A variety of new Upper School clubs have been founded while old favorites continue.
By ELLIE MALCHIONE
Assistant news editor
The Club Fair remains a long-standing tradition at Poly that marks the end of summer vacation and the start of a busy school year. The barbeque lunch and fair have rung in the start of the new year. The fair serves as an opportunity for student club presidents to advertise their clubs and communicate their goals and plans for the year.
Upper Schoolers acquaint themselves with student clubs both old and new. (Courtesy of Blaine Ohigashi)
This year, the August 27 Club Fair underwent several set-up modifications that translated to larger success among the student body. The change in location from McWilliams Courtyard to Arden Lawn provided a more spacious and unique setting for the event. On Arden Lawn, the semicircle formation of the club booths invited students to walk through and explore all of the clubs.
“The club fair this year had a very welcoming environment,” junior Katie Morgan comments. “Because GSL and the ASB were passing out lollipops and treats, I felt more encouraged to explore the area. There were many more clubs than I anticipated, and I ended up joining many more clubs than in previous years.”
All Poly Upper School students are welcome to form their own clubs around issues or interests that appeal to them. To form a club, students must gain approval of the Upper School administration and find a faculty sponsor. This year, there are more than 20 student-run clubs at Poly, and two of the new clubs formed this year include The Middle Eastern Club, and the United Nations Global Friends-African Cultural Exchange Club.
The Middle Eastern Club explores the complex culture of the Middle East. Led by senior George Hakimeh and faculty supervisor Garine Zetlian, the club plans on addressing serious topics concerning the Middle East and teaching the Poly community about the positive and entertaining aspects of the culture.
Zetlian notes, “I think it’s a good way to support the Global Initiatives program,” because the club illustrates the relevancy of the Middle East to the United States, placing them on the world stage. The Global Initiative program, which Poly adopted in 2007, aims to increase global awareness and involvement.
Hakimeh and Zetlian hope to shed negative perceptions about the Middle East, and investigate the issue of ethnic identity. “I’d like to have the club be like a discussion group about what’s going on there,” Hakimeh remarks. In addition, they aim to bring in a speaker for an assembly, and sell Middle Eastern food during lunch for fundraising.
Already, students have responded very well to the club. To join the club at any time, students only need to talk to George Hakimeh or join the Facebook group. The club does not require its members to be of Middle Eastern decent, and welcomes anyone who has an interest in Middle Eastern culture or current affairs.
The United Nations Global Friends-African Cultural Exchange Club is another addition to Poly this year. This club acts as a branch off of The African Cultural Exchange Organization, and it strives to “help others to share in the discovery of Africa and Africans through our charitable and humanitarian-cross cultural, development, educational and healthcare projects.”
At Poly, club president Katie Miller and faculty sponsor Joanna Swerdlow will collect and ship school supplies to a Nigerian school. Swerdlow says through the club they hope to “create another community service opportunity for Poly students and engage in contact with a school in Nigeria.”
The club’s first event will be to gather school supplies, such as chalkboards and erasers. In the coming weeks, students and faculty should look for a donation box in Ms. William’s office where such donations will be collected. More donations will be collected at the Poly Book Fair on Sunday, November 9. These books will go directly to students in Nigeria. For students eager to join the club, donating at either of these times is the best way to get involved.
This year’s Club Fair sported a variety of clubs. Offering cultural, charitable, educational, and leisurely clubs, many students left the first day of school excited for the upcoming year and the opportunities they had to become involved in the community. Freshman Greer Clem admits, “I thought the Club Fair had really amazing choices and there were a lot of clubs to join. I really liked the variety.”
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