Our department has three primary goals when developing courses. 

1.Historical Thinking

Our department helps students to know more than just what happened. We want students who come through our doors to develop the art of historical thinking. We want them to be able to analyze a source and ask, "Who wrote this, and what was their angle?"

• Contextualization: Understanding not just what happened during historical events, but how broader developments influenced them

• Change and continuity over time, a recurring theme in all of our core courses. We want our students to see, independently, what changes over time and what pieces of our culture, government, and elements of human influence do not change over time. Analyzing these concepts helps us develop competent and engaged members of society who are able to use history to predict the future directions. 

2. Civic Engagement

We seek to help all of our students know more than the three branches of government, but know how to participate in them.

• Systems: Understanding how laws are made and how power is distributed and balanced.

• Informed Action: Knowing how to write a letter to a representative, show up to a town hall, or organize a community initiative.

3. Empathy and Perspective-Taking

Perhaps the most human goal of our department is to help students understand and empathize with all humans.

• Diverse Narratives: Moving beyond a traditional version of history to include the voices of marginalized groups, laborers, and everyday people.

• Constructive Disagreement: Learning how to debate a controversial topic without attacking the person across the aisle.

We meet every Monday for "fun lectures" over material often overlooked in traditional textbooks and we conduct a variety of real world, community based history projects.

Who is eligible to join the club? Anyone!

Contact: Mr. Snow in room 59 or at christopher.snow@fayette.kyschools.us 

Established in 2012 as a way for students to explore careers in psychology, this club partners with Eastern State Hospital to provide students with valuable hands-on experience working with psychiatric patients towards socialization goals and motor development roughly 6 times per school year. This club is open to any student in grades 10-12 who has an interest in the field. Meeting dates fluctuate and are announced through our Canvas page. 

Contact: Ms. Clark in room 51

Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation where students role-play as diplomats representing countries in mock UN committees to debate international issues, develop, and pass resolutions. It fosters skills in public speaking, negotiation, research, and diplomacy, helping participants understand global relations and international law. Our delegation here at Henry Clay is highly regarded as the best in the city winning multiple awards and grows in size each year. 

Contact: LTC (R) Scott Brown in room 22

Y Club is a service organization that is also involved youth government programs.  Y Club members attend the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) and Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA) both of which are mock government conferences.  KYA models the Kentucky State Government System while KUNA models the United Nations.  At both conferences students write and debate proposals.  Students also have the opportunity to run for office at both conferences.  

Contact: Mrs. Elise Perry in room 19

Established to empower students to become active, informed members of their community, this club connects Henry Clay students with local government, civic organizations, and service opportunities. Members research and promote community service opportunities, host events like City Council Public Forums and Civic Fairs, bring in guest speakers, and work to break down barriers to civic engagement for all students. The club also helps students earn the Kentucky Civic Seal and provides resources, like voter registration information, to students and families who can benefit most. This club is open to students in all grade levels who have an interest in their community and civic life.  Meetings are typically every other Wednesday after school in the Library.  See Mr. Montgomery for more details and standing meeting dates

The Kentucky Civic Seal Info

 Contact: Mr. Ryan Montgomery in room 20 

Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a support network for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies at Henry Clay High School. Within Henry Clay, the club works to advocate for LGBTQIA+ students, provide a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ students to socialize with their friends and allies, and to cover current events related to the community, and to teach students LGBTQIA+ centered history. The club has worked with other GSA's across the district to plan large events that have amplified LGBTQIA+ students' voices at the district and even state level. This club is open to LGBTQIA+ students and allies, and meets on Wednesdays in room 057. 

The club officers also run the @henryclaygsa Instagram handle to share news and events.

Contact: Mr. Andrew Stock in room 57