Student Life
LEARN MOREExperience all aspects of high school life in our very involved and interconnected campus. With over 30 clubs and organizations plus a continuous calendar of community activities, service opportunities, and international trips, there is no shortage of opportunity to get involved.
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Get Involved!
More than 85% of the students at West Catholic are involved in athletics or extracurricular clubs and organizations. Take advantage of the unique clubs, organizations and worldly experiences that we have to offer.
The Art Club generally does one art-related activity per month. Sometimes these activities are service oriented—painting murals at local establishments, re-painting the sculptures for the courtyard, decorating bags for Kids' Food Basket or decorating for our school auction. At other times, meetings are educational; we may tour an art college, visit an art museum or view artsy films. Still other times, we just have fun—learning to tie-dye, doing face-painting, carving pumpkins, decorating Christmas cookies or cutting paper snowflakes. The club changes every year based on the gifts and talents of its members.
Meetings: The Art Club meets the first Thursday of each month. Meetings are held at 7:40 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. Each member should attend one of these meetings.
Advisor: Lisa Nawrocki
lisanawrocki@grwestcatholic.org
The chess club meets to play, learn and enjoy the game of chess together.
Meetings: Chess Club meets at 3:10 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Advisor: Sean Nolan
seannolan@grwestcatholic.org
Meetings: For practice and competitions as needed.
Advisor: Mrs. Clarke
dwcpvc@yahoo.com
West Catholic Esports is a competitive video game club for gamers. Whether you play League of Legends, Rocket League or Fortnite, the esports club is the place for you!
Meetings: Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. after school in the Esports lab
Advisor: Adam Antor
adamantor@grwestcatholic.org
The FIRST Robotics Competition is the ultimate Sport for the Mind. Student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”
Under strict rules, limited resources and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship (link is external).
Meetings: Variable depending on the time of year
Advisor: Cindy Brown
cindyczbrown@rescomelectricinc.com
Garden Club is a group of students who meet to improve the beauty of the school, enjoy fellowship and pursue individual projects related to gardening. We have helped to maintain a rain garden, planted flowers for Mary, set up a hydroponics system and grown tomatoes. Garden Club is open to all students and all suggestions! No green thumb required!
Meetings: The Garden Club meets every Wednesday after school.
Advisor: Tracy Byrne
tracybyrne@grwestcatholic.org
The Go Green Club is made up of students and teachers who care about creating a community and culture within West Catholic that is focused on developing and growing sustainability-based practices. The West Catholic Go Geen Club seeks to use Christ’s teachings as a template to guide our decision making in regards to protecting and caring for God’s creation. As a group, we search for opportunities to serve, protect, educate and act as pillars of sustainability for our community.
Meetings: Go Green Club meets twice a month during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Troy Dudas
troydudas@grwestcatholic.org
Meetings: Jazz Band meets on Mondays and Thursdays after school starting in December through the end of the school year.
Advisor: Darren LaPrise
darrenlaprise@grwestcatholic.org
World Language Club is a new club designed to celebrate the different cultures of the world. If you are interested in joining, just show up to an event. Events are posted in the announcements.
Meetings: The Language Club meets every Wednesday after school. Also, students can sign up to be involved in different events throughout the year.
Advisors: Connie Marshall and Gloria Coste de Falk
conniemarshall@grwestcatholic.org / gloriacostedefalk@grwestcatholic.org
Math Challenge is a group of 12 Honors math students who compete in an all-day event at GRCC in the spring. The students practice four different events with their six teammates in preparation for the event.
Meetings: Students meet during lunch and homeroom or after school. Meeting times vary based on competition dates.
Advisor: Samantha Kemperman
samanthakemperman@grwestcatholic.org
The National Honor Society is comprised of junior and senior students who, by virtue of their academic record and community activities, are invited to apply for membership. Each member is required to do 10 hours of tutoring in addition to attending meetings and other activities.
Meetings: NHS meets on alternating Tuesdays before and after school.
Advisor: Rebecca Cortes
rebeccacortes@grwestcatholic.org
Quiz Bowl is an academic competition covering a variety of academic disciplines and popular culture. Team members prepare for competitions with friendly practices and then compete against other schools in local, league and statewide tournaments.
Meetings: Quiz Bowl meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school.
Advisor: Pat Nugent
patnugent@grwestcatholic.org
West Catholic fields a high school club rugby team in the spring. Our mission is to promote the development of leadership, character, sportsmanship, tolerance, discipline and a lifelong love of rugby. No experience is necessary—we will teach you the skills to tackle, ruck, maul and scrum properly and safely.
Meetings: Practices are held after school in the spring.
