Clubs and Programs
Pine Hollow is pleased to offer the following clubs for students to enjoy all year. These clubs are open to all students and any student can start a club. Here is more information about our clubs.
Club Schedule- 2022 - 2023 - subject to change
Comunidad:
The purpose of Comunidad is to provide students a space where they can share and learn about the various cultures within Latin America. Students talk openly about their diverse experiences at Pine Hollow and beyond. As the group meets, students may decide to share parts of their culture (food, dance, traditions, etc.) with the student body to boost positive Latinx images. We provide Latinx students the academic, social, and emotional support they need to succeed in college, career, and life by stressing the importance of high academic expectations and personal accountability. Membership is open to any Pine Hollow student interested in learning about the richness of Latin-American cultures and peoples.
Advisor: Dr. Lizette Ortega-Dolan
Safe Place:
The Safe Place Club at Pine Hollow is run by students, not by the moderators. We provide a safe space for meetings and conversations, but the activities and decisions come from the student members themselves. The students drive the conversations, events, and meeting agendas. Some participating students identify as a members of the LGBTQ community, others have siblings or parent(s)/guardian(s) who identify, some are questioning, other students may simply be curious about the club, and others want to know how they can be allies to the LGBTQ community at Pine Hollow and beyond.
The tween years are a key period for adolescents, including LGBTQ students. The Trevor Project reports several troubling statistics. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) youths are “more than four times as likely to attempt suicide” as heterosexual kids. And “more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13–24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S.” We want to help students with both the celebration and the potential confusion that might occur during this chapter of a student’s life.
Advisor: Flavio Diaz Diaz
Black Excellence:
Black and African-American students expressed a need for an affinity space that allows for honest discussions with their fellow students about shared experiences and issues. During the Black Excellence meetings, students discuss matters ranging from coping with microaggressions and racial stress, taking a knee, talking “white,” black hair, to current events. Students may plan activities on campus and field trips, such as to a tour of HBCU at College Park High School. The students value the time they spend with each other at lunch when they are surrounded by others with whom they can relate in ways their other peers may not. The Black Excellence Club supports students in being better equipped to navigate society, increase their confidence, and practice expressing themselves. This club advocates for the character and identity development of all our students, particularly Black and African-American young people.
Membership is open to any Pine Hollow student interested in learning about the richness of Black/African-American cultures and peoples, though some events/meetings may be closed to students not identifying as Black/African-Americans.
Advisors: Dr. Lizette Dolan and Mr. Ed Perryman
Mustang Runners Club:
The Mustang Runners Club is a great way to prepare for high school track and field, meet new people, and get some great exercise in the fresh air of our beautiful Pine Hollow neighborhoods. We run two days a week at distances of 2-5 miles. We welcome any member of the Pine Hollow student body.
Advisor: Mr. Buhler
Spring and Summer Travel Opportunities
Costa Rica - April 2023
We are so excited to be going to Costa Rica next spring. The trip is called Pura Vida and the trip site link is here www.educationaltravel.com/Dolan-1804 . You can check out the itinerary and sign up at that link.
This trip is special because it is very hands on and immersive. So much so that you can get 3 FREE college units though George Mason University for going on the trip and doing some work on the side. That is worth thousands of dollars for free and is a great thing to put on a college application. The deadline to sign up is July 22nd, but we encourage everyone interested in doing to sign up as soon as possible. Because of oil prices the cost of travel is going up and the price is not guaranteed until you sign up. Once you sign up it is locked in and there are no hidden costs. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Costa Rica with your friends and experience this beautiful and amazing place.
If you have questions you can reach me at dolanl@gmail.com and our representative from Worldstrides, the organization leading the trip, is Casey Park and he can be reached at caseypa@worldstrides.com .
Join us in Costa Rica!
Washington DC - Summer 2023