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Realize your passions.
Upper School extracurricular activities include a broad range of clubs, affinity groups, and publications that meet during lunch periods and after school. Students are encouraged to make a serious commitment to the activities they join and to work toward positions of leadership. Each student must review all of her commitments, which includes participation in athletic programs, with her advisor to ensure a healthy level of participation - neither over-extended or under-involved. 

CSC Initiative

Individual clubs volunteer to lead lunchtime discussions on important, local, national, and international issues which are relevant to their group. These seminars are in line with Marymount’s mission to shape young women prepared to challenge, shape, and change (CSC) the world. Each club researches a topic, phrases questions for discussion, and suggests plans of action. For example, W.O.W. led a discussion to raise awareness about violence against women and the Drama Club entertained audiences with an improv CSC. Other topics have included hunger in America, human trafficking, women in film, and racist or sexist language in music.

Student Leadership Roles:

List of 7 items.

  • Student Government

    The responsibility for Student Government rests with the five elected school officers (President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary) and two elected representatives from each Class. The officers and the representatives for Classes X, XI, and XII are elected in April or May for the coming year. Elections for Class IX are held during the first half of the fall semester. The group meets weekly to debate, discuss, and plan many aspects of school life, to coordinate upcoming projects and fundraisers for Zimbabwe, and to present proposals to the administration on behalf of the student body.

  • National Honor Society

    Open to students in Classes XI and XII. Students are selected for membership on the basis of exemplary scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students must achieve an overall 3.7 grade point average to be considered for membership in the society. The NHS meets quarterly, conducts the School's Peer Tutoring Program, and supervises Study Center once a week. NHS members promote awareness about worthy local, national, and global issues and sponsor fundraisers and discussions.

  • PALs

    Open to students in Classes XI and XII. The Peer Assistance Leader (PAL) program trains twelve students, six each from Classes XI and XII, to be discussion facilitators and peer leaders for groups of Class IX students. Students interested in becoming a PAL complete an application process that includes an essay, a letter of recommendation from the advisor, and an interview. PALs, who make a two-year commitment to serve as leaders, must comply with all school regulations and adhere to the PAL Code of Ethics. PALs usually meet once a week with faculty mentors for training sessions to address specific topics and to practice group facilitation techniques. In pairs, one PAL from Class XI and one from Class XII, meet with groups of eight to ten Class IX students approximately ten times during the year. Possible topics for discussion are: stress, body image, teen safety, sexuality, conflict resolution, relationships, racism, and drugs and alcohol.

  • GRACEful Leaders

    GRACEful Leaders offer leadership service to Marymount's diversity initiatives and events. These elected representatives work with parents, students, and administrators to build an equitable and inclusive community at Marymount. GRACEful Leaders are responsible for facilitating important conversations about the eight social identifiers at the GRACE Dinner and GRACEful Mornings, and they act as the leaders of the Upper School affinity groups and culture clubs. 

  • Retreat Team Leaders

    Retreat Team Leaders, or RTLs, offer leadership service to younger classes of Marymount students through Campus Ministry. They typically participate in an overnight training retreat, twice-a-cycle group meetings, and one individual session during the six to eight weeks prior to a grade-level day of reflection or overnight retreat, so they are well prepared to lead and facilitate theme-related small- and large-group activities and discussions, Mass, and reflective prayer services.

  • Eucharistic Ministers

    An important liturgical role at Marymount is service as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at all school and class Masses. During second semester of Sophomore year, students attend training sessions in preparation for their commissioning as school Eucharistic Ministers. Juniors and Seniors, not yet commissioned, may also join this training. Since the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus is integral to this ministry, it is reserved only for students of the Catholic faith.

  • Student Ambassadors

    Student Ambassadors are members of the Admissions team. They host visitors by leading tours, speaking on panels, and going on middle school visits. They are comfortable talking about Marymount's mission and culture, course offerings, extracurricular activities, and sports program. They have strong public speaking skills and a deep love of Marymount.

Publications:

List of 3 items.

  • Joritan: The Newspaper

    Students who are interested in serving as reporters, feature writers, sports writers, proofreaders, artists, layout designers (both paper and digital), photographers, entertainment critics, and creative writers are welcome to join the Joritan staff. Editors and staff meet weekly, but more frequent meetings are necessary near publication dates. Click here to browse recent issues.

