ABCs OF THE STOCK MARKET:

The main purpose of this club is to help students develop an understanding of the stock market and equity investing. Through the year, members will learn the basics of stocks and learn valuations and techniques for investing from advisor Sara Pinchback.

ACAPELLA CLUB:

Members of this club will devote their time to making contemporary music without the help of musical instruments. The overall objective of acapella club, which is advised by chorus teacher, Luke Rosenberg, is for the club to perform while having fun.

AMERICAN RED CROSS CLUB:
Members will work with the local Red Cross and participate in projects such as preparing for disasters and hosting fundraising activities to raise money for those affected by disasters. Members, along with advisor Ann Didelot, will have the opportunity to receive training in disaster relief such as CPR and first-aid.

ANIME CLUB:
This club, advised by Tamara Weinberg, gives members the opportunity to watch, discuss and enjoy “Anime.” Members will also analyze the Japanese animation after watching it as well as discuss the culture surrounding it.

ARTIST’S CLUB:
The purpose of this club is to promote art through many different methods of exploration. Members will have the opportunity to participate in many different projects including splatter art, tin foil art and balloon creations all led by Camille Eskell.

ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGY CLUB:
Members of this club will explore the relationship between astronomy and astrology. With advisor Christine Kaszanek, members will learn about the connections between these two topics.

ASIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY:
This club, led by Chi-Ann Lin, is for any students with an interest in Asian traditions, customs and food. The purpose of this club is to increase awareness and exposure to all Asian cultures. Club activities include cooking and eating Asian foods, watching films and comparing Asian and American cultures. They will also have the occasional combined meeting with the Origami club.

ATHLETIC SUPPORTERS:

This club’s goal is to encourage the Staples community to be active for at least 60 min a day. with advisor, Eamon Griffin, it will organize various sporting events, fundraisers and sports equipment drives for children in lesser areas.

BARBEQUE CLUB:

This club is designed to allow students to learn new recipes for the grill. With advisor Jim Goodrich, they have also provided great grilled food to spectators during sporting events, in past years prior to football games. Profits raised by the Barbeque club benefit the Connecticut Food Bank.

BEST BUDDIES:
This is the Staples chapter of an international organization which matches students in a one-to-one friendship with a student with developmental disabilities. Led by advisors Deidre Dempsey and Deborah Gallon, Best Buddies enables students with disabilities to make friends outside their own special education classroom.

CARING FOR KIDS:
With the help of advisor Heather Wirkus, this club’s purpose is to raise money to purchase toys for children in hospitals and Westport EMS through bake sales and other various fundraisers.

CHINA CARES:

Led by Chris Fray, this club’s mission is to raise money for children in China who cannot afford medical care. At the end of each year, the members will meet and pick a child they would like to donate the money towards in order for the child to get the medical procedure he/she needs.

CIRCLE OF CARE KIDS:
Club members, with advisor Ann Didelot, will visit children undergoing cancer treatment in local hospitals in order to give them support and companionship during this difficult time in their lives.

CIRCLE OF WOMEN:

This club’s goal is to encourage women to be “agents of change.” Members, along with advisor Cathy Schager, will collaborate with communities that are eager to implement innovative, sustainable and localized solutions to increase girls’ access to secondary schools.

CLUB GREEN:

The mission of this club is to spread environmental awareness within Staples and throughout the Westport community by participating in activities such as recycling drives and selling reusable bottles and mugs. Advisor Michael Aitkenhead will lead future new projects including a composting program at the school and developing a community “edible” garden at Staples.

COMMUNITY CARES:
This club, led by Serena Tirado, will raise money for the Open Door Shelter located in Norwalk. The purpose of this shelter is to address the causes and complexities of the homeless and working poor by providing food, shelter, clothing, management services and more as a path towards success.

CULINARY ARTS CLUB:
Every Thursday afternoon this club, led by culinary teacher, Cecily Gans, will cook a decadent, delightful, palate-pleasing recipe.

