Students can find many different activities and clubs to join at Mary Queen of Apostles School. Certain programs are competitive. There are tournaments and state/national competitions in science, math, public speaking, reading, history, engineering, and robotics. There are also volunteer activities where students can get involved in the community and support a good cause while having fun. Consider becoming involved in the “extra” things to broaden your experience at MQA.
Below you will find a full listing of all the clubs and activities Mary Queen of Apostles School has to offer. If you have any questions, please contact our school office at 724‑339‑4411.
Curricular
Mary Queen of Apostles School has a band and chorus. Students in these groups perform in a Christmas concert and spring concert. Band and chorus meet during the school day; they are curricular and are assessed. Participation in the concerts is a condition of being in band and chorus.
Please complete the form below to participate in one or both of these activities.
Instrumental lessons are offered in group sessions and are also part of the school day. A sign up form is sent home at the start of the school year for this option.
Service Activities
Students are encouraged to serve others through organized events, dress down day donations, liturgical service and service through special school, parish, and organization events.
Consider becoming a reader, cantor, gift bearer, or altar server. Your ministry is appreciated. Volunteer at the SCG Winter Carnival. Speak with your teacher about being a peer tutor.
Extracurricular
Extracurricular activities are offered to students in various grade levels. The areas of interest vary with a list of clubs and sign up forms provided below.
Competition electives are also offered for students in grades four through eight, however, the grade level depends upon the competition. The options include Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS), Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, First Lego League Robotics, Forensics, Spelling Bee, and Diocese of Greensburg Reading Competition.
Please complete the form for any activity your student would like to join.
Scouts have their own fall registration process.
Liturgical ministries at the Greenwald Site are available on a volunteer basis by speaking with the religion teacher, Mrs. Kleckner.
Clubs, Activities, and Competitions
Atoms Family Science Club
- The club members work as a team to construct bridges, solve investigations, and just have fun with science.
- Grade 5
- Moderator: Mrs. Kestner
- Atoms Family Science Club Form
Band
- Playing a musical instrument as part of an ensemble is a fun way to encourage our students to develop their artistic talents. Students may audition for the MQA Band. The band performs in the Christmas and spring concerts, a Christmas band tour, and an all band spring concert. Please print and return band form.
- Grades 4-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Capone
- Band Form
Chess Club
- The club members learn the basic moves, rules, and strategies of the board game.
- Grade 4-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Giana Mitchell
- Chess Club Form
Chorus
- Being part of a select choral group is a great way for our students to showcase their talents and expand performance skills. Students who elect to participate in chorus perform in two concerts, a Christmas and Spring Concert.
- Grades 6-7-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Bernot
- 6-7-8 Chorus Form
Explore Robotics Club
- Explore Robotics Club meets directly after school on selected Fridays for 12 total sessions between January and May at the Freeport School Site in the STEM room. This program will begin at 2:45 pm and end at 3:30 pm. Students learn to build robots and code with LEGO WeDo 2.0 and Spike Prime. The children will work in a team setting collaborating and communicating to build, learn and play together. Children will be encouraged in every session to work with their teammates, listen to each other, take turns and share ideas.
- Grades 2-3
- Moderator: Mrs. Collett
- Explore Robotics Form
FLL Robotics Team
- FLL Robotics is a competition that takes place at the start of December. Teams are judged on robotic performance, robotic design, programming, teamwork, and research presentation. The team builds a robot and attachments and programs it to complete challenges. The team meets after school a few times a week from September through the competition.
- Grades 5-8 with Grade 4 as alternates
- Moderator: Mrs. Collett
- Robotics Team Form
Forensics
- Forensics is a public speaking club. Choose a reading form a novel, a selection of poetry, a famous speech or play, and present it at a forensic tournament. Tournaments are held on three Saturdays during the year with a fourth Finals/All Star competition.
- Grades 5-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Collett
- Forensics Form
Gardening Club
- The Gardening Club usually meets on Saturday morning at the Greenwald Site to design, develop, and maintain the outdoor classroom garden space and add pizzazz to the existing gardens on the Greenwald Campus. Students will learn about types of flowers, plants, pollinator gardens, composting, preserving our harvest, and seed preservation. The club will meet intermittently over the summer months to maintain our garden and harvest our vegetables. It is a fall, spring, and summer club!
