Taft Varsity Campus Clubs List
*Click on each club to learn more!
Taft Varsity Campus Clubs
Description: Our club aims to inspire others to learn how to communicate with people who are hard of hearing/deaf/non-verbal by using American Sign Language. Meetings include self-taught signing lesson days, visiting places where sign language is in daily active use, and we have a google classroom with resources to help members practice.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club aims to improve the lives of Chicago shelter animals. We will be making fleece beds and various toys for shelter animals by running donation drives and delivering the donations to multiple Chicagoland shelters. Some shelters that we work with include Chicago Canine, Harmony House for Cats, Felines & Canines, Wrightway Shelter, and 8 other Chicago land shelters.
Location: Room 313
Dates and Time: Thursdays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Castillo, Antonio (aacastillo15@cps.edu)
Description: We explore various Anime movies and comic books. We also research and recreate Anime characters.
Location: Room 261
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Ranquist, Mijia (mranquist@cps.edu),
Description: A space to build community, invest in their social emotional learning, experience new art skills that are not offered in their courses, and participate in a gallery show (within the school).
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students will greet, chat, share ideas, and create handmade art, jewelry, and greeting cards.
Location: Room 142
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Grazyna Zmyslowski (gzmyslowski@cps.edu) and Margaret Niedziela (mniedziela@cps.edu)
Description: We will meet before or after school to develop a plan to create more student AVID across AVID levels, promoting AVID events, ordering AVID gear, etc.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students will get together to practice their badminton skills and share their love for the game when they are not in season. Students will have discussion on badminton rules and regulations.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: ***Please click on the link above to access the Taft Bands website and learn more!
Description: Our club's goal is to unite our students to learn more about belly dance and where it originated from. We will discuss, research and develop choreography.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club's goal is to foster one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The club's objectives will be accomplished by bringing general and special education students together in bi-weekly meetings, activities, and special events.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: This group of students will collaborate to install artwork in the hallways and make the environment an exciting and welcoming place. We will review requests on the to-do list. This will include any large installation projects the admin has requested as well as a walk around the school to look for papers that have fallen, artwork that needs to be switched out, etc. Drawing out plans for projects and inspiration from Pinterest as well as visiting locations in the school for future artworks.
Location: Room 181
Dates and Time: 1st & 3rd Monday of the month (2x a month)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Nadig, Amanda (arkastanek@cps.edu)
Description: Our goal is to connect students who are interested in or within the AA/Black community. The long-term goal is to provide a space to build/cultivate community, and a sense of individual and collective identity, while using this space to share our culture with others. Another objective is to offer an event where students can do spoken word, showcase art, and have the opportunity to consume Black culture respectfully while sharing talents.
Location: Room 183 - Varsity Campus
Dates and Time: Thursdays
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Rhavin Haynes (Rhaynes13@cps.edu)
Description: The aim of Book Club is to bring students together to make friends and enrich literary choices. It's for students to find a place to expand their reading range. Book Club will be a place for readers and blossoming readers to get to know each other through their books and interests. We want it to be a safe space for everyone to come and enjoy books together!
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Christian Club is a community of Christians growing in their faith and fellowship. People of all religions are invited to join and learn about Christianity. In Christian Club, we pray, discuss the Bible and our faith as a whole as well as its meaning, and get to know one another better.
Location: Room 149
Dates and Time: Thursdays 3:15-4:15 pm
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Kristina Hutton (khutton@cps.edu) and Lucy Luna (lkko@cps.edu)
Description: This club is to guide students who need additional help with graduation requirements and college application help. We will teach students how to use the Match college Tool to find schools, Common App, scholarship searches, help fill out FAFSA and the Learn.Plan.Succeed.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: A place for students to learn and share about cosmetology. We will also learn other cultures forms of make-up.
Location: Room 154
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Christine Medunycia (cvmedunycia@cps.edu)
Description: Students will develop research and argumentation skills to compete at a high level in the Chicago Debate League. We will be researching and constructing arguments around the following resolution: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and cybersecurity.