DEAR NEWTOWN: FRIEND 2 FRIEND:
This club, led by Heather Colletti-Houde, fosters friendships, trust and understanding with the students of Sandy Hook Elementary School by participating in a pen pal program via hand-written letters. The club will also raise funds to purchase books for Sandy Hook Elementary school classrooms.

DEBATE CLUB:
The Debate Team, led by Sara Pinchback, offers members the opportunity to explore controversial and interesting issues while gaining experience in public speaking.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB:

Students are able to work with multiple aspects of digital photography, including working with post-production software and exploring current trends in photography. Digital darkroom teacher Jonathan Nast is the advisor.

DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION CLUB OF AMERICA (D.E.C.A):

Founded in 1946, this international club helps prepare students to be leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance and hospitality. Social studies teacher Drew Coyne is the advisor of the club.

DOG RESCUE CLUB:

Staples social worker Jenna Sorge is the advisor. The goal of the club is to support dog rescue organizations in need of assistance by conducting fundraisers and raising awareness. Funds will also be raised to help fund medical procedures for dogs in need.

ENGINEERING CLUB:

Advised by science teachers Humphrey Wong and Bob Andrew, students prepare for and compete in engineering competitions. The competition this year centers around the Sikorsky STEM Challenge. A team of Sikorsky Innovations engineers working with Connecticut Corsair have designed a challenge, in which members work closely with the engineers in developing possible solutions.

FICTION CLUB:

Students read and discuss various works of fiction as well as write their own pieces. Students also participate in National Novel Writing Month—an event where the challenge is to complete an entire novel in just 30 days. English teacher Sarah Krikorian is the advisor.  

FILM MAKING CLUB:

This club is geared towards students of all levels. Meeting are used to assist in filming and editing techniques for group and individual projects. TV production teacher Jim Honeycutt is the advisor.

FLASH ANIMATION CLUB:

Librarian Colin Neenan is the advisor. Students learn the basics of Adobe Flash Player and other animating skills. Experience is not needed to join this club.

FRENCH CLUB:

Students enjoy and support French culture through an array of activities, including watching French films and preparing and tasting French cuisine. French teacher Olivier Blanchardon advises the club.

GERMAN CLUB:

The German Club at Staples High school is an extension to the German classes, and is advised by Mrs Carol Kochefko. The students in the club will participate in many cultural activities, including sharing culinary specialties, attending cultural events in the state, watching films together, and plan club activities.

GIRL FRIENDS:

Junior and Senior girls at Staples with their advisor Ms. Nicole Ross will become close to the senior women in Westport. The students will serve as a mentor to the seniors, and will help to fulfill their community services. This club will also reach out to women in Westport living on their own.

GLOBAL FRIENDSHIPS:

Students in the Global Friendships club, along with their advisor Dr. Humphrey Wong, will develop relationships between students all around the world. The club has also participated in fundraising for a chosen charity.

HOPE FOR LIFE:

This club will volunteer at the Malta House, a lay religious order of the Catholic Church that has been in service for almost 1,000 years. The Malta House offers food and shelter to homeless families. The advisor, Mrs Vivian McMullan and the members will babysit for the children of the residents every Tuesday night from six to eight.

HUMANE HEARTS:

Along with their advisor Ms. Brooke Barrington, the students in the Humane Hearts club will support local animal shelters and hospitals. They will also have fund raisers for dog organizations, such as guide dogs and therapy dogs.

INKLINGS:

This is Staples High School’s award-winning, nationally recognized newspaper. The staff, along with their advisors Mr. Cody Thomas and Ms. Mary Elizabeth Fulco,  publish eight issues a year and extra supplements. Students interested can apply in the spring for an editorial position, or take the Advanced Journalism class to start writing.

