Mount Carmel Area "Big Red Band"
Think Big Dance Marathon Fundraiser
Anti-Drug Addiction Assembly - Richard F. Beierschmitt Auditorium
Mount Carmel Area Elementary School
Veterans Day Assembly 2019
Ultimate Frisbee Competitors
Red Tornado Cross Country 2019
Tornado Alley - Silverbowl

Clubs and Activities

Mount Carmel Area Jr/Sr High School

Our school has a wide variety of activities and organizations that nurture individual growth, skills, team building, and benevolent attitudes.  Membership in a club advances personal goals and increases positive recognition of all students who participate as well as our school.  Some clubs feature interscholastic competition.  Others consist of simple after-school activities that are fun and develop skills.  Several organizations focus activities on giving to needy organizations and members of our community.   There are also clubs and societies that require commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence and others that allow practice in the development of social skills.  All clubs and activities provide opportunities for growth, learning, and a sense of belonging.  Consider membership in the school clubs and activities that most meet your interests.

Art Club

Advisers:  Mrs. Jennifer Stahr 

The goal of the MCA Art Club is to help the school be a more interesting place to teach, learn, and serve within. We are dedicated to helping members become better problem solvers, gifted young artists, and cooperative workers. Some of our most popular activities include face painting for football games, creating murals within the school, an annual field trip, and producing excellent work for the Annual MCA Art Show.

Admission for this club costs $12 (these dues are used for cash prizes for the annual art show), and those wishing to purchase a club t-shirt must pay an additional $13 (club t-shirts are required to participate in the art club trip). As a member of this club, students are required to serve and log at least 10 hours of extracurricular art related service. Failing to do so will prevent the student from rejoining the club the following year. Members are also expected to attend all meetings and participate in all club fundraisers, which fund the purchase of major pieces of art equipment such as pottery wheels and compressors.

 

Interested students in grades eight through twelve should see Mrs. Shockey (Rm105) or Mrs. Stahr (Rm 2) with further questions about requirements.
Cheerleading

Adviser:  Miss Cassandra Niglio, Mrs. Hannah Monger

Chemistry Club
Adviser:  Mr. Scott Swank

Students perform chemical experiments and activities to further expand their chemistry knowledge and experience.

Chess Club

Adviser:  Mr.Scott Swank

The chess club is for any student in grades 7-12 who is interested in playing chess or learning how to play chess. All skill levels are welcome. Instruction and matches occur weekly and tournaments are held throughout the school year.

Chorus

Adviser:  Mr. Brandon Mowery

Color Guard
Adviser:  Mr. Bernard Stellar
Developmental Studies
Adviser:  Mr. Aaron Domanski

Developmental Studies is a class available for students in the Mount Carmel Area Gifted Program in grades 7-12. In this class, students meet with Mr. Domanski to work on enrichment activities that meet their individual gifted needs. This program helps to stimulate the minds of gifted students and gives them the opportunity to be challenged in ways that that extend beyond their regular education classes.
Future Business Leaders of America
Advisers:  Mrs. Kristen Fourspring & Ms. Trish Stockalis

The Mount Carmel Area Future Business Leaders of America is a student organization, dedicated to making today’s high school students, tomorrow’s leaders. FBLA’s sole objective is to prepare students for careers; not just in business, but in any career whereleadership, enthusiasm, and creative thinking are necessities.

Being a part of the MCA FBLA chapter brings with it not only opportunities, but results andrewards. Over the last three years our academic organization has tripled in membership, placed first at the State competition and traveled to Chicago for the National Competition to represent Pennsylvania. In addition, academic scholarships have been awarded to ourstudents.

Future Nurses of America
Adviser:  Mrs. Leanne Ryan

The club is open to any student in grades 9-12 that is interested in going into the healthcare field.  The club focuses on being able to give back to our community through Geisinger blood drives and Mt. Carmel nursing home visits.  Also, the club encourages students to learn the importance of professionalism and healthcare basics.

Future Teachers of America

Adviser:  

Interact

Adviser:  

Interact gives students the opportunity to make a difference while having fun. Interact carriers out service projects throughout the year that have a positive impact on the school and community. Interact is sponsor by the Mount Carmel Rotary.