Location: Computer Lab TBD (preferably 242 or 216)
Dates and Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays (August through Mid-April)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Cohen, Jonathan (jmcohen1@cps.edu) and Cozariuc, Abigail (acozariuc1@cps.edu)
Description: Students will become aware of how to be visual communicators. Students will explore Photography and use Digital Media to edit photos electronically.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students build a community with a shared interest in drama. They learn to problem solve, collaborate, create, take risks, and provide balance through improv games and other exercises and activities.
Location: Room 187
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Wilson, Bryan (btwilson2@cps.edu) and Nadig, Quintin (qcnadig@cps.edu)
Description: The mission of Taft’s First Generation and DREAMers club is to cultivate a safe space to foster change in Taft High School by empowering undocumented and first-generation students to advocate for their personal, mental, and academic needs by hosting discussions, sponsoring workshops, and providing post-secondary help.
Location: Forum
Dates and Time: Wednesdays or Thursdays (first quarter for now)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: De Col Wroom, Fulvio (fdecolwroom@cps.edu) and Velazquez, Michelle
Description: Students will play D&D (and other dice-based tabletop roleplaying games) together, Dungeon Masters will be trained to run their own games for their peers, and students will tell silly stories of adventure and math with dice.
Location: Rooms 105, 106, or 108 (Rooms Pending)
Dates and Time: Every Wednesday
Become a Member: Open to all students of Taft who are interested in Dungeons and Dragons
Staff Contact: Phillips, Emmett (ecphillips2@cps.edu) and Morris, Anakin (akmorris2@cps.edu)
Description: This is an auditioned pop vocal group that meets after school to put together pop performances (like Glee or Pitch Perfect). This group will focus on working in a small group to perform contemporary music. We will work on vocal exercises to improve belting and healthy singing habits, then we will work on the songs picked for the upcoming show, and we will also spend time on choreography.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Club objectives are to continue restoring the courtyard and work on sustainability projects like recycling and composting throughout the school. During warmer months we will spend the majority of our time out in the courtyard picking up trash, pulling weeds and planting native plants. During cold months we will provide status updates around the composting and recycling projects. We will also plan for and start seedlings in the spring to be transplanted into the courtyard.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: The club will create a better global understanding of Ecuadorian history, culture, and traditions. Meetings start with a short "Did You Know?" to expose members to things they may not have known about Ecuador or the culture. Then we move into a group activity based on the "Did You Know?". Later on in the year, the group will learn songs and dances to perform at the international night at Taft.
Location: Room 210
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (for 6 weeks of each quarter) 3:15-4:15 pm
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Castellucci Cabral, Annamaria (acastellucc@cps.edu)
Description: A space for female-identifying students to discuss and advocate for issues that impact their population. The project on the little free library will be completed this year, and we also provide education on topics that students find important (job interviews, organization, etc..)
Location: Room 216
Dates and Time: Thursdays (every other week) after school
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Cozariuc, Abigail (acozariuc1@cps.edu)
Description: eSports develops students competitive and academic traits through focused training and proofing. We will meet regularly to study the strategies and techniques required to be mechanically fit and train together to work better as a team.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club aims to be a family environment for everyone, and to immerse our members in the Filipino culture. Additionally, we want to beautifully represent the Filipino culture through folk dance, singing, etc. Almost everything we do is to prepare for International/Asian American Night, which is when we get to showcase our hard work and performances.
Location: Forum
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Arjona, Claudia (crosales25@cps.edu)
Description: Students will program their robot, create their challenge board, and attend competitions with them. Jr. and Sr. Students mentor 5th-8th grade students in competing in the First Lego League challenges
Location: The Nest
Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays for 5 months
Become a Member: 5th - 8th grade students at Taft and Feeder schools
Staff Contact: Anthony Schmidt (amschmidt2@cps.edu) and Rachel Miner (rminer@cps.edu)
Description: We talk about fishing, fishing strategies, go on fishing trips occasionally, plan outside trips, build lures and equipment, learn knots and techniques, scout people for our IHSA team. This is NOT the Fishing Team, which focuses on bass fishing, but a multispecies recreational group.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: A place for students to watch Greek films, discuss Greek culture and history, dance and listen to Greek music, enjoy Greek food, and we host the annual Vasilopita and Greek Fest events.