Advisor: Todd Beaudoin
toddbeaudoin@grwestcatholic.org
Each year, two juniors and two seniors participate in Rotary Interact—an organization that promotes service, integrity and the advancement of world understanding, goodwill and peace through the fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Meetings: Students attend field trips and local Rotary meetings twice a month.
Advisor: Diane Ysasi
dianeysasi@grwestcatholic.org
Safe Haven is open to any current students or staff members who want to spend time together to grow in friendship. This is a safe meeting place that gathers weekly and it is not mandatory for members to attend on a regular basis.
Meetings: Safe Haven meets Tuesdays during lunch and homeroom in the MAK Boardroom.
Advisors: Cynthia Kneibel
cynthiakneibel@grwestcatholic.org
Student Government allows for development in key areas of leadership. This is a leadership that is dedicated to serving. Throughout the year, Student Government is the force behind the many drives at West Catholic. Students develop plans of action and execution for food drives, blood drives and countless other student activities that serve West Catholic and its greater community.
Meetings: Student Government meets every Wednesday during lunch and homeroom in the Duba Lecture Hall.
Advisors: Gloria Coste de Falk, Joe Rolf
gloriacostedefalk@grwestcatholic.org / joerolf@grwestcatholic.org
Students of West Athletic Advisory Group (S.W.A.A.G.) is comprised of student-athletes working with the athletic department to improve the overall student experience at West Catholic. The group consists of at least one member from every athletic program at West Catholic. Community and school service projects are also an integral part of this club. Improving school culture through awareness and support of all student-athletes and programs is the main goal of S.W.A.A.G.
Meetings: S.W.A.A.G. meets twice a month—once as a large group and once in individual groups.
Advisors: Megan Pittman and Joe Gietzen
meganpittman@grwestcatholic.org / joegietzen@grwestcatholic.org
Meetings: The Swing Dance Club meets every other Wednesday from 3:10-4 p.m.
Advisor: Rebecca Cortes
rebeccacortes@grwestcatholic.org
The Women's Leadership Group provides the opportunity for young women to explore a wide array of career paths in West Michigan. Through partnerships with a variety of local businesses, our students are able to shadow professionals and learn valuable techniques for leading diverse groups and understanding the workforce.
Meetings: Mondays during lunch and homeroom
Advisors: Jill VanderEnde, Megan Eversman
jillvanderende@grwestcatholic.org / meganeversman@grwestcatholic.org
The Acton Group discusses the principles and ideas that help to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. The group also takes a field trip to the Acton Institute each semester.
Meetings: Acton Group meets every Monday during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Sean Nolan
seannolan@grwestcatholic.org
Catholics in Action (C.I.A.) is a student-led group that meets to share food, fellowship and faith. They seek to focus on particular aspects of their faith so they can grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and understand the teachings of the Church in a less formal, non-classroom setting. C.I.A. always welcomes new members.
Meetings: C.I.A. meets every Friday during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Phil Dolci
phildolci@grwestcatholic.org
Life Force is a group of motivated students charged with putting on the Life Force retreat, usually held in the spring, and leading Catholics In Action (C.I.A.) events.
Meetings: Life Force meets outside of school on pre-determined dates/times.
Advisor: Phil Dolci
phildolci@grwestcatholic.org
Meetings:
Advisor: Joe Houdek
joehoudek@grwestcatholic.org
Students can apply to become peer ministers during their junior year.
Junior peer ministers help to welcome and minister to our international students by participating in different events that help acclimate our international students to West Catholic. Additionally, they receive training that will help them as a senior peer minister.
Senior peer ministers are students dedicated to sharing their faith not only in their daily interactions with classmates but also on class retreats. Additionally, these students help welcome and transition the incoming freshmen.
Meetings: Peer Ministers meet on Thursdays during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Phil Dolci
phildolci@grwestcatholic.org
The Priestly Discernment Group is a group of young men, bound together in the brotherhood of Christ, that together discerns the will of the Lord for their lives and is open to the possibility of entering the seminary after high school.
Meetings: The Priestly Discernment Group meets every Tuesday during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Sean Nolan
seannolan@grwestcatholic.org
Students for Life promotes the pro-life message in our school and in the greater community. Club members volunteer at HELP Pregnancy Center and at other pro-life events, take part in educational opportunities, sponsor pro-life activities at the school and attend the March for Life.
Meetings: Students for Life meets every other Tuesday before or after school.
Advisor: Pat Nugent
patnugent@grwestcatholic.org
The Women's Discernment group is designed so that young women can enjoy fellowship, prayer and other activities that help them discern God's will for their station in life. Whether this station is consecrated religious life, married life, or single life, friendships that are based on love for Christ or others provides support for the journey.
Meetings: The Women's Discernment group meets every Tuesday during lunch and homeroom.
Advisor: Carolyn Hathaway
carolynhathaway@grwestcatholic.org