  • Marifia: The Yearbook

    Yearbook editors and staff create, design, write, photograph, and produce the Marifia yearbook, learning the complete desktop publishing process from concept to electronic submission, using a variety of software platforms. Staff meetings are after-school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and additional Saturday or evening work sessions may be needed. Marifia is a demanding club, which offers a highly rewarding collaborative experience that results in a substantial publication celebrating not only the graduating class, but the school community as a whole. 

  • Muse: Literary Arts Journal

    The Muse is a literary arts journal that includes poetry, fiction, memoir, art work, and photography. Staff members meet weekly to create, critique, and evaluate written work, photography, and art work for possible publication in The Muse. The editorial board takes the lead in planning weekly staff meetings. All students are expected to participate actively in the creation and evaluation of submissions and to assist in planning the spring printing of The Muse. Staff members learn InDesign, use Photoshop, and assist with the layout of the publication in preparation for printing.

US Clubs:

List of 35 items.

  • Art Club

    The Art Club appeals to students who want to work with concepts in art and with various art materials outside of the normal class time. At the beginning of each semester, club members offer suggestions for projects. Activities are then chosen by consensus. Students explore a variety of mediums and techniques to meet the goals of each project. One activity each year is dedicated to fundraising for the RSHM school in Zimbabwe.

  • Astronomy Club

    In the Astronomy Club, students can share their enthusiasm for learning about astronomical events and the scientific nature of the universe. Club members will explore and discuss current night sky events, astronomical research, NASA missions, and possible career paths in the field of astronomy. This club welcomes everyone with an interest in astronomy–no prior experience needed!

  • Athletic Committee

    The Athletic Committee assists with the organization of athletic activities that enhance school spirit and encourage support for team events. Members of the committee organize special events such athletic award ceremonies, the ski trip, and field day.

  • Book Club

    Avid and voracious readers are welcome to gather and share their love of books by discussing works of fiction and non-fiction chosen purely for “leisure reading.” The selections are mutually agreed upon by the members and moderator.

  • Business & Finance Club

    Business and finance club provides members with the tools to make informed analyses when observing global economies and also teaches key finance skills that will carry into adulthood.

  • Campus Ministry

    There are three components to Campus Ministry: Service Programs, Liturgical Ministers, and the Retreat Team.

    Service Programs
    All Upper School students are encouraged to be involved in Campus Ministry’s service programs. These activities work to create an awareness of and response to social needs in our community and in the world, including homelessness, hunger, poverty, and human rights. Our commitment to the ministries of the RSHM in Zimbabwe receives special emphasis. Members sponsor assemblies, conduct food and gift drives, and plan fundraising activities. Discussions and planning meetings are held weekly.

    Liturgical Ministers
    Campus Ministry students serve as the Liturgical Ministers at all School Masses and Upper School liturgies. Their roles include lectors, procession ministers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and Ministers of Hospitality.

    Retreat Team
    Open to students in Classes X through XII, by application, the Retreat Team serves in a peer leadership position, developing and leading all Class retreats and days of reflection. Retreat Team leaders assume such critical and significant roles as small group facilitator, homilist, confidant, and role model. Retreat Team leaders must be members of Campus Ministry and attend a Retreat Team training weekend in September led by the Retreat Coordinator and members of the Religious Studies Department.

  • Civil Conversations Club

    The Civil Conversations Club provides an open space for all students to improve their conversational skills and learn to speak more eloquently about the ideas they wish to convey through discussions of current events and any other issues in the school or world people wish to talk about. The primary goal of the club is to work on making the members more articulate speakers in order to civilly and productively engage with those who have ideas different from their own. 

  • DIY Club

    In DI Club, students have the chance to express their creativity in a stress-free environment, engaging in hands-on activities and group trend discussions. This club focuses on DIY (Do It Yourself) projects. Members will have the opportunity to see their DIY project ideas come to life. One DIY project/auction each year is dedicated to fundraising for our RSHM sister school in Zimbabwe. This club teaches skills such as sewing, 3D printing, and more in the resourceful and versatile IDEA Lab. Throughout the year, guest speakers will drop by to share their experiences that go hand-in-hand with the world of design.

  • Drama Club

    The Drama Club explores various aspects of theatre, holding workshops on improvisation, writing plays, scene study, voice, movement, and directing. With insight gained from guest speakers from the world of theater, members perform scenes during and outside of club time. Drama Club also assists the Set Design and Tech Club with the fall play and spring musical and support their classmates in the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition. The Drama Club also organizes and runs the Arts Assembly in the early spring that provides an opportunity for students to showcase their talents.

