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CO-CURRICULARS
Clubs
Clubs are a great way to build friendships, to have fun, and to grow in the practice of student leadership, which is a hallmark of the Northridge experience.
High School
Arts
John Riccobono
In Class
Music plays an important role at Northridge. And there are many opportunities for students to perform for parents and classmates throughout the year. Our programs are designed to help students build listening skills, collaboration skills, and leadership skills.
Mr. Joseph Lechner
Northridge Drama Club offers students the opportunity to perform in upwards of two shows a year. In a typical year, we have a
play in the Fall and a musical in the Spring. Our on-stage actors act, sing, learn choreography, and more! Drama also offers the
unique opportunity to gain hands-on technical, logistical, and carpentry experience as part of our stage crew.
Mr. Russell Fernandes, Mr. Kieran Driver
Food club will allow students to enhance their culinary skills while trying new cuisines. Through hands on demonstrations, club members will learn the art of food preparation and cooking, including developing knife skills, perfecting grilling and more!
John Macfarlane
Fridays
The Northridge Men’s Chorus performs in concerts, at basketball games, Dinner at the Ridge, and other large events. More than
just an acapella group, members will also learn to perform four-part harmonies with a wide range of music, both traditional
and contemporary. Men’s Chorus is a for-credit class that meets before school 2 days/week and at lunch 1 day/week.
Mr. Aric Diamond
The Northridge Poetry Club provides a space for students to discuss, recite, and compose poetry with their peers. We meet every Tuesday during lunch in Room 201. Our big event of the year is the Bard Competition, and we plan to submit original works of poetry to regional competitions as well.
Scholastic
Edwin Carbajal
Club leaders put on events that allow students to develop an interest in careers ranging from biological research to medicine through hands-on experiments, presentations from healthcare professionals, and attendance at biomedical conferences.
Mr. Benjamin Foster
The goal of this club is to cultivate and foster interest in Phytology and Entomology and even Ornithology among Northridge
students. Club members organize and promote events including local restoration projects and field trips to nearby natural sites.
Mr. Connor Boyle
Northridge’s Math Team competes in the regional and state ICTM math competitions. Students compete in individual events
(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and PreCalculus) and team events (Freshman-Sophomore, Junior-Senior, Calculator, and Oral).
Last year, NRP placed 3rd, of 54 teams, in the state competition.
Mr. Thomas Boles
Mock Trial simulates real courtroom experiences, where members take on roles such as lawyers, witnesses, and judges to
practice legal procedures, develop public speaking skills, and improve critical thinking through mock legal cases.
Mr. Peter Murray
Northridge's Debate and Model UN Team offers students the opportunity to hone their rhetorical skills via competition with
other Northridge students and at other schools in tournaments and conferences.
Mr. Kieran Driver
Northridge Newspaper is back! Students have the opportunity to participate in the world of journalism, enhance their writing skills, and discuss current issues. Members will have the chance to regularly compose articles, opinion pieces, poems, and much more (all of which will be published and distributed throughout the school)!
Mr. Shane Ayers
The Northridge Philosophy Club allows members to read and discuss works of important philosophers and learn to compare these thinkers’ visions of reality. Along the way, members will engage in the Great Conversation, struggling with the most important questions in the human experience, from the search for wisdom to the meaning of existence.
Mr. Edwin Carbajal
Allows students to explore careers in zoology, ethology, and conservation biology through guest speakers, field trips, and the
hands-on care for the Northridge Zoological Society (Room 205).
Engineering
Mr. Richard Rodriguez, Mr. Alvaro Vargas
Calling all car enthusiasts! Northridge’s Automotive club will bring together students interested in cars and mechanics to learn
more about motors and practice their interest in real vehicles. Opportunities will involve learning and practicing basic repairs
and modifications, and building a Go-Kart from scratch!
Mr. Bart Bak, Mr. Mariano Fernández
The Northridge Robotics Teams, the Knight Owls, work to build and code a robot for competing in the competitive FIRST Tech challenge. Success in this competition requires the boys to cooperate effectively and promotes developing skills in teamwork, brainstorming, coding, manufacturing, and design.
