Clubs and Activities

(Student-Led Organization) JSU allows students the opportunity to strengthen their Jewish identity/provide a deeper understanding of the Jewish community.

Intramural activities are offered to VHHS students throughout the year. Programs are offered satisfying student interest and when facilities are available.  Announcements concerning these activities can be found in the daily bulletin or Intramural Google Classroom.

LASO highlights social consciousness and empowerment of Latinx students as individuals and as a culture. Members participate in bilingual presentations and diverse cultural awareness activities for the benefit of its members and the Vernon Hills community.  There are also opportunities to learn about the Chicano Rights Movement and to meet with other Latinx students from neighboring high schools through the Chicano College Bowl and various “pachangas” or social events. Membership is open to all students.

(tbd) The Law Enforcement Club provides students the opportunity to explore various career paths in law enforcement and foster a relationship with law enforcement agencies. Throughout the year, the club will host several speakers and presenters from departments, programs, and agencies such as the VHPD, Lake County MEG, the Lake County Coroner, 911 dispatch, area canine units, and forensics.

Unless otherwise noted, we meet on Mondays after school from 3:30-4:30 pm in room 0200.

We compete in five NSML meets and two ICTM meets each year.  The meet dates for the 2025-26 season are as follows:

NSML #1 - Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 @ Libertyville High School

NSML #2 - Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 @ Vernon Hills High School

NSML #3 - Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 @ Stevenson High School

NSML #4 - Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 @ Lake Forest High School

ICTM Regional - Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 @ TBD

NSML #5 - Wednesday, March 4, 2026 (Conference Meet) @ Glenbrook South High School

ICTM State - Saturday, April 18, 2026 @ Illinois State University

Topics

Freshman NSML Topics: Counting Basics and Simple Probability; Number Theory and Divisibility; Proportion and Percent; Quadratics

Sophomore NSML Topics: Geometric Probability; Similarity; Perimeter, Area, and Surface Area; Advanced Geometry Topics

Junior NSML Topics: Probability; Triangle Trigonometry; Sequence and Series; Logarithms and Exponentials

Senior NSML Topics: Probability; Trigonometric Equations; Theory of Equations; Polar Coordinates and Equations

All NSML contests are now non-calculator. 

If you like computations and competition, the Math Team is for you!  The team meets weekly from September through January to prepare for monthly North Suburban Math League (NSML) competitions, then approximately twice a week from February through early May to prepare for the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) Regional and State competitions.  Through topic-focused practices, we aim to enrich students’ mathematical competencies in the content covered throughout our classroom curriculum and beyond!​​​​​​

(Student-Led Organization) MSA allows Vernon Hills High School students to come together in a supportive environment, where students can maintain and increase their knowledge of the Islamic culture.  Our goals are to educate the community about Islam, denounce existing stereotypes, and promote a positive image and message within the Vernon Hills community. All students are welcome to participate in meetings and activities. 

Membership into the VHHS chapter of the National Honor Society is one of the highest honors a student can receive at Vernon Hills High School. Class of 2025 who have a GPA of 3.8 or better are invited to apply for membership in the Fall of senior year.  Class of 2026 who have a GPA of 3.8 or better are invited to apply after completing the first semester junior year. 

This club stems from a philosophy that people are more capable than they perceive themselves to be and this club gives them the opportunity to try new activities in a supportive atmosphere, such as skiing, canoeing, climbing, hiking etc. Through the many challenges offered in our club, we provide a direction for learning. We hope to instill in our students the belief that individuals can and will make a difference.

Ping Pong Club meets in the lobby after school to play open games for individuals who sign up on sight. Students are welcome to come when you can, and leave when you want. Just a bigger version of playing in the basement with your friends. 

Build and program robots using LEGO and Arduino platforms.  A team of 18 Vernon Hills students learn about the different aspects of robotics and engineering careers.  The Vernon Hills robotics team practices several times a week and competes about once a month.  The robotics team is active from August through March.

The Scholastic  Bowl Team competes against area schools by answering a variety of questions on topics ranging from math to music to current events. The season runs from October to March and includes weekly practices/competitions and various tournaments.  Scholastic  Bowl is competitive and fun.

Science Olympiad is an American team competition in which students compete in 23 events pertaining to various scientific disciplines, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Over 7,800 high school teams from 50 U.S. states compete each year.

Competitions

Palatine HS November 22, 2025

Crystal Lake Central HS: January 24th, 2026

Libertyville HS: January 31, 2026

Northwestern University: February 21, 2026

Regionals @McHenry County College: March 7, 2026

• Creating an atmosphere where LGBTQ+ students will find support and allyship
•  Having FUN with games, activities, movie days, and more
• Compiling and creating educational resources
• Educating students’ and staff’s understanding of the LGBTQ+ community
• Speaking out against homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination
• Developing youth leaders capable of creating positive change in our community

Meets every Tuesday afterschool in Room 2213

Sign Language club meets weekly. No experience necessary!  We learn basic signs to build vocabulary. We also learn about Deaf Culture.

