Clubs & Extra-Curricular Groups

AUA is our Diversity Club promoting unity, appreciation, and awareness of cultural, religious, and socioeconomic groups.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Sibalwa
ksibalwa@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6715

Co-advisor: Mr. Zeilenga
wzeilenga@bcpsk12.net  
616.878.6632

Be nice is a mental health and suicide prevention program with an action plan. When used effectively, the program encourages individuals to challenge themselves and others to seek appropriate professional help when they notice changes in their mental health. 

The program includes a four-step action plan to Notice, Invite, Challenge, and Empower individuals to take action when they or someone they know may be experiencing a change in their mental health. Take it a step further, and be nice. The implementation of be nice in schools creates a positive culture and increases mental health referrals and suicide prevention behaviors.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Kenney
rkenney@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6607

Co-advisor: Mrs. Kalajainen
rkalajainen@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6626

The Chess Club gives BCHS students the opportunity to develop their interest in and enjoyment of the most popular game in the world. Members come to play, to learn, to teach, and to get together with friends and make new ones. 

Club Advisor: Mr. Wait
rwait@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6711

Code Red Robotics is a competitive robotics team that is part of FIRST Robotics Competition. It is "the ultimate sport for the mind" that provides an opportunity for real world problem solving in a fun atmosphere.

FIRST is an international organization that creates games and runs large sporting event style competitions. From the moment the game is revealed in January, Code Red has six weeks to design, build, wire, program, and drive a robot to play that game. The team competes in 2-3 district events with the goal of making it to the Michigan State Championship and ultimately the World Championship in April!

The team also meets in the fall during the off-season for training and to serve our community by mentoring our elementary and middle school teams and doing robot demonstrations at community events. Code Red is a team for students with all kinds of interests: robot design (CAD), robot building and wiring, programming, creating published materials, creating videos and animations, game strategy and scouting, and robot driving.

Code Red Robotics is for any student who is interested no matter their skill level.  We can teach students the skills needed. 

For more information, check out our website at www.coderedrobotics.com.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Baas
lbaas@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6623

The Debate Club is focused on preparing students for the challenges of competitive debate. Practices are held once a week during the first semester, with opportunities to participate in formal debates with students from other schools.

Joining the Debate Club is a great way to make connections with other students who enjoy the challenge of using critical thinking and argumentative skills in a fun, competitive environment. 

Club Advisor: Mr. Cotts
rcotts@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6764

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, applying learning in the context of business, connecting to business and the community and promoting competition. Our student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders.

Organzation Advisor: Mr. DeHaan
bdehaan@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6763

The Environmental Club at BCHS is back! We're currently rebuilding, so now is a great time to get in on the ground floor. A fairly large group of enthusiastic and visionary students are forming three branches of environmental activism: education, research, and service. The education branch will seek to increase awareness of environmental challenges and solutions for both club members and others in the BCPS community. The research branch will explore big-picture initiatives with the goal of making our school operations more environmentally friendly. Finally, the service branch will plan and organize hands-on service projects that reduce the school's environmental footprint and reconnect our student body with the natural world. Join us!

Club Advisor: Mr. Anglin
aanglin@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6629

Club Advisor: Mr. Diekevers
jdiekevers@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6748

GENup is a nationwide student led organization that is focused on fighting for education equality. GENup Byron Center seeks to fight for an education system that prioritizes students and educators first. GENup Byron Center works to provide students a voice in schools, to make education better for all.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Merritt
jmerritt@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6616

The members of the German Club learn and celebrate the German language and culture. 

Club Advisor: Mrs. Finkbeiner
jfinkbeiner@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6712

The GSA club creates a safe place for all students to gather, from allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, where no judgment is passed. The focus is on making sure that all students know they have value and are welcome at BCHS.

Club Advisor: Mrs. Koziara
jkoziara@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6633

Co-Advisor: Mrs. Finkbeiner
jfinkbeiner@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6712

Knitting Club is a drop-in club for high school students who enjoy or would like to learn fiber arts. We meet on Tuesdays after school roughly every other week.

We use both donated materials and our own supplies to practice crochet or basic knitting. Those who have more experience help others who are just learning. It's a fun, relaxed atmosphere where we hang out and support each other.

Come knit (or crochet or cross stitch) with us!

Club Advisor: Ms. Caley
ecaley@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6627

Student Advisor: Catie Morell
23cmorell@bcpsk12.net

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.

Students with a 3.5 GPA are eligible to apply for membership when they are sophomores.

NHS Bylaws

Organization Advisor: Mrs. Parrish
kparrish@bcpsk12.net 
616.878.6757

Co-advisor: Mrs. Kraker
jkraker@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6713

Pride Pack is a student-led organization to promote school and community pride. Pride Pack members volunteer their time during home sporting events and organize themed events. Applications are available in the Spring for the following school year.

Club Advisor: Mr. Boillat
dboillat@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6621

Co-advisor: Mrs. Ingersoll
bingersoll@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6612

Club Advisor: Mrs. Parrish
kparrish@bcpsk12.net 
616.878.6757

Co-advisor: Mrs. Sibalwa
ksibalwa@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6715

The Spanish Club at Byron Center High School highlights events throughout the year to encourage students to learn about the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Events at the high school include movies in Spanish, salsa dancing lessons, and holiday parties. The Spanish teachers encourage students to travel to Spanish-speaking countries through a company called EF (Education First) tours. Events in the Grand Rapids area are promoted including the Hispanic Festival, Mexican Festival, and Day of the Dead exhibits at the Grand Rapids Public Library and Museum. 

Club Advisor: Mrs. Showers
lshowers@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6714

Co-advisors: Mr. Domeier
rdomeier@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6716

Mrs. Kraker
jkraker@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6713

Mrs. Sibalwa
ksibalwa@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6715

Student Life & Leadership is a mix of all high school grades who work hard to build a positive culture in our district through event planning, mentoring younger grades, leading peers, and building personal leadership skills through the Leader In Me curriculum from the 7 Habits.

Mission Statement: Student Life & Leadership provides students with an opportunity to become servant leaders whose work connects and shapes the culture of BCPS.

Organization Advisor: Mrs. Klopfenstein
sklopfenstein@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6742

Co-advisor: Mrs. Bower
sbower@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6135

Club Advisor: Mr. Reinstein
greinstein@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6651

Co-advisors: Mrs. Vanderlaan
jvanderlaan@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6655

Mr. Afienko
jafienko@bcpsk12.net
616.878.6618

Club Advisor: Mr. Cotts
rcotts@bcpsk12.net  
616.878.6764