Clubs & Activities


Club/Activity	Sponsor	Description
Academic Spell Bowl	Cyndi Klink	Team of ten, ten rounds, each student spells for one round, 3000+ words to choose from. Written competition, not oral. Recognized for individual and team success. Open to all in the fall.
Academic Super Bowl	Cyndi Klink	Concentrate on one topic in each subject area for a team quiz bowl in the spring. This year the focus is Canada: Our Neighbor to the North. This is open to all students but will be screened for studious, high-ability, and hardworking. Topics include math, social studies, English, science, art, and music.
Amnesty International	Jenni Oberlin	A global movement of more than 7 million people in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end abuses of human rights. This student lead group meets twice a month and writes letters to get attention brought to human rights issues.
Art League	Jessica Minnich	Art League is a club for art enthusiasts to work on community-based projects. As a part of the art league, students have the opportunity to build community with other art students and share their passion. As a part of the art league, students will host and plan the semi-formal, also winter, and spring art shows. Open to all students.
Athletic Leadership Club	Chris Rhodes	This Club is for Athletes (9-12) chosen by their respective Coaches. The goal of the group is to learn to be leaders on their teams as well as in our school and promote positive Sportsmanship. The club will also be involved with developing ideas to create school spirit.
Baron Friends	Laura Atkinson & Dawn James	Baron Friends is a club that matches students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities for different activities throughout the year. We promote inclusion in our school and community. Our club is dedicated to making connections and spreading kindness.
Classic Connection- Mixed Show Choir	Josh Doubblestein	Classic Connection Competitive Show Choir - Classic Connection is an extracurricular show choir that welcomes students from 9th - 12th grade. Classic Connection performs at the DeKalb County Fair, the annual Show Choir Cabaret, the Spring Showcase Concert, as well as competes across Indiana throughout the months of January through March. Auditions are held each May. Enrollment in a DHS choir class is required.
Dynamix Jazz and Chamber Choir	Josh Doubblestein	Dynamix Jazz and Chamber Choir - Dynamix is an extracurricular jazz and chamber that welcomes students from 9th - 12th grade. Dynamix performs at the annual Show Choir Cabaret, selects home concerts, as well as participates in ISSMA Solo & Ensemble and ISSMA Jazz Festival. Auditions are held at the end of each school year. Enrollment in a DHS choir class is required.
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)		Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. Chapter projects focus on a variety of youth concerns, including teen pregnancy, parenting, family relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, environment, nutrition and fitness, teen violence, and career exploration. Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life—planning, goal setting, problem-solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication—necessary in the home and workplace. Open to all students.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)	Sam Weicht	FCA has a mission to present to coaches, athletes, and fans (the entire student body) the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church. Non-Denominational, No restrictions, and ALL are welcome!!
Future Farmers of America (FFA)	Lexi Turchinoff	FFA is an agricultural organization that teaches premier leadership, career success, and personal growth through local philanthropies, agricultural knowledge contests, and on-site agriculture business programs. Chapter Meeting (Parliamentary Procedure) Team - The members shall demonstrate the correct procedures of a chapter meeting, including opening ceremonies, order of business, and closing ceremonies. Crops Team - The crops career development event is a competition that tests the students' knowledge on crop and weed varieties in Indiana. This contest also includes the nutritional deficiencies of crops, common insects that affect production, and grain grading of crops. This event prepares students for careers in plant science, weed science, farming, agronomy, turfgrass management, and many more. Leadership Team - The leadership career development event is a series of contests in public speaking, demonstrations, job interviews, exhibits, and scrapbooking. There are various opportunities in multiple divisions depending on student age and grade. This contest is designed to prepare students for various careers in leadership positions of any contest. Entomology - The entomology team studies the science of bugs. Members are required to name 70 different insects along with their taxonomic order. Students also take a test. This contest is designed to prepare students for a career in entomology or integrated pest management. Forestry Team -The forestry career development event is a contest where students name various trees, equipment, woods, chainsaw parts, pests, issues, and troubleshooting scenarios within the forestry careers. Students conduct a timber stand improvement and create a plan for lumber harvesting. This contest is designed to prepare students for a career in wood science, forestry, environmental science, and lumber. Livestock Team-Members of a livestock team analyze and look at a variety of animals to determine the quality and best practices for raising livestock in the United States. Students are required to memorize speeches which are then presented to officials for scoring on presentation and accuracy. This contest is designed to prepare students for a career in animal science, animal marketing, meat science, meat quality control, and livestock production. Ag Issues Team-The agriculture issues team focuses on local issues that are affecting the agriculture industry. The team conducts a survey, analyzes results, then prepares a