Student Leadership

DECA
The DECA club at Centaurus' role is to develop a greater understanding of our free enterprise system.  Students develop leadership skills, self-confidence and self-acceptance in club activities such as fund raising, service projects, and DECA area, state and national business competitions.  Students are given the opportunity to develop occupational competencies needed in marketing, merchandising and management careers through their DECA involvement.  Students also develop  high ethical standards in personal and business relationships through the club's activities.

DECA is a non-profit, nonpolitical, co-curricular, student-centered educational organization. For almost 60 years, DECA’s mission has been to enhance the education of students with interests in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Centaurus High School's organization is a member of Colorado DECA District 3.

FBLA
The Future Business Leaders of America is an organization dedicated to bringing business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. The FBLA strives to promote leadership, good citizenship, self-confidence, and a positive work ethic in all of its members. Nowhere else can be found a group of individuals more enthusiastic and energetic about their cause than the members of the FBLA. There is a national and state FBLA organizations with informative web sites.

National Honor Society
The Centaur Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) has induction of new members in the fall and spring of each school year. Membership in the NHS is both an honor and a responsibility. Students will be expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, service, leadership and character by which they were selected. At Centaurus, the Centaur Chapter requires that the student have a cumulative 3.5 GPA or better for 5 semesters. Therefore, it is second semester juniors who are academically eligible for consideration for membership on the basis of service, leadership and character.

Students may not apply for membership in the NHS. Membership is granted to those students selected by a faculty committee. In evaluating potential members for service, leadership and character, the committee reviews each student’s Activity Information packet. The packet provides opportunities for the student to demonstrate service and leadership involvement in both the school and the community. Teacher information forms are completed to aid in assessing these qualities as well as the criterion of character. As the committee considers each student, it follows the guidelines for selection provided in the most recent edition of the National Honor Society Handbook published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Some of these guidelines include the following:

Leadership: The student who exercises leadership demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities; exercises influence on peers in upholding school activities; successfully holds school offices or positions of ·responsibility and, without prompting, demonstrates reliability and dependability; is a forerunner in the classroom, in school, and in community activities.

Service: The student who serves participates in outside activities such as Scouts, church groups; volunteers services for the aged, poor or disadvantaged; manages additional family responsibilities; represents the class or school in interclass and interscholastic competitions; works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities.

Character: The student of character upholds principles of morality and ethics; manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules; avoids cheating and showing willingness to profit by the mistakes of others; shows courtesy concern and respect for others.

The student’s Activity Information packet is rated on a point system. Based on points earned, new members are selected by a unanimous decision of the committee. Newly selected members are officially inducted into the Centaur Chapter at the next induction ceremony.

Student Government
Centaurus has both a Student Council and a Student Senate.

STUDENT COUNCIL - Students are elected officers and representatives who will lead the student body at Centaurus High School for the school year. If you have suggestions for improving your school, please contact these chosen representatives. The group meets daily to plan on going activities and projects such as Homecoming, pep assemblies and charity drives.

STUDENT SENATE - At each class level, the Senate gives direction and leadership for ongoing activities such as spirit building, fundraising, and community service. The Homecoming display is a major activity for each class. Monies earned from fundraisers are used to finance the junior/senior prom and a senior gift to the school upon graduation.

Multicultural Interest

Diversity Club
The Diversity Club celebrates the qualities of different groups within our greater society. A major focus of the Diversity Club is planning our Annual Diversity Day. Another focus of the group is developing support for each other as the students travel through a society where most members are in the minority. The four major committees within the Diversity Club are:

All Things Asian (ATA), meets with Sumi Bitner in room 127 on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Black Student Alliance (BSA), meets on Tuesdays at 3pm in room 201 with April Charmaine and Maggie Sullivan.

Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), which gathers together on Thursdays at 2:30 in the Library Conference Room with John Guzzo. and

Latinos in Full Effect (LIFE). LIFE unites in the Student Center on Tuesday at 3pm with Kelly Carlson, Chet Chavez and John Guzzo.

International Club
The international club is an on-campus organization that supports the world languages curriculum with cultural activities outside the classroom. The International Club’s annual PeaceJam calls teachers and students to become involved in a Global Call to Action. PeaceJam members will be doing a presentation for Diversity Day about the Invisible Children’s movement in Uganda. The International Club will also create several service projects and activate their Stand Up! campaign.

Special Interest

MESA Math, Engineering Science Achievement
MESA stands for Math, Science, and Engineering Achievement. The program was begun in California in the 1970s to introduce under represented minority students to engineering. The Centaurus MESA program is open to all students. The MESA club meets once a week after school. The meetings are held on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 PM in room 112. The meetings are used for sharing information and preparing for competitions. Major competitions include The CU Fall Fling Boat Building Competition, the CU Fall Fling Trebuchet Competition, The International Society of Professional Engineers Bridge Building Competition, and the High School Science and Engineering Jamboree. New Members are always welcome.