Mr. Tom Lipscomb
The American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) is a national tournament in which Northridge competes with more than 5,000 students from about 950 teams for $100,000 in cash prizes! One of the premier STEM activities in the United States, universities like Notre Dame, Stanford, MIT, UCLA, and Cal have college-level versions of rocket teams that compete at a National level.
Fitness / Adventure
Mr. Emmett McGovern
The Northridge Boxing Club will provide students with an opportunity to grow in confidence and self-esteem, learning boxing skills and techniques for the purpose of being able to defend themselves and to be able to protect others if necessary.
Mr. Kieran Driver
Ski club allows students to make the most of Winter by doing the most enjoyable snowsport! Beginning or experienced students are welcome to join the club where we will plan 3-4 ski excursions to a local slope on a Saturday during the season. Transport will be provided, but students will need to bring or rent their own clothing and equipment.
Other
Mr. Croix Urcina, Mr. Joe Egan
A long-standing Northridge tradition, the Northridge Bears club brings together fans of Chicago’s own NFL Football team to talk
games, players, and all things related to the team. Bear down, Chicago Bears!
Mr. Robert O’Brien, Mr. Richard Rodriguez
Club members learn openings, end games, and chess strategies as they compete as a team against other area high schools
throughout the season. In the Spring, Chess Team members travel to compete at the Illinois High School Chess Tournament.
Mr. Pat Healy (President: Jaden Lukose, VP: Nick Williams, Officer: Javi Rodriguez)
Monday
The Northridge Investment Club seeks to educate students on the principles of stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and other
investments through lectures, virtual trading, guest speakers, and more.
Alex Suarez
Thursday
The Northridge Media Club creates original news and content that is posted to our school website, the weekly Knightly News e-letter and more. Students capture the life of Northridge and beyond through photography, article writing, and filmmaking. Students produce and share fun and creative stories, and build their own portfolio that will add value to their college applications.
Mr. Jack Cleveland, Mr. Pat O’Hagan
Tuesday
Service Club members lead and promote service opportunities within our community, and they organize one large event each year: Trivia Night, for students across many high schools
Mr. Mark Corter (Mrs. Corter’s husband)
Sea Scouts is a program offered through Northridge and sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. The program is chartered by the Chicago Yacht Club. It is a co-ed youth-led program where members learn leadership, stewardship and self-reliance through maritime and nautical education. No past boating experience is required!
Middle School
Arts
John Riccobono
In Class
Music plays an important role at Northridge. And there are many opportunities for students to perform for parents and classmates throughout the year. Our programs are designed to help students build listening skills, collaboration skills, and leadership skills.
John Macfarlane
Fridays
The Northridge Men’s Chorus performs in concerts, at basketball games, at Dinner at the Ridge, and other large events. More than just an acapella group, members will also learn to perform four-part harmonies with a wide range of music, both traditional and contemporary. Men’s Chorus is a for-credit class that meets before school 2 days/week and at lunch 1 day/week.
Shane Ayers
Matthew Marsland
Joseph Lechner
Northridge Drama Club offers students the opportunity to perform in upwards of two shows a year. In a typical year, we have a play in the Fall and a musical in the Spring. This year, however, our musical will be in mid-January. Our on-stage actors do more than act, however, they also sing, learn choreography, performs swordfights, etc. Beyond the opportunity to perform on stage, Northridge Drama offers the unique opportunity to gain hands on technical, logistical, and carpentry experience as part of our stage crew, without which the show couldn't go on.
Other
Robert O'Brien
Club members learn openings, end games, and chess strategies as they compete as a team against other area high schools throughout the season. In the Spring, Chess Team members travel to compete at the Illinois High School Chess Tournament.
Mr. Tito Fernandez
The Northridge RoboKnights are a competitive robotics team, competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge. The RoboKnights have been State contenders for 2 years running, winning the Regional Championships and making Top 10 out of 200 teams in Illinois for the 2018-19 season.