Extracurricular activities help to develop well-rounded students. Universities look for students who are skilled academically but in other areas as well. We provide students the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that are not necessarily taught in the regular curriculum. Some of the extracurricular activities that the students at GAA can be involved in include the Medical Club, Yearbook, Newspaper, Student Association, Class Office, and Academic Challenge Bowl.
The Medical Club gears eligible students toward a career in the medical field. Workshops are provided to the club members to develop basic skills in healthcare. Health fairs are conducted around the island in which club members are able to get first-hand, medical experience with the community alongside Guam’s doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Yearbook is in charge of handling the production of the school’s yearbook. Students in Yearbook are able to work with software programs manufactured especially for yearbook design. The skills they learn in Yearbook can help these students to go on to develop a better understanding of graphic design and photography.
Newletter is in charge of collecting the ongoing news at the school and compiling those stories into a newsletter to be distributed to the students and constituents of Guam Adventist Academy. Students in Newspaper develop valuable writing and communication skills along with design and distribution knowledge. Students involved with Newspaper will leave having a better understanding of journalism.
The Student Association, made up of an elected group of students headed by an advisor, plans engaging events to develop the academic, physical, and especially social and spiritual aspect of each student. Events include beach days, banquets, and more. The Student Association seeks to creatively allow students to develop their skills in each of these events. To see what the Student Association is planning, please see our school calendar.
Class officers are able to develop unique skills in leadership working with staff, classmates, and volunteers. Each class from middle school through high school elects students in their grade to fulfill the offices of each class. These officers and their sponsor then lead their classmates in fundraising for their graduation, providing community service, and cooperating with administration.
The Academic Challenge Bowl, or ACB, is a GATE program of Guam’s Gifted and Talented Education service of Guam’s Department Of Education. Participation is by invitation. GAA has a team from grades 6-8 representing the Middle School ACB Team and grades 9-12 students representing the High School ACB Team.
Academic Challenge Bowl is a game in which our best students compare the breadth of their general knowledge. They may be asked any question regarding any subject to which they might have been exposed in 12 years of education. Players often need to correlate understanding from two or more fields in order to provide prompt answers to the questions posed.
Our high school and middle school teams match knowledge and quick recall with their peers from many of Guam’s other schools. Sometimes they win; sometimes they lose, but they always enjoy the proce ss.
-ACB Coach, R. Wresch, M.D.
National Honor Society GAA chapter. GAA has recently opened a chapter of the National Honor Society and will be conducting AP classes for students enrolled in NHS. With its beginnings in 1921, the National Honor Society is a national organization that recognizes exemplary students who have proven excellence in scholarship, leadership, service and character. Students who are enrolled into NHS are not only recognized for their excellence but are encouraged to further develop these areas in their further schooling and communities.
Requirements for NHS members:
- Scholarship: At least a 3.0 GPA
- Service: History of service to the community
- Leadership: Experience in leadership
- Character: Demonstrates a virtuous character
- Citizenship: Upholds principles of morality and ethics
For more details about NHS, see their website, http://www.nhs.us/.