This organization is a mental health awareness and substance prevention club that sponsors school-wide events like Yellow and Red Ribbon Weeks, Operation Snowball, and Snowflake, and offers many opportunities for leadership growth.  This club has a goal to #SPARKinterest and #SPARKaction in other students and is a great way to get involved in prevention.  This club strives to stress the importance and fun of living a healthy life.

Special Olympics is an athletic organization for mentally handicapped students that practices and competes throughout the entire school year.  Special Olympics strive to give mentally handicapped students the opportunities in athletics we all are fortunate to have as well as becoming an equal part of the student body.  We encourage the development and focus on enhancing our athletes physical fitness and motor skills, self-confidence, self-image, friendships, and social skills, skills that will be used for the rest of their lives.  Athletes will participate in aquatics, track and field, floor hockey, soccer, football, weight training, snowshoeing, softball, gymnastics, bocce ball, bowling, basketball, volleyball, and more.  Special Olympics encourages all students, from grades 9-12 and any member of the school and its community to take part.  It is a tremendous experience, one that will influence your life for years to come.

​​​Starbooks Book Club invites all book-minded folx meet to share our love of reading. We do not all read the same book at the same time. Our motto is “Read what you like, and share if you wish!” We also maintain a Little Free LIbrary for the VH reading community.

​​​​​Starbooks Book Club meets from 8:15-8:40 a.m. every Friday in the Library Classroom. Bring your own mug for free hot chocolate or tea.

Strategy club creates a venue for gamers to share their love of their favorite games with others, to find people with a common interest to play games with, and to learn new games to play.  More importantly, though, students interact in an environment that encourages them to socialize, teach each other, learn from each other, make new friends, work together, play together, and have fun.

The Student Council provides a forum where students can impact the VHHS school culture, plan and organize many of the school’s social events, provide student voice, and address school-related topics maintaining communication among students.  Students can share ideas, interests, and concerns empowering their voices. The goal of Student Council is to help provide a great experience for current students and continue to seek ways to improve VHHS.

FRESHMAN CLASS STUDENT COUNCIL

(Lauren Purchatzke, Melissa Amerine) This council is open to all freshmen and will represent the entire freshman class.  The elected Freshman Student Council Class Officers will direct this group.  

SOPHOMORE CLASS STUDENT COUNCIL

(Elizabeth Peterson) This council is open to all sophomores and will represent the entire sophomore class.  The elected Sophomore Student Council Class Officers will direct this group.  

JUNIOR CLASS STUDENT COUNCIL

(Amanda Carroll) This council is open to all juniors and will represent the entire junior class.  The elected Junior Student Council Class Officers will direct this group.

SENIOR CLASS STUDENT COUNCIL

(Brittany Redig) This council is open to all seniors and will represent the entire senior class. The elected Senior Student Council Class Officers will direct this group.  

Make your dreams of becoming a director, news anchor, sports announcer, or cameraman come true.  This is an activity where students learn as much about television production as they are willing to pursue.  Explore the use of digital equipment in a hands-on learning environment.  It’s a labor of love.

VH Media broadcasts, records, or creates the following:

• Home varsity football games
• Fine arts concerts and events
• Musicals and plays
• NHS inductions and some awards ceremonies
• Assemblies
• Hawthorn Middle School 8th grade promotion ceremonies
• VHL (Vernon Hills Live!)
• Short Films
• Social Media Content
• Commercials
• Sports Photography
• Portrait Photography

VH Media is associated with the Midwest Media Educators Association (MMEA). A video festival is held every year where high school students submit and showcase their work. We have recently won the following awards:

• 2024 - 2nd Place in the MMEA Halloween Film Challenge
• 2024 - 2nd Place in the Live Events - Non Sports Category for the MMEA High School Video Festival
• 2023 - 5th Place in the Social Media Category for the MMEA High School Video Festival
• 2022 - Crystal Pillar Winner in the Non-Fiction Short Form Category for the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 

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This organization creates and performs various kinds of peer education and outreach to youth and teen audiences in the community having as its focus drug/alcohol prevention and healthy decision-making.  Students interested will have an opportunity to try out for opening spots.

(Student Literary Magazine) All students may submit their poetry, artwork, short stories, and photography to Whispers. The students who join the staff decide which works will be published and how to layout and design the pages of this professionally published magazine. Members of Whispers also coordinate Open Mic nights and student contests throughout the year. Students with a creative flair who are interested in the creative endeavors of their peers are encouraged to join us!