  • EnviSci Club

    The EnviSci club has two major areas of emphasis. The first is having fun with science. Working in pairs, club members develop chemical or physics activities to share with younger students. They also serve as student aides for some Lower School science classes. The second focus is on education and action strategies addressing such environmental issues as global warming, the destruction of rain forests, the plight of endangered species, and recycling. In the spring, the club hosts a speaker at the annual “Women In Science” luncheon and may host an assembly speaker in the field of science. Current issues in science and the environment are discussed in weekly meetings.

  • ESports Club

    Esports is a club that focuses on creating a fun and safe space for gaming while also being able to compete against other schools. Esports has their own team on the High School Esports League called the OnLions, and they can compete in many games, such as Minecraft, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, League of Legends, and many more! They also have a Marymount-focused Minecraft server so that every Marymount student can feel connected to the community and still be able to play Minecraft multiplayer. The team includes every game anyone would play, no matter what device!

  • Experimental Science Club

    Experimental Science Club is a collaborative, experiment-driven club where members can explore their interests in chemistry, physics, geology, biology, engineering, forensics, astronomy, and other scientific areas of study. Experimental Science offers a space to complete various science-based projects with people who share the same interests. Members will complete experiments collaboratively with the rest of the club and have the ability to design their own experiments. 

  • Film Club

    Film Club aims to discuss and dissect our favorite movies, short films, and TV shows. We will have themed days to touch on specific genres, eras, and techniques, exploring what makes these ideas important in the language of film. In addition, we will encourage participants to think critically about the media they consume and to even create some of their own! We’ll write and workshop scripts and monologues, learn about the format of screenplays, and make it easy for club members to submit their work to film festivals. Requirements for members include attending every meeting and devoting small amounts of outside time to watching relevant films and developing their writing skills. 

  • Food Science

    The Food Science Club is a club in which members bake and cook, experimenting with different variables that affect taste, flavor, and texture. Members investigate the chemical reactions that occur by examining different ingredients and their effects on the baking process.

  • Global Awareness

    Global Awareness works to increase awareness of human rights abuses worldwide and to take action to stop those abuses. Club members meet to discuss current violations of human rights and to take targeted action, such as letter-writing campaigns and petitions. The club also informs the rest of the school community of current situations through posters, email, and assembly announcements.

  • Joint School Activities (JSA)

    JSA is a non-profit organization created and supported by the Parent Associations of independent schools in Manhattan. Student representatives from member schools meet regularly to plan and organize community service and cultural events that take place throughout the school year. 

  • Marymount Mentor Club

    In Mentor Club, members plan fun activities and events for the Upper Middle School. Through this club, younger students can get to know the students in Classes IX-XII so they can recognize friendly faces in the older grades when they get to Upper School.

  • Marymount Singers

    Students may audition for Marymount Singers each September. This activity is for those interested in singing both sacred and secular music, including classical and popular repertoire. Students learn music notation and sight-reading. The Marymount Singers perform frequently at liturgical services and at other school and community events. There is a formal concert each semester, and the Singers go on a concert tour over spring vacation, which often includes performing at our Marymount sister schools abroad. Click here to see the Singers perform!

  • Math Team

    Math team is a community-driven environment of ambitious math-thinkers, who practice and compete both collaboratively and individually for national and international math competitions, while also preparing for the AMC.

  • Mathletes

    Open to students in Classes IX-XII. Enrollment is for the year. Mathletes is comprised of individuals who have a passion for mathematics, and offers a welcoming environment where students can work on any math problems they need help with or just want to improve on. The Mathletes participate in local, national, and even international mathematics competitions. The team belongs to the New York City Interscholastic Math League and competes in several tournaments each semester.

  • Medical Society Club

    The goal of the Medical Society Club is to explore medical careers and careers in science through researching medical advancements and participating in virtual medical simulations.

  • Met Club

    The Met Club allows students the opportunity to explore the galleries of the Met on Friday afternoons, take advantage of museum programs and special exhibits, and learn more about art or museum-related careers and internships. Interested students can also help design and lead tours for Marymount students and alumnae. Met Club members meet and have lunch together once a rotation to discuss special exhibits on view, learn about select artists, plan museum visits, meet with guest speakers, and work on creative projects intended to involve the whole Marymount community.

