Academic
Team – Our J. V. and varsity Academic Teams compete
throughout the year. Teams of four match wits against their opponents
in a “Jeopardy” type format. The students memorize
an amazing array of facts, often specializing in particular categories
e.g. sports, mythology, and literature. Academic Team is challenging,
fun, and competitive. Freshmen through Seniors are invited to
participate. The faculty advisor is Mr. Bonello.
The JV Academic Team placed 1st at the Knob Noster Academic
Bowl in February 2010.
Art Club – The SPX Art Club is open to all freshman
through senior art students and any students who are just interested
in art. The club meets from September through March and the meetings
are held after school. The dates will be part of the morning school
announcements. At the first meeting of each year the students
brainstorm what projects they would like to accomplish over the
year. These projects generally include field trip visits to studios
and galleries, community art, crafts, and fun projects for all
who participate. The faculty advisor is Ms. Guyla Blackwell.
Athletics – Coach Rick Byers is the Athletic
Director. SPX offers the following sports: Boys: Baseball, Basketball,
Cross Country, Football, Golf, Hockey, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis,
Track, and Wrestling; Girls: Basketball, Cross Country, Softball,
Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track, and Volleyball.
Cheerleading – Freshman Cheer tryouts are
held during the summer prior to the incoming female student’s
freshmen year. A current physical must be on file with the school
prior to participating in the tryout. All information regarding
dates will be in the Parent Newsletter. J.V. and Varsity Cheer
tryouts are held during each spring. Current SPX female students
having a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average are eligible for
tryouts.
Dance
Team – (Formerly known as Pom-Pon), tryouts are
held each spring for the dance team. Current female SPX students
who have a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average are eligible to
tryout.
Debate
– We have two classes that are offered to sophomores through
seniors to teach Debate skills. The Debate Team competes from
October through March and has produced six teams who have qualified
for Catholic Nationals, National Forensic League, and National
Parliamentary Debate League. We compete in Policy Team, Lincoln
Douglas and Ted Turner Debate.
Drama
– Drama I is an introductory course into all aspects of
theatre. Students gain an understanding and appreciation for drama
throughout history and relate this information to religion, society,
culture, and individual responses. Acting “Up” 101
is a course that is offered to students who have completed Drama
I or have prior approval from the instructor. It is an advanced
study aimed at the craft of acting and the responsibilities of
producing and directing. SPX Players is an audition only class
focused on ensemble acting. The main emphasis of SPX Players is
to perform outside of SPX for schools, groups, organizations and
clubs. Production/Stagecraft/Technical Theatre – This is
a “working”, “hands-on” classroom. The
primary focus is promoting and supporting the demands of staging
SPX special effects, set design, set construction, property management,
textile art, electrical work, lighting and sound design, costuming,
painting, make-up, and woodworking.
Fellowship
Of Christian Athletes- Our mission is to promote Catholic
Christian values in athletics, namely through community involvement
and good sportsmanship at all St. Pius X athletic events. Any
student athlete from grades 9-12 can be involved.
Forensics
– is a competitive speech/acting activity. Students will
either present an original speech and/or a humorous/dramatic piece
from memory. Tournaments are held at numerous schools across the
city and state. The season lasts from October through March. Students
have the opportunity to perform at state and national tournaments,
which offer scholarship potential. Any student who is interested
in an acting activity that challenges them to be the best, Forensics
is for them! Mrs. Jill Hammerle is the faculty advisor.
Letters
of Compassion
A group of students committed to global awareness and social justice
through advocacy, fundraising, and information sharing. The group
meets in the library every Thursday after school for one hour.
National Honor Society –“Students
may not apply for membership in the National Honor Society. Membership
is granted only to those students selected by the faculty council"
(National NHS Handbook. 11). "Candidates must have a cumulative
scholastic average of at least 3.0....Candidates will then be
evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character"
(National NHS Handbook. 5). NHS members and prospective candidates
serve their school, classmates, and community, provide leadership
in promoting school activities, and uphold the highest principles
of morality and ethics. The advisors are Mr. Monachino and Mr.
