Activities
The student activities program at Vianney High School provides an excellent opportunity for a student to fulfill his need for involvement and success in activities other than regular classroom instruction. Experiences are designed to help meet the leisure, recreational, social, and emotional interests and needs of the student. These experiences also provide opportunities for self-directed specialization in areas of the curriculum of particular interest to the student. Students are encouraged to become an integral part of at least one co-curricular activity. For general information about the activities available, peruse the list below, check the daily bulletin or get information from the moderator of the activity.
Ambassadors (30)
The Vianney Ambassadors, composed primarily of seniors, help welcome prospective students to campus at Open House and make presentations at area High School Nights. They are strong leaders and express a welcoming spirit of hospitality to others.
Amnesty International (20)
Art Club (20)
Art Club members enhance Vianney’s aesthetics through the creation and display of student art in multiple media, including drawing, painting and design. The club provides art service to the school by designing t-shirts, signs, posters, etc. for various events, sports and club activities. Students do not have to be enrolled in an art class to join. The Art Club meets during every Encore period, unless the faculty advisor has a prior commitment. The club also meets after school until 3:30 p.m. on regular days. Members are not required to attend every meeting; they may pick and choose which meetings to attend.
Bocce Club
The Bocce Club meets once a week at the Italia America Bocce Club on the Hill to play bocce against several other schools. Students learn the history and rules of the game, and enjoy the opportunity to improve their skills. The club is both competitive and social.
Campus Ministry/Faith Formation (35)
Students involved in Campus Ministry serve as liturgical ministers, sacristans, musicians and drama presenters for liturgies and other activities related to Vianney’s spiritual life and religious education. Campus Ministry members meet monthly to plan activities. Also see Choir, Griffin LIFE & Vianney LIFE, and Retreat Leaders.
Chess (30)
Griffins stress their brains and compete with other schools in the strategic, quick-thinking game of chess. Diligent preparation earns our teams national rankings. They prepare by practicing or competing three to six hours per week over the 12-week season. Intramural Chess is also available with a seven-week season and about three hours of practice and competition each week. Top players are eligible for eight tournaments annually (with 12 to 14 hours of weekly practice and competition) and the three-day national competition. In 2011, our Varsity Chess team won the National Championship and our JV Chess team placed second.
Choir
Students who enjoy singing can join Vianney’s Choir to lead the music at school liturgies as part of Campus Ministry/Faith Formation. Voice and instrumental musicians are also encouraged to join Campus Ministry and bring their unique talents to Vianney’s liturgies.
Close Up
The Close Up program provides students with a one-week intensive experience of government in our nation’s capital. Students enjoy personal encounters with elected and appointed members of the federal government, meet other students from across the country, and visit Washington’s famous monuments and museums. The Close Up trip to Washington, D.C. occurs in February.
Drama/Griffin Theatre (25 per production)
Eagle Scouts Club
Environmental Club
Fishing Club
French Honor Society (5)
The French Honor Society is open to all students who have completed French II, have an A in their most recent French class and continue their French studies for the following year. Society members who complete four years of French wear an honor cord at graduation. The society participates in various cultural experiences throughout St. Louis
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA - 10)
Griffins in FBLA compete in district and state competitions to hone their skills for leadership in the business world. Fields of competition include Business Law, Public Speaking, Accounting, Banking/Finance, Marketing and Computer Technology. FBLA members meet as a team during Encore every other week beginning in October.
German Honor Society (5)
This is an academic society of German language enthusiasts called Delta Epsilon Phi. To be eligible, students must have a 3.6 GPA in German after two semesters and a 3.0 overall in other subjects. Each fall, the society hosts and plans the school blood drive. Most members are juniors and seniors.
Griffin LIFE & Vianney LIFE
Two very active components of Vianney’s Campus Ministry/Faith Formation program are Griffin LIFE and Vianney LIFE. These Marianist spiritual awareness community groups play essential roles in maintaining the Marianist charism and Marianist sponsorship of the school. The groups meet weekly to plan prayer services and mission fundraisers. In addition, members participate in a six- to eight-day summer retreat. Retreats serve as a training ground for students to lead Marianist LIFE Communities at home, sharing the Marianist values with others on a daily basis. Past participants agree this is a life-changing week as students meet with other youths and adults also looking to lead a Marianist LIFE. Participants meet and share ideas in small group discussions, communal prayer services, liturgies, and more.
Griffin Scramblers
Habitat for Humanity
Students assist other schools in building a house for a family in need.
