Something for Everyone

By Greta Cunningham '23, Communications Apprentice
February 22, 2022

Ninety-five percent of Cretin-Derham Hall students are involved in at least one co-curricular activity. There’s something for everyone: dozens of clubs and activities, 27 varsity sports, as well as co-curricular fine and performing arts opportunities. 

Fall sports start practice before the school year begins, giving students a unique opportunity to make new friends. Of CDH’s 27 varsity sports, 13 are offered at four levels with a 9th-grade team. All fall sports offer a no-cut option. 

“Ninth-grade soccer helped me form connections with incoming students from different middle schools and upperclassmen. I could recognize familiar faces in the hallway on the first day of school to ask for help getting to class,” said Noelle Akins ’25.

These fall sports have been an important part of the introduction to CDH for generations.

“The first thing I did as a CDH student was to play 9th-grade football two weeks before class started,” said Admissions Director, Sean Van Gemert ’96. “Everyone was new, but coming from Woodbury, it was an important reminder that I wasn’t alone. I had 20 friends before the first day of school.”

Co-curriculars are the nexus of inter-grade connection. Activities like theater rely on students’ ability to pass down knowledge and technique, from operating the lighting equipment to improvisation skills. 

“They are learning from each other all the time. We need a graduating senior to help, guide, and teach others in a totally different way than any teacher or adviser can. That sharing is essential to what we do,” said Chris Hill ’01, Theater Director.

All Kinds of Learning

It isn’t only ninth graders who appreciate and benefit from this camaraderie and collaboration. 

“Involvement in co-curricular activities helps build better relationships between grade levels as teams like Robotics aren’t restricted by grade,” said William Keefe ’22, who joined the Robotics team as a senior. “Those connections greatly contribute to our sense of togetherness.” 

Keefe was inspired to join the team after considering a future in engineering. 

“I think the more activities you try, the more of them you will learn to like. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is almost always rewarding,” he said.

The sentiment holds true at all stages of the high school experience. Many students join a new activity as a ninth-grader and stay involved for the next three years. 

“I was worried about starting tennis as a ninth-grader, having never played before, but everyone was so nice, and I ended up loving it. It was great to have something to work towards and feel passionate about outside of school,” said Leah Stoltz ’23. “It made me a little less nervous starting high school because I had already shown myself that I could do something scary.” 

Co-curriculars are also instrumental in self-discovery. 

“You learn just as much by participating in co-curriculars as you might in a science class. It's part of the whole experience,” said Van Gemert. “I tell students all the time that high school is for figuring out what you're passionate about. You may walk away and decide that it’s not what you want to do, but you've learned something about yourself.” 

Balancing academics and other activities helps students develop time management skills and cultivate balance. 

“I think doing other activities actually really helped me with my homework. Soccer gave me time to let loose after class, so I could focus more on my schoolwork when I got home,” said Akins. 

Teachers and coaches prioritize enforcing and fostering what will be essential strategies and strengths for their students at CDH and after.  

“As a teacher, I have noticed that my students who are involved in co-curricular activities usually have better organization and time management skills,” said science teacher and Boys Swim coach Mike Steineman ’92. “As a coach, I am constantly reminding my swimmers that they are at CDH for an education first, which helps keep them motivated.”

Creating Community 

To support students’ engagement in co-curriculars, the CDH admissions team connects incoming ninth-graders with team captains and student leaders over the summer. In the fall, clubs host the Activities Fair, where students of all grades can sign up for something new and learn more about CDH’s offerings. 

“We want students to be engaged in something they're passionate about outside of the classroom because it ultimately makes them more successful in the classroom,” said Van Gemert. “The relationships they make enhance their overall experience here and lead them to have greater success at CDH.”

Students don’t only benefit from the activities they’re personally involved in. Supporting friends and classmates in different spheres of school culture is an essential way co-curriculars connect the student body. 

“I remember how big of a sense of school pride that gave us from my time at CDH. You want to go see your classmate in the play or your friend play football on Friday night. When there is a big baseball game in the spring, you see all the classmates along the fences,” said Assistant Athletic Director Bob Kinne ’11. “It's really cool to see all of our students intermingle no matter what groups or clubs or activities they're involved in. The biggest thing our activities provide us with is just a really big sense of community.”