School Clubs

ALLIANCE

Alliance members address issues of diversity and differences, ranging from gender preference, racism, sexism, homophobia and more. Members organize assemblies and forums that encourage dialogue, tolerance, and a deeper understanding of complex issues.

ANIMAL RIGHTS

Students do not have to be pet owners or vegetarians to be part of the Animal Rights Club--just curious. Animal rights issues are explored through films, speakers, printed materials and other means. Past field trips have included visits to the Montgomery County SPCA, a local no-kill animal shelter, a chicken factory farm and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Philadelphia Zoo. The club also has sponsored a school-wide debate on vivisection; prepared vegetarian sloppy joes for the student body, and presented programs on puppy mills and the use of animals in the cosmetics industry.

ANNENBERG HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM (High School)

This annual competition involves a team of 9th grade Honors students who are selected to represent the school in a presentation of a current issue in Science. In the past years, students have made presentations on Genetic Engineering and the Avian Flu Threat. This year’s team presented a skit and PowerPoint on the Energy Crisis. The program also provides leadership opportunities for two tenth grade students who were on the team the previous year.

BOOK CLUB (Middle School)

Do you enjoy reading current or controversial fiction and non-fiction? The group meets to talk about books that beg to be discussed.

CALLIOPE (Middle School)

This club is for Middle School students who are interested in writing and editing a literary magazine that showcases Middle Schoolers writing and artistic talents and achievements.

CHESED

Chesed members put the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam (repairing the world) into action, by participating in community service programs and fundraising projects that make a positive difference. Participants advance the importance of Chesed at Barrack Hebrew Academy. Click here for more information on Chesed.

CHESS/GAMES

Barrack Hebrew Academy's Chess Club is for novices, as well as experts. Members enjoy learning new strategies and enjoy friendly matches.

COMPUTER CLUB (MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UPPER SCHOOL)

From day one students will learn to build their own PC (and later maintain it), how the PC fits into the larger School LAN and the basics of networking. Students will create lively presentations while working with a state of the art Tablet PCs, larger "Smart Board" Screens, and video editing. Both the Mac OS X and Windows XP Platforms will be featured.

COUGAR CHRONICLE
People who love to express their ideas and opinions through writing join The Cougar Chronicle, Barrack Hebrew Academy’s English language investigative newspaper.  Students can become part of the lively, inquiring staff starting in eighth grade, and apply to be an editor in high school.  Sixth and seventh graders are invited to submit guest articles.  Working on the newspaper is a wonderful way to hone writing and editing skills, use the power of the press in meaningful ways, and interact with great people.

CURRENT POLITICAL ISSUES

Want to be informed about current political issues? Come to the political issues club -- Stimulating discussions, exciting speakers, and outings. Make politics part of your Barrack Hebrew Academy experience. Keep tabs on the Israeli political scene through our Muss connection.

  DEBATE (UPPER SCHOOL)

Upper School students enter the exciting world of debate and participate in interscholastic competitions that take place throughout the Northeastern USA.  They learn the discipline of true debating skills and meet interesting, articulate, and thoughtful peers along the way.

DRAMA CLUB
Students interested in acting, theater craft and the world of drama and musicals join fellow performers and behind-the-scenes participants, all working with a master drama director. Students perform plays and musicals in both Barrack Hebrew Academy's Middle and Upper Schools to SRO audiences.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
The focus of this club depends upon student interest, but may include promoting school awareness of environmental concerns, exploring ways to help preserve the environment, and conducting experiments to study environmental issues. Some past activities have included planting trees and flowers on Barrack Hebrew Academy's campus, promoting recycling and efficient energy practices and letter writing campaigns.

FINE ARTS

Art Majors:
In Art Majors, students have the time to explore and develop their individual artistic visions as well as participate in group projects . This term, Sculpture was our area of focus. Through a variety exercises using basic materials(clay, wood, board) , students explored a wide range of sculptural qualities . A final project and a trip to the Rodin Museum will complete our quarter.

FRENCH (UPPER SCHOOL)

The French Club is open to students who study French or who are interested in expanding their knowledge and enjoyment of French culture. Soyez la bienvenue a notre club! Click here for pictures and information about our trip to Paris in June, 2005!

FUTURE ENGINEERS CLUB             

Our mission is to use Intel about science and our ingenuity to design and build various top-secret projects.  For example in past years, we designed and built, and launched rockets, catapults, boats, and wooden cars.  Get a part of the action and have a blast!

FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS OF AMERICA CLUB
Dream about starting your own business? This club helps young entrepreneurs learn about the business world and enhance their leadership skills in a professional environment. We host networking events to introduce students to business executives and community leaders, provide programs on preparing for the business world and offer workshops on entrepreneurship.

GATEWAY
Gateway, Barrack Hebrew Academy's literary magazine, welcomes submissions from students in all grade levels.  . Club members learn how to edit and layout a literary magazine whose contents include short stories, essays, poetry, photography and art. Barrack Hebrew Academy students do not have to be club members to submit entries that are reviewed anonymously by student editors and selected for publication.

GREAT BOOKS (UPPER SCHOOL)
Upper School students who enjoy reading participate in lively discussions of great literature,

including the classics as well as contemporary works.

HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights Club members host speakers, hold assemblies and organize rallies and teach-ins about issues important to all those who believe in equality and justice for all people of the world.

INVESTMENT

Are you the next Warren Buffet? Compete with other students in a mock Stock Market Game. In addition, you will learn how to read stock tables, read an annual report and some of the tricks of the trade.

ISRAEL
Israel Club members brings to life culture in Barrack Hebrew Academy and strengthens the student body's connection to the Jewish state. We are planning many exciting events this year, including a school-wide Israeli cultural fair and monthly programs on different themes.

KNITTING   

Knitting is great for relaxation while developing small motor skills and camaraderie.

KOL AKIVA
Kol Akiva is Barrack Hebrew Academy's Hebrew language publication. Students of all Hebrew levels enjoy seeing their work in print: stories, articles, reports, photographs,and artwork. They share team work experiences and move up in positions of reporters, photographers, art and layout editors, section editors and chief editor. Hebrew proficiency improves greatly along the way.

LATIN CLUB
Veniat unus, Veniant omnes! The Latin Club is open to students studying this important classical language and culture, the root of many languages and cultures.

L'SHEM SHAMAYIM

This is an Upper School publication that highlights vigorous debate on issues important to Zionism, politics and Israel.

MATH COUNTS
Math Counts is a club for Middle School students who are interested in solving unusual math problems. Participants learn problem-solving techniques and develop critical thinking skills. An interscholastic competition is administered in February.

MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNCIL (MSC)

Led by elected officers, MSC operates as the student government for the MIddle School. Each grade has several representatives. However, all meetings are open to every Middle School student. MSC plans social events for the MIddle School, as well as Chesed projects. In addition, MSC officers help to lead the major SA committees: the Finance Board and the Judicial Board. The MSC President is part of the group of Barrack Hebrew Academy students that meets regularly with the school's administration to discuss issues of importance or concern. See Student Association page for more information.

MOCK TRIAL
Upper School students prepare for and enter several Mock Trial competitions throughout the year. Barrack Hebrew Academy has a team of students who prepare both the defense and the prosecution on a case provided by the Mock Trial Association. In addition, participants work with a lawyer advisor provided by the Association.

MUSIC APPRECIATION (UPPER SCHOOL)

Let's face it--music makes people happy. So if you like being happy, you should consider joining the new, and much-anticipated, Music Appreciation Club. Have loads of fun while listening to, watching, and even playing different genres of music. Musician or non-musician, all that is required of members is to appreciate music (note the name of the club: Music Appreciation). So come see what all the noise is about!

SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)     (UPPER SCHOOL)                                   SADD is a peer leadership group whose mission is to prevent destructive decisions, particularly drinking, impaired driving, and other drug use, through proactive programming and education.

SPANISH CLUB
Barrack Hebrew Academy's student-run Spanish Club is open to students studying Spanish or are interested in expanding their knowledge and enjoyment of Spanish culture.

STUDENT ASSOCIATION (SA)

Led by elected officers, the SA operates as the student government for the entire school. Each grade has several elected representatives to the SA. However all meetings are open to every member of Barrack Hebrew Academy's student body. Through the SA, Barrack Hebrew Academy students also have a voice on each of Barrack Hebrew Academy's Board of Directors' subcommittees, as well as on the Board itself. SA Constitution. Student Bill of Rights.

UPPER SCHOOL  MATH                                                                 

Enjoy Math? Learn to compete with others as well as challenge yourself!