Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities that strengthen or introduce skills and interests outside of the classroom. In addition to our Athletics, Fine Arts, and Spiritual Life activities, St. Ambrose also offers a growing number of Student Clubs that offer extra opportunities to grow in friendship with peers, to know students across many grade levels, and to practice effective leadership skills. 

Students who are interested in starting other groups not listed below are invited to contact Mr. Braden Lynch, Dean of Students.

Aviation Design Club (GAMA)

St. Ambrose students who participate in the Aviation Design Club study the science of flight and airplane design and airplane design modification. They then apply what they have learned by competing in a “virtual fly-off” that is scored on aerodynamic and performance parameters while flying a mission.

Advisor: Mr. Grant Emmel

Business Club

Business Club is an experiential learning perspective on business that helps prepare the next generation of leaders. Students will learn how businesses in various industries operate from the people who lead them, be inspired by the motivations of founders and why they started their businesses, understand the various purposes and value systems that are practiced, and recognize that business is a means to helping people realize their full potential. The club meets monthly during lunch and includes field trips to select businesses.

Advisor: Mr. Matthew Gonnering

Classic Film Club

In a world filled with YouTube and TikTok, the SAA Film Club exists to foster a love of classic cinema. Films are chosen based upon their significance to the world of cinema, as representatives of important film genre, for the iconic nature of a specific star’s performance, or simply because they are just really good movies. The general rule is no film made after 1960 (though this rule might be broken for thematic purposes). Film Club meets after school, with an aim to host 3 movies per quarter. New to the 2024-2025 school year, Film Club will be showing each of the three films per quarter according to a chosen theme (genre, performer, director, etc.). Parents are always notified the week prior of which film will be shown, warned of any controversial content, offered a suggested appropriate age-level, and directed to the IMDB parent’s guide if available.

Advisor: Dr. Connie Nielsen

Creative Writing Club

This student-led club meets once a week during lunch where young Catholic writers can improve skills together, encourage each other, and explore their writing as a mirror of and participation with God in creation (“sub-creation,” as J.R.R. Tolkien put it) and as a duty to reflect His truth. Students share original work for peer review, play writing games, collaborate on a serial story over the course of the year, and hold workshops to discuss plot, dialogue, and other aspects of writing.

Advisor: Mrs. Meg Matenaer

Debate

St. Ambrose has a strong Debate Team that meets weekly to prepare for competition organized by the WDCA (Wisconsin Debate Coaches Association). The season starts in September and continues through mid-January. Debate is open to all high school students. Interested 7th and 8th graders can join with permission. Members of the Debate Team develop critical thinking skills and self-confidence through research, writing, and learning to speak extemporaneously.

Advisor: Mr. Michael Kwas

Forensics

Students on the Forensics Team prepare a speech or a dramatic piece to present at competitions through the WFCA (Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association). They meet weekly beginning in November for the season which starts in January. Although the Forensics club is designed for high school students, interested junior high students should speak to Ms. Behrens.

Advisor: Ms. Katie Behrens

Guardians for Life

The Guardians for Life is a student-run pro-life club. Guardians for Life offers students the opportunity to get involved in several pro-life initiatives, which include assisting at the Sharing Center (housed in the Catholic Multicultural Center), participating as prayer warriors outside Planned Parenthood during 40 Days for Life, holding a Mother’s Day diaper drive to benefit the Sharing Center, and attending other pro-life events and rallies. 

Advisor: Ms. Clara Paloucek

Improv Club

Improv Club meets twice monthly to explore the excitement of improvisational theater through dramatic game play.  This club is perfect for those students who have a passion for theater, enjoy physical comedy, and want to improve their acting skills.  Improv Club will use each meeting as an opportunity to fine tune improv skills and later in the year create a comedy act for the Fine Arts Showcase in the spring.

Advisor: Mrs. Angela Hineline

Model UN

Participants in Model UN role-play as ambassadors to the UN General Assembly to tackle complex issues at home and around the world. Students cultivate public speaking and critical thinking skills, performing in-depth research that enriches their global affairs knowledge.

Advisor: Mr. Marlow Gazzoli

Music Ministry

The Music Ministry coordinates music used in our liturgical worship at St. Ambrose Academy. This group prepares and practices the hymns and chants for the school Masses, adding to the beauty and participation of the school in worship.

Advisor: Mr. Braden Lynch

National History Day

Junior high and senior high school students complete an original research project based on an annual theme and compete with other participants regionally; winners progress to state and then nationals. St. Ambrose has sent numerous students to state and on to national competition.

Advisor: Mr. Michael Kwas and Dr. Mary Skemp

National Honor Society

Students with a GPA of 3.4 or higher at the end of their Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior year are invited to apply to be a member of the National Honor Society. Members are chosen according to their record of leadership in academics and service. The St. Ambrose NHS chapter organizes service opportunities for the St. Ambrose community. 

Click here to learn more information about National Honor Society Eligibility and Selection Procedures.

Advisor: Dr. Mary Skemp

Strategy Game Club

The two student-led after-school Strategy Game Clubs offers students an opportunity to pit skill against skill, work together collaboratively to achieve goals, and, in more complex games, practice intricate strategies and role-playing.

Advisor: Ms. Katie Behrens and Mrs. Michelle Lancaster

Student Ambassadors

Each new student is assigned a personal Student Ambassador, a student of the same sex and in the same grade who befriends and mentors the new student in the school’s customs and social life. Student Ambassadors bring Christ’s love in a special way to every new student. Students volunteer for the Ambassador program and are selected by the Dean of Academic Success. They complete a training program in which they engage in prayer, practice role-playing, and learn about their mentees. 

Advisor: Mr. Michael Kwas

Student Council

The St. Ambrose Student Council includes two representatives from each of the high school classes. These representatives are elected by their classmates in a September election and are responsible for planning Catholic Schools Week activities as well as student dances. They act as the voice of the students in discussion with the administration. 

Advisor: Mr. Aaron Roser and Mr. Braden Lynch

Swing Dance Club

Advisor: Ms. Susie Melk

VillaNova Polish Society of America

Do you like learning about fun facts, traditions, and practices of other countries? Do you like Polish food? If so, the VillaNova Polish Society of America is the best place for you. Let’s share Polish culture together!

Advisor: Mrs. Maggie Pietranik

Yearbook

Students take the lead in designing the St. Ambrose Academy Yearbook. All students from 6th to 12th grade are welcome to be part of the creative force behind the documentation of a year in the life of St. Ambrose Academy Guardians. 

Advisors: Dr. Mary Skemp and Dr. Connie Nielsen