Jazz Band
Adviser:  Mr. Bernard Stellar

The Mount Carmel Area Jazz Band is a musical ensemble in the tradition of big band jazz. They perform a festival concert each spring, and also play at various events throughout the community.
 

The  MCA Jazz Band is an extra curricular ensemble that meets once a week after school, and consists of members from the Mount Carmel Area High School Band. Occasionally students not in the MCA Band are asked to participate in areas of need.

 
Interested students should see Mr. Stellar to participate.
Latin Club
Adviser:  Mr. Christopher Cunningham
Masque & Gavel
Adviser:  Mrs. Kathy Schauer
Math Counts

Adviser:  Mrs. Kelly Domanski

MATHCOUNTS is a math competition for middle school students.  Through practice and inter-school competition, students first qualify for a school team.  Students then travel to Penn State Schuylkill Campus to compete in the Regional Anthracite Chapter competition in February.  The top team, as well as the top three individual scorers, advance to the state competition which is held in Hershey, PA.  Top-finishing students then travel to the national competition in Washington, DC.

National Athletic Honor Society
Adviser:  Mr. John Darrah
National Junior Honor Society
Adviser:  Mrs. Yvonne Sierdzinski
National Senior Honor Society
Advisers:  Mr. Aaron Domanski & Mrs. Kelly Domanski

National Honor Society is a nationally recognized society in which students who demonstrate scholarship, leadership, character and community involvement can be inducted into in grades 10 – 12.  Under the new guidelines, students must have a 93 cumulative average, be involved in at least two extracurricular/outside activities, complete 20 hours of community service and receive satisfactory character ratings from teachers’ evaluations.  Please check out the Honor Societies link for more details.

Odyssey of the Mind
Advisers:

A creative problem-solving competition where students in teams of five to seven members solve one of five given problems in the form of an eight minute skit.

Some problems require technical skills such as balsa wood structure building(Problem 4) and mechanical vehicle creation(problem 1), while others are more based on skits and presentation, with Problem 3 focused on the classics and problem 5 devoted to comedy. Problem 2 is a combination of technical skills and presentation.
 
Teams assemble in the fall and  meet after school several days a week for months to prepare for the regional competition in March, with the hopes of making it to the state competition in April, then finally the World Finals in May.
Operetta

Adviser:  Mr. Brandon Mowery

Peer Mediation

Adviser:  

Pep Club
Adviser:  Ms. Trish Stockalis

Pep Club is a group of enthusiastic Mount Carmel Area High School students who bring pride and awareness to all athletic events.

All Pep Club members will:

  • Demonstrate courtesy
  • Demonstrate sportsmanlike behavior and respect officials’ calls
  • Demonstrate appropriate behavior while engaged in student travel
  • Support MCA teams by attended as many events as possible
Pit Band
Adviser:  Mr. Bernard Stellar
Quill & Scroll
Adviser:  Mrs. Kathy Schauer
Reading Club

Advisers:  Miss Ashlee Jarosiewicz

In MCA’s Reading Club, we enjoy reading in-depth literature and discussing the meaning of the works.  We also watch movies to compare and contrast the movie to the novel.  Some of the service projects include a large book drive, where new and gently used books are obtained to give to all students within the school district, from grades K-12.  We also do multiple reading trips to the elementary school to read and do crafts with younger students to create life-long readers.  Our goal is to teach reading skills and promote a love of learning.  We also choose one large field trip per school year based on the literature we are currently reading in the club.  This club is open to all students in grades 9-12 only. As a member of this club, students are expected to come to weekly club meetings and to engage in the extra-curricular aspects.  Questions about the club and admittance should be directed to Mr. Paul Haden or Mrs. Shanna Haden.

SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
Adviser:  Mrs. Juanita McBride
Science Club

Adviser:  

The purpose of science club is to promote participation is science related competitions such as PA Envirothon. Other activities include assisting in Jr. High lab classes, tree planting and recycling endeavors as the need arises.

