Our 6th graders are as active and involved as our 7th-12th grade students. In 2015-2016, we established clubs and programs based upon the interests of our 6th grade students. Some of the clubs included:

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. 

 

To enhance the preparation for college and careers, DECA facilitates co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, applied learning in the context of business, connectivity to business and the community, and competition.  There are currently 190,000 members in 3,500 schools within the High School Division.

 

This club is for any student currently enrolled in a business class, including economics.

An academic competition in which schools compete following a quiz-bowl format where students must ring in and be recognized before answering.  Questions cover a wide range of topics including: art, biology, chemistry, current events, geography, history, literature, music, political science, pop culture, religion and sports.

This club is open to students in grades 6-12 who are enrolled in French, were previously enrolled in French, or international students who are fluent in French.

In Le Cercle Français, students meet to learn about French culture and customs, and plan special fundraising events such as the annual Soiree Française. French Club members will watch French music videos, snippets from French films, read about French culture and sample various French foods during bi-monthly meetings! 

 

Masterminds is an academic competition in which schools compete in 12 match-play rounds per season.  Each match follows a quiz-bowl format where students must ring in and be recognized before answering.  Questions cover a wide range of topics including: art, biology, chemistry, current events, geography, history, literature, music, political science, pop culture, religion and sports.

A social yet competitive league featuring six competitions during the year, once in each month, lasting from September-February. Students compete against other schools answering challenging math questions. 

Students may join at any time and may attend as many meets as they would like. Those who attend 4 out of 6 meets may participate in the Monroe County Math League competition in March. Math League participants earn class bonus points (please see your math teacher for details).

Started in 2006, the National Honor Society encourages and rewards scholarship, renders service, promotes leadership and develops character among members.  Eligible students must attain a cumulative weighted GPA of 92 by the end of their sophomore year.  They must maintain this GPA for the remainder of their membership in the National Honor Society. Students must also exhibit leadership qualities, show evidence of exceptional character as reflected in their disciplinary record, and have performed significant hours of community service. The National Honors Society at Aquinas provides a peer tutoring service available to all students throughout the year.

St. Thomas Club is for students in grades 9-12 who earn academic averages of 95-100 on their quarterly report cards.  St. Basil's Club is for students in grades 7-8 who earn academic averages of 95-100 on their quarterly report cards.  Students will be notified following the grading period and will be invited to a celebratory breakfast.  

The Aquinas Dance Program offers four levels of dance as a Fine Arts sequence. This program is offered during the school day and focuses on historical and contemporary dance themes through technique classes, master classes, films, choreography, and performance. Students are required to perform in two dance concerts during the year.

Middle School Dance Company is a choreography and performance class held during the FLEX period at the end of the school day, and is offered to students in grades 7 and 8. Students enrolled in this class will learn choreography in Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, African and Musical Theatre styles, and will perform in the semi-annual dance concerts, in-school assemblies, halftime basketball shows and benefit concerts. Students enrolled in Dance Company may also have the opportunity to attend dance competitions and conventions. No previous dance experience is required to participate in Dance Company. However, because this class is a choreography and performance class, students are encouraged to take at least one weekly technique class outside of Dance Company.

Theatre has been part of Aquinas’s tradition of excellence since the school was founded. Over the years, the Aquinas stage has fostered the creativity, skill, and confidence of generations of students. Our cast and crew members perform for audiences that include parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents who have performed on the same stage. Our current Theatre Director, Megan Barbour, is herself a third-generation alumna and former Aquinas actor.

 

Our annual theatre season offers performance opportunities for all our students, whether middle school or high school. The mainstage season includes three productions, all student run with adult supervision. Students are immersed in a wide range of genres, from contemporary shows (past shows include Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, and She Kills Monsters) to American classics (The Sound of Music, The Crucible, and Our Town), to Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest).

 

Beyond the mainstage season, students further develop their craft through programming such as the annual 24 Hour Play Festival (which offers opportunities for student playwrights and directors as well as actors and technicians), workshops, and field trips. Our students have travelled to NYC, London, and Canada’s renowned Stratford Festival to enjoy performances, tours, and masterclasses.

 

In the classroom, our middle schoolers learn the elements of storytelling and collaborative performance, while our high schoolers dive into the world of the theatre through classes like Introduction to Theatre and Introduction to Production, Dramatics, Acting, and Public Speaking.

 

Additionally, the Theatre Director and the department itself are active members of the New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA). Our students attend the annual NYSTEA Student Conference in the Catskills where theatre professionals from New York City and the East coast, along with college theatre programs, hold varied workshops over a three day period.

 

Aquinas’s commitment to the theatre arts can be seen in the variety of production experience, classroom instruction, and programming offered to its students. We hope you will join us as an actor, technician, patron, or audience member to make our season the best one yet!

---

The Aquinas Technical Theatre Program is responsible for the maintenance, program, and construction of all theatre productions, concerts, dance concerts, and visiting organizations.  It is a completely student run organization; students are in charge of building, designing, and implementing all aspects of technical theatre.  All tech students are encouraged to come to set construction, where work on lights, sound, set, costumes, and props happens.  While most students eventually find an area they would like to specialize in as an upperclassmen, all students are encouraged to work in a variety of crews to learn more about the process as a whole. 

Students run a television show each morning that broadcasts news and announcements to AQ students.

Aquinas offers a wide variety of opportunities and courses for musicians, including: Beginning Instrumental Music Program, Middle School Band, Concert Band, Jazz Improv, and History of Rock 'n' Roll.  All courses meet during the day except Jazz Improv, which meets once per week after school.

Vocal music courses provide an artistic and musical outlet for all students.  Students from all experience levels and singing abilities are encouraged to participate.  Using the New York State Standards for Music, curriculum is followed in proper singing technique, music theory, music history, and sight-reading.  Personal confidence is built through solo singing, concert performances and one-on-one music lessons.

Four 6th graders, four 7th graders, and six 8th graders are elected to represent the Middle School and plan activities, events, and organize service work.

Students photograph AQMS activities throughout the year and assist with designing the yearbook.

Students photograph activities through the year and design the yearbook.

Student Council, a prominent student government organization, gives students a voice in determining school activities and environment.  It helps promote activities for the entire student body at Aquinas and fosters a positive climate throughout the school.  The focus of Student Council is on developing leadership skills through interaction with students, faculty, community and other Aquinas stakeholders.

 

Examples of Student Council Activities: Dodgeball Tournament, Field Day, Planned Dress Down Days.

Student Ambassadors assist in giving tours to prospective students.  They may also have a shadow for a day so that the prospective students get a chance to experience a day at Aquinas in the grade they will be entering.  Student Ambassadors are also an important part of our Fall Open House, providing tours to prospective students and their families. 

The Iron Shamrock Club is an incentive and rewards-based strength building motivation program for student athletes.  The incentive program will reward athletes for meeting strength standards. The ultimate aim is that the opportunity to reach the highest level will encourage student athletes to take their training more seriously - as well as enlighten them on what it takes to become an elite athlete. The program is based on relative strength calculations on 1 RPM on 4 key lifts.  Relative strength calculation allows all athletes - male and female - of all body types and levels, the reasonable ability to reach at least one of the 4 standards: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Elite.  

Ski Club travels each Friday and on school breaks as long as weather permits.