  • Mock Trial

    Students in Mock Trial develop a deeper understanding of the American trial system by performing structured role-plays in criminal and civil cases. Students in the club, as well as students on the team, gain a basic knowledge of an attorney's responsibilities and of court procedures. They select a case and prepare it from both the prosecution/plaintiff and defense positions, and play the roles of witnesses and attorneys. Students in the Mock Trial club have the opportunity to compete in scrimmages with local schools. Students on the Mock Trial team present a trial case assigned by the New York State Bar Association at the city-wide Mock Trial Tournament sponsored by the Justice Resource Center, which includes approximately one hundred private and public schools in New York City. The club meets once per week throughout the year. Students on the team have additional practice meetings beginning in January, including a weekday evening and on weekends during the competition season in the spring semester.

  • Model UN

    Members of Model UN gain knowledge of international affairs and develop an understanding of the need for diplomacy in the relations among nations. Weekly meetings in preparation for the Model United Nations Conferences focus on the examination of contemporary issues and on simulations of United Nations’ meetings. Participation in these conferences affords students the opportunity to prepare resolutions, to confer with delegates from other nations, and to represent the views and policies of their assigned nation. Club members are expected to devote adequate time to independent research. New members are encouraged to attend the conferences, and all returning members are required to attend both conferences.

  • Photography Club

    In Photography Club, students will explore different methods of photography with digital, film, Polaroid, and iPhone cameras through projects utilizing PhotoShop, mixed media, and more. From students who just have fun taking photos to ones who want to build their portfolio, all levels are welcome!

  • Rhyme & Reason

    Marymount’s creative writing club, Rhyme and Reason, encourages young writers to share their imagination through prose, poetry, and short stories. Working closely with peers and club leaders, our members are grounded in the fundamentals of creative writing as they write, edit, and submit their best work for publication. Whether through quick free-writes or elaborate epics, here the passion for writing can flourish.

  • Robotics Club

    This is a collaborative club that gives students the opportunity to work together on various robotics-based projects. This student-driven club allows members to lead their own exploration of science, engineering, and robotics topics with people who share the same interests.

  • School Service

    The School Service club is led by two officers (President & Vice President) who are chosen for their contributions to the club after two years of commitment. The club leaders recruit and assign members to a service activity that their schedules can accommodate. Service opportunities are available in all divisions of the school. Possible assignments include working in the library or art rooms, tutoring, assisting administrative support staff, and helping supervise lunch in the Lower School.

  • Set Tech

    The Set Tech club welcomes all students who are interested in the creative technical aspects of theater and offers a place for them to learn and hone their skills in stage management, sound and lighting design, costume and prop design, and digital graphics.

  • Social Events Committee

    The Social Events Committee (SEC) is chaired by the Vice President of Student Government and the two elected Vice Presidents of the Social Events Committee who also serve as the school’s Joint Schools Association (JSA) Representatives. The SEC is further composed of two representatives from each Upper School Class. The Social Events Committee is responsible for organizing four dances a year for the Upper School and for providing fundraising support for club events and charities. Two members of the committee are appointed to represent Marymount in the Joint Schools Association. These representatives attend monthly JSA meetings and inform the community about JSA events and initiatives. In the spring, current members of the Social Events Committee elect a new team for the following year.

  • The Stitchuation Knitting Club

    Students in the Stitchuation Knitting Club meet each cycle to learn new knitting and crocheting skills. Members of the club collaborate on charitable projects like knitting hats for the homeless in New York City and teddybears for an orphanage in Haiti.

  • Tech + Media

    Tech + Social Media is an exciting group of humorous, creative, and curious students who are motivated to find and teach ways to implement and productively use forms of technology and social media to both educate and entertain.

  • US Tutors

    US Tutors work as tutors and homework helpers for Lower Mid students during LMS study hall twice a week. 

  • Women in Our World

    W.O.W. endeavors to empower girls by encouraging them to view education, advertising, politics, careers, popular culture, sports, and more through the lens of gender. The club seeks to raise awareness of inequality towards women, particularly internationally, and to recognize our common sisterhood. Weekly meetings tackle discussions ranging from “toys for girls” to female body image, and the club hosts annual CSCs to help the larger student body become involved in issues that affect all women.

  • Young Women Big Impact

    Young Women Big Impact provides an opportunity for students to donate their time to making positive change and helping others. Each month the club selects a different charity and creates projects that give back to that community. This has included making cards for hospitalized children, sending uplifting videos to those in elderly homes, and collecting necessities for those suffering in Ukraine. The club’s purpose is to be a place where people can do simple acts, without involving money, to help others as students strive to “challenge, shape, and change the world.”