Clubs | NRCA

Clubs at NRCA help middle and high school students explore their areas of passion and connect with peers interested in the same activities or topics. One of the goals of these clubs is to help friendships form on common ground.

Advisors with expertise in the club’s specialty area provide supervision and support at meetings and any off-campus activities. Most clubs feature a team of student leaders who plan meetings, coordinate activities and projects, and help communicate with the members. Every official NRCA club has a well-defined purpose, structured leadership team and meetings, and successful service and educational activities.

Division principals oversee NRCA clubs. Dr. Ted Hassert, Upper Elementary and Middle School Principal, and Mr. Bruce Dial, High School Principal, are the administrators in charge of middle and high school clubs.

Students interested in starting new clubs can contact the appropriate principal for information about organizing an interest group to gauge interest and plan growth. Interest groups that demonstrate strong participation, organization, and impact may have the opportunity to become official clubs in the future.

At the beginning of the school year, NRCA hosts Club Fairs to give students the opportunity to explore the clubs available, learn about their activities, and then sign up online to participate.

Book Club is the club for you if you love reading books and talking about them. We read one book each month and discuss it at our meeting. We choose books from various genres, including apocalyptic fiction, science fiction, historical fiction, mystery, Christian fiction, and fantasy. Some months club members each choose their own free-choice book, and they present summaries of their selections to fellow club members. Our meetings always begin with fun and engaging lunch fellowship involving small group discussions. We continue with large group discussions of the novel’s characters, settings, plots, and literary elements. Book Club members have the opportunity to volunteer to serve our media center after school a few times during the year.

Club 31 is designed for middle school young ladies. Proverbs 31 provides a great example of a godly woman. The purpose of Club 31 is for our middle school young ladies to grow in their relationship with their Heavenly Father and learn what it means to be a godly woman through studying Proverbs 31. Our desire is for our young Lady Knights to seek the Lord, reject wrong and harmful behavior, and point others to Christ with their words and actions.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes strives to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes by presenting to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church. Middle School FCA meets every Friday morning in the Student Life Center. All middle school students and coaches are welcome. FCA is led by a team of student leaders who plan and execute each meeting. We have breakfast, play a game, honor a team of the week, and hear from a great speaker every week.

Knights of the Roundtable is a club designed for middle school young men to understand what it means to be a true man of God from a biblical perspective. Knights of the Roundtable will study great men from the Bible and gain life application for these young men. Knights of the Roundtable will use Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (ESV), as their key verse from the Bible.

The middle school Piano & Music Club offers opportunities for musicians to share music with others at school and in our community. When we meet, we play solo and ensemble music for each other, using NRCA’s concert grand piano as well as our own instruments or voices.Members will have the opportunity to prepare music to perform together in the community at senior living centers, local hospitals, or other venues. Students will also explore music theory and music history during our meetings. We hope our club members can enjoy the emotional and spiritual benefits of music throughout middle school and beyond. "My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!" (Psalm 108:1)

This club will embody the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is STEM, and the academic disciplines can include the following: physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics, computer science, applied mathematics, robotics, engineering (electrical, mechanical, civil, industrial, aerospace), optics, nanotechnology, nuclear physics, biomechanics, atmospheric sciences, instructional technology, and more. STEM education helps to cultivate interest in the sciences and mathematics. This initiative uses technology to encourage interest in STEM fields. As a club, we will be doing many hands-on experiments and get a chance to connect this experience to real life. We will learn about new technology, implement change, and develop new innovative ways to think or reach the intended goal. We will use these experiences to link to our community in an effective way. STEM Club is a marvelous way to build on the talents God has given us and use them to impact society for the better, always giving him the glory.

Middle School Clubs

NRCA hosts a chapter of the American Chemical Society ChemClub, giving high school students a unique opportunity to experience chemistry beyond the classroom. Students engage in activities that enhance their understanding of science, get them involved in the community, and help them better appreciate how chemistry plays a role in our everyday lives. Monthly meetings open with engaging chemistry experiments, and students plan our outreach activities. Each year the students plan and implement an elementary science night to share their love of science with the younger students. Members of the ChemClub also participate in NRCA's annual blood drive through direct donations of blood or helping to organize.

