LZHS is home to over 53 student – run clubs and activities. Some organizations have been around since LZHS first opened in 1926, while other clubs are just getting started. Many have come a long way from a mere 10 students to over 100 and are even receiving attention from local businesses. New clubs, such as Italian club, hope to bring something new to Lake Zurich.

Italian Club:

Among other foreign language clubs at school, the Italian club hopes to represent Italian culture in a new way.

“My classmates and I decided to start this club because we thought the Italian culture should be represented and not just German, Spanish, and French culture,” Bailey Howell, junior, said. “Lake Zurich has a lot of people who are Italian, and people who want to just learn about the country.”

Some of the activities members will participate in include movie nights, learning the language, making and eating Italian food, participating in Charity Bash, and hosting soccer games against the other foreign language clubs. 

Howell said she and three of her classmates – juniors Dom Demico, Alex Verde, and Angelica LaVito – thought up the idea. The students then went to work on organizing, creating ideas for fundraising, and how to run the club.

“After we had all the details worked out on how to run the club, we then needed to find a sponsor,” Howell said.

Leah Enright, Spanish teacher, agreed to the student’s offer.

“I almost immediately said yes, thinking it was a great idea to have this sort of club,” Enright said. “First I sat down and made sure they knew what they were doing, but they already had almost the whole year planned out. I was very impressed.”

When all the details came together, the group put their plan into action.

“We had to fill out an application, and part of that was getting 15 signatures,” Howell said. “We received over 100 over the course of a couple of days.”

Italian club is now an official club and plans to hold start up meetings on Wednesdays after school.

Art Club:

The Art Club started from a mere 10 members and has grown to over 100. 

“Our talent and our numbers have definitely grown,” Kristen LeJeunesse, art club sponsor, said. “This is a club where you can go at your own pace and you can learn a thing or two that isn’t offered to you in your art class.”

Art club is the chance to try out painting, even if you’re in a drawing class where painting is not offered, Lejeunesse said.

The club officers choose a different technique of art to teach to the club at each meeting.

The talent of the members has attracted so much attention that local organizations have heard of their work.

“The Ryan York Foundation contacted us and also came to one of our meetings asking us to design a t-shirt for the annual walk they participate in,” Lejeunesse said. “It really is quite an honor.”                   

Habitat For Humanity:

Habitat for Humanity used the Harry Potter homecoming theme to raise money for their club by playing Quidditch.

“Habitat for Humanity wanted to have a fundraiser that could also incorporate the homecoming theme for this year,” Joe May, Habitat for Humanity sponsor, said. “Most colleges even have organized Quidditch teams, so it’s almost become a real sport.”

Each participant met after school in between the main football field and the tennis courts.

“We had about 25-30 participants running around on brooms,” May said. “It really looked like a good time. I wish I could have gone out there with them.”

The game requires three hula-hoops on either side of the field, set at different heights. The goal of the game is to run to the other side of the field with a nerf ball or soccer ball and throw it into the hoop. To win the game, a player must catch the snitch, who is a participant from the opposing team, May said.

“Each participant had to pay to play, and Habitat For Humanity came up with close to $100 during the fundraiser,” May said. “Students asked if we could play again, and I would almost recommend making the game a club for anyone who’s interested.”