AFS

AFS (formerly the American Field Service) is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in more than 40 countries around the world through independent, nonprofit AFS Organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.

Abraxas

Students are able to share their creative pieces in Abraxas, including photographic art, drawings, poems, or short fiction pieces. At the end of the school year, students in Abraxus work as a team to publish a collection of student work to be released and distributed to the students.

Big Brother/Big Sister

Students work with younger children with their homework and duties. The high school students work as mentors for these kids, giving them stability as well as a role model that may be missing from their life.

Debate Team

Introduced this year, the Debate Team is offered to spark interest in world events and situations, and allowing students to devlop speech and debate skills that will serve instrumental in their communication abilities later in life. Activities include traveling to see live debates, and hosting their own debates at school during meetings.

French National Honor Society
The French National Honor Society inducts students at the end of French II. To be eligible, a student must have maintained an "A" average in French, "B" in other courses, and must continue the study of French. As members of a service-oriented honor society, the members of FHS tutor in French and participate in activities that promote interest in French: programs in the elementary and middle schools and cultural programs at the high school.

Future Business Leaders of America

Teaching the leadership skills needed in the new business world, the Future Business Leaders of America hope to educate their members on what it takes to survive in the fast-paced corporate environment. Participants must take at least one Business Course to join, and over the course of the year students will prepare for careers in business by working on team projects as well as attending the State Leadership Conference.

F.C.C.L.A.

Family Career & Community Leaders of America, or F.C.C.L.A for short, strives to have students work in community projects as well as create and operate their own service events. Activities such as bake sales and Walk for Cancer help students gain more appreciation for their family as well as a greater sense of family service.

Habitat for Humanity

Students in Habitat for Humanity help out the less fortunate by fundraising and helping build houses. Working with local affiliates, the group manages to volunteer their timke and effort in the construction of these houses, such as helping move supplies, doing simple tasks, or other various jobs. Habitat for Humanity also runs a number of fundraisers for the needy, including the infamous "Shack-a-thon" drive.

Harvard Model U.N.

An interactive simulation of real world politics, the Harvard Model U.N. allows students to participate in a act out the actions of the United Nations. Students represent countries, and with them, their own political needs and desires. The Harvard Model promotes more understanding of international issues and awareness of current political problems.

Interact

The Interact group is an affiliate program with the Tri-bury Rotary International Organization. Dedicated towards the community, participants work on local and international service projects, as well as attending monthly meetings and the Interact Internation Workshops.

Math Team

Competing against other teams across the state and beyond, the Math Team is made up of students who enjoy the challenges of math, racing against the clock and their oppenents to solve increasingly more difficult math questions.

Mock Trial

The criminal process is opened to exploration and investigation in Mock Trial. This experience gives students the oppurtunity to act out the roles of the justice system, such as jury, judge, defense and prosecution. Students will work together to compete against other schools in cases, with the chance of going on to compete with the best teams in the state in real court houses.

National Honor Society (Bullet Hill Chapter)

The Honor Society is a national honorary and service organization that recognizes scholatic achievement. The students are selected by the faculty. Eligibility for membership is determined by four criteria: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

PALS
The purpose of this organization is to help integrate physically/mentally challenged students into PHS's academic and social environment, during as well as after the school day.

The Pawprint (School Newspaper)

Students work on writing and editing their own articles and are put in the paper based on their quality and professional look. The goal of the Paw is to establish several student-editors to be in charge of the paper, and publish a regular newspaper throughout the school. Get the latest issue (pdf)

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Students in Peanut Butter and Jelly work on providing food for the homeless in shelters in Waterbury, making PB&J sandwiches every week in the cafeteria and sending them over the shelter. Meetings are on Tuesdays from 2:15 - 3:00 p.m.

Peer Helpers
Peer Helpers is a peer helping program which serves high school students who want to strengthen their communication and helping skills and to provide support to others and service the school community.

