Clubs, Activities, Sports

Clubs and Activities 

Academy of Finance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Advisor: Kristin Lawrence - klawrence@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                               A program where we prepare Hamburg High School students to graduate FUTURE READY! We are very proud to be affiliated with the NAF organization offering our Hamburg AOF students national credentials upon graduation including NAFTrack Certification, NAFTrack Hiring and a Career & Technical Education affixed to their high school diploma. This three-year "school within a school" program allows students to learn universal business skills and knowledge with a focus on the financial industry. 

AI Team- We are a student tech support team. Our goal is to support technology use for students in Hamburg High School. We provide technology tips to help other students be more productive while using their Chromebook. 

Art Society                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Advisor: Michelle Cyrek - mcyrek@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                       Art Society will allow students to enrich their art skills, develop college portfolios, research colleges, scholarships and various art careers as well as involvement in community activities. The club is beneficial to any student interested in art or a career in art.

Chamber Orchestra                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Advisor: Cassie Brignone - cbrignone@hcsdk12.org 

Character Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Advisors: Colleen Collins/Katherine Kerrisey - ccollins@hcsdk12.org/kkerrissey@hcsdk12.org                                                                                         The mission of the Hamburg High School's Character Education Committee is to encourage, educate and exemplify a lifestyle enriched with exceptional character.  The initiative is to promote excellence in character among students, staff, faculty and community.  Volunteering, community service and leadership are strongly encouraged along with opportunities for involvement. 

Chess and Game Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Advisor: Scott Koprevich - skoprevich@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                  We play chess and board games.  All are welcome. Grow your mind by playing strategic games and meeting cool people.

Civic Engagement Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Advisor: Lori Raybold - lraybold@hcsdk12.org 

A coalition of young individuals coming together to become active in the Hamburg community, enacting change, and creating an inclusive, equitable community for everyone.  

Computer Club- This club meets to do different computer activities based on the group interest.  We may do capture the flag events, cybersecurity competitions, robotics, and learn different computer programming languages, etc.  

DASA (Dignity for All Students Act) Ambassador Club                                                                                                                                                                                    Advisor: Kristina LaMendola - klamendola@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                               New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. This club is composed of middle and high school students who teach lessons in line with "Creating Culture of Kindness" to all elementary students. DASA student ambassadors participate in training and learn lesson plans on how to resolve conflicts, be an upstander, and utilize healthy coping strategies.  If you're interested in someday becoming a teacher, mental health professional, and/or believe in empowering your peers and younger students on treating all with respect and dignity, then this club is for you! For more information, please contact: Mrs. LaMendola, HS Social Worker or Mrs. Ramos, HS Psychologist. 

DAWGS-Doing Activities With Great Students 

Advisors: Beth Jeswald Walters/Emily Hawes - bjeswaldwalters@hcsdk12.org/ehawes@hcsdk12.org                                                                        

Is a peer, buddy group that gets together one time (at least) per month to get involved in extracurricular activities in the school setting and keep connected with peers of all ability levels. It is an after-school program designed to help students meet others and maintain connections and friendships for successful social skill building activities. 

Donate Life Club- Working with ConnectLife, our club offers a chance to make a difference in the lives of people in Western New York. After being trained by ConnectLife we educate about the importance of organ and tissue donation by visiting middle school classes, having a campaign week here at the high school and sponsoring the blood drives here at school. If you are interested in a career in the medical field, or just want to help people, this is the club for you!

Drama Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Advisor: Marc Ruffino - mruffino@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                               Is for students who enjoy theater! It is an outlet for those with creative energy and enthusiasm where all are encouraged to be themselves. Our focus is to promote one's love of theater through performance activities and the production of a major play each year. Anyone who enjoys theater, whether behind-the-scenes or on stage, will have fun being a member of Drama Club. 

EmpowerHER Club

Advisor: Kristina Lamendola - klamendola@hcsdk12.org

We're a community of girls empowering girls -- promoting leadership, service to others, and a strong spirit of inclusivity.  Whether you're passionate about creating change, helping your community, or simply want to connect with supportive peers, EmpowerHER welcomes you!