INTERACT CLUB:

The Interact Club, which is short for the International Action Club, is a Rotary Club sponsored organization specifically for High School aged students. Ms. Ally Krubski, the advisor of this club helps the students socialize while managing projects. These projects focus on community service by helping the underprivileged.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY CLUB:

This club focuses on the risks and benefits of investing money in the future by analyzing the stock market and competing in online games. The club will also host guest speakers to get different perspectives. The Investment and Business Strategy Club gives an opportunity for students to learn about investing in the real world.

ISRAELI CULTURE CLUB:

The members of this club along with their advisor Ms. Fran Sinay will learn and share the culture of the State of Israel. They will also have fund raisers for charities that benefit the people of Israel.

JUNIOR STATESMEN OF AMERICA:

Students debate topics of political interest and sharpen their public speaking skills as well as participate in several national JSA-sponsored conferences. English teacher Brendan Giolitto and social studies teacher Sarah Pinchback are the advisors.

KEY CLUB:

Every member is a community service volunteer whose goal is to accumulate 30 hours of service per school year. Students assist many non-profit organizations. Spanish teacher Horacio Ballesteros is the advisor.

KOOL TO BE KIND:

The goal is to raise awareness about bullying. Members are trained to lead lessons for third graders about empathy, kindness, and effective responses to bullying. Physical education teacher Nicole Ross and Westport Youth Services Coordinator Elaine Daignault are the advisors.

LATIN CLUB:

Members participate in fun activities to obtain a better understanding of the language. Students plan for the Connecticut State Latin Day. Latin teacher Perry Tavenner is the advisor.

LIT. SOCIETY:

Students gather twice a month to discuss pre-selected books. The club strives to take the academic pressure off of reading and so students learn for learning’s sake. Mary Katherine Hinman and Brendon Giolotto are the advisors.

MAGIC THE GATHERING CLUB:

Students meet to strategize as well as play the trading card game Magic: the Gathering. The game can be played with printed cards or online. Math teacher Michael Forgette is the advisor.

MATH TEAM:

The county meets at Wilton High School on the first Wednesday of each month from Oct. to March. The state competition is held in April. There are six members of the A team and no limit to the B team. Science teacher Sydney Brown is the advisor.

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION CLUB:

The objective is to raise funds that are directly donated to the national Make-a-Wish organization. The organization arranges or experiences, or “wishes,” to children with life threatening conditions. Italian teacher Enia Noonan is the advisor.

WWPT:

The Media Club is the parent organization of four media-based clubs: radio, film, television studio and audio engineering. The Radio Club is built around the student run station WWPT. TV production teachers Jim Honeycutt and Mike Zito are the advisors.

MUSICAL COMPOSITION CLUB:

The Musical Composition Club gives students the opportunity to compose music with others. The goal of the club is to create at least one musical piece per student by the end of the year.

ONIONS AND PICKLES STORYTELLING:

This club is committed to advancing the art of storytelling. The club enhances the arts of listening skills, imagination, creativity and the abstract thought process.

PAY IT FORWARD:

The purpose of this club is to inspire students and faculty to give back to their community and strive to lighten the lives of others with kindness. This club performs meaningful acts of kindness such as giving out hot cocoa in the winter while creating new friendships among others.

PENCILS OF PROMISE:

This club is a non-profit organization that constructs schools and educational opportunities in the world. This organization builds schools in various countries and and promotes scholarships.

PHOEBE’S FRIENDS:

Phoebe’s Phriends is a non-profit organization that strives to find a cure of pediatric cancer. The club focuses on osteosarcoma and Pediatric Leukemia. The goal of Phoebe’s Phriends is to volunteer at events to raise awareness.

PING PONG CLUB:

The goal of this club is to play table tennis and enjoy the game with friends. The Ping Pong Club strives to include the skills of the students and the club will organize competitive tournaments.

RESHAPING REALITY:

Reshaping Reality is an organization that educates students on the potential dangers of dieting and eating disorders. The club promotes healthier eating and allows students to open up to personal discussions.