Academic Year 2024 -25: Hellenic Club Officers
President: Gabriela Vrettos (senior)
Vice President: James Vrettos (senior)
Secretary: Christina Floros (sophomore)
Location: Room 247
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Students at Taft - the club is open to all.
Staff Contact: Giannetos, Basilis (bggiannetos@cps.edu) and Haralampopoulos, Theone (tpharalampopoulos@cps.edu
Description: The objective of Helping Hands is to do things to care for and improve the Taft community as well as surrounding communities. We teach students to be members of their community through service learning. It is a student-centered and led club. Meetings revolve around either plans of action or executing a plan to raise money and/or help a community.
Location: Room 237
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Scott Plencner (smplencner@cps.edu)
Description: This club brings students together after school to celebrate the community's cultural and ethnic diversity and plan a community event. Meetings are seasonal- The big event will take place in the halls of the first floor new building
Location: We will have one general meeting in the auditorium and follow-up meetings/prep for the event will be either in the forum, commons, or lunchroom depending on the space needed.
Dates and Time: Starting October- 2 times per month; Dec -1 per week (Club runs October - December)
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Kondos, Irene (ikondos@cps.edu)
Description: Hope for the Homeless Club's goal is to create a better world through raising awareness about homelessness in our local communities and taking real steps to help those in need. Our club mission statement is, “Keeping hope and doing what we can”. We also have an Instagram account called: @hopefthomeless.
Location: VC Room 236
Dates and Time: Mondays (every other week), 3:20 pm
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Niese, Allie (aniese@cps.edu)
Description: Promote IB Learner profile and promote Taft IB experiences to the wider community. Student led session may include: visits to classes, schools, organizing CAS experiences, school wide events
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: Every other week
Become a Member: Students in IB Programmes
Staff Contact: Kondos, Irene (ikondos@cps.edu)
Description: Students working together to prepare/plan/organize International Day. Students will meet bi-weekly to brainstorm and carry out all tasks needed for a successful International Day.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club is a space for students to explore various aspects of Irish culture. Students will be introduced to a piece of Irish music and then we will discuss the meaning behind the lyrics of the song.
Location: Room 238
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to students of Taft who are interested in Irish culture
Staff Contact: Moore, Richard (rmoore62@cps.edu)
Description: The goal of our club is to build a strong community within the band while preparing music for public concerts. We will expand the students' musical understanding and experience new musical language through the study of jazz
Location: Room 174
Dates and Time: Wednesdays after school
Become a Member: Open to student musicians interested in learning more about jazz
Staff Contact: Harriman, Kevin (kjharriman@cps.edu) and Salyers, Dan (dsalyers@cps.edu)
Description: Journaling is such a diverse activity, and it's individualized to each person depending on their needs. It's a great way to convey emotions, as well as express creativity. In journal club, we are not only limited to general journaling but also scrapbooking, bullet journaling, pen paling, kpop decoing, kpop journaling, and much more. When it comes to journaling, the skies are the limit and we hope we will be able to bring a new positive and inspiring community to Taft.
Location: Room 210
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Journal club is aimed towards anyone who is looking for a new hobby, who wants to start having more structure to their lives, and who wants to express how they're feeling through creativity. However, journaling can truly be for anyone, regardless of experience or ways of doing it, which is why it's such a universal hobby.
Staff Contact: Castellucci Cabral, Annamaria (acastellucc@cps.edu)
Description: Students will learn about Korean arts, culture, and some language. This is a social club for students who share an affinity for Korean culture to congregate and develop friendships. Students will have the opportunity to learn about taekwondo, traditional fan dance, and K-pop dance, which they will then perform at Taft International Day.
Location: Room 262
Dates and Time: Tuesdays (every other week), 3:30pm - 4pm
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Lisa Wagner (ljwagner@cps.edu)
Google Classroom Code: r23urrj
Description: Our club is student-driven. Each meeting will be prepared by different students. Students will brainstorm ideas for each meeting to create presentations/games/activities that will engage each club member.