public announcement through various presentations. This contest is designed to prepare students for a career in agriculture business, marketing, consulting, agritourism, and agriculture advocacy. Food Science Team -The food science career development event prepares students for careers in food science by having the contestants identify aromas, flavors, good manufacturing processes, hazard analysis, and critical control points, and complete a triangle test. Then the team works together to develop a new food product that fits a targeted audience and nutritional requirement. Ag Business Management Team: Provides competition that fosters information assimilation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills necessary to successfully manage a farm or pursue farm business management careers. This event enhances and encourages opportunities for all participants to receive instructions that develop agriculture/farm business management skills. Ag Mechanics Team -The agricultural mechanics team competes in a competition that challenges them in the areas of wood construction, welding, engines, plumbing, and electricity. Students also have a team part that requires them to read blueprints and develop a plan for a major construction project. Wildlife Team - Contestants will complete activities in the wildlife challenge, wildlife management practices, and a team wildlife management plan exercise. Vet Science Team-This is an FFA career development activity based on Veterinary Medicine. Teams compete in the FFA state convention in June. The competitions entail the identification of medical instruments, parasites and animal species, a test on veterinary medicine, and a group presentation. Ag Sales Team -The agriculture sales career development event requires a contestant to sell a piece of agricultural equipment or commodity through a mock interview situation. Then the contest completes a mock cold call on a customer. This contest is designed to prepare students for a career in sales, marketing, and business.
Gaming Club	Tony Miller	Gaming Club is an opportunity for students to get together and enjoy different games together. It meets twice a week, with one day being for competitive gaming and the other for more casual games. The competitive gaming day is for our eSports teams (currently just League of Legends, but working to open up to any game with a competitive scene).
International Clubs - French and Spanish	Beth Ball/Norma Jetmore	Each club will offer exposure to the Spanish-speaking or French-speaking world and its rich, diverse cultures. The intent is to be both educational and fun for its members who will look beyond the doors of their own homes and school to touch the lives of others. Students involved in the Club will be more tolerant of differences regarding race, language, and culture. Being exposed to many exciting new challenges outside the classroom and gaining insightful experiences will help the Club members compete in our increasingly multilingual nation, as well as throughout our global community. This club is open to everyone.
Jazz Band	Chris Adamisin	Multiple groups are selected based on workshops and auditions that are held in November and the season will run from November through early April. Students will acquire and develop skills in multiple jazz and pop music styles as well as soloing skills that are appropriate for the activity. Practices are usually three times a week and competitions are held several Saturdays throughout the season.
Leo Club	Ed Puglise	Leo Club is a youth organization of Lions Clubs International. The word L E O stands for Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity. The Leo club encourages students to develop leadership qualities by participating in social service activities. They conduct various projects in the fields of health care, elders, children, differently abled, literacy and education, and self-development. Leos can raise funds by conducting fund-raising projects. Leo Club is open to all students.
Marching Band	Chris Adamisin	An outdoor competitive Fall activity is eligible to anyone at DeKalb High School. The season runs from a few practices in May and June which are followed by typical fall season practices beginning 2 weeks before the start of the school year and continuing daily throughout the fall season. There are places for students that have or wish to develop musical skills, dance, color guard, and theatre. The group is highly competitive with 20+ ISSMA State Finals Appearances. Students will acquire and develop skills with flags, sabers, rifles, dance, and instruments that are appropriate for the activity.
National Honor Society	Debbie Miller	The National Honor Society is an organization of students representing high standards of scholarship, character, leadership, and service. The DeKalb High School chapter requires an overall GPA of 9.0 and includes juniors or seniors that complete the qualification process. The process involves obtaining 5 references from 3 teachers and 2 outside sources. Qualified students must also fill in a student activities survey demonstrating their involvement. Students that meet these requirements are inducted in an October induction ceremony. Following this process, students have a community service obligation.
Pep Band	Chris Adamisin	An indoor non-competitive group eligible to anyone at DeKalb High School. The group performs at many home varsity basketball games. The season runs from late November through mid-February. Typically, there are 1 to 2 practices after school prior to basketball season starting. Once the season has started we meet 1 hour prior to the start of the varsity basketball game. We are a performance-based group and split our time between boys' and girls' home varsity games and play at most home conference games.
Robotics Team	Trish Harrison	We are a group of students that focuses on programming and building robotic systems to participate in competition settings with schools from around North-Eastern Indiana. The game settings change each year and are always a lot of fun. Come and join us!
