Louisiana School for the Deaf, and many others.
Eligible: Students in grades 11 and 12 with a 3.8 weighted cumulative GPA are invited to membership.
Moderators: Willie Stephenson and Sherry Brouillette
Quiz Bowl
Do you enjoy competition, trivia, and working as a team? Then Quiz Bowl is the right group! Quiz Bowl allows students to come together for tournament-style play of answering trivia questions as a team, allowing them to develop their knowledge as well as leadership and teamwork skills. Members also get to participate in tournaments against other schools, and in the first two years of its existence, the team advanced to the National High School Quiz Bowl Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Suzanne Williams and Tim Chustz
Science Club
The Science Club spent this past year focusing on exploring science concepts in fun ways, interacting with professionals in the various science fields, and giving back to the community through fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They have also focused on our community by studying conservation of our wetlands. They have studied biology through anatomy by dissection of brains and hearts, pheromone influence on behavior, and plant growth as well as projectile design and motion with rocketry.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Jessica Umlang
Spanish Club
The purpose of Spanish Club is to provide opportunities outside of the classroom for those interested in the Spanish language and culture, participate in activities and meet other students. Additionally, the club honors the importance of helping the community by participating in service projects as Food Bank and Christmas Cards for Children’s Hospitals. By joining the Spanish Club, you can celebrate Hispanic holidays, learn about different customs, and experience the food, music and art of Spanish-speaking countries.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Susana Costela and Daniel Bordelon
Athletic Clubs
Cheerleading
The Cheerleaders are a spirit squad whose members are Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s Academy students. Leading the fans in cheers at football and basketball games, they build excitement and add enjoyment to the games. They also cheer at other school events including Bear Camp and Open House. In the spring, they sponsor a cheerleading clinic for young girls. The cheerleaders also participate in a number of service activities including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
Eligible: CHS and SJA students in grades 11-12.
Moderators: Jennifer Thibodeaux and Carey Lauret
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports enable Catholic High students, faculty and staff members to participate in single, dual and team sports. Intramurals promote wellness and provide opportunities for enjoyable activity and fellowship while offering a constructive outlet for improved usage of leisure time.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator:Cathy Robichaux and Shelley Reinecke
Ultimate Frisbee
The Ultimate Team is an athletic club whose members play the sport commonly known as Ultimate Frisbee. The Ultimate Team competes against high school and college teams from across the country. The team travels regionally and nationally for competition. In 2017, the team won the national championship.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Taylor Messenger ’94 and Charley Silvio ’03
Arts
Art
Members of the Art Club experiment with different media to create art. Specific activities include designing and painting the backdrops for homecoming pictures and setting up the annual Art Show. In addition, the Art Club designs and paints the Spirit Banner for Challenge. The Art Club’s service project involves assisting needy children in the community at either Christmas or Easter.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Edith Thornton
Band
The band program includes marching band, jazz band, and concert bands. The Bruin Marching Band is comprised of 125 musicians and dancers from Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s Academy. Additionally, the band combines with the choir program to present A Candlelight Christmas held annually at LSU. The concert ensembles and the Jazz Band perform at various concerts and festivals throughout the school year, including the LMEA District IV Large Ensemble Assessment.
Enrollment in any band class satisfies STREAM certificate requirements. As one of the largest organizations on campus the members of the Bruin Band also participate in numerous sports, include engineering students, student ministers, frequently attain national merit status, and represent the student body in leadership throughout campus.
Band Director – Duane LeBlanc
Assistant Band Director – Brandon Schittone
Eligible: CHS and SJA students in grades 8-12.
Moderators: Scott Manning ’01 and Patrick Dulaney ‘92
Calendar
Choir
The choir continues its tradition of excellence as evidenced by the number of All-State Choir participants and the number of students selected to the District Honor Choir and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Choral Director’s Honor Choir. The chorus has consistently won the Sweepstakes trophies in the state and district choral festivals, and they perform at various functions at Catholic High School, St. Joseph’s Academy and within the community. The choir has been invited to participate in Disney’s Candlelight Processional at Epcot and has performed numerous times in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City under the direction of world-renowned choral conductors. The group was also invited in 2015 to sing in Rome at the Sistine Chapel.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Stephen Galliano
Drama Club
The Catholic High School/ St. Joseph’s Academy Drama Club members share their talents both on and off stage. In addition to committing countless hours to their productions in the fall and spring, our actors serve the community by adopting families at Christmas and hosting the Talent Show to benefit charity.
Eligible: CHS and SJA students in grades 8-12.
Moderators: Lily McGill (SJA) and Steve Galliano
Junior Classical League
The Junior Classical League encourages an interest in and an appreciation of Latin and classical antiquity. Members participate in several notable events such as the Catholic High School Latin Prayer and Carol Service, LJCL Fall Forum, and a laser tag fundraiser. Committed to service, JCL also participated in Bowl for Hope and the St. Jude Walk. Members of JCL attended State Convention in March and several members will attend National Convention this summer at Emory University in Atlanta.
Eligible: Students in grades 8-12 currently enrolled in Latin or students who have completed Latin II.