Environmental/Nature Club- Is a group that meets throughout the year to  discuss, plan and carry out outdoor activities.  Activities include: International Coastal Clean Up along Lake Erie, hikes, community service, environmental themed parties, member presentations (Tree + Flower ID Hikes, Sustainability, Thrifting, Vegetarianism, the Green New Deal just to name a few).  

*French Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Advisor: JoAnn Thomasson - jthomasson@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                Interested in French Culture? Come join le Club de Français! We do fun activities such as: cultural breakout boxes, Cafe et Conversation to improve your French, cultural presentations,  French game days, and so much more! You may also have the opportunity to become a member of La Société Honoraire de Français!

*French Honor Society                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Advisor: JoAnn Thomasson - jthomasson@hcsdk12.org 

Freshman Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Advisor: Chris Zemrac - czemrac@hcsdk12.org  

Future Teachers Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Advisor:Kristin DellaPenta - kdellapenta@hcsdk12.org 

Do you love working with kids? Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher?  Find out the inside view into a profession you may have considered or wondered about. We would love for you to join us!

Gay Straight Alliance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Advisors: Mark Babcock/Kristina LaMendola - mbabcock@hcsdk12.org/klamendola@hcsdk12.org                                                                           We welcome anyone who is LGBTQ+, questioning, or an ally to the community. The meetings are on Mondays, typically bi-weekly (every other week), and we are always welcoming to new faces! We will talk about events that are happening in the current day, announce upcoming events, and hopefully have time at the end to have sharing circles. 

Goodfellas Male Empowerment                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Advisor: Paul Thompson - pthompson@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                       A club that allows the young men of Hamburg High School to interact with one another and learn from positive male role models in their community. This club strives to teach our young men to be men of character and value. We pride ourselves in our community service and building a brotherhood that allows for strong peer mentorship. Any male that attends Hamburg High School is welcome to join our community.

Health Science Academy- Coursework designed to expose students to a rigorous interdisciplinary academic program that prepares students for the diverse career opportunities available in the science and medical professions. During the three year curriculum, academy students will visit health care facilities, host various health and science professionals, and discuss current trends in health science.  It is the perfect opportunity to get a head start in the competitive and rewarding fields of health science and technology.

History Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisor: Jim Harrigan - jharrigan@hcsdk12.org 

Intercultural Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Advisor: Tina Mesi - tmesi@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                   Explores cultures from around the world!  Throughout the year, foreign exchange students attending HHS give presentations about their home country and host Q+A meetings. The club is involved in organizing events to promote and celebrate Foreign Language Month during the month of March, including a cultural potluck and a "Meet + Greet" to welcome the foreign exchange students to Hamburg. 

Jazz "B" Band                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Advisor: Kathryn Michalewski - kmichalewski@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                    In addition to our audition based "Jazz Ensemble," Jazz "B" Band offers students another opportunity to play jazz repertoire while being a bit more relaxed in terms of instrumentation and prior knowledge.

Jazz Ensemble- This advanced ensemble is a performance based instrumental ensemble that explores the different styles in the jazz repertoire. Students are selected through competitive auditions.  The ensemble performs at several occasions throughout the year.

Junior Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisor: Kelly Owens - kowens@hcsdk12.org 

Key Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Advisor: Erika Rahill - erahill@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                            Is a student-led, high school organization. Our members make the world a better place through service. In doing so, we grow as individuals and as leaders by answering the call to lead, summoning the courage to engage and developing the heart to serve.  Often in conjunction with our local Kiwanis Club chapter, we participate in community events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, BurgerFest, the Halloween Parade, bottle drives, Fairground events, along with any community service opportunity that comes our way. 

*Latin Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisor: 

Meets after school to enrich our appreciation of the languages and cultures of the Classical World.  Activities include student presentations, movies or documentary viewings, holiday celebrations, artistic recreations, and state competitions (certamen).  We are members of the New York State and National Junior Classical League organizations (NJCL) and we provide an opportunity for induction into the NJCL Honor Society.

*Latin Honor Society                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisor:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Library Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Advisor: Allison Kurzel - akurzel@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                   Works to promote reading within the school. Members can also assist in the LMC during one of their free periods. 