Science Fair	Kelsey Pierce	Science Fair is a science competition open to any student in grades 9-12. Students, with the help of a science teacher mentor, develop an individual project that attempts to solve a scientific problem. During the science fair competition in February, participants present their projects, and these projects are evaluated by community members. Science fair provides opportunities to win awards at the district competition as well as at the regional and state competition.
Speech Team	Andy Comfort	The DeKalb Speech Team competes from November through March at oratorical contests throughout the state. Our speech team is open to all high school students. The state of Indiana offers 14 separate, competitive events which include extemporaneous, impromptu, mock congress, discussion, broadcasting, original oratories, and various interpretive events.
Student Government	Ashley Johnson/Kelsey Koeneman	The Student Government is composed of students in grades 9 through 12 who are elected by the student body to plan school functions and address school-related issues. Class officers are elected for each class and representatives are selected from each homeroom. Student Government plans school-wide events, such as convocations, Homecoming, Prom, and fundraisers such as CANstruction and the Salvation Army Kettle Drive. Student government also works closely with the administration to strengthen communication between administrators and the student body regarding topics that directly affect students at DeKalb High School.
Theater - Musicals and Plays	Jed Freels	The DeKalb Theater department performs two plays, one black box production, an original production, and a musical each year. Cast members complete an audition for each show to fill various roles in the production. Rehearsals are held leading up to the show to learn lines and parts. Crew members are also needed for productions for set building, lights and sound, costuming, student directors, etc. Open to all students with a love for acting, the performing arts, and theater. We look forward to seeing you on or behind the stage!
Unified Barons	Carol Fike	IHSAA.org says, “Unified Sports® was first developed by Special Olympics as a means of providing a quality experience of sports training and competition in an inclusive environment that allows friendships to form. It is the vision of this joint IHSAA / Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) sports project to allow high school students with and without intellectual disabilities to collectively represent their high school in an IHSAA-sanctioned activity by participating together on a Unified Sports® team.” A Unified Student Athlete is a student who is receiving special education and related services pursuant to an individual education program based on a cognitive, developmental, and/or intellectual disability. A Unified Student Partner is a student that meets the eligibility criteria outlined in General Eligibility rules 1-20, but is NOT identified by the school as a Unified Student-Athlete.
		Fall Unified Baron Sports are Intramural Bocce (Lawn Bowling) and IHSAA Sports Flag Football
		Winter Unified Baron Sports are Intramural Basketball and Intramural Bowling
		Spring Unified Baron Sport IHSAA Sport Track and Field
Voices of Philanthropy	Larissa Troyer	Youth philanthropic grant-making advisory group. The Dekko Foundation and Community Foundation DeKalb County sponsor DeKalb's Voice, working together to grow a new generation of philanthropic leaders. 12 members, 3 from each of the four DeKalb County Schools; Eastside, Garrett, DeKalb, and Lakewood Park Christian School.
Winter Drumline	Chris Adamisin	An indoor competitive percussive activity that is eligible to anyone at DeKalb High School. Workshops and auditions are held in November and the season will run from November through early April. Students will acquire and develop skills in the area of percussion performance and general methods of performing in front of large crowds. Practices are three times a week and competitions are held several Saturdays throughout the season. The group was the Indiana Percussion Association 2008 Class PSA Champion and has continued to earn an invitation to IPA State Finals each year since.
Winter Guard	Chris Adamisin	An indoor competitive Color Guard is eligible to anyone at DeKalb High School. Workshops and Auditions are held in November and the season will run from November through early March. Students will acquire and develop skills with flags, sabers, rifles, and dance that are appropriate for the activity. Practices are usually three times a week and competitions are held several Saturdays throughout the season.
WWII	Kari Ackerman	World War II club will be both a teacher and student-led club. Students will discuss, examine, and do activities based on World War II Operations, battles, leaders, and lifestyles before, during, and after the war. We will use critical thinking and strategy when researching various operations to see why this plan worked or didn't work, if it could have been planned better, what was the outcome, and much more. Leaders of the war will be studied from all sides of the war ( allies and opposition ). we will also include what life was like before the war, during the war, and after the war. This will be a fun interactive class open to all thoughts and ideas about World War II.
Yearbook	Debbie Miller	When being part of the Yearbook Committee you will receive a unique combination of journalism, business, technology, and life skills. You will go through an interview process and need two teacher recommendations. Previous photography or Photoshop knowledge is helpful but not required.