St. Nicholas/St. Mary School is proud to offer many activities that enhance the education that occurs daily in the classrooms. These programs will encourage students to go beyond what they are learning in the textbook, and use their higher level thinking skills to create, analyze, and synthesize in order to gain a deeper understanding of a subject. Many of these activities take the form of regional competitions, with the opportunity to go on to diocesan-wide or state-wide competitions. All of our activities involve a time commitment above and beyond the normal school day.
Crescent Players
Students in Grades 5 through 8 can be members of the Crescent Players. The Crescent Players present the annual school musical. The school’s first school musical, Seussical! Jr. was performed in 2015. Over the next four years, the Crescent Players presented The Lion King, Jr., Peter Pan, Jr., Into the Woods Jr. and High School Musical Jr. In 2020, we are looking forward to The Music Man Jr. in April.
Forensics
Students in grades 5 through 8 have the opportunity to study the art of public speaking by trying out for the Forensics Team. Each year, there are regional competitions held in the Fall and the Spring, with place winners at the regional competitions advancing to the Diocesan championship. The subject matter varies from year to year, but included is oral interpretation of poetry, oral interpretation of prose, etc. Depending on the subject matter, the competitors will either work alone, or in groups of two or three. Students who participate in forensics not only have a deeper appreciation for literature, but have a firm grasp on public speaking.
National History Day
The History Day competition is available to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. It engages them in the historic, cultural, and a social experiences of the past. Participants choose between a performance, a documentary, creating a website, and exhibit, or writing a paper. Students meet after school throughout the year to research information on their topic and plan their project. Along with their project, the participants must write a 1,000 word paper describing their project, including an annotated bibliography. There is a local history day competition where participants may qualify for the regional competition. They may qualify for the state competition as well.
National Junior Honor Society
The National Junior Honor Society is opened to students in grades 7 and 8 who qualify based on the 5 points of distinction: Scholarship, Character, Leadership, Service, and Citizenship. New members are inducted in the Fall of each school year. The Society focuses on service within the school community and leadership among peers.
Student Council
Each year, students may choose to run for Student Council. Candidates must give a speech to their peers and campaign. Student in grades 5 through 8 may run for either an office of homeroom representative.
Yearbook Club
8th graders may choose to be part of the Yearbook Club. This club designs the annual yearbook from start to finish. Students lay out pages, choose photographs, take pictures, and solicit ads for the yearbook. This is truly a student-led project.