Science Envirothon

Adviser:  

Science Olympiad

Adviser:  

Ski Club
Adviser:  Mrs. Jessica Nahodil

During the course of the winter, the club attends several after school trips.  Students have the option to either ski or snowboard.  Equipment can be rented at the resort for students who do not have their own.  All ability levels from beginner to advanced are welcome!
 
Spanish Club

Adviser:  Ms. Eve Lyash

Spanish club is open to all students taking a Spanish class at MCA.  The Club explores Hispanic culture throughout the Spanish speaking world.

Stage Crew
Adviser:  Mr. David McFee

The stage crew is responsible for all technical aspects and operation of stage equipment during assemblies, shows and other programs in the Richard F. Beierschmitt Auditorium.  Some of the tasks performed by the stage crew involve constructing, painting, and changing scenery before, after and during shows.  In addition, maintaining and operating lighting  and audio hardware are done by stage crew members.

Members of the stage crew are required to learn the names of all parts of the theatre and stage area and operate curtains and scenery suspension equipment safely.  Students may specialize in stage carpentry, lighting, audio, or painting.  Two years on stage crew qualify members for a medal on Class Night and eligibility for Masque & Gavel, provided a significant contribution was made during the spring musical.

Interested students in grades seven through twelve should see Mr. McFee in the television studio to discuss requirements further.

Student Council
Advisers:  Ms. Tammy Michaels

Students Council is a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with the school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students.  Usually the student council works with a teacher, who is the link person between students and staff and management in the school. Open to grades 7-12.

Table-top Gaming

Advisers:  Mr. Scott Swank
Students play cooperative games with other students using stories and characters they themselves have generated. They use math, critical thinking, leadership, and cooperative skills to succeed.

Technology Education Club
Adviser:  Mr. Keith Fourspring

The MCA Tech ED Club focuses on hard work ethic and dedication to Technology Education. Members of the club work hard and spend the needed time to achieve club goals that are set in the beginning of the year. Members participate in woodworking fundraiser, specialized project builds, and completing projects around the school. The club takes an annual trip to raft or canoe the PA grand canyon in Wellsboro, Pa. Members also participate is planning and designing Tech Ed Club T- shirts. The Club promotes cooperative working and learning for students in grades 10-12.

WKMCTV Television Studio
Adviser:  Mr. David McFee

WKMCTV is an operating television facility cable-casting on channel 13 of the Service Electric Cable System.  The staff is comprised of students from Communications Media classes.  However any seventh or eighth grade student is eligible to participate in an extra-curricular capacity.  As a member of WKMCTV students should expect to work after school on Wednesdays and Fridays during the fall and some other weekdays as needed during winter and spring.  Students are trained to operate still and video cameras, audio and television equipment as well as computer applications supporting a video production facility.  Questions should be directed to Mr. McFee in the television studio.

WVIA College Bowl Competition
Advisers:  Mr. Chris Cunningham & Mr. Aaron Domanski

Scholastic Scrimmage is an annual competition in which a group of four students, along with two alternates compete in the CSIU regional tournaments against neighboring schools by answering academic based quiz bowl questions. The event is hosted by WVIA television and incorporates all intermediate units in northeast and central Pennsylvania. If you are interested or would like more information please see Mr. Domanski and/or Mr. Cunningham.

Yearbook Photographers
Adviser:  Mr. David McFee

Yearbook photographers shoot digital pictures for the Carmelite yearbook.  Photographers must be committed to uploading their best photos within a few days of shooting.  If you’re thinking about becoming a photographer for the yearbook, consider if you have time to attend several games or meets for each sport and other events that should be in the yearbook.  Photographers spend most of their time reviewing and uploading their photos to servers for the yearbook staff to use.  A yearbook photographer must shoot and upload at least four events per marking period consisting of at least 36 exposures each to make a significant contribution to the Carmelite.  Some pictures are often uploaded to WKMCTV Facebook page as this is a popular venue for review.  See Mr. McFee in the TV studio for more information.

Yearbook Staff
Adviser:  Ms. Trish Stockalis

The Carmelite staff strives to create a professional quality yearbook by using creative and modern designs, candid photos and descriptive copy.  Our purpose is to make it possible for the student body to have in its possession events of their school lives.