Moderators: Mitch Arcenaux and Ryan Carruth
Photography Club
Photography Club members meet every Monday after school to plan picture-taking assignments for the week. They photograph all student activities and events for school publications and social media posts. After school, students crop and correct their digital pictures on computers in the lab before they distributed. Also, the club posts photos online, making them available for viewing and purchase. For their service project, members go to Southdowns School and help with several of their student events each year. Part of the Photo Club’s service to Southdowns includes taking and printing photos of these events for the school. One of the major fundraisers is CHS Grandparents Day where the club takes photos of grandsons with their grandparents and sell them online to help purchase new equipment.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Brad Messina and Adriane Metz
Campus Leadership
Student Ambassadors
The mission of the Student Ambassadors is to serve Catholic High School in the process of recruiting of new students. The Student Ambassadors became an official club in the 2007-2008 school year. Ambassadors assist the school by playing various roles in the admissions process and participate in many service projects during the year.
Eligible: Students in grades 9-12 with one year of CHS experience.
Moderators: Sherie LeBlanc, Jaime Olinde and Charles Jumonville
Student Council
Raising school spirit, planning events to involve more students, and participating in more service projects are a few of the goals of the Student Council. Each year Student Council sponsors dances, pep rallies,“Bear Camp” and an orientation program for incoming eighth and ninth-graders on their first day of school. Other activities include Homecoming Week activities, as well as Student Council Week and the Catholic High School/ St. Joseph’s Academy Challenge. The council members attend district, state and regional conventions. The club was elected state parliamentarian and District III treasurer for 2013. The council also provides financial assistance for the student activities, the National Honor Society Toy Drive and the LASC state charity.
Eligible: Grades 8-12 – election by class vote.
Moderators: Fiona Conroy and Drew Losavio
Youth and Government
Catholic High School students participate in the Youth and Government Conference in mid-February held in Baton Rouge. Students attend committee meetings held at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and spend an entire day debating their bills in chamber at the Louisiana State Capitol. The club also raised funds to support the Youth in Government State Project on Autism and the Catholic High School Habitat for Humanity Build.
Eligible: Grades 9-12
Moderators: Jewell Riecke, Jarrod Quebodeaux and Chris Wynne
Faith
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Each year, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes holds a spirited X-Box NCAA Football Tournament. Throughout the fall, members participate in “Pick the Score” contests involving LSU Football Games. During the year, the club collects donations from its members at each meeting for the St. Vincent De Paul Pharmacy. They also participate in an annual Car Wash each spring to benefit a member of the Baton Rouge community in need. The FCA closes out the school year with its annual Crawfish Boil in April.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Dale K. Weiner
Respect Life Club
The Respect Life Club, led by Student Ministers, seeks to promote and advocate that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death. Closely connected to Respect Life is “JP2 club.” Named after St. Pope John Paull II, the JP2 club is a faith based organization dedicated to education and discussion of the concepts of brotherhood, servant leadership, morality and being a man of God in today’s society through the charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. With Scripture, prayer, and discussion, the JP2 club aims to develop a generation of young men who honor God and others by their words and actions every day. With guest speakers and service projects, the members actively raise awareness of pro-life issues to the school and community. The club encourages students to attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. with their parish communities and represents CHS at the Louisiana March in Baton Rouge. Students participate in the diocesan wide campaign “40 Days for Life” by praying in front of the Delta Clinic to end abortion. Students also visit Angola prison, a local hospice facility and the Women’s New Life Center.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Margo Otterstetter
Student Ministry
The Catholic High School Student Ministers strive to nourish the spiritual life of the student body and shape the school culture in a positive manner. The year begins with a summer training workshop with students from Brother Martin, E.D. White, St. Stanislaus, St. Scholastica Academy and Vandebilt. Throughout the year, student ministers serve as liturgical ministers, mentors to the eighth and ninth graders through monthly meetings, ministers at school retreats and leaders of morning prayer. They meet monthly to plan upcoming events and celebrate Mass. Additionally, they staff eighth grade retreats for Catholic elementary schools.
Eligible: Grades 11 and 12
Moderators: Patrick Dulaney, Pegeen Romero, Scott Losavio, Margo Otterstetter and Chris Wynne
Personal Interest
- Bears in the Wild
- Board Games Club
- Chess Club
- eSports Club
- Fishing Club
- Games Club
- Grizzly Hospitality Group
Bears in the Wild
The mission behind Bears in the Wild is to connect students who love the outdoors. Bears on the Wild plans monthly outings like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and rock climbing. We also participate in service projects which include activities such as cleaning up parks, trail maintenance, and volunteering at local races.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Shelley Vance
Board Games Club
Chess Club
The Chess Club gives Catholic High students and faculty an opportunity to play friendly games of chess in a low-stress environment. Students use this ancient game to build skills that are relevant in the classroom and life. The club meets in the library after school on several days throughout the week. The Chess Club hopes to compete in several tournaments in Baton Rouge and around the state this year. If you are interested in honing your skills or just learning an entertaining, new strategic game, come to the library to check, mate.
