A new version of this document is being worked on.

The main ideas of the document below are still true.

The list of clubs has changed: some additions and some deletions.

X-Period is a student activity period scheduled for one hour, to take place once per a seven day cycle on Day 2X and affords organizations and clubs the opportunity for regularly scheduled meetings. It also gives students the opportunity to participate in co-curricular labs, i.e., Electronics, Writing Resource Room, Library Media Center, and other academically related activities. Student involvement in this Student Activity Program is a very important part of school life. All students who wish to include X-Period activities on their School Activities Resumé must be bona fide members and participants in those listed organizations.

The formation of new clubs is encouraged. Any type of club may be established if they are based on genuine student interest. Students may request to establish any type of club if there is adequate student interest; there must be a sound purpose; there must be a faculty advisor and membership must be open to all interested students. Students who desire to start a club should contact the Dean of Students.

Acapella choir

Acapella meets during X-Period and after school on Wednesdays. All music styles are sung with a concentration in pop, rock, and contemporary music. The choir includes male and female singers and is open to all. ACapella performs at least once per year.

Americares

Americares is a service-based club open to all students with a desire to help needy children in third world countries. Projects to help needy children may include food and supply drives. Some activity beyond the X-Period may be required.

Anti-defamation league (ADL)

ADL is designed to provide students with self-awareness, information and skills regarding issues of prejudice and discrimination. ADL is open to all students.

Art club

The Art Club is specifically designed for all students with an artistic interest. Art Club members are encouraged to work on drawings for submission to the literary magazine and other school publications.

Barlow players

Barlow Players meets during X-Period to work on characters, movement, singing, dancing and to discuss various plays or musicals currently on Broadway. One-act plays and scenes will be rehearsed for presentation at local schools. Students with an interest in the theatre are encouraged to become a member of the Barlow Players.

Chess Club

Interested in learning to play chess? Join the Chess Club. All skill levels are welcome and instruction is offered if desired. Chess Team members are encouraged to participate in interscholastic tournaments.

CISCO/Graphics lab

The Cisco/Graphics Lab is open to all students who are or were previously enrolled in a graphics class. Students may work on areas of interest in the graphics field or continue to build their portfolio.

Debate Club

Got something to say? The Debate Club offers students the chance to actively argue with their peers about current events, government policy and other issues of interest to them. Those seeking more opportunity to debate are encouraged to join the Debate Team in order to compete in interscholastic tournaments.

Diversity Club

All students are welcome to attend the Diversity Club. There is a core of individuals who attend consistently. They work to develop activities to promote tolerance for diversity of all forms in the school and community. Activities include purchasing, preparing and serving food to shelters, attending diversity seminars and raising money for charities.

Fencing club

The Fencing Club is open to all students interested in Fencing. Instruction will be provided. Focus is on proper fencing technique and safety.

FILM club

The activity of the Film Club is integral with the leaders of the club. The leaders are a group of students who love films; they are conversant with all sorts. Thus, films are selected for those who attend the club on the basis of their artistic qualities as films which means, of course, seeing films for their social commentary or observations.

Fishing club

The Fishing Club is open to all students with an interest in fishing. Meetings will include fishing videos focusing on technique and destination. The Fishing Club allows for exposure, teaching and sharing of different fishing modalities. Guest speakers are invited who have fished in areas of interest to the club.

French club

The French Club provides a relaxed, informal and supportive environment in which students have the opportunity to broaden, practice and enhance their proficiency in French. The Club's officers organize a variety of activities that appeal to students at all levels of French. Students have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills. Students play games such as Mille Bornes, French Monopoly and Scrabble as well as vocabulary enriching games. Students will view and discuss age appropriate French films. Celebration of French holidays will play a part of the program along with a sampling of French Food.

Frisbee Club

The Frisbee Club meets during X-Period weather permitting and plays Ultimate Frisbee. Frisbee throwing and catching skills are developed along with teamwork and cooperation. All are welcome to attend; the only requirement is good sportsmanship. Teams are coed and the size and make-up of the teams are determined by those in attendance.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

FBLA is open to all students interested in pursuing a business or business-related career. FBLA's mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. It is a national organization with state and local chapters to train and prepare students for future roles in the American enterprise system. The club is involved with the management of Barlow's school store, The Falcon's Nest, along with community service projects and fundraising events. In addition, the National Awards Program recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business scholarships and competitions.

Games club

The Games Club allows members to demonstrate the stimulation of intellect by challenging their knowledge in games, such as Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble and Risk. Open to all students, this club serves a dual purpose, as it encourages students to display their knowledge, but also encourages students to share the knowledge they have attained.

Hackey Sack Club

The Hackey Sack Club is open to all students with an interest in playing hackey sack.

Helping other people everywhere (H.O.P.E.)

H.O.P.E. is a community based, service oriented club. It is run by student subcommittees each run by a chairperson. Students are encouraged to promote activities to help the community such as attending winter holiday parties at other schools, Halloween candy sales, volunteering at homeless shelters and participating in other fundraising projects to benefit the community. As many of the activities are scheduled outside of the school, an additional commitment is required of all members. This club offers a great opportunity for students to get leadership experience.

Hip Hop Club

The Hip Hop Club is a student generated and student led club that provides the opportunity for students who are seriously interested in learning and practicing the basic and newest steps of Hip Hop. Experienced student dancers teach club members dance routines that they are then expected to practice before the club's next meeting. Club members receive instruction collectively and individually. Hip Hop routines are choreographed and rehearsed in anticipation of performing before a larger audience. Natural talent is not required, but energy, enthusiasm and commitment are expected.

Intramurals

Open to all students, intramural sports are played in the Lower Gym during X-Period. Sneakers are required in order to participate.

