Extracurricular Activities
Generally speaking, participation in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, has a positive impact on academic performance. However, in the event a student is failing two or more courses at either the interim reporting period or at the end of a marking period, they will automatically be placed on the “PASS Program.”
Students on the PASS Program will meet with the Athletic Director to review the expectations and requirements to continue participation in athletics. Students must stay after school every day and fill out a daily progress report that they submit to their coaches. A teacher’s signature indicating that the student completed his or her work is necessary for the form to be complete. These forms must be completed every day in order to remain eligible for their sport. At the completion of each week, teachers will submit a weekly progress report to the Athletic Director outlining the student’s progress in the classes they are currently failing. If reports indicate that no progress was made, then the student-athlete will be ineligible the following week. Eligibility runs week by week for the entire 5 weeks.
Interscholastic Sports
Learn about the athletic program by visiting the Athletics page.
The Arrowhead
Advisor: Kathryn Ermie
Meetings: Once a week
The Arrowhead is the high school student newspaper. If you’re an aspiring writer or you like to draw or take photos, The Arrowhead is a great way to get hands-on experience, build a portfolio and have fun at the same time! Reporters and artists are always needed.
Members of The Arrowhead staff are expected to contribute one to three articles per paper – by the necessary deadlines. Examples of past articles include editorials, sports articles, school news stories, current events, trivia, advice columns and college spotlights. New ideas are always welcome.
Advisors: Jamie Murray & Michael York
Meetings: Weekly
The art club is open to all students in grades 9-12. Meetings are held weekly to accommodate student schedules. The art club is an opportunity for students to explore the world of art in an atmosphere that is less rigorous than a formal academic program. Students will select and work on various small art projects throughout the year. The art club is focused on fundraising to support Mohonasen Art Scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing a major in art at college.
Advisor: Richard Burega
Meetings: As announced
The Audiovisual Club provides students with opportunities throughout the year to film and broadcast various school events.
Advisor: Lori Marshall
Meetings: Practice begins in July
Mohonasen’s Color Guard is open to students in grades 8-12. The Guard accompanies the Marching Band at competitive field shows and parades. Guard members add a bit of pizzazz to the band by flashing and twirling batons, flags and rifles and dancing while the band performs. Members also compete against other color guards in New York State and beyond.
Students also have the option of participating in the Indoor Guard during the winter months. It is also possible for instrumental students to participate in Color Guard.
Students are usually asked to attend meetings before the school year is over and are expected to attend practices beginning in July and participating in Band Camp, held the last two weeks of August.
Advisor Danielle Hunt
Students interested in honing their dance skills are welcome to attend the bi-weekly meetings. Students provide their own music and work on perfecting their hip-hop dance moves.
Advisors Dennae Hughes and Autumn Ruckert
Meetings: Monthly
The History Club’s goal is to explore issues in World and American history through activities, movies, trips and discussions. Come and promote a deeper understanding of the world around us. Available to all high school students.
Advisors: Sandra Rowbo
Meetings: Every other Monday
The Impressions staff helps design and create the high school literary magazine. Any student can join the staff, and all students (grades K-12) are encouraged to submit their poetry, stories, tributes and artwork to the magazine. The Impressions staff chooses what will be published and is responsible for the design and production of the magazine. At the end of the year, it’s printed and distributed to students and staff.
Advisors: Lynne Macko and Heather Clikeman
Meetings: As announced
The International Club is a forum for students who wish to learn more about other countries, customs and peoples, to explore their heritage, broaden their world view, and ultimately, to foster world peace. The club is not an honor society, and is open to all high school students who meet club criteria. Students do not have to be studying a foreign language in order to join the club. Some ideas for club activities include guest speakers, movie nights, world cuisine potlucks, field trips and much more.
Advisor: Latefa Lang
Meetings: Once a week
The “KEY” in KEY Club stands for Kiwanis Educated Youth. It is a club that is dedicated to helping others – much like its sponsor, the Rotterdam Kiwanis Club.
All students are welcome to join and get
involved in a wide variety of worthy projects. These include working
at the annual pancake dinner on Homecoming Weekend and sponsoring
the annual senior citizen’s prom. Past KEY Club activities have also
included packing food baskets to deliver to poor families on
Thanksgiving, volunteering at soup kitchens and the Salvation Army,
sponsoring Kids’ Night Out at Pinewood School, and fundraising for
many good causes.
Students in KEY Club are also involved with Mohonasen’s districtwide
Youth Connections Committee which organizes service projects for
students in grades K-12.
Many members of KEY Club also attend the KEY Club Convention in Monticello, New York for one weekend each March.
Advisors: Martha Mallon and Katie Pierson
Meetings: Announced at least a week in advance
Masterminds is a high school version of the quiz show Jeopardy. Students test their knowledge of high school subjects, as well as pop culture by competing against schools from around the region, generally on a monthly basis beginning in December.
Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to join the team, since a broad variety of knowledge is needed. Practice sessions are usually held a day or two in advance of each competition to help students sharpen their thinking skills. Masterminds offers a little bit of everything: competition, learning and lots of fun!