Location: Room 153
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to any student at Taft. It is not limited to students from Kyrgyzstan
Staff Contact: Stasica Stanislawa (sstasica@cps.edu)
Description: Our club brings students together to learn about different Latino backgrounds. Meetings will be run by the club president and will consist of different themes weekly. (Example: day of the dead, Christmas traditions, food, dance)
Location: Room 339
Dates and Time: Wednesdays after school (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Arjona, Claudia (crosales25@cps.edu)
Description: Our students get together once a week to discuss different rhythms found in Latin Music and create/learn to play this music together. Students come in with instruments and music they'd like to learn to play.
Location: Room 338
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students interested in learning more about instruments and music.
Staff Contact: Arjona, Claudia (crosales25@cps.edu)
Description: Students will contribute to beautifying the Taft Campus through lawn care and litter removal efforts, building a service-oriented mindset in furtherance of creating a better world. Students will meet to gather lawn care tools, then head outside to clean up around the campus.
Location: Room 187, with activities outdoors around the Taft Campus
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school (for as long as the weather allows outdoor activities)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Cohen, Jonathan (jmcohen1@cps.edu)
Description: In our club, students will learn more about gaming, reinforce previously learned skills, awareness of the gaming industry and it's opportunities. Gaming speeds up response times, encourages teamwork, stimulates creativity, focus and visual memory, improves strategy, leadership, and critical thinking skills.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: In our club, students select a book together, then read aloud together and discuss the story and their reactions to it.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: The marching band builds a positive culture that supports the school and teaches the students perseverance, time management, and multi-tasking. Students will prepare and perfect a competition product and attend several area competitions and halftime performances at football games.
Location: Room 174 and Outside
Dates and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (through mid-November)
Become a Member: Open to any student with a musical interest (grades 7-12)
Staff Contact: Harriman, Kevin (kjharriman@cps.edu) and Salyers, Dan (dsalyers@cps.edu)
Description: Students will be provided access and assistance to an International Mathematical Competition Math Kangaroo including materials and resources to study.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students in this club will be meeting for practice once a week and using previous tests to prepare for math competitions.
Location: Room 219
Dates and Time: Tuesdays after school (until mid-April)
Become a Member: Taft students who are in Advanced Algebra classes
Staff Contact: Bai, Jessica (jlbai@cps.edu), Diaz, Sergio (sdiaz1@cps.edu), and Saporito, Michele (msaporito@cps.edu)
Description: The club will serve as a place where students can learn more about the culture and history of the MENA region. Meetings leading up to International Day (or similar) will focus on preparation for that.
Location: Room 306
Dates and Time: Tuesdays after school (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Weldon, Alexander (ajweldon@cps.edu)
Description: Our club will have weekly rehearsals, which include vocal warm-ups, reading music, singing, and various team-building activities. Our goal is to sing challenging music in a variety of styles from various cultures as part of a group.
Location: VC 173 (Choir Room)
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Any Taft student, regardless of grade level or experience, with the ability to sing in the bass or tenor vocal range and who wants to learn how to develop their voice in a supportive environment is invited to join.
Staff Contact: Platakis, Philip (pjplatakis@cps.edu)
Description: This club will allow students to see and experience an aspect of Mexican culture. Students will research and create choreography to participate in International Day.
Location: TVC Room 257
Dates and Time: Tuesdays after school
Become a Member: Open to any students who are interested in learning more about Mexican Culture and meeting other students with the same interest.
Staff Contact: Lara, Daisy (dlara29@cps.edu)
Description: Mock Trial is a competition in which students simulate a real trial. Teams must prepare both sides of the case (prosecution/plaintiff and defense) for every competition. After several weeks of preparation, students compete in a monthly mock trial.
Location: Room 339
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to any Taft student interested in law or building on their communication skills.
Staff Contact: Arjona, Claudia (crosales25@cps.edu)
Description: A space for students to research different issues around the war and participate in "UN meetings" to practice facilitating civilized discussions/debates about these issues.
Location: Room 252
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (every other week to start, but potentially weekly)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Weldon, Alexander (ajweldon@cps.edu) and Cozariuc, Abigail (acozariuc1@cps.edu)
Description: Students will learn songs and musical techniques and perform at the end-of-the-year concert. We will be learning new techniques, sharing ideas, and performing.