NRCA Esports was started to meet the needs of students who were interested in general features of gaming, production, or competition. The goal is to engage students and give them a place in school where they can be recognized and valued for their interests, creativity, and competitive spirit. Esports combines features of gaming for students in three categories: competitive, production, and casual. Competitive is for those students who desire to compete in tournaments for prizes and scholarships aimed toward the collegiate level. Production is for those students interested in content creation, video editing, podcasting, hosting and production, or shoutcasting. Casual is for those students who are casual gamers or spectators and are interested in esports as a hobby.

FCA is one of NRCA’s largest clubs. Although FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, students do not have to be athletes to attend. Each week, students fellowship over lunch and listen to a motivational message from someone who has excelled in athletics. Students hear from their peers, alumni, and college and professional athletes. This club uses a sports platform to encourage students to live gospel-centered lives.

Are you interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT)? A pharmacist? A nurse? A business office administrator in healthcare? MD? PA? ST? OT? PT? Firefighter? Police officer? The opportunities are endless. HOSA is 100% healthcare. It is a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare professions.

The NRCA chapter of NEHS is for students who have experienced the power of literature, the pleasures of good writing, and the excitement of language studies. For these students, NEHS provides the following: national recognition for outstanding achievements; scholarships; enlightened involvement in the English experience, especially through non-classroom participation; distinction on college and job applications; opportunities to develop leadership skills; publication opportunities; and a means to link with other students, locally and nationally, who share similar interests. For membership, students should be AP-eligible juniors and seniors.

The Philosophy Club offers students a space to explore life’s big questions through presentations, open discussions, critical thinking, and respectful debate. Open to all students in grades 9–12, regardless of experience, the club explores topics such as ethics, knowledge, existence, media and entertainment, and faith. These subjects are examined through student-led conversations, readings, thought experiments, and occasional guest speakers. Regular meetings are held twice a month, and some additional participation—such as attending special events or contributing to club projects—may be required outside the regular school day.

The Piano & Music Club provides opportunities for musicians to share music with others at school and in our community. We meet backstage each month to play solo and ensemble music for each other, using the newly refurbished NRCA concert grand piano as well as our own instruments or voices.Members will have the opportunity to prepare music to perform together in the community at senior living centers, local hospitals, or other venues.Students will also explore music theory and music history during our meetings. We hope our club members can experience the emotional and spiritual benefits of music throughout high school and beyond! "My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!" (Psalm 108:1)

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, FIRST ® Robotics Competition (FRC) is the ultimate sport for the mind. High school participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.” Under strict rules and limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST® Championship.

Speech and Debate Club provides a unique entryway to public speaking activities. Students learn different formats of speeches, such as interpretative speech and debate focusing on Lincoln-Douglas, public forum, and congressional debate. In preparation for the mid-year tournament, each member can develop public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills. Participating in the tournament provides an opportunity for students to gain insight into what truly makes an argument compelling not only to them but those from different backgrounds and viewpoints. In addition to these various skills, club members can form relationships within and outside the club through tournaments, providing them with opportunities to hear an array of ideas and arguments. Through the club, students may also take part in the National Speech and Debate Honor Society, one of the oldest academic honor societies in the United States, highly recognized by prestigious colleges and universities. Finally, the freshman club members may try out speech and debate through the club and consider further committing themselves to the activity by joining the zero-hour Honors Competitive Speech and Debate class, a more intensive alternative with additional academic requirements, open to students starting their sophomore year.

YAG is a YMCA program that gives high school students the opportunity to serve in model governments at the local, state, and national levels. Each February, NRCA delegates in grades 9–12 join with students from all over North Carolina for a four-day conference to model a state government. Each student chooses a role in one of the three branches of government. Students can also select roles from media and mock trial. YAG members prepare for the Annual Conference from August through February during lunch meetings. Other meetings include Regionals (October), Defend the Bill Night (November), and Pre-Conference (December). In preparation for the Annual Conference, students are trained by NRCA advisors, an A.E. Finley YMCA advisor, and other experienced students.