Pomperaug Aviation Club

Dedicated towards exploring the skies, students in the Aviation Club learn all about the fundamentals of aircrafts, from single engine to commercial airliners. Using simulation programs and trips to airfields, they find out what allows objects to fly, how aerodynamics work, and the experience of being a pilot.

Pomperaug Guidance Association
This student association is a proactive, concerned group of students who serve as an outreach unit of the guidance department. They create and work with programs to assist fellow students and improve the school environment. Some of their projects include new student orientation, alumni programs for undergraduates, an activity booklet, and middle school tutoring. Membership is by application in April, and the forms are in the guidance office.

Pomperaug Theatre Company

The students in the Theatre Comany, under the direction of Mr. Doniger, stage all the plays at Pomperaug High School, usually staging two different productions over the school year: A fall production in our Black Box Theatre, and a spring production on the Main Stage in the auditorium. During odd years, the spring production is a musical. Students may work as stagehands, designers, artisans, publicists, technicians, musicians, and actors in all the shows. Students who participate in the Pomperaug Theatre Company receive elective credits towards graduation.

Project Reach Out
Reach Out is an effort to positively respond to community needs on a very personal level. It attempts to actively address areas in which the quality of people's lives can be enhanced i.e., Amazing Afternoons, Habitat for Humanity, adopting an elderly person, running errands, baking foods, etc.

Robotics

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way.

Ski Club

Pomperaug High Schol Ski Club Information. More Information.

Spanish National Honor Society
A student is eligible if he/she has earned an "A" on the report card for one and a half years in high school (PHS or elsewhere).* On or about the first of March, a student is sent a formal invitation to join the honor society and is asked to sign a contract upon acceptance. The student agrees to tutor other Spanish students, help at one service project and one fund-raiser each year, and attend at least three or four meetings per year.

Student Government
The Student Government of Pomperaug High School meets on a regular basis during the school day. The representatives are chosen by their classmates, and the head advisor interviews potential candidates. Elections are held in the fall. A president, vice president, corresponding secretary, and treasurer are elected by members of the organization. The Student Government is responsible for overseeing all the activities at Pomperaug High School and is also in charge of the calendar of events for the school year. The executive committee (officers) and advisor will meet with the principal and assistant principal on a monthly basis to discuss school related issues. The school administration or executive committee may include other members of the school community as needed.

There are students who represent Pomperaug High School on the state board of student councils, and there are also two
representatives to the Board of Education. Each class has approximately twelve representatives and the structure of the organization is governed by the constitution of PHS.

Technology Club

The Technology Club helps to educate and familiarize students and teachers alike with the computers and technology found at Pomperaug High School, offering their guidance and solutions to various problems that occur on the school's computers. Members help teachers and peers by tutoring them on setting up their computers, as well as optimizing and configuring their new PC with the newest software available.

Tri-M

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a volunteer, service organization whose focus is serving the community through music, recognizing the musical efforts of students, and promoting musical activities. Membership is open to students in grades 9-12, and the requirements to remain in the society include a 3.0 GPA, an A average in all music classes, and the completion of a set amount of service points as determined by the By-Laws. For more information, please click on the link and check out the website.

WTCH Video Production Studios

Using the facilities of the Pomperaug Video Studios, students help operate and maintain the WTCH Channel in Southbury and Middlebury. Providing the region with school news, sports, and tapings of various events, the Video Production Studios requires students to understand the technology behind the various equipment in use, such as cameras, lighting, microphone, and video editing.

World Languages Clubs
Open to all students of Spanish or French in grades 9-12. The Foreign Language clubs are an extension of the foreign languages courses and provide an opportunity for using the target language in free conversation. The clubs sponsor many activities, such as field trips, dinners, and films.

Yearbook Club -- Vestige

The Yearbook Club is in charge of preserving the memories of the school year, capturing the moments of high school onto paper in the yearbook, also known as Vestige. This difficult task is put in the hands of students, who must act as editors and photographers, deciding what and where things are placed.

*Note: No freshman or senior is eligible due to the national requirements.