Clubs

The Green Initiative promotes a society where people are aware of the consequences of their actions as they impact upon the environment in which they live. The Initiative does this by educating its members who in turn educate the rest of the school community. Its activities include recycling efforts, hosting guest speakers, participating in the school’s programs dealing with the environment, and providing service to community environmental efforts.

The Hall, the school newspaper, is a letter-earning activity and thus satisfies a critical National Honor Society requirement. The customary threshold for earning a “freshman letter” is several published articles during a school year. Writers and graphic artists do not need to attend weekly meetings – they need only to turn in quality work for their reward. The activity provides an opportunity for students to write news, features and sports stories, editorials, and to create various graphics of interest to the CHC community. The Hall promotes improved writing in a variety of disciplines, offers aspiring writers the satisfaction of being published, and gives dedicated contributors the option of serving as club officers after freshman year.

The Cardinal & Gold is the school's yearbook. It strives to capture exciting and memorable events of the year through photography and words. Staff members have the opportunity to develop skills in computer page layout and visual design editing as well as discover talents in writing and photography. Our goal this year will be to produce an outstanding full-color yearbook that is even better than last year’s book. For several years, the staff has received First Place from the American Scholastic Press Association. 

The Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Orchestra, Big Band, Jazz Lab & Jazz Combo) is comprised of talented musicians who provide entertainment by capturing the sounds of the big band era, jazz standards, and pop classics. Membership into Jazz Ensembles is by audition only and placement into the specific Jazz Ensemble will be dependent on the student’s performance during the audition. The Jazz Combo is a select group from the Jazz program who exemplify the best in improvisation, sight-reading, and small group performance. They perform a variety of jazz standards and pop classics which are often times arranged by the combo members.

The Rock Band Club consists of students who are interested in singing and/or playing music of various styles within the rock music genre. The club is open to anyone. It is not part of the Calvert Hall Band Program; i.e. you do not have to be a member of the band. It is primarily student-led with coaching from the moderator on the basics of rock music performance. Students supply their own instruments. 

The Symphonic Band is comprised of 9th – 12th graders and focuses on developing musicianship. With a wide range of ability levels, the Symphonic Band is dedicated to = developing characteristic tone quality and fostering sight reading skills. In addition, the group strives to explore both traditional symphonic band repertoire as well as contemporary works. The Symphonic Band is designed to prepare and develop students to perform at the extremely demanding level of the Wind Ensemble.

The Theatre Club is the Performing Arts/Drama Club at Calvert Hall which strives to instill a sense of self-worth in the student by providing a forum for his creative abilities in the theatrical area. The club also provides theatrical instruction and technical crew experience for members. The theatre club performs two main stage productions each school year. CHC students and talented young ladies from surrounding high schools are encouraged to audition. The theatre program is also a member of the Baltimore chapter for the Cappies Theatre Awards program.

The Wind Ensemble is the premier instrumental music group at Calvert Hall. The ensemble is dedicated to stretching the limits of the individual musician, as well as the whole ensemble. The Wind Ensemble explores the standard symphonic band repertoire, as well as contemporary works for concert band. Students are selected by audition and represent some of the most talented musicians at Calvert Hall.

The Eastern European Culture Club welcomes members from any ethnic/cultural background.  The mission of the club is to learn about and embrace the cultures of the Slavic countries in Europe including but not limited to Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.  The club explores the rich diversity of each country while learning about the many cultural areas that unite their Slavic heritage.

Moderator: Mr. Dobrzycki

The Greek Club explores Hellenic Culture: food, language, history, and religion. The club meets every other month to learn more about greek heritage with both presentations inside school as well as getting outside of the classroom. Anyone is welcome whether you are Greek or not, know a lot or know nothing about Greek culture. Come and enjoy Calvert Hall's newest culture club!

Moderator: Mrs. Mary Lou Healy

The Hispanic Council brings together Hispanic voices/faces of the school to promote the hispanic culture within the CHC community. Working alongside other diversity groups like the Black Student Union and Asian Student Association, the Hispanic Council will promote important hispanic issues to the school, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.  The Hispanic Council also works to congratulate and encourage members of the Hispanic Community for their awards/achievements within the school community. Finally, the Hispanic Culture Club is a link to other Hispanic groups in our community to provide service and other opportunities for our students.

Moderator: Sra. Gonzalez & Brother Javi

The French Club is a group which strives to give students an opportunity to expand their knowledge of French life and culture beyond the classroom. Bi-monthly club meetings have presented activities such as reading and writing letters to pen pals, viewing videos and films, singing songs, tasting foods, and playing French games.

The Irish Club, while not limited to those of Irish heritage, explores the rich and varied culture of the small island variously called Eire, Eirann, Hibernia, 'The Auld Sod', IRELAND. We will explore Irish culture through its arts (music, films) Gaelic dance, food and history as expressions of this unique people. Relevant excursions will be made to places of cultural interest in the greater Baltimore Area. Meetings will be quarterly.  

The Italian Club strives to instill in its members greater appreciation for Italian and American-Italian culture by offering opportunities for the student to explore traditions of Italians in Italy and the United States within a social setting. The Italian club meets regularly in order to plan events. We celebrate the Italian culture with food, fun, and fellowship!

The Spanish Club strives to instill in its members a greater appreciation for the Spanish speaking community by offering opportunities for the student to explore, in greater depth, the Hispanic culture. Music, literature, film, and other culture-related activities comprise the agenda.