Location: Room 176
Dates and Time: Thursdays
Become a Member: Open to any students who do not have an outlet to play modern music such as rock, hip-hop, electronic, etc.
Staff Contact: Todd Finkel (TPFinkel@cps.edu)
Description: Our club aims to create a space for inclusivity and a safe space for questions (anyone is welcome!). We want students to feel a sense of community within the larger context of the school and connect with students they have commonalities with for support and friendship.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: **Click the website link above for more information!
Description: **Click the website link above for more information!
Description: This club will bring both campuses together to enjoy the diversity of Taft through roller skating or rollerblading. Explicit hands-on roller skating and/or rollerblading instruction will be given, along with community-building activities so that students engage in helping each other and learn how to skate.
Location: 2nd floor gym
Dates and Time: Fridays after school (First Quarter and Fourth Quarter)
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Miner, Rachel (rminer@cps.edu) and Joseph Rodriguez (jrodriguez500@cps.edu)
Description: Students will provide musical entertainment for the school community during basketball games. Our club aims to help students feel connected to the school.
Location: Room 174 and the gymnasium
Dates and Time: Days that there are home boys and girls varsity basketball games (2nd and 3rd quarter)
Become a Member: Open to any students interested in playing music
Staff Contact: Harriman, Kevin (kjharriman@cps.edu) and Salyers, Dan (dsalyers@cps.edu)
Description: Students will explore visual communication using photography. Students will select their own learning objectives after discussing options and democratically deciding on what the group will work on together. Peer review of student work will help develop constructive criticism to learn and grow.
Location: Lab 139
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students who have an interest in photography and photo editing software
Staff Contact: Olszewski, Robert (rsolszewski@cps.edu)
Description: Students will be educated about the history of Pickleball, learn the sport, practice, play games and develop team working skills.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students will be educated about the history of Pickleball, learn the sport, practice, play games, and develop teamwork skills.
Location: Outside 183 (art room)
Dates and Time: Tuesdays after school (September to the end of April)
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Ranquist Mijia (mranquist@cps.edu)
Description: Our club aims to learn and enrich knowledge and understanding of Polish heritage. Students will greet, chat, share experiences, prepare and practice for I-Night, and celebrate Polish holidays according to tradition.
Location: Room 142
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Margaret Niedziela (mniedziela@cps.edu) and Grazyna Zmyslowski (gzmyslowski@cps.edu)
Description: Pride Alliance provides a supportive and inclusive space for LGBTQIA students to meet and create a community. Students use their voices to create a better school culture and, consequently, a better, more accepting world.
Location: Room 101
Dates and Time: Thursdays
Become a Member: Open to students who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as allies of the community
Staff Contact: O'Neill, Gina (goneill1@cps.edu) and Diana Powitz (dipowitz@cps.edu)
Description: Psychology club supports students' interest in Psychology-related concepts and careers by offering tutoring sessions, and creating a mental health space. We will be able to offer resource guides for students struggling, offer ideas of post-secondary education planning in the field, create stress-relief spaces, and generally support students with all things Psychology related!
Location: Room 236 or 238
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: Open to anyone passionate about psychology and mental health
Staff Contact: Shughoury, Jasmine (jshughoury1@cps.edu) and Foran, Kendra (kforan@cps.edu)
Description: Students will develop CAD, programming and building skills, practice with other Chicago teams, and bring in sponsors for events. Students will also compete in the regional competition as part of FRC
Location: Room 190
Dates and Time: Pre-season: Tuesdays/Thursdays
Season: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Become a Member: Open to Taft Students from 9th to 12th grade
Staff Contact: Anthony Schmidt (amschmidt2@cps.edu) and Rachel Miner (rminer@cps.edu)
Description: The goal of this club is to translate and localize foreign comics, specifically Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. By doing this students practice their language skills and are exposed to cultures beyond the US. The act of translation is never a clear one-to-one process and often subjective choices must be made along the way. Further, there will inevitably be a conversation about the legality of such an informal action due to copyright issues and express permission from original authors.
Location: Room 252
Dates and Time: Mondays (every other week)
Become a Member: This club will serve students who are interested in online comics (manga etc.) and have the language skills to be able to translate these comics into English and other languages. Students do not necessarily need to be able to read/speak additional languages as they can learn/discuss with their peers in their language of choice.
