The sidewalk outside the cafeteria was abuzz with glittering poster boards, excited pitches from student club leaders, and wide-eyed students on Friday, September 5.
Each year, the Activities Fair, typically held at the beginning of September, allows clubs and organizations at Strath Haven to welcome new members and get a head start on a successful school year.
Throughout all three lunches, students are invited to walk around and take a look at each booth, where they will be met with information about the clubs and an opportunity to sign up for whatever piques their interest.
Junior Emily Zhang was one of many student leaders who volunteered to promote their club. Zhang is a part of Leap Into Learning, a community service group that reads to younger children once a week.
“I feel really honored to share my love for this club with everyone else,” Zhang said. “I think there’s been a lot of people who are interested.”
The fair typically proves to be especially helpful for freshman students, offering them a first look at all Strath Haven has to offer.
“It’s been awesome,” freshman Jane Yau said. “It feels really welcoming, like everyone wants us to join their club.”
Joining a surplus of clubs is often how students find their circle and community at school. Many students find themselves signing up for many clubs on the day of the fair, later slimming down the choices and deciding which they will stick with.
“We have around four pages full of names, which is great,” junior Kay Liberi said. “We’re excited, although probably around a quarter of those people will show up.”
Liberi is a representative from Unite for Her, a club that raises awareness and support for breast and ovarian cancer. Many clubs at the fair focus on fundraising and organizing events for select causes.
“We are just trying to get people involved for a good cause,” Liberi said.
Following the activities fair, most clubs take the next step of setting up an interest meeting where all students who sign up are invited to learn more.
“I think it was a really nice way to promote Speech and Debate, seeing that all the kids who signed up are still sticking with it,” sophomore Noel Springer, who could be found at the Speech and Debate booth, said. “A lot of kids actually followed through with the interest meeting.”
