Participate Outside the Classroom, Too

Experience Growth Beyond the Classroom

With more than 40 different student-led clubs and activities, which will you choose?  Or will you make a mark by starting a new club to add to the list?

At John Carroll, students have every opportunity to become confident, well-rounded leaders. Whether it’s developing a talent or being of service to others, students can experience growth beyond the classroom as they participate in an array of activities and clubs.

Each year clubs and activities reflect the diverse interests of our student body and allow students to grow together and develop meaningful life-long friendships. Students are welcome to propose new ideas for clubs and activities throughout the academic year. The following is a listing of recent extracurricular activities and clubs:

Academic Team

The Academic Team is a group of students preparing for general knowledge trivia competitions with other schools. Group practices will increase a broad range of knowledge, foster a competitive spirit, and promote a desire to learn and improve. 

Moderator: Mrs. Woosley

Meeting Time & Place: Tuesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., Room 124 

Art/ Clay Club

A space for students to explore a variety of different art forms, strengthen current skills, and connect with their peers through art. 

Moderator: Mrs. DiMeo

Meeting Time and Place: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, 2:50-3:40 p.m. Room 118

 

Architecture, Engineering & Design Club

To provide a forum for students to experience the world of design, including architecture, engineering, and related disciplines (mechanical, electrical, structural engineering; interior design; project management, etc.) including real world application, as well as college and career exploration.  

Moderator: Mrs. Collins

Meeting Time and Place: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays @ 3:00-4:00 p.m. Architecture Studio Room 117

Black Student Union

A safe space for open and honest dialogue about race in today's society along with community action and awareness. 

Moderator: Mrs. DiMeo and Mrs. Sconion

Meeting Time & Place: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month, 2:50 p.m. Room TBD

Campus Ministry Prayer & Worship Leaders

Campus Ministry Student Prayer & Worship Leaders assist the John Carroll Community in the areas of prayer and worship. Liturgical Ministers serve at Masses as Lectors/Readers, Ministers of Holy Communion, Alter Servers, & Tech Crew (setting up and cleaning up Masses as well as running AV equipment during liturgies). Prayer leaders lead the John Carroll community in the daily prayer & pledge a well as prayer services throughout the year. 

Moderator: Mr. Goedeke

Meeting Time & Place: Initial training at the beginning of the year, then students are scheduled to serve at various Masses & Prayer Services throughout the year.  

Envirothon Team

Envirothon is a county, state, and national competition in which teams of five students answer questions in five major environmental science areas: aquatics, wildlife, soils, forestry, and a fifth topic that changes every year.  Our Envirothon Team is almost like a class because we meet every week to study all the information about the five topics that students will be tested on in the Harford County Envirothon Competition (usually in late April).  We study the material through presentations, videos, games, and hands-on outdoor experiences.  The Envirothon Team also makes a presentation on the fifth topic (usually in February) in front of a panel of judges (this presentation is a part of the overall team score for the Harford County Envirothon Competition).

Moderator: Dr. Baker

Meetings: Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 2:50 - 3:30 p.m., Room 212 (Chemistry Lab)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

Allow students to express their Christian Faith in a team huddle format with their peers to disucss how sports, clubs and activities can be vehicles to strengthen our relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Allows for leadership building skills, opportunities to serve the greater community and grow in our faith.

Moderator: Mrs. DeMennato 

Meeting Time & Place: A Days, 2:55 - 3:30 p.m., Room 310

Film Club

Film Club is designed to give students the opportunity to view and enjoy quality films after school.

Moderator: Mr. Schick 

Meeting Time & Place: Atleast once a month, 3:00-3:30 p.m. for meetings, 3:00-5:00 p.m. for screenings, Room 121 (Fine Arts Wing)

Finance Club

Investigation of financial markets, how finances are used, student involvement in mock finance activities.

Moderator: Dr. Ketchum

Meeting Time & Place: Fridays, 3:00 p.m., Room 216

Friends R Family

The Friends R Family Club's mission is to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness by bringing awareness of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns to our community.

Moderator: 

Meeting Time & Place: First Monday of the month, during 2nd lunch

Future Healthcare Workers of America

Lead by Natalie Gotzmann '25, FHCWA brings in guest speakers from various aspects of the healthcare industry to speak with students about their career, their background, their education and to answer questions students may have. The goal is to expose students to different career paths they may or may not have thought of, help them plan for their future, and begin to make connections in the healthcare industry. 

Moderators: Dr. Ketchum and Mr. Grzanna

Meeting Time & Place: Typically first Thursday of the month, after school, Room TBD

Guitar Club

To provide an opportunity to learn the guitar for beginners and to continue to develop for those with some experience.

Moderator: Mr. Kimble 

Meeting Time & Place: Weekly, 2:45 - 3:15 p.m., Room 309

 

International Thespian Society (ITS)

The troupe is the honors component of the school’s theatre program. Its purpose shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in theatre. More specifically, the troupe will encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theatre arts and will reward those who achieve it with induction into the troupe. Thespians achieving honor ranks and scholar distinctions shall receive recognition of their exemplary accomplishments.