Marching Band                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Advisor: Larry Dubill - ldubill@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Assistant Advisor: Kathryn Michalewski - kmichalewski@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                        The Hamburg High School Marching Band is one of the prides of our community. The ensemble is made of current High School band members from grades 9-12 that are enrolled in either Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble. They perform at parades and at the Homecoming football game.

Model United Nations Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Advisor: Jim Harrigan - jharrigan@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                       Our goal this year is to learn how the United Nations works and what role it plays in the well-being of our world. We will explore pressing global issues within the context of a specific country, and give that country a voice through research and debate.

Musical                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Vocal Director & Pit Director: Brandon Mellerski - bmellerski@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                    The musical is open to any student in the school. Students do not have to be a member of the chorus, band or orchestra to audition.                                         

National Honor Society                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Advisor: Amy Losi - alosi@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Juniors and seniors with an academic average of 94% or above are eligible for the selection process. Qualified students are then selected for NHS membership on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and character. All members shall participate in the chapter project and other projects that reflect their own interests and talents.

Nature Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Advisor: Tom Ferro - tferro@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                         Students have an opportunity to gather after school at various local parks to explore the outdoors, appreciate nature, and discover all the wonderful nature that is around the Southtowns. Give students an opportunity to make new friends, have good conversations, and breathe. 

Newspaper Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Advisor: Matt Meader - mmeader@hcsdk12.org 

Outdoor Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Advisor: Jenny Bagley/Melissa Bailey - jbagley@hcsdk12.org/mbailey@hcsdk12.org  

Percussion Ensemble                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Advisor: Larry Dubill - ldubill@hcsdk12.org     

This ensemble gives the opportunity for present band percussionists to develop their percussion skills through the study of advanced repertoire.  Students study all of the percussion instruments, and perform in concerts throughout the year. 

Purple Underground- A group of journalists working together to produce a monthly school newspaper. This is a student-run newspaper that focuses on things that happen here at Hamburg High School and around the world. The newspaper covers school related issues, major national and world news stories, sports, health, and pop culture. The Purple Underground is always looking for more voices! 

S.A.D.D.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Advisor: Anne Gilhooly -

Welcomes anyone who wants to join the cause of Students Against Destructive Decisions. Various activities and fundraisers are held throughout the year to assist students with making good choices in difficult situations.

Science Olympiad                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisors: Kaci Nowadly/Marguerite Meyer - knowadly@hcsdk12.org/mmeyer@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                       Is a national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) competition featuring 23 events from fields including Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering.  Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are allowed to compete in this event.  Beginning in the Fall, students are required to stay after school on a weekly basis to practice and prepare for their event(s).  The Buffalo and Niagara Regional Science Olympiad takes place on the first Saturday in February.  About thirty other local high schools participate in the same competition.  The top five high schools move onto the State competition in Albany, NY.  If you LOVE science, problem solving, building, or critical thinking, this club may be for you! Plus it also looks great on your college applications!  

Senior Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Advisor: Doreen Morris - dmorris@hcsdk12.org

Senior Play                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Advisor: Marc Ruffino - mruffino@hcsdk12.org  

Ski Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Advisor: Steve Chaffee - schaffee@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                      For grades 9 –12.  The club will be traveling to Holiday Valley Resort for eight weeks starting Thursday's in December (weather permitting) and then continuing into January after the break.  The bus will leave Hamburg High at 3:00 pm and return back at approximately 10:00 pm.  A ride home from the high school must be provided.  There will be a secured storage room available for students to store their equipment during the school day.  (The package includes: 1. A “Select Thursday” pass, which can be used on Thursday nights anytime throughout the ski season.  2. Transportation on a Coach bus to and from the resort for those eight weeks.  3. Eight optional but recommended one hour lessons for skiing or snowboarding.  4.  A “Bonus Day'" ticket which can be used any day in March or April. Season passes and rentals can also be purchased through this program).