Staff Contact: Lawlor, Patrick (pwlawlor@cps.edu)
Description: Our club aims to teach life skills that will aid in students becoming more self reliant and independent, allowing them to become leaders in their community and life. Some activities we do include teaching student's how to sew, how to fix a broken button, how to grow our own produce, discuss compost and the importance of recycling, recipe sharing, and advice on how to cook. Each month we'll be concentrating in a certain skill in order for students to get exposure to each skill throughout the school year.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club aims to provide students of Serbian background with a variety of cultural and educational experiences related to Serbia and to promote a Serbian community at Taft. Students will participate in discussions, arts & crafts, learn about traditional foods, and choreograph a folklore dance.
Location: Room 239B
Dates and Time: Tuesdays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Gligorevic, Ana (agligorevic@cps.edu)
Description: We are creating a new space for students with similar interests to expand on their skills and passions for sewing. Learn how to sew clothing, repair old clothes, repurpose clothing, and save money.
Location: VC Room 159
Dates and Time: Tuesdays (every other week) 3:05-4:30 pm
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Dixon, Arianna (acdixon6@cps.edu)
Description: Our club helps students prepare for Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Shakespeare Slam.
Location: Room 212
Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Fridays (probably), and Saturday 11/18, and Monday 12/11
Become a Member: Open to any students interested in English, Drama, Shakespeare, writing, adaptation, stage combat, or their friends.
Staff Contact: Morris, Anakin (akmorris2@cps.edu) and Tuggle, Darren (dttuggle@cps.edu)
Description: Our club's goal is to become risk-takers with art and think outside the norm with devised and improvised performance art. We will be learning about Surrealist artists of the past and practicing devising techniques weekly with a culminating performance for the Taft community on Saturday 12/10/22
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Students get hands on experience running and troubleshooting the sound and lighting equipment in the auditorium to help out with events and performances at Taft.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Spread Positivity Club educates students on the importance of mental health. It gives students a space to learn different tactics and activities that they can do to eliminate some stress and gives students a safe and comfortable environment to discuss issues that they might be having. Spread Positivity Club supports the need for mindfulness, self-care, self-love, and positive self-talk.
Location: Room 236
Dates and Time: Every other Monday (and some Tuesdays)
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Niese, Allie (aniese@cps.edu)
Description: Students will set up for students from feeder schools, present or welcome students and families to Taft, and guide/help students and families to do the projects and work related to STEM. Students clean up and restore the space before they leave.
Location: Room 190/The nest
Dates and Time: Thursdays monthly
Become a Member: Open to all Taft students
Staff Contact: Anthony Schmidt (amschmidt2@cps.edu) and Rachel Miner (rminer@cps.edu)
Description: This is an opportunity for students to work at polling places in upcoming local and national elections, gaining firsthand knowledge and experience in the voting process. Students will be tasked with helping people with voting, registration, interpreting and logistical tasks. This helps them become well-rounded citizens.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our goal is to help students have a voice within the school, and plan events, fundraisers, and community service events to help the school community and Chicago!
Location: Room 240
Dates and Time: Wednesdays for the time being
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Kahn, Hannah (hkahn2@cps.edu)
Description: Club members will receive explicit instruction in proper communication and opportunities for student leadership. The first meetings will focus on effective communication practices. Then subsequent meetings will be a structured way of addressing whole school concerns that are received via student suggestion box and/or electronic QR code.
Location: Room 153
Dates and Time: Mondays after school
Become a Member: Open to any Taft student who has concerns and/or wants to be involved in helping create a positive culture at Taft
Staff Contact: Miner, Rachel (rminer@cps.edu) and Valerie Williams (vlstuart@cps.edu)
Description: Taft Today will educate Taft's community about what is going on in the school. It will bring the school together around a shared product that will be used to inform and emphasize all things Taft. We may meet after school once per quarter to complete the layout of the print newspaper.
Location: Room 196
Dates and Time: We may meet after school once per quarter to complete the layout of the print newspaper.
Become a Member: Students in the newspaper class.