- Grades 4-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Ondriezek
- Gardening Club Form
History Day – currently unavailable
- History Day is an academic program designed to promote student research, writing, and presentation while exploring historical themes. Students can elect to submit a historical paper, a documentary, a web site, an exhibit, or a performance. Students can work as a group or individually. The regional competition is held in March. Those receiving a first, second, or third place continue to the state level. The state competition is held in May. Participation is based on invitation by the teacher as a result of the research/writing work completed in grades 7 and 8.
- Grade 7 and 8
- Moderator:
- History Day Form
Kindness Club – currently unavailable
- The MQA Kindness Club is seeking individuals who are passionate about spreading kindness, helping others, and setting a positive example within our school. Members will become more involved with service projects. Our goal is to focus on the implementation of meaningful projects to make a difference at MQA, in our local community, and beyond.
- Grades 4 & 5
- Moderator: Mrs. Troiano
- Kindness Club Form
Liturgical Ministries
- Students in grades 4-8 are encouraged to serve at mass as cantors, readers, and altar servers and for some masses instrumentalists. Students volunteer by speaking with Mrs. Kleckner, their religion teacher.
- Grade 4-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Kleckner
Math Club
- The Math Club encourages cooperation, strategic thinking, and logical reasoning. Students will develop critical thinking skills as well as fluency using math facts and the four basic operations. The goal is to build confidence in problem-solving and create successful, life-long learners. A variety of math games and activities will be used during our time together.
- Grade 5
- Moderator: Mrs. Troiano
- Math Club Form
Musical – to be determined
- A fall musical, directed by St. Joseph High School students and featuring students in at the Greenwald Site is offered through the summer and fall. It culminates in a musical production before Thanksgiving. Availability of student directors, MQA faculty, and parent supporters determine whether or not this activity is offered.
- Grades TBD
- Moderator: Faculty and SJHS Student Directors
PJAS and PRSEF
- Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) is designed to stimulate and promote interest in science through the development of a research project and investigation, followed by a written report and a oral presentation on the findings. Students compete at the regional level and those earning a first award continue to the state competition. The process can then be converted to a presentation board and entered in the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF).
- Grades 7-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Kestner
- PJAS and PRSEF Form
Reading Club
- Reading Club is a competition club that will be part of a Diocese of Greensburg reading competition. Students form a team, collectively read 10 novels and practice Q&A regarding the novels. The club meets after school to read, practice, and prepare. Students also read at home.
- Grades 6-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Frantz
- Reading Club Form
Sewing Club
- Students in grades 4-8 may join this club. Five students meet at a time after school. There are criteria that must be met to be a part of the sewing club. The form explains it all! Mrs. Rapsinski will work with the students on all elements of sewing, including using a sewing machine.
- Grades 4-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Rapsinski
- Sewing Club Form
Girls Scouts/Brownies/Daisy Troops
- Girls interested in joining a scout troop in K-6 have the opportunity to do so through Girls Scouts. The Girls Scouts hold a fall recruiting opportunity.
- Grade K-6
- Moderator: Girl Scout Leaders
Spelling Bee
- Students in grades 5-8 are eligible to participate at the regional level in this spelling bee. Students meet one day a week after school to practice the spelling lists they have been given. At the beginning of February an elimination round is held to determine the school champion, who will represent MQA at the Annual Western PA Spelling. The winner of that bee will receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
- Grades 5-8
- Moderator: Mrs. Kleckner
- Spelling Bee Form
STEM Club
- Students in grades 4-7 may participate in STEM club second semester as they learn to use Illustrator to create files used on the laser engraver or learn to use Blender to create files used on the 3D printer.
- Grades 4-7
- Moderators: Mrs. Collett and Mr. Glessner
- STEM Club Form
Student Council
- Elected by your peers, you have a responsibility to attend meetings to represent your class. You are also required to attend all Student Council functions
- Grades 4-8
- Moderators: Mr. Quade and Mrs. Frantz
- Student Council Form
Yearbook Club
- Students in grades 6-8 may join this club as space allows, with the membership allocated to older students through younger students. The club meets on Tuesday with meeting dates posted on the MQA Events Calendar or the Yearbook Calendar. Meetings will start in September and will meet every other week until January when the club will start meeting weekly. Students who join the yearbook club will be involved with every aspect of creating the MQA yearbook, they will learn how to take pictures, how to layout pages, and work with the theme chosen.
- Grades 6/7/8
- Moderator: Mrs. Domiano
- Yearbook Club Form
