Students at Plymouth High School have several opportunities to choose from for co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that many educational experts feel leads to a well-rounded education.
Co-curricular activities are programs that may be associated with the curriculum in a regular classroom. Extra-curricular activities is a definition used to describe extra or out of class activities.
PHS Principal, Jim Condon, further explained co-curricular saying, “Co-curricular are combinations of classroom experiences with performances. The co-curricular activities offered at PHS include such things as: Band (marching, orchestra, and jazz), Speech and Debate, Choir, Orchestra, and Theater Arts.
Condon suggested several ways in which participating may have a positive impact on student’s successes. Condon said, “I think a student’s involvement in extra-curricular activities is very beneficial to his or her development. It offers one an opportunity to experience both success and failure, promotes working as a team, helps develops interpersonal skills, and helps one learn to establish goals, persevere, and develop a strong work ethic.”
Other educators point out that “real-world” skills are often learned in extra-curricular activities such as leadership, organization, analytical thinking, problem solving, and time management along with social skills like cooperation, negotiation, stress relief and conflict resolution,
Condon listed those offered at PHS as follows:
Sports:
Boys and Girls Cross Country
Boys and Girls Tennis
Volleyball
Football
Boys and Girls Soccer
Cheerleading – fall and winter
Wrestling
Boys and Girls basketball
Boys and Girls swimming
Gymnastics
Baseball
Softball
Boys and Girls track
Condon added, “If a student wants to join a club in addition to or in place of his or her involvement in a sport or a co-curricular, he or she may choose from such things as:
Academic Club
The goal of this club is to provide a meeting time for members of Spell Bowl and ASCE Bridge Bust participants with their sponsors, coaches or advisors. In having this meeting time, it is hoped that participation and improvement on these teams will occur.
ACS Chem Club
ACS Chem Club invites, motivates, and encourages high school students who are fascinated by the many ways that chemistry connects to their world.
Alpha Delta Rho
Alpha Delta Rho is a literary group open to Seniors, Juniors and select Sophomores who express interest and talent in the language arts. The club organizes, edits, and publishes The Pilgrimage, a collection of student writings and artwork.
American Field Services Club
American Field Services Club is an organization of high school students seeking to promote the cause of understanding different cultures. In addition to acting as a social group, the club helps sponsor the foreign exchange students during their stay at Plymouth High School. It also involves club members in student exchanges and other AFS events.
Art Club
This club is organized for students who wish to further their interests in art. Some of the activities include designing all of the basketball run-throughs, the annual Pumpkin Carve-In contest, field trips to museums, art shows, and art related businesses.
BPA
Business Professionals of America is the national vocational student organization for students interested in business and office occupations.
FFA
FFA activities encourage members to learn through active participation, to conduct and take part in public meetings, to speak in public, to solve their own problems, to finance themselves and to assume civic responsibility. In 1988 the official name of the organization was changed from “FFA: Future Farmers of America” to “The National FFA Organization” to reflect the growing diversity of agriculture..
Future Teachers (FTA)
The Future Teachers is a national organization with the goal of promoting interest in teaching as a career.
H.E.A.R.T. Club
The H.E.A.R T. Club (Home Economics Activities Related to Today) is an organization, which is designed to promote interest in Home Economics.
HOSA
HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of ACTE. HOSA’s two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people.
Interact Club
Rotary International’s service club program for young adults at the high school level and empowers students to serve in their communities and internationally with their Rotary Club sponsors.
Global Discussion Club
The main goal of the Global Discussion Club is to inform students about what is taking place socially and politically within the United States and abroad, specifically discussing how these events affect the lives of everyone. The club is designed to help students form an intelligent viewpoint on political topics and to promote an intelligent exchange of ideas through debates, thought talks, and simulations.
Key Club
Key Club is an extension of Kiwanis and is an organization designed for students who desire to serve their community and peers.
L.E.A.D.
All students interested in celebrating a drug and alcohol free lifestyle are welcome to join. L.E.A.D. stands for Leaders Eliminating Alcohol and Drugs in our society. The Plymouth Police Department and school officials combine efforts to share tangible means by which students may abstain from drug and alcohol use.
Multi-Cultural Club
This club includes students from all ethnic backgrounds and is involved in various activities that will raise the awareness of different cultures, their traditions, practices, and educational visions.
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious organizations for high school students. It was founded in 1921, and since 1945, thousands of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to senior members. To be eligible for consideration, each candidate must have spent at least a trimester at PHS and be a member of the senior, junior, or sophomore class. Candidates shall complete a Student Activity Information Form. Selection will be based upon careful consideration of each candidate’s scholarship, leadership, character, and service based on the following standards:
Scholarship: Candidates must have attained a grade average of 9.2.
Character: Determined by teacher recommendations. It is measured in terms of integrity, behavior, ethics, and cooperation with both students and staff.
Leadership: Evidenced by the Student Activity Information Form.
Service: Candidates must show evidence of service in the community or school and after election, participate in a service project.
National Honor Society candidates are invited to be selected.
Pep Club
Pep Club consists of students who wish to cheer the school teams to victory. Members are required to attend home games, pep sessions, and meetings.
PGSA
The PGSA is a meeting place for students of all sexual orientations, and it is also a support group for those looking for advice and acceptance.
Prayer Club
The Prayer Club is a student-led organization available to students who are committed to their faith in Jesus Christ. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for students to pray, to help students apply their faith to their lives at school and to encourage each other in their relationship with God.
Robotix
PHS Robotix is a club comprised of students who desire to enhance their understanding of math, science, and technology through robotics competitions. Students will work with community mentors to design, build, and test a robot design that will then be entered in a robotics competition.
SEED
SEED stands for Students Engaging in Environmental Development. It is a club that attempts to provide awareness of Environmental issues and information.
Spanish Club
All interested Spanish students currently taking Spanish or who have completed two years of Spanish are eligible to be members of Spanish Club. Those students presently in Spanish classes are encouraged to join to maintain a firm correlation between club and class.
Speech and Debate Team
Speech and Debate Team is a competitive speaking activity for those interested in building communication skills. Students are expected to practice regularly with a designated coach.
Sunshine Society
The purpose of this organization is to promote and inspire high ideals for high school girls, to help those in need, and to help make the school and community a better place in which to live.
Varsity Club
The Varsity Club at Plymouth High School is made up of male and female athletes who have earned at least 2 varsity letters and participate on a minimum of 2 different athletic teams. Participation may include JV teams, team managers, or athletic trainers. The objective of this club is to encourage multiple sport participation and to promote the interests and accomplishments of all athletic teams to the school body.
Carol Anders Correspondent