Moderators: Mrs. Parrish 

Meeting Time & Place: ITS Officers meet E-Days during lunch mods in Chorus Room, Troupe Meetings monthly on designated Fridays after school in Chorus Room 

Love One Another Club

To provide a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental meeting place for all students, especially LGBTQ+ students. The club will focus on and discuss topics in social justice and societal acceptance for all people.

Moderator: Mr. Monaghan 

Meeting Time & Place: Twice a month, 2:50 p.m., Room 222

 

Marching Band

Students who are not enrolled in band class but who would like to participate in the marching band may join as club members. We attend all home football games and do 2 Christmas parades.

Moderator: Mrs. Novak 

Meeting Time & Place: Meet daily for a class time as well as a week-long band camp. Based on students' schedules. 

Math Club

To prepare for Math League and AMC competitions by practicing unique and challenging math problems

Moderators: Mrs. Von Lange 

Meeting Time & Place: Thursday after school until 3:45, Room TBD

Mock Trial Team

To teach students how actual courtroom trials work by active participation.  Students take on the role of either witnesses or lawyers and present their side of the case in front of judges and attorneys.  Students learn to critically think in planning the trial and on "their feet" during the actual trials.  They learn how to advocate and improve their oral communication skills.  Most importantly they learn the importance of teamwork. From a legal standpoint, students learn how trials work procedurally, learn the rules of evidence, and whatever substantive issue the case is about that particular year.  The case alternates between Civil and Criminal Cases.  Last year's case was a civil case that dealt with premises liability and wrongful death.  In the past, cases have involved issues including assault, murder, larceny, and negligence

Moderator: Mr. Connolly and Mrs. Galicki

Meeting Time & Place: Monday & Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., Room 108

 

Moot Court Team

To teach students how the Appellate process works and study constitutional issues.  Students learn how to present oral arguments before "the Supreme Court."  Students learn critical thinking skills by learning about constitutional issues and how to advocate their position on appeals to judges.  This is an activity that most if not all law students would participate in their second year of Law School.  

Moderator: Mr. Connolly

Meeting Time & Place: Daily in September & October, Room 108

Mountain Biking Club

To get students to interact with each other in nature while biking.

Moderator: Mr. Grzanna 

Meeting Time & Place: Announced Trips

 

Music Ministry

Provide Music Liturgy for all school masses 

Moderator: Mrs. Parrish 

Meeting Time & Place: 1-3 rehearsals prior to each Mass, Mod 2 prior to Mass - Upper Gym or Mass location
E-Days mod 7 for any student in the club who is not a member of the Chorus, Chorus Room

 

One Love

When starting a club, the goal is to empower your members and their peers to have daily
conversations about relationships through an understanding of the 10 signs. We do this by
providing two pathways:
1. Live the 10 Signs: This pathway focuses on a club member’s personal understanding of how
the 10 signs show up in their life. This allows them the opportunity for personal reflection
which will better assist them to before recruiting others to join this movement.
2. Engaging their Community: This pathway focuses on providing each club member with a
custom plan to engage their community through education, activation, and fundraising.

Moderators: Mrs. Doyle

Meeting Time & Place: Monthly, Room 306

Patriots 4 Kids

To do service projects to lift the spirits of children in Upper Chesapeake Peds Unit

Moderators: Ms. Webb 

Meeting Time & Place: TBD, Campus Ministry Office

Patriot Hospitality Group

Our mission is to excite prospective JC families about all that this school has to offer. We want all of our guests to feel welcomed and at home when they step onto our campus. 

Moderator: Mrs. Boniface

Meeting Time & Place: TBA - needed for special school events. Meetings on Wednesdays in cafe at 7:45 a.m.

 

Peer Ministry

Peer Ministers are young people committed to helping others by uplifting the dignity of each person and promoting the mission of our School. They are open to the presence of God in their lives and walk with their peers to help them see the dignity within by sharing their time and God-given gifts. There is no "cookie cutter" Peer Minister. As Saint Paul describes in the first letter to the Corinthians, "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone" (1 Cor. 12:4-6). 
Admittance into this group is by application only. 

Moderator: Mr. Goedeke

Meeting Time & Place: Once a cycle and various Campus Ministry Events

 

Photography Club

Develop students' skills as photographers, engage with new editing programs, and learn to work with other organizations in the school. 

Moderator: Mrs. DiMeo

Meeting Time & Place: 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, 2:50-3:40 p.m., Room 118

The Patriot Newspaper

The mission of the club is to produce the student newspaper.  Sections for this year will include: News, Features, Perspectives, Entertainment, and Sports.

Moderator: Mrs. Hall 

Meeting Time & Place: Online & In-Person as needed, Patriot Room #305

Pinnacle Magazine

The purpose of the club is to produce the school's literary magazine which includes student submissions in photography, art, poetry, and prose.

Moderator: Mrs. Hall 

Meeting Time & Place: Submission call through email; Editorial Staff meets in the Spring for selection and order of work

Pit Orchestra

Pit orchestra is a group of student-musicians who put their music-playing skills to the test and learn to accompany live theatrical performances.