Jazz Band
The Vianney Jazz Band is a co-curricular musical ensemble that explores a variety of styles in the jazz idiom. Standard instrumentation of the Jazz Band includes alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano and drum set. Clarinets and euphoniums can also be part of Jazz Band. Instrumentation on electric guitar, bass guitar, piano and drum set is limited. Auditions for these instruments may be necessary. The Jazz Band performs at the Spring Concert in conjunction with the Concert Band.
Lettermen’s Club
Members provide service to the Vianney community and the St. Louis area through projects such as Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, food drives, the Blanket Drive, and Special Olympics hosting. Club members also promote the expression of Vianney spirit at Griffin games. The club meets each month, and students are encouraged to volunteer as often as they like.
Link Crew
Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. The program is built on the belief that students can help students succeed, so members of the junior and senior classes are trained to be Link Leaders. As positive role models, Link Leaders guide freshmen to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school. The program provides the structure for freshmen to receive support and guidance from juniors and seniors. Link Crew begins with a powerful orientation day that connects freshmen with Vianney and allows them to begin developing relationships and strategies that will contribute to their high school success. After orientation, the Link Crew freshmen transition program continues, providing a variety of both academic and social follow-up activities throughout the year. The academic follow-up lessons are presented by trained Link Leaders during visits to freshmen classes.
Math Club/Mu Alpha Theta
The Mathematics Department of St. John Vianney High School honors students for outstanding work in mathematics with membership in the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society which promotes interest in the study of mathematics. The qualifications for membership in Mu Alpha Theta are:
- Completion of a minimum of 3 courses in college preparatory mathematics and enrollment in an advanced course.
- Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in mathematics
- Active participation in Mu Alpha Theta projects.
The Math Club plans a number of activities, including a doughnut sale fundraiser each fall, and helps the school celebrate Pi Day each spring in honor of the mathematical constant p (Pi). Mu Alpha Theta is an international math honor society that functions as a subgroup of the Vianney Math Club and offers math tutoring to fellow students. Tutoring is scheduled through the Guidance Office.
Mock Trial Team
Griffins who are interested in pursuing a future in law or a law-related field can get an early start by joining Vianney’s Mock Trial Team. This program is run by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis to give students an opportunity to compete against other St. Louis area high schools. During the summer, volunteer attorneys develop and write the Mock Trial case for the regional and state competitions. The competition takes place at the St. Louis County Courthouse. After the case is completed, a manual is developed to help the students prepare for their Mock Trial by giving them an overview of the law and teaching them trial procedure and trial preparation. The students act as attorneys and witnesses while presenting the case. Two excellent attorneys advise and teach the students trial law while preparing for the competition. In December, a Mock Trial Training Seminar is held for schools throughout the state participating in the competition.
National Honor Society
(GOLD CIRCLE CHAPTER)
This prestigious organization was founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding students who excel in or have demonstrated great proficiency in four areas: Scholastic Achievement, Character, Leadership and Service. In addition, the Society strives to create enthusiasm for academic achievement, stimulate a desire to render service, promote leadership and develop character in the students of secondary schools.
Serving one another and the community is expressed in the motto of the National Honor Society, Noblesse Oblige. Members of the NHS are obligated to fulfill the motto with behavior that is honorable, responsible and generous to others. The Gold Circle Chapter of the NHS provides the individual members the opportunity to share their talents with other students, their school and their community.
Some advantages of membership include receiving national recognition of achievement, becoming eligible for scholarships sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, receiving an advantage in scholarship and college acceptance and receiving special recognition at graduation. “Although membership in honor societies does not in and of itself confer an advantage in scholarship awards and college acceptance, the characteristics exhibited by the student member as embodied in the characteristics noted above are of considerable importance in scholarship consideration. This is especially true in the student’s overall academic performance in core college preparatory subjects of English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.” (State of College Admission, National Association for College Admission Counseling: March, 2005, page 42)
Selection Process:
Any student whose cumulative grade point average at the end of the second semester of his sophomore or junior year is 3.75 or higher is eligible academically.
Those who are academically eligible are then evaluated on the basis of character, leadership and service by their teachers, coaches and/or moderators of the year in which they become academically eligible for membership in the society.
Leadership is recognized in the student who
- promotes school activities
- influences peers in upholding school ideals
- exemplifies a mature attitude
- inspires positive behavior in others
- demonstrates reliability, dependability and responsibility in the classroom and in school or community activities
Character is recognized in the student who
- upholds the principles of morality and ethics
- cooperates by complying with school policies and regulations
- shows courtesy, concern and respect for others
- manifests truthfulness when dealing with himself and others
- upholds his own dignity and the dignity of others
- demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and integrity
- demonstrates emotional stability and tolerance
Service is recognized in the student who
- participates in co-curricular activities listed in the student handbook,
- volunteers regular, consistent and dependable assistance in an outside community organization.