Sophomore Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Advisor: Sheila Sampson - ssampson@hcsdk12.org 

*Spanish Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Advisor: Tina Mesi - tmesi@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                   Spanish Club meets several times a year to embrace the Hispanic culture!  We gather for cultural celebrations, such as Día de los Muertos, Hispanic Heritage Month, El Año Nuevo, and Cinco de Mayo.  Members also have opportunities to improve their language skills by attending "Café and Conversation", "Música Miércoles (Music Wednesdays) and after school movie showings.  ¡Olé, Olé, Olé!

*La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Advisor: Tina Mesi - tmesi@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                          SHH, also known as the Spanish National Honor Society, is similar to NHS but for Spanish students only.  To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a level 3 or higher Spanish class, maintain a GPA of at least 90% in their Spanish courses and continue their Spanish studies through their senior year by enrolling in upper level Spanish courses at HHS.  Applications are accepted each year at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, followed by a World Language Honor Society Induction ceremony and reception.  Applications will be distributed in Spanish class and posted on Spanish Club's Google Classroom page.

Sports Media & Tech Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Advisor: Amy Forrest - aforrest@hcsdk12.org 

Stage Band Jazz                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Advisor: Larry Dubill - ldubill@hcsdk12.org 

Stage Crew- Any student that is interested in helping backstage/behind the scenes of the musical, with lights, sound and/or construction, should sign up for the stage crew. 

Student Government                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Advisor: Lynn Sajdak - lsajdak@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                            HHS recognizes its responsibility to ensure academic opportunity and to provide an atmosphere where students may develop the social and interpersonal skills necessary for positive interaction in the world. SG is an "umbrella organization" encompassing all the clubs in school. SG membership consists of the officers of all the school's clubs. Meetings are held during the school day, and are a privilege. A schedule for the year is available in September. Students attending meetings are responsible for all missed work. At these meetings, events are planned, school issues are discussed, concerns are voiced, and help is offered to anyone trying to promote their club's events. Students concerned with an issue or idea should speak to their class offers (i.e. secretary, VP, President.) and therefore have their voice represented. From there the issue may be referred to Core Team, Building Team or Administration. 

Varsity H                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Advisor: Steve Chaffee - schaffee@hcsdk12.org 

Woodwind Choir                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Advisor: Kathryn Michalewski - kmichalewski@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                               The Music Department at HHS offers several chamber ensembles featuring our woodwind players. (Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Woodwind Quintet) The groups meet after school and offer a fun time for students of all 4 grade levels to get together and play varied styles of music.  

Writer's Guild                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Advisor: Matt Meader - mmeader@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                                           A group of creative writers looking to improve their craft. The Writers' Guild meets every Wednesday in room 249.  Writers have the opportunity to share their work with the group in order to receive feedback and generate discussion. The Writers' Guild also works to produce our literary magazine, MindSpeak, where students can publish their work. The Writers' Guild is a community of writers who share ideas so as to inspire more creativity. 

Yearbook                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Advisor: Wendy Winters - wwinters@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                               The Echoes staff is a group of hard working students who work to create our yearbook. They work on layout, copy and photo. Students design our book from start to finish and interested students may see Mrs. Winters to inquire about staff openings.

Young Investors Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Advisor: Sheila Sampson - ssampson@hcsdk12.org                                                                                                                                                                                              The investment club will teach life-changing skills to build wealth, save, and invest in your future!  It will also allow students to join an activity that will help build their college application.

Sports

Registration for sports is done seasonally through Operoo links that will be emailed home and posted on the athletic page.

FALL: (August-November)

Cheerleading , Cross Country-Boys & Girls, Field Hockey, Football, Golf- Boys, Gymnastics, Soccer-Boys & Girls, Swimming- Girls (Varsity Only), Tennis-Girls, Volleyball- Boys & Girls

WINTER: (November-March)

Basketball- Boys & Girls, Bowling-Boys & Girls (Varsity only), Cheerleading, Ice Hockey-Boys & Girls (Varsity Only), Indoor Track and Field (Varsity Only), Swimming- Boys (Varsity Only), Unified Bowling, Wrestling

SPRING: (March- June)

Baseball, Lacrosse- Boys & Girls, Softball, Tennis- Boys, Track & Field- Boys & Girls, Flag Football- Girls (Varsity Only), Unified Basketball- Coed (Varsity Only)