Moderator: Mrs. Parrish 

Meeting Time & Place: Typically weekdays 4:00-7:00 p.m; some weekend rehearsals are required; & attendance at weekend performances is mandatory for participation, JC Auditorium

 

Planting with Patriots

Exploring and enjoying the natural world with specific emphasis on plants, their characteristics, their value and cultures. 

Moderator: Ms. Cochran

Meeting Time & Place: Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m., Room 204

Robotics Team

Advance student knowledge in robotics while building skills to work in a team in the VEX robotics competitions

Moderator: Dr. Davidson & Ms. Cadle

Meeting Time & Place: Tuesdays, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Room 208

Romero Service Club

We promote service opportunities both in and out of school for students to help the community.

Moderator: Ms. Webb

Meeting Time & Place: Every other Wednesday, 2:50 - 3:30 p.m., Learning Commons

Ski Trip Group

To give students an experience outside of the classroom, and allowing them to come together through the sport of skiing and snowboarding.  

Moderator: Mr. Maynard

Meeting Time & Place: Trips to be announced, typically 1/month from October - February. Meetings will be in Learning Commons or Cafe, 3:00 p.m.

Speech & Debate

Participating in Speech & Debate gives students an improved perspective on the world around them.  Students learn about important issues in politics, public policy, and philosophy and gain a better appreciation for the diverse perspectives that make up the public sphere.  Students create factual/logical, ethical, and emotional arguments to persuade others in the club that their "side" is correct using a formal debate format. Speech and Debate activities are challenging, competitive in nature, and require regular practice, coaching, dedication, and hard work.

Moderators: Mrs. Galicki

Meeting Time & Place: TBD

Science Olympiad Team

Competition in regional and state wide Science Olympiad tournaments.  Variety of student team events, physics, engineering, environmental science, cell biology, forensic science, and many more.

Moderators: Dr. Ketchum & Mr. Grzanna

Meeting Time & Place: Once per week at beginning, then each team meet individually. Meet on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m., Room 216

 

Set & Tech Crew

Set & Tech Crews support the Fall and Spring Musical productions

Moderators: Dr. Ketchum & Mr. Grzanna

Meeting Time & Place: 1-2 times per week in Oct-Nov & Feb-Mar; & all tech week rehearsals and performances, Typically weekdays 4:00-7:00 p.m; some weekend rehearsals required; & attendance at weekend performances is mandatory for participation, JC Auditorium

Student Government Association

The SGA has a few basic missions: (1) serving as student leaders (2) planning and implementing class and school wide events (3) meeting with administration regarding school concerns 

Moderators: Mrs. Hall and Dr. Davidson 

Meeting Time & Place: General Meetings: E Days @ 7:15 a.m, Room 305, SGA/Admin Meetings: E Days 2nd Lunch, Room 305

Student Philanthropy

The Student Philanthropy Club at John Carroll aims to introduce and grow a culture of philanthropy and increase giving activity among the student body.  This is accomplished by students participating in various activities throughout the year and they play an active role in helping us thank our donors for supporting their education and future.

Moderators: Mrs. Shiflett

Meeting Time & Place: D-Days Lunch Mods, 11:00-11:30 a.m. & 12:00-12:30 p.m., IA Suite

Theatre Productions

Students get to experience theatre from audition to performance. Students develop skills in singing, dancing, and acting while having lots of fun.

Moderators: Mr. Hensley and Mrs. Parrish​

Meeting Time & Place: Typically weekdays 4:00-7:00 p.m; some weekend rehearsals required; & attendance at weekend performances is mandatory for participation, JC Auditorium

Weightlifting

The club is for any student not in a seasonal sport who wants to learn how to properly lift weights, develop their fitness, and build self-confidence among a positive group. All are welcome, but the group is for beginners to intermediates. 

Moderator: Mrs. Schultz

Meeting Time & Place: Monday & Wednesday, 3:00-3:40 p.m., Brown Fitness Center

Women Empowerment

To empower both female and male students to their fullest potential. 

Moderator: Mrs. Adolph

Meeting Time & Place: Twice a month, TBD, Location TBD

Zumba Club

This fun dance fitness combines high energy and uplifting Latin music with easy-to-follow moves. Zumba promotes a healthy heart, a healthy dose of aerobic activity, and a fun, exciting way to build and tone muscle, improve cardio, promote flexibility, and decrease stress.

Moderator: Mrs. Pinargotte

Meeting Time & Places: Fridays, 3:00-3:30 p.m. (except on D days & early dismissals), Room TBD

Honor Societies

John Carroll offers a number of honor societies including:

• National Honor Society
• Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society
• French Honor Society
• German Honor Society
• Spanish Honor Society
• Quill & Scroll (Literary Society)
• National Art Honor Society
• Music Honor Society (Tri-M)
• National Honor Society for Dance Arts
• Rho Kappa - Social Studies National Honor Society 
• Mu Alpha Theta - Math Honor Society