Staff Contact: Glickman, Abigail (aglickman1@cps.edu)
Description: Students in this club will be exploring different versions of horror to comment on the tropes and messages present in the genre. We will gain an understanding of the horror genre throughout its history and examine how it reflects contemporary issues of class, gender, race, etc through weekly viewings and discussions of horror movies. We will vote on movies to screen and then hold dialogues about them.
Location: Room 114
Dates and Time: Thursdays after school
Become a Member: Open to students with artistic interests who may not feel personally artistically talented. Students who wish to make friends with others who share their unique interests.
Staff Contact: Levine, Emma (Erlevine@cps.edu) and Tuggle, Darren (dttuggle@cps.edu)
Description: The tutoring center is student-led, where students educate other students and help each other to create a better Taft community. Tutees develop self-confidence and improve their study skills, and tutors learn how to become leaders within their community. Students will sign up for tutoring sessions with specific tutors, developing a relationship with them and building positive bridges between grade levels.
Location: VC Cafeteria (outside the counseling department)
Dates and Time: Mondays through Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:15pm
Become a Member: Students will need to apply to become a peer tutor, then they will complete training where they learn how to educate their peers in a respectful way.
Staff Contact: Abigail Cozariuc (acozariuc1@cps.edu)
Description: To help students meet Ukrainian students as well as all other students interested in learning about Ukraine. There is influx of Ukrainian refugees coming to the USA with what is happening there, we hope to welcome them. We hope to raise awareness about Ukraine and assist Ukrainians - particularly refugees at this time, as well as orphans when times are not in such chaos.
Location: Room 154
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (1-2 times a month)
Become a Member: Open to Ukrainian students and any other student who is interested.
Staff Contact: Christine Medunycia (cvmedunycia@cps.edu) and Kostadin Mihaylov
Description: The French Club "Un Petit Café à Paris" aims to foster enthusiasm among students for the French language and culture and provide a friendly but serious approach to learning a new language. Also, it promotes cultural diversity by exploring other cultures. This interaction helps to promote greater understanding and appreciation of each other's culture.
Location: Room 152
Dates and Time: Mondays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Concepcion Elvira (emconcepcionsoriano@cps.edu)
Description: Our goal is to connect clubs and people across the Taft community, to have a thoughtful and intentional connection between the two campuses and within the student body, and to make it feel like one school that is united. Students will coordinate school events and celebrations, reach out to clubs and sports teams for communication, and communicate to the student body the happenings of every club/sport.
Location: Room 232
Dates and Time: Wednesdays & Fridays (every other week)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Miner, Rachel (rminer@cps.edu)
Description: Our club is a typical choral rehearsal for advanced singers, where students can engage in a creative outlet, develop their musicianship, and make new friends. This club will sing advanced SATB repertoire.
Location: VC Choir Room (173)
Dates and Time: Tuesdays
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Jones, Logan (lajones19@cps.edu)
Description: Promote cultural diversity on campus and teach about Viet Culture. We have weekly meetings with cultural objectives to teach about language, food, dance, etc.
Location: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Dates and Time: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Become a Member: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Staff Contact: *TBD for the 25-26 SY
Description: Our club allows the space for students to exercise in the morning to start the day.
Location: VC Weight Room
Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays before school (6:40-7:40 am)
Become a Member: Open to all students
Staff Contact: Yesensky, Justin (jmyesensky@cps.edu)
Description: Students will have a presentation by a woman in the stem field, and then they will have a Q and A session with them.
Location: Room 190
Dates and Time: Wednesdays (monthly)
Become a Member: Open to any student who wants to attend a seminar from a professional after-school
Staff Contact: Anthony Schmidt (amschmidt2@cps.edu) and Rachel Miner (rminer@cps.edu)
Description: The Writing Center is an inclusive community of writers who learn from each other. Tutors provide constructive feedback and collaborate with other students. These meetings are 30-minute long 1:1 sessions between students who are seeking writing help and student tutors. Students reflect on their writing by reviewing tutors' feedback and collaborating on effective writing practices.
Location: Room 196
Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:15 - 4:15pm
Become a Member: Open to Taft sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Staff Contact: Trived, Tanya (ttrivedi@cps.edu) and Abigail Glickman (aglickman1@cps.edu)