SAFE RIDES:

Safe Rides is a nationwide organization that prevents injuries and averts property damage by people who drive while intoxicated. Safe Rides also transport students who may find themselves in hazardous situations.

SAILING CLUB:

The Sailing Club competes against other schools in competition. The Sailing Club is a two-season sport which practices 2-3 times per week.

SAVE THE CHILDREN:

Save The Children works with the Save the Children International organization to raise funds for nutrition, education, HIV, AIDs, and child protection of children. This club supports the charity and will create programs that involve the students through these causes.

SERVICE LEAGUE OF BOYS:

Service League of Boys is an organization that promotes educational and charitable endeavors. This club is advances parent-son relationships through charitable work in the Westport community.

SISTER CITY:

The Sister City club works with The Norwalk/Nagarote Sister City Project that sustains community development between the people of various countries. The mission of Sister City is to develop and build friendships and understandings between the people of Norwalk and Nagarote.

SOULS FOR SOULS:

Soles For Souls is a global organization that fights poverty by collecting used and new shoes and clothing from individuals. The products collected go straight to people who are in need with those items.

SOUNDINGS:

Soundings is Staples’ club to guide the literary pursuits of the students. The mission of Soundings is to put together the annual literary magazine which features the innovative work of the students.

SPANISH CLUB:

The Spanish Club creates opportunities for students to practice and improve their Spanish speaking skills and explore the cultures and different aspects of Spanish culture.

SPORTS MANAGEMENT CLUB:

The Sports Management Club participates in fantasy sports as a foundation for organized and managing a virtual sports team.

SQUASH CLUB:

The members of the Squash Club will learn about the game of squash. Members will learn basic technique and rules regarding the game.

1. JUDE’S HEART AND SOUL CLUB:

The St. Jude’s Heart and Soul Club is a club in which members devote their hearts and souls for those in need of caring and guidance by performing acts of kindness. This club provides the opportunity for students to volunteer in areas of a hospital.

STAND UP TO CANCER:

Stand up to Cancer club researches potential cures to cancer. The mission of the club is to help save lives by studying cancer and its effects.

STAPLES PLAYERS:

Staples Players is an extracurricular activity that takes part and learns about all aspects of theatre such as drama exercises, acting, and staging. Staples Players performs 2 main shows and 4-5 student directed productions. Staples Players involves 150 students as actors, musicians, and technicians.

STAPLES TUITION GRANTS:

Since 1943, Staples Tuition Grants (STG) have helped ensure that no Staples student graduate is denied a college education because of financial need. STG provides tuition assistance to students by helping to close the gap between what their family can afford and the expected cost of tuition.

STAPLES CLUB PINK:

Staples Club Pink’s mission is to raise awareness and funds for research and treatment of breast cancer as well as to provide comfort to those undergoing the treatment. The club will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help treat other women.

STAPLES DANCE TEAM:

The Staples Dance Team is a group of dancers who come together and perform/compete in dance while showing school spirit. This club does not require previous dance experience; it is a club to learn to dance. The objective is to compete in several dance competitions throughout the school year and hold a Spring Dance Showcase.

STAPLES INVESTMENT CLUB:

The Staples Investment Club introduces young investors to the principles of the stock market, responsible investing and educates students on how to understand the stock market.

STUDENTS SUPPORTING SPECIAL ATHLETES:

Students Supporting Special Athletes (SSSA) is a group of individuals who are interested in helping special needs students within the school. The students in this club compete with special needs kids in sports against other schools.

STAPLES YEARBOOK:

The Staples Yearbook participants write, photograph, design, edit and lay out the details for the yearbook which comes out at the end of the year.

TEEN AWARENESS GROUP:

TAG is a club of students who have diverse beliefs and opinions on situations that young students will face in their high school career. TAG members are dedicated to working together in an effort to realize alternative opinions for students while maintaining their safety.

STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLUB:

The main purpose of this club is to raise awareness to teenagers in the Staples community about the relevance and realism of human trafficking in today’s world. The club advisor is Caroline Henry, and she along with the other students who run the club aim to make the injustices of human trafficking more prevalent and spark a discussion about how to change the world on a personal level and for others.

STOP SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION (STOP SAM), STAPLES CHAPTER:

The main focus of this club is to raise funds to donate to MANA, which is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to change the status of severe acute malnutrition because of the absurdly high death rate for childhood deaths around the world. The club and its advisor Rebecca Stern, math department, help to support this mission fully.

STUDENT ASSEMBLY:

Student Assembly, is a club lead by Caroline Didelot, math department, and selected members of the student body, who run events around school like the variety show and aim to communicate with the administration about student related issues around the school to promote change and an even better school environment.

TOQUET HALL:

In 1998, Toquet Hall was initiated so that the teen community of Westport would have a fun and safe place to hang out. Here students are allowed to participate in social, recreation, and cultural experiences. Many of them perform and host events here, as it is a reliable and safe space due to its no tolerance for drug and alcohol consumption. They meet bimonthly with the club advisor, Kevin Godburn, town employee, to design the facility, plan events, and fundraise and is a great leadership opportunity of students.

TOYS FOR JOY:

This club, along with the advisor, Chrissy Kaszanek, science department, collects toys from toy drives around the school and the community and delivers them to the Norwalk Pediatric Ward.

TRI-M MUSIC HONORS SOCIETY:

This club is a part of an international music honor society for middle and high school aged students and is made to recognize individuals for their achievements not only in academics but in the musical arts as well. It is made to inspire other students to reach to this level of art and academic excellence.  Nick Mariconda, music department, the club advisor, requires students to have a B average in their music classes and in their academic courses and acquire a recommendation from a music advisor at the school.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE CLUB:

This is possibly, one of the oldest clubs at Staples, as it was established in 1968. This is a sport of self-reliance and the love of the game is integrated as it is more relaxed than most other school sports. It is great to for students to work on cardio and their athletic endurance. This sport is played in 80 countries and lives on here at Staples, with the club advisor Tom Brown, school counselor.

WESTPORT INTRAMURAL SOCCER CLUB:

This club is for students with varying degrees of interest and experience in soccer, while not as structured as the official soccer team at Staples, it is just as big a deal. Drew Coyne, social studies department, is the advisor, promotes the club as a quality use of free time in an athletic setting.

WESTPORT POLICE YOUTH COLLABORATIVE:

This clubs allows youths to interact with the police force in Westport, without the confrontation of enforcement. They sponsor events such as Dodge a Cop as one of the Westport Police-Youth Collaborative (WPYC). The main purpose of the club is to promote positive interactions between cops and kids. Elaine Daignault, school employee is the advisor.

WOMEN IN STEM:

Christine Kaszanek, science department, is the club advisor, describes this club as a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines including, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They are all integrated into one program to create a simulation of real-world applications in relation to these subjects.

WRECKERS IN TUNE:

This club picks out Staples most talented students in the musical arts and getting them together to perform locally in the community fosters an eclectic performance of music from all walks of life. There are around 100 students in the group, so some can come and go to events as they are available.  The club advisor, Anne Fernandez, English department, shares her love for music with these kids, as they perform typically on Thursday evenings for around an hour or two.

YOUNG DEMOCRAT CLUB:

This club supports all democratic causes whether on the local or national level or anywhere in between. They discuss perspective on political issues, different campaigns, and meet with officials who share or dispute the causes they fight for. Chris Fray, language department, the club advisor heads the group.

YOUNG REPUBLICANS CLUB:

Club advisor, Dan Heaphy, social studies department, gathers together students sharing a passion or similar ideals for republicans and the actions of the GOP. They want to increase the popularity of the GOP throughout Staples, promote awareness on political issues, parties, and decisions, specifically during election seasons.