The primary goals of the CASA Club are:

The Lasallian Youth for Justice is a group of students interested in exploring and taking action on issues of social justice both locally and globally.  Students help raise awareness within the school community, touching on poverty and hunger, peace, education and more.  They also participate in the school’s charitable drives and the community service events each year. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, donations are collected and delivered to needy families. Later in the year, the Christian Brothers sponsor a special collection for their missionary activities. The community service includes such activities as serving food at local soup kitchens and shelters and tutoring elementary school students.

The Liturgy Band is a student-led and run band that plays for all the school-wide liturgies. Any student with musical abilities looking to get involved should see Mr. Clark or Mr. King. Students meet weekly throughout the year to prepare to serve in this unique Music ministry at the Hall.

Peer Ministry - The word ministry comes from the Greek word for “serving at table.” Peer Ministry, therefore, is a selected group of thirty juniors and seniors that are trained to “walk with” their peers. Peer Ministry is simply one student helping another student cope with the stresses of everyday life with an open and accepting attitude. For the peer ministers, ministry isn’t necessarily about changing others. It is about changing themselves so that they can become better friends to those on the journey. Peer Ministry isn’t about fixing problems or taking away others’ pain, but it is about sharing struggles and being compassionate friends. Peers are there for any student who needs someone to talk or walk with them on their journey. In terms of the program, peer ministers have a large role in CHC’s junior retreat program. Every peer writes and presents a “witness talk” on retreat, sharing his experiences and his faith journey. Peers also facilitate small group discussions and lead prayer. Peers also lead prayer experiences on our Freshman and Sophomore retreats as well. Peers provide examples and role models to younger students in their capacity as retreat leaders. The goal of the program is to get students involved in, and thinking more about, their own faith. The peers are a voice for the Campus Ministry Office and recruit other students for service opportunities, liturgical ministries, and prayer experiences throughout the year.

Intramural's provide an opportunity for students to participate in athletics apart from interscholastic competition. These activities promote teamwork, provide opportunities for physical development, foster faculty-student interaction, and expand student skills for lifetime athletic activity. Intramural offerings include soccer, basketball, dodgeball, bowling, archery, and ultimate frisbee. While some of the activities are held in the afternoon, other sports are held in the evening in the school's gym.

The Lawn Games Club is a combination of different activities including Cornhole, spikeball, hackey sack and more! Throughout each month there will be tournaments, practice, and lessons. Come out and have fun playing different lawn games!

The Martial Arts/Boxing Club was created for students to build self-confidence and self-respect through learning self-defense.  Students will practice techniques from forms such as Taekwondo, boxing, judo, and other forms of self-defense.Students with and without experience are welcome to attend. Mr. Freeman has been studying martial arts since October 1986.  Mr. Freeman earned his black belt in the Spring of 1989 and has continued to train throughout his life. 

Moderator: Mr. Freeman

The Calvert Hall Fishing Club is the perfect catch for students who love the great outdoors, enjoy spending time by the water, and have a passion for fishing.  Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice with a curiosity for the sport, our club provides a welcoming environment for all skill levels.  Throughout the course of the year, we plan to organize a series of events ranging from fishing expeditions and competitions to guest speakers such as professional anglers and fisheries biologists.  It’s not just about catching fish; it’s about fostering friendships, promoting The Brotherhood, and appreciating the beauty of our local lakes, rivers, and streams.

Moderator: Mr. Buch

The Military and Police Interest Club was formed in November of 2001 to serve as a forum for students interested in the fields of law enforcement and/or the military. MPIC routinely invites law enforcement and military professionals to CHC to discuss careers, techniques, and active deployment. Prior guests have included Baltimore County Police bomb squad and K9, Maryland State Police Warrant Apprehension Task Force, and faculty from the US Army War College.  Finally, MPIC acts as a liaison between the CHC community and the law enforcement and military communities, with many of our current members serving as Police Explorers and Civil Air Patrol members, as well as former MPIC members serving as active duty military and law enforcement.

Moderator: Mr. Sundell (2004 graduate of the 18th Baltimore County Police Department Citizens’ Academy and 2006 Graduate of the 7th FBI Baltimore Field Division Citizen’s Academy)

The Mock Trial Team provides students with the opportunity to learn how the law plays an integral role in their lives.  In working with students, coaches strive to further students' understanding of, and appreciation for, our constitutional form of government.  The team achieves this by participating in the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program for the Schools of Maryland High School Mock Trial Competition. Calvert Hall competes against schools all over Baltimore County for local and state awards.

The CHC Robotics Program provides an opportunity for students to explore and apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills in a creative, collaborative environment. The team uses CHC provided equipment made by Vex Robotics (V5 - VEX Robotics) and coded using a Robot specific C programming language. Robots are designed to compete in globally recognized games developed annually by the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation. Rules for the current game can be found at Competition - V5 - VEX Robotics . Students meet twice weekly in a dedicated Robotics Center on campus.

For beginners, the Developmental Team focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of robot design, cooperative engineering, software coding, driver skills and game strategy. These teams build and code robots to compete in internal competitions. As students advance in knowledge, commitment, and skill, they may join the Competition Team which competes in local, state and worldwide events. These students refine their skills and concentrate on achieving excellence through reliable design, detailed documentation, verbal communication, strategic planning, and peer mentoring.

 

Calvert Hall 5588 teams have won five of the past seven Maryland State Vex Robotics High School Championships and have earned the privilege to participate in eight Vex World Championships.