Students who volunteer community service outside of the school in addition to the hours required for the Social Service Program must submit a letter to the NHS at St. John Vianney High School detailing the dates of service, the type of service provided and the total number of hours served. The moderator of the NHS must receive notification no later than August 31 of the new school year.
The moderator of the NHS will meet with potential members of the NHS no later than March 30 to explain the selection process, including the selection score necessary to be designated a member of the Gold Circle Chapter of the National Honor Society of Vianney High School.
The candidate who meets the criteria for membership based on the qualities of character, leadership, scholarship and service is notified at the beginning of school in August. At that time, he is invited to become a member of the National Honor Society. Membership in the NHS is both an honor and a responsibility. Students selected for membership are expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of character, leadership, scholarship and service. Therefore, the candidate who chooses to become a member of the NHS at the same time makes a commitment to maintain his membership in the Gold Circle Chapter of the National Honor Society. If the candidate chooses not to become a member of the society at the time he is eligible, he will not be eligible for membership until the following year.
To maintain membership in the Gold Circle Chapter of the National Honor Society, each member must
- maintain a 3.75 cumulative grade point average
- have no failures in conduct
- maintain honor roll status
- actively participate in NHS projects
- maintain character, leadership and service by participating annually in co-curricular activities and/or providing community service
An active member who fails to maintain these standards is notified in writing and is put on probation for one semester. If, at the end of the probationary period, he again fails to meet the requirements, he is dismissed from the society and is no longer eligible for membership.
Newspaper Staff (10)
Griffins write, lay out, edit and publish the monthly Vianney newspaper, THE GRIFFIN. Members of the newspaper staff plan each issue, write all articles, edit copy and produce layouts for the monthly newspaper. Staff members also learn how to use computer graphic programs, such as InDesign and Photoshop.
Pep Band
The Vianney Pep Band performs at home games for the Varsity Griffins football and basketball games. The Pep Band is an extension of Vianney’s Concert Band. Instrumentation includes flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, bass guitar and percussion.
Photo Club
Student photographers capture the moment at all types of school events during the year. Their work illustrates life at Vianney for the Vianney yearbook, newspaper and website. Photo club members are active year round, on and off campus, seeking great photo opportunities.
Prolife Club
The Prolife Club seeks to promote a culture of life, both within the walls of Vianney and in the greater community. Members participate in the "40 Days for Life" campaign, praying outside abortion clinics for an end to abortion, attending local prolife conventions and traveling to Washington, D.C., each year to participate in the annual March for Life.
The club meets monthly during encore to pray, to educate ourselves and to plan events.
Retreat Leaders
Service Club
Spanish Honor Society (5)
Spanish Honor Society is open to juniors and seniors by invitation only. Potential members must be recommended by their Spanish teacher, have earned an A in their most recent Spanish class and continue their language studies into the next year. Society members who complete four years of Spanish wear an honor cord at graduation. The Spanish Honor Society participates in several fundraisers for charity each year, including an annual Bake Sale. The Don Quijote Chapter of the Spanish Honor Society has existed at Vianney for more than 20 years. It is affiliated with the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Student Council (pts by position)
These few individuals are elected by their peers to make decisions for the class and provide student leadership for the school. They learn the parliamentary Robert’s Rules of Order as preparation for business and legislative proceedings as adults. They function as the student body’s official voice to school administration and serve as catalysts for positive change.
Student Tutors (10)
Students excelling in various subjects are invited to serve fellow students as student tutors. This effort is organized by Vianney’s Guidance Office.
Tailgaters
Technology Club
Members of the Technology Club choose a night after school to learn how to build simple digital and analog circuits. The club attracts students who are interested in technology and enjoy exploring the electronics of today’s technology. Club members also learn the basics of building web servers by learning and applying the basics of the various operating systems used by large companies for their web hosting. The operating systems include Windows-based servers, Linux-based servers, and Unix-based servers.
Vianney’s Educational Theatre Project
(Playhouse Productions) offers additional theater options to students. Based at Vianney, the theatre project is unique in that it is open to all students – ages 6 through 18. Grade school students are encouraged to participate.
Video Yearbook Club (15)
Video Yearbook Club members are active throughout the year with videotaping school events, theatrical and musical performances, liturgical gatherings and other productions. They also meet to plan productions, write scripts and gather materials for creating transition slides to produce the annual DVD yearbook.
Yearbook Club (15)
Students create Vianney’s yearbook, THE TALON, from start to finish. Members also learn how to use graphic computer programs, such as In Design and Photoshop.