Latin Club

The Latin Club provides an opportunity for students to broaden, practice and enhance their proficiency in Latin. Every spring, members of the Latin Club have the opportunity to participate in an all-day Latin Day field trip.

Literary magazine

The Literary Magazine is a publication of an annual booklet of student creative writings. Submission of writings is voluntary. Students on magazine staff (club members) select pieces for the publication and collect artwork. The booklet is professionally printed for limited distribution in the late spring. The Literary Magazine meets every X-Period and additional after school hours are required prior to printing.

Math team

The Math Team is an academic club open to students with an interest in participating in interscholastic math contests.

Mock Trial

The Connecticut Consortium for Law and Education sponsors an annual interscholastic mock trial competition. Students prepare the assigned case, assume the roles of lawyers and witness, and eventually compete against other schools at Danbury Superior Court. Students who decide to join Mock Trial should be willing to attend meetings both during X-Period and during the evenings. This is a student led academic activity.

Mosaic

The Mosaic is Barlow's student-run newspaper. Students supply and edit the content, and students use desktop publishing technologies to lay out each issue. Always looking for new contributors, The Mosaic welcomes writers, photographers, artists, editors, and computer experts from every grade level. The staff meets during every X-Period, but full attendance is only required for the editors. With sections spanning from news to arts and entertainment to sports, the paper offers something for everyone. Mosaic participation will help you build communication skills, while also emphasizing responsibility, teamwork, and leadership. In college and the workplace, familiarity with desktop publishing will be a big plus for Mosaic staffers.

National Honor Society (NHS)

NHS is an organization whose membership is based upon scholarship, leadership, service and character. Students apply for membership during their junior year and are evaluated on the criteria listed above. During the year, members participate in three group service projects and must complete 20 hours of personal service activities. Additionally, each member is required to attend at lease one meeting per month.

One with nature

One With Nature aims to increase the amount of recycling that is done at Joel Barlow. Creative ideas have been suggested that will help this aim become a reality. Eventually, the club will branch out to other goals. Currently, however, the recycling issue has the attention of club members.

Paws for a cause

Intended to promote awareness and education of domestic and wild animals in need of assistance, animal shelters, and animal adoption, Paws for a Cause is open to all students. Activities include fund and supply drives for local and national animal programs. Meetings may include guest speakers and presentations.

Peer mediators

Peer Mediators trains interested individuals in the peer mediation model. Peer mediation is a process in which neutral third parties, student mediators, help other students resolve conflicts constructively. Any student is welcome to attend peer mediation, but to do mediations with students in conflict a student must be trained.

PEERS

PEERS is made up of students from all four grades that enjoy helping others less fortunate than themselves. Several activities are held throughout the school year to provide support for and promote awareness of students with special needs. Give-a-Gift is a most rewarding experience where students associated with PEERS are included in a field trip to Black Rock Elementary School in Bridgeport and help distribute gifts collected from JBHS students and staff.

Philosophy Club

The Philosophy Club is open to all students who have something to talk about. Set up like a seminar, participants sit around tables and talk. Topics range from formal readings in philosophy to general conversations about the nature of things. Each session is informal and begins with, "Who has something to discuss?"

Photo Club

The Photo Club gives students the opportunity to continue their interest in photography beyond the basics. Students must have taken Photo I to be a member. Club participation must be consistent and is limited to 15 students. Darkroom availability is based on a first come first served basis. Cameras may be signed out during club meetings.

Ping Pong Club

Open to all students on a first come, first served basis, the Ping Pong Club gives students an opportunity to play Ping Pong in a round robin tournament fashion in groups of two. Interested students must sign up on the day of X-Period in Room C204.

Reading Club

The Reading Club is a quiet place that students can go to read for pleasure. This club is open for the full hour of X-Period, and is not only a great place to read books of personal interest but also teacher assigned reading. The Reading Club is open to all students.

Serving our under privileged (s.o.u.p.)

S.O.U.P. is a food-charity organization open to all students. Students are involved in food drives and in making bag lunches for the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen. Resources are received from food drives and corporate donations. S.O.U.P. meets during every X-Period.

SeXUAL AWARENESS GROUP (S.A.G.)

The Sexual Awareness Group (S.A.G.) hopes to promote a better understanding and acceptance of students with diverse sexual orientations. S.A.G. works as a Gay-Straight Alliance for students who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered and their allies. It is hoped that this group will provide opportunities for the JBHS community to obtain information that will help students and staff members to accept such differences.

Sports conditioning club

The Sports Conditioning Club will take working out in the Fitness Center to another level. The club will look at and discuss various training protocols, diets and training methods. Flexibility, strength, endurance, speed training and nutrition are some topics. The focus is on proper technique. Topics will be chosen by members and facilitated by the advisors. Topics are discussed the first half and workout is during the second half. The Sports Conditioning Club is open to all students.

Student council

The purpose of the Student Council is to promote the interests of the students of Joel Barlow High School. This shall be accomplished through interaction with the administration, staff and Board of Education; the subsidization of the worthy activities of other student organizations; and the sponsorship of a number of events through the year, including, but not restricted to Spirit Week, Spring Weekend, and Pep Rallies.

Meetings shall be held every X-Period, and shall be open to all Student Council officers, Student Council Representatives, class officers, and members of the student body, administration, and staff.

Tabletop gaming

Open to all students, Tabletop Gaming is open to all students interested in painting miniatures. The miniatures in turn are used for games that would be played during X-Period.

TEEN LIFE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (TLMA)

Open to all students, this club is run by teens, for teens. It is a club where teens come together to discuss school issues, extra-curricular activities and life in general! TLMA is involved in helping to make the transition of 8th grade students to Joel Barlow as successful as possible.