Mohon Masque Theatre Club
Advisor: Kathleen Derochie
Assistant: TBD
Creative Consultant: Dr. Margaret Gray
Meetings: As announced.
“All the world’s a stage” – at least that’s what many aspiring actors and actresses might believe. Mohon Masque generally puts on two plays each year – one in late fall/early winter and a major musical production in the spring. Mohon Masque has a reputation for putting on outstanding performances with excellent attendance from loyal fans in the community.
Tryouts and rehearsals are announced at least a week in advance to give students time to prepare. Even if acting, singing and dancing aren’t for you, there are many other ways to get involved in the plays. Directing, stage crew, set building, costumes, fundraising and lighting are just a few of the behind the scenes opportunities for students.
Odyssey of the Mind
Advisor: Lori Ranze
Meetings: Each team sets its own schedule and works with a volunteer coach
Creative problem-solving comes from teamwork, cooperation and risk-taking. That’s the principle behind Odyssey of the Mind, an international problem-solving competition that is both fun and challenging.
Students team up to work on one of several open-ended problems that the international OM organization poses each year. For example, one problem may require students to build a structure that meets specific guidelines… Another problem may require a theatrical solution that is written and performed by students.
The problems are the same for all teams but the solutions vary based on the innovation of the students involved. There is a regional competition each spring and, depending on how students score, they may proceed to the state level or beyond. Find out more about Odyssey of the Mind.
Advisor: Diane Blinn
Meetings: Bi-weekly
Peers for Peace Diversity Club is a group committed to building a welcoming community for all students by addressing issues of intolerance. During bi-weekly meetings, diversity club members will work together to plan school activities that promote tolerance and acceptance of all people throughout the school. New members are always welcome!
Advisors: Rebecca Pauley & Diane Blinn
Meetings: Announced in advance
Student mediators are trained to help other students resolve conflicts in a constructive, non-violent fashion. Any student can request mediation at any time during the school year. Peer mediators sit down with the students who are in conflict and help them identify the source of the problem and find lasting solutions that satisfy both parties.
Students who are interested in becoming peer mediators must attend 12-hours of training. It is a worthwhile experience for any student – particularly those interested in counseling or law careers.
Advisors: Jennifer Gribben
Meetings: Monthly, as Announced
The Mohonasen Science Club provides students with an opportunity to participate in science outside of the typical classroom setting. The club creates a forum for scientific discussion and hands-on science activities. Planned activities include area hikes/trips, spearheading recycling efforts, sponsoring guest speakers on science topics, cleaning up Mohonasen and an annual year-end trip/event.
Advisor: Lua Rafalak
Meetings: As announced
The Science Olympiad is a team of students who compete against other school districts in various arenas of science. Students meet to develop their skills in different areas of competition. The Science Olympiad is open to all students grades 9-12 with an interest in scientific competition. The team participates in three mini-olympiads in preparation for the regional competition in February.
Advisor: Rob Buehler, Jr.
Skiing: January through March
Whether you’re an old pro or completely new to the sport, the Ski & Snowboard Club offers a chance to have fun at a sport you’ll enjoy for years. Members will go skiing and/or snowboarding at various mountains in the Northeast from January into March.
You can sign up for lessons and rent equipment – or bring your own gear and just plan on hitting the slopes with your friends. Round-trip transportation is provided and membership is open to students in grades 6-12.
Advisors: Dennae Hughes & Priscilla Perry
Meetings: As announced
Student Senate is open to students in grades 9-12. Promoting student leadership and providing community service are the main goals of Mohonasen’s Student Senate.
Officers are elected at the start of each school year for: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, representatives to the Board of Education and class officers for each grade. The Student Senate sponsors two blood drives every year, the Band Jam during Respect Week at the high school and a holiday food drive.
Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) Club
Advisors: Gerald Garing & George Reluzco
Meetings: As announced
This club is open to students in grades 7-12 who are interested in model rockets. Teams design, build and fl y a model rocket that reaches a specific altitude and duration determined by a set of rules developed each year. The contest is designed to encourage students to study science, technology, engineering and math and pursue careers in aerospace. TARC is the world’s largest rocket contest sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). More than 7,000 students compete yearly and the top 100 teams compete in Virginia for $60,000 in cash and prizes with additional possibilities for scholarships.
Advisor: George Reluzco
Meetings: Bi-weekly
The Technology Club is open to students in grades 9-12. Examples of club activities include: constructing and programming Boe-Bots TM, flying remote-controlled airplanes, and projects to benefit the community and the school.
The Technology Club mission statement is: “As members of the Technology Club, we strive to expand our knowledge beyond the course curriculums through various hands-on projects. By applying our acquired knowledge, we hope to partake in activities that serve to improve our school and community.”
Advisor: Dennae Hughes & Stephanie Arnold
Meetings: As announced
Members of the yearbook staff work hard all year to create a great record of memories and noteworthy events of the year. Jobs include photography, layout and design, caption-writing and information gathering.
Joining the yearbook staff can be lots of fun – but it’s also lots of work. There are strict deadlines to meet and priorities to be set. The staff always has a great time though and all the hard work and persistence pays off at the end of the year when the finished product is printed and distributed.
