When people think about clubs they think about community service or another thing to add to their resume for college. While this may be true, here at Oak Ridge, it is more than just service hours or looks, these clubs are establishments of people who help their school and community as a whole. Our clubs allow students to grow and become who they want to be.
Honors societies {The National Honor Society, Science National Honors, National Art Honor Society, Hispanic Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society) push students to engage with projects and form character, they set high standards of academically and behavior expectations so that students push to reach higher than average. NHS volunteers in the community and appreciates our staff at Oak Ridge, they throw parties and give out appreciation gifts. They also help outside school by attending elementary schools, helping the children, and going to retirement homes to help the elderly. Their most recent activity was participating in the Lunar Year event which celebrates the New Year for the Chinese community. When asked what it’s liked to be in NHS, Jose Garcia shares, “It’s great, it helps with college and we get to do stuff in the community and help out.” Students from NHS have gone onto attend some of the most prestigious colleges and universities such as Harvard, University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins University. The Science National Honors group has students join teams to recreate challenges and experiments like the egg drop and the soap-baking soda volcano. The Arts and performing arts clubs give students the freedom to be creative and learn new techniques to improve their work/talent. In the National Art Honors Society and House of Muses club, they present activities to improve their art skills like playing drawing games with a time limit or decorating posters for school events. Tri-m recently restored the Pioneer Wagon here in the courtyard and art from our school was showcased locally here in Orlando.
Social/ethnic clubs like the Black Student Union, Asian Culture Association, and Spanish Club embrace and celebrate the uniqueness and history of their culture as well as express their problems/social indifferences. The Black Student Union recently went to the MLK parade and had a spirit week for Black History Month. Keilla Michaud explains how BSU has influenced her, “It has taught me more about the African culture and how black culture has impacted everyone’s lives, not just black people.” The Asian Culture Association also went to the Lunar Year event, collaborating with NHS. The Hispanic Honors Society participated in the Uribe food drive that helped pack supplies for deserving teachers in he community. Each group participated in a potluck to share parts of their culture with others. L.I.F.E. (Lifting and Impacting Futures through Education) and K.I.C.S. (Keeping It Classy Sisterhood) are mentoring clubs that help mentor students by giving them tips on daily things and traveling to different places. These clubs help students with life skills outside of academics. Abdiel Levasseur was asked how LIFE has impacted him, “It helps me become a better man by showing me right from wrong, what I should be doing to be successful” and ironically-how to tie a tie-part of their logo.
Collaborations within clubs are one of many reasons why students should join and support one! Many students at Oak Ridge are diverse and mixed so when a group collaborates, they would feel included socially and emotionally. NHS and our Environmental Club collaborate every Friday to recycle and keep our school clean so that members can gain a habit and take it with them outside of school into their home community. ESC won the National Green School Award, a once in a lifetime award celebrated in Washington, DC. It builds character when these club routines are built to drill and guide, like Oak Ridge Friends who help our sports teams and give to the special needs students. This is why you should join a club today!