On September 24, 2024, SCH students rushed to the courtyard for this year’s Clubs and Activities Fair, where they had the opportunity to preview a variety of student-led clubs. Over forty clubs, councils, and activities were presented that day, ranging from environmental awareness to movie-watching.
With so many clubs to choose from, it was hard for students not to be interested in at least one. Some clubs like Political Action Club and Mock Trial gave students the ability to debate, while councils like the Honor Council promote academic integrity. Activities like Robotics teach students how to code and engineer. Each club presented was unique and special in its own right, but students that aren’t interested in joining them are able to start their own.
Eight of the forty clubs showcased were founded last year in 2023. Two of those clubs, the SCHpace Club and the Music Appreciation Club, were presented for the first time at the fair this year. The Music Appreciation Club, founded by sophomores Claire Lynch and Jude Hackford, creates a safe space for people to share their opinions about the music they love. The goal of the club is to expand and broaden the music tastes of its members by introducing them to “more than just music given to them by the internet,” said Claire.
A member of the SCHpace Club, Aaron Jia, said that the club’s founding goal was to give students the opportunity to “explore their interests within space” and learn more about it. The SCHpace Club has occasional high-altitude balloon launches for its members to watch, along with monthly events that feature activities like stargazing. Although newly founded, SCHpace Club and Music Appreciation Club both share a common goal in hoping to nurture students’ interests whether in music or space while also giving members a chance to learn and have fun.
At this year’s fair, it was clear that all clubs create community and closeness within the school. Interactions with people that share similar interests help foster connections deeper than just sharing a class or seeing each other in the halls. This gives students the opportunity to make friends with those in a grade above or below them. Lila Bodeman, Co-president of Student Facilitators, believes that this is why clubs help “provide a community outside of the grade base.”
Although the Clubs and Activities Fair seemed like a simple event, the planning definitely wasn’t. The fair only took about 30 minutes, but a lot of work from students went into making sure that the half hour ran according to plan. Students needed to practice presenting their clubs and building something called a club poster, an integral part of the club fair that attracts the attention of potential members and explains the purpose of the club.
Overall, this annual event helps bring together the community and allows students to be a part of something more than just school. It helps students branch out, make new friends, and further their interests with people just as enthusiastic as themselves. Unfortunately the Clubs and Activities Fair was over by third period, but SCH students can’t wait for the next one.
