In 1635, Horace Mann created the first public school in the United States to prepare students for entering the workforce once they have graduated. The philosophy for school has not changed much since the creation of public schools, but job opportunities have greatly changed since the first American school was built. With all of the unique jobs students may choose to go into after graduation, various skill sets are required. While there’s not enough time in an eight-hour school day for every student to learn about their particular interests, teachers at Salem R-80 have made it possible for students to extend their knowledge after school. Clubs are an outlet for students to learn more about their interests while giving them extra time to socialize with their classmates. Salem R-80 teachers (and a couple of students) created an abundance of clubs for high schoolers to choose from to feed their creativity and build their skill sets.
One of the club options at our school is Student Council. Student Council is a club that teaches students leadership, planning, and organizing skills. This club is newly led by Mrs. Robyn Taylor. She puts her heart into making Student Council the best it can be. This is Taylor’s first year leading Student Council, but she does a wonderful job! This year she made it possible for our council to attend the state conference so we can be more knowledgeable in our leadership positions. When asked why she chose to be a part of Student Council, freshman, Mayrin Ramirez, said, “I chose student council because I think it is a great way to represent our school. It is also a good way to develop leadership and work with a team. I think it is important for schools to have clubs because it is a great way for students to make new friends and enjoy their interests with others who also enjoy them. Clubs also allow students to be able to work as a team and connect with each other!” Student Council is an important club for schools to have as it builds one’s leadership and social skills. It also is an opportunity for students to make an impact on their school by making it a more enjoyable place.
Another club option at Salem R-80 is Literary Arts Club which is sponsored by Mr. Rob Wofford. Literary Arts Club is where students develop, create, and share any type of writing with feedback from an English teacher for a couple of hours after school each week. When asked why clubs are important for student growth and why he chose the clubs he did, sophomore, Caliel Mosley, answered, “I believe clubs are essential for student growth because it helps them explore what they’re interested in and find what they’re good at. I chose writing, A/V, Quiz Bowl, and Band because I enjoy literary/performing arts, and these clubs expand my exposure to these outside of a classroom setting.” Literary Arts Club is an important club to have after school because it can help students build a good relationship with writing. This club is an amazing opportunity for anyone looking to go into a career that requires one to write often.
For anyone religious, Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a great club to be a part of at Salem Senior High. One of the interesting things about FCA is that it is purely a student-led club, meaning there is no adult sponsor. For this club to stay in action, students have to work together to find a speaker for the week, plan events, and organize different leadership positions. When asked why she joined FCA and why clubs are important to have in school, Abryanna Hawn, junior, said, “I chose FCA because I wanted to meet other teens who had the desire to grow in their faith like I do. I think it’s very important we have clubs like this in school so that students don’t feel so overwhelmed by everything that high school brings to your life.” Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a great club for anyone interested in building a better relationship with God and their fellow Christian classmates.
Any student interested in STEM would love the Robotics Club our school has. This club is led by Mrs. Amber Pryor. In Robotics, students work together to create robots that can perform certain tasks. When asked why he chose robotics and why clubs are important, senior, Matthew Parks, said, “I chose robotics because robots are cool and I was coerced into it. Clubs are important for development outside of a set curriculum and to have fun outside of school” Robotics is an awesome club for anyone interested in technology, and learning about coding.
Clubs are a beneficial way for students to meet new people while learning more about their interests. After-school activities are important to students of all ages. Teachers make it possible for students to have a place where they can participate with like-minded individuals. School doesn’t have to be just reading, writing, and arithmetic–it can be a place where students sharpen their skills, aiming toward their futures, or make friends with others with the same interests. Clubs enrich one’s life–at Salem R-80, there’s a place for everyone if they take time to look.