Thespian Troupe
The International Thespian Society is the honorary theatre organization for students in high school and middle school. Operated by the Educational Theatre Association, ITS offers everything from varied performance venues to college audition opportunities to formal awards and scholarships. Since 1929, more than two million students, schools and educators have benefited from ITS membership.Thespians receive the highest recognition due those who have demonstrated commitment and excellence in their school’s theatre program—membership in the world’s largest theatre honor society. Thespians enjoy the sense of belonging and recognition inherent in being inducted into an honor society. Thespian membership encourages students to practice their craft and to grow as a person. The skills that they learn from a quality theatre arts education—creativity, self-confidence, leadership, communication, interpersonal skills as well as specific theatre skills—will benefit them in their school days and beyond.

Activities at Centaurus are sponsored at Centaurus by Ms. Theresa Collins, and include:

• attend an annual retreat to read the plays being produced for the year, discuss the plays, set goals for the year, play theatre games and exercises, and bond.
• attend the annual Colorado State Thespian Conference where students will attend workshops, see plays, compete in Individual Event competitions, and audition for college scholarships
• attend plays in the area (high school, community, professional)
• meet to play theatre games and exercises
• fund raise (various activities each year)
• hold a formal induction ceremony and banquet each year
• attend (every few years) the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE

Vocal and Instrumental Music
Please refer to the Musical Arts section of the CHS website.

Communication Arts

Forensics
Forensics is a competitive speech team. We compete on the average of two Saturdays per month. We travel across the Front Range to compete against other high schools in speech and debate. Forensics offers three different kinds of debate: CX, LD, and Public Forum. There is also Extemporaneous Speaking and Original Oratory. For those students who enjoy literature, Forensics offers interpretation events: Dramatic, Humorous, Poetry, and Duet. A new category for Forensics is Creative Storytelling. These events teach students to become better speakers and develop a higher self-esteem. Forensics is a great activity for those students who would like to become better speakers and would eventually like to develop a career in Law, Congress/Government or want to become an actor/actress.

Newspaper
The Centaurus High School newspaper is The Odyssey. Throughout the years, the newspaper has patterned itself after professional publications. Today it varies in length from 8 to 16 pages, with at least four pages of color. It is computer generated, printed on tabloid sized newsprint, and is published 9 times a year.

The Odyssey staff consists of two co-editors-in-chief and a staff that is responsible for all aspects of publication including writing copy, taking and photo shopping photos, and laying out pages. They also sell advertising, which pays for the printing of the paper.

The Odyssey is not published merely as a product of the Advanced Journalism class.. Students work long hours after school interviewing, researching and photographing stories. Individually, they give nearly as much time to the newspaper as many students give to a sport or a club. The paper is distributed to students, faculty, administration, support staff, and parents. It also reaches beyond the school walls into the community.

Yearbook
The Centaurus High School Yearbook records the school year in words and pictures. This class includes writing and editing copy, taking pictures, designing layouts using computer software, editing proof pages, and working with the yearbook company and its representatives. Punctuality, reliability, maturity and creativity are essential. Since meeting deadlines is primary concern, students must be willing to commit to work after school. Each student must have permission from the instructor before registering for this class. Students may continue in this course of additional elective Language Arts credit.

Parent Groups

School Improvement Team (SIT)/Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Our School Improvement Team/ Parent Teacher Organization meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:00 pm in the student center. Dedicated to fostering a superior academic, athletic, extracurricular and social environment for every Centaurus student, attending SIT/PTO is is a great opportunity to interact with CHS Principal Dr. Pilch and help make a difference at Centaurus. Please join us!

Quarterback Club
Established in 2001, the Quarterback Club is a non-profit organization made up of spirited volunteers who provide financial assistance to the Centaurus High School Football Program. The goal of the QBC is to create an atmosphere that supports each student athlete in their various endeavors, foster good sportsmanship, teamwork and school spirit. The QBC coordinates social activities, honors individuals who provide support to the athletic department, and raises funds for the CHS Football Program. The Heart of a Warrior program is also administered through the QBC. For more information about Centaurus Football visit the Athletics homepage.

Hoops Club
The Centaurus Hoops Club is a parent group that supports the Warrior team basketball program. The primary purpose for the Hoops Club is maintaining a positive community involvement. Examples of this are team participation in the Lafayette Peach Festival and Lafayette Days celebration. The Hoops Club is a large contributor and organizer of fund raising activities such as managing home game concession stand sales and selling stadium banners.

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