Students Bring Energy, Passion, and New Ideas to Annual Club Fair
With the new school year in full swing, last week students had the opportunity to consider what clubs and affinity spaces they might want to join this year. On Friday, Upper School students heard from club leaders during assembly before learning more about the clubs—with focuses including academics, wellness, service, and more—during a lunchtime club fair in Kraft Dining Hall.
Interim Head of Upper School Will Mills opened the Upper School assembly, noting the wide range of topics and varying time commitments represented by Upper School clubs. “We really just ask today that you listen carefully,” Mills said. “Think about any that you already know you might be interested in, and think about those that you just haven’t even heard of—think outside the box a little bit.”
Taking to the podium to say a few words about their clubs, student leaders showed up in spirit—including some student-athletes decked out in honor of their games that evening, with suits and ties for boys’ soccer and Americana-themed attire for girls’ soccer.
Information wasn’t the only thing student leaders shared, with some using questions, humor, or intrigue to set their group apart. “Have you ever wondered if there are aliens somewhere in the universe or thought about black holes and how they work?” asked space club co-leader Eidan Kulman-Tamanaha ’27. “If you can hear what I’m saying or see me standing up here right now, chances are you probably have a brain,” said Derrick Huang ’26, promoting the neuroscience club. Rather than “hello, all,” Latin club leader Vivian Dykema ’26 greeted the audience with “salvete omnes,” and robotics co-leader Will Lorion ’26 urged the audience to “get electric” for the club.
“I really like seeing all the kids get up there and give their announcements,” commented Upper School Assistant Dean of Students Susanna Donahue P’03, ’06, adding, “The energy in the club fair is great, and the kids are really proud of what they’re doing.”
After the overview at assembly, students browsed clubs during lunch, when tables around Kraft featured handmade informational posters and sign-up sheets—as well as stickers and candy to entice new members.
The Middle School held its club fair on Wednesday morning in Haffenreffer, with poster-laden tables lining the perimeter of the court. The Middle School offers everything from book club to hot sauce club, and this year, students also had the opportunity to sign up for two new clubs: the crafts club and the debate club.
Upper School students interested in starting a new club can reach out to Donahue or Upper School Dean of Student Life Krista Sahrbeck to propose their ideas. If they can find a faculty advisor and articulate the goal of their club, most likely, it will get approved. Several new clubs were on display at this year’s fair, including the Rivers Arts Board, promoting art at Rivers; the Never Fading Poppy Project, a Rivers branch of a national nonprofit to create cards for veterans; the geopolitics club for political discussion, and One Night Out, a Rivers branch of the local nonprofit that offers afternoon and evening childcare events for children with support needs.
Donahue noted that Rivers has a rising number of clubs involving community service, which Director of Community Engagement Lucas Malo helps lead. “As students are starting new clubs, they’re thinking of ways to connect it to the community,” Malo commented. “That’s wonderful.”
© 2021 The Rivers School. All Rights Reserved
Rivers admits academically qualified students and does not discriminate against students or families on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other school-administered programs.