Lee.
Ministry
Team – is open to all St. Pius X students interested
in service to our community. We are involved in outreach to our
feeder schools. Ministry Team is involved in a Haunted House Halloween
party for our feeder schools, a St. Patrick Day theme “Senior
Prom” for senior citizens, and Turkey Karaoke as a fundraiser
for Operation Uplift, Bishop Sullivan Center and Seaton Center.
Ministry Team combines fun with service. Mrs Julia Pickert and
Mr. Todd Ashby are the faculty advisors.
Newspaper
- The Sartonian is the student produced monthly newspaper of St.
Pius X High School and is advised by Mrs. Lana Carlson and Ms.
Heather Plumb. All students are welcome to apply for positions
on the newspaper staff. A variety of skills and tasks are useful,
including writing, interviewing, researching, editing, photography,
page design, ad sales, distribution/mailing, and billing advertisers.
The newspaper is not produced within a classroom setting so students
should be aware that this is an out-of-school activity.
Pro
Life – a club under the auspices of the SPX Ministry
Team. Our purpose is to raise awareness in our school and community
about Pro-Life issues. We sponsored a “Bowling for Babies”
fundraiser for Crisis Pregnancy, promoted a Chastity Program and
celebrated Pro-Life Week with displays and a guest speaker. We
also attended the Right to Life March in Washington DC. We combine
prayer, service, and political action. Any student who is interested
is welcome to join. Mr. Rick Ringel is the faculty advisor for
this club.
SADD –(Students Against Destructive Decisions formerly
known as Students Against Drunk Driving) is advised by
Ms. Heather Plumb and Mrs. April Hailey. SADD has become a peer
leadership organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions,
particularly underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving,
teen violence and teen depression and suicide. All students are
welcome to join. SADD meets monthly depending on various planned
activities.
Sarton
Singer's - Is an audition choir that travels within the
community giving concerts and participating in liturgies. Individuals
and groups compete for District and State in the fall and spring.
Last year we had an all-District vocalist (one of the best 35
in the Kansas City Metro Area) and an all-State violinist (one
of the top 35 violinists in the state of Missouri). We also had
two vocalists ranked 1 in District and 1 in state. Mrs. Sandy
Prothman is the faculty advisor.
Student
Council – StuCo’s major responsibility is
to plan and coordinate student life at St. Pius X, everything
from pep rallies, dances, Catholic Schools Week, Adopt-a-Family,
and other service activities, working to include all students
and all student interests and talents. StuCo is also a training
ground for student leaders. Our events are planned and carried
out by students with minimal guidance from the Student Council
moderator. Student Council has two on-going focuses: to plan events
for the entire student body that are worthwhile and make students
glad they are here; and to plan all-school events that reach out
to the world around us, i.e. social justice responses, service
projects. A major fundraiser will be "Mr. SPX". Young
men are nominated by moderators/coaches from each of the sports
or clubs. For one week, the nominees dress up in thematic attire
each day (formal, like the sport/club they represent, spirited,
etc.); and students donate money to their buckets depending upon
their charisma and dress. We usually collect $1500-2000 in this
effort. The nominee with the most money is named "Mr. SPX"
at the Gold and Blue Awards in early May. We also have a Blood
Drive. We have worked to boost school spirit, highlighting a different
sport periodically by making spirit posters for them, and spirit
pins for students to wear on game days. The faculty advisor is
Mrs. Lana Carlson.
Yearbook
(Tiara) – The TIARA/yearbook staff, advised by
Mr. Chris Hopper, is an extracurricular activity that freshmen
through senior are eligible to join. The editor is a junior or
senior who has shown a great degree of dedication to the staff
for at least one year. Yearbook meets after school two to three
nights per week. Duties consist of taking photos, writing captions,
designing page layouts, etc.