“Come follow me, and I will make you a Fischer of men…”
Eligible: Grades 8-12
eSports Club
The Esports Club aims to foster a community where members can participate in competitive or casual video game tournaments against other participating schools. This group seeks to provide an opportunity where students can learn communication and strategy skills that promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and creativity while remaining true to the traditions and teachings of Catholic High School and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
Eligible Students: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Judy Chapoy and Bradley Katzmaryzk
Fishing Club
The fishing club offers all CHS students the opportunity to share, explore and learn more about the sport of freshwater, saltwater and offshore fishing. All skill levels from beginner to experienced anglers may
participate. Guest speakers will meet with club members twice a month in the library. Those students interested in competing on the fishing team are eligible to participate by registering for our CHS team through B.A.S.S. High School Nation. High school club members enjoy camaraderie and competition, as well as education and conservation programs. As part of the B.A.S.S. High School Nation, young anglers can compete in the B.A.S.S. High School Nation Championship. Teen anglers can also attend the High School Elite Experience, a free opportunity for anglers who live near certain Bassmaster Elite Series tour stops. All B.A.S.S. members must be in good academic and discipline standing as well as be current on dues/membership to compete in Bassmaster Tournaments.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Tiffany Meek
Games Club
Several times a month, students from different corners of the campus gather to fight evildoers of this world and worlds unknown. The Games Club members enter to match wits in a series of strategic thinking and concentration games as well as video games. These warriors come and go from week to week, but there is a strong camaraderie felt by all.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Charley Silvio ’03
Grizzly Hospitality Group
The objective of the Grizzly Hospitality Group is to teach students all aspects of the restaurant and hospitality business including restaurant concept building, service and culinary job training, menu building, marketing, human resources, and budgeting. Ultimately, the group hopes to inspire creativity, initiative, and a passion for food and entrepreneurship.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Nancy Herin
Science and Engineering
Bear Bots Robotics Club
Bear Bots is a year-round competitive robotics team with a concentration on smaller robots. Our eighth grade competes with Lego Mindstorms, while the high school students compete with Parallax Boe-Bots and VEX EDR robots. Students work in teams to design, build and program robots to achieve goals set out for each competition. The robots are programmed to sense the environment and react to various stimuli.
Catholic High School hosts three RARC Robotics Competitions open to grades 3-12 throughout the year. These competitions are sponsored by NICERC, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center. Participation from public and private schools increased exponentially in its first year.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Sheri Schoonmaker and Jill Robinson
Bear Metal Robotics Club
Science Club
The Science Club spent this past year focusing on exploring science concepts in fun ways, interacting with professionals in the various science fields, and giving back to the community through fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They have also focused on our community by studying conservation of our wetlands. They have studied biology through anatomy by dissection of brains and hearts, pheromone influence on behavior, and plant growth as well as projectile design and motion with rocketry.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Jessica Umlang
Student Media
Bearly Published
The Bearly Published motto is “For the students, by the students” because we strive to keep CHS students up to date with news around campus as well as local and national stories that matter to them. Students on the Bearly Published staff create and maintain content for the newspaper’s website, chspress.org, and our club’s social media profiles as well as putting out a print copy of the paper twice a year. We not only care about delivering news to students, but we also partner with Southdowns Elementary School and participate in multiple service projects with the school’s students, including a Fall Fest, a Field Day, and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Eligible: Grades 10-12
Moderators: Erin Hart
The Bruin Yearbook
For more than 70 years, the Bruin has kept a record of the people and events at Catholic High School. The staff’s hard work and creativity has consistently earned several awards for its layout, photography and feature stories at the Louisiana Scholastic Press Association convention at LSU. The Bruin staff serves the community by participating in Habitat for Humanity builds and volunteering at Southdowns Elementary School, assisting with their various field days and seasonal celebrations as well as working one-on-one with special needs students in classrooms. With an enthusiasm for preserving the memories of Catholic High School, the staff works tirelessly to create the latest edition of the Bruin.
Eligible: Grades 10-12
Moderators: Claudia Rumfola and Margaret Smith
Bruin Broadcast Network
The Bruin Broadcast Network is a student-run, live internet stream that will periodically stream various Catholic High School student activities, including athletic events, choir events, band events and student-run news broadcasts. To stay updated with upcoming live events, be sure to follow us on Twitter @bruinbroadcast.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderator: Jared Cavalier, Erin Hart, Gerren Porch, and Jarrod Quebodeaux
Photography Club
Photography Club members meet every Monday after school to plan picture-taking assignments for the week. They photograph all student activities and events for school publications and social media posts. After school, students crop and correct their digital pictures on computers in the lab before they distributed. Also, the club posts photos online, making them available for viewing and purchase. For their service project, members go to Southdowns School and help with several of their student events each year. Part of the Photo Club’s service to Southdowns includes taking and printing photos of these events for the school. One of the major fundraisers is CHS Grandparents Day where the club takes photos of grandsons with their grandparents and sell them online to help purchase new equipment.
Eligible: Grades 8-12
Moderators: Brad Messina and Adriane Metz