Bienvenue, French Club
By Tori Roderick, Staff Writer
November 3, 2022
The Norwood High School French Club, run by French teacher Sarah Malinge recently had their first meeting on October 6 where they played introductory games such as Kahoot and musical chairs in room 269 from 3pm to 4pm. The French Club has frequent open meetings every other Thursday.
French Club is one of the many extracurricular opportunities offered at Norwood High and welcomes all. It’s not required to be taking French as a foreign language to attend the meetings.
The French Club offers many different and fun activities that go on throughout the year’s meetings, including things such as cooking, a competitive and exciting game of Pétanque, which is similar to the Italian game Bocce, and many more.
Adviser Sarah Malinge shared an inside look to what sort of things you can do as a member of the club.
“In French Club we do all types of fun activities meant to bring students together and we could be cooking one day and doing karaoke the next. It’s not necessarily always French culture but sometimes it is - if we’re cooking, maybe chocolate fondue or making crȇpes. We also do all different types of games like Pétanque. We do picnics, we’ve done soccer matches… We do all different types of things that just bring people together in a very friendly environment where people feel like they can be themselves.”
Group of people playing a round of Pétanque, Darya Sannikova/Pexels
Freshman Cayden Bell (far left), Antonette Bridgemohan (middle left), Anaya Edmond, (middle right), and Joann Yamoah (far right) singing karaoke, Tori Roderick/ The Mustang Gazette
The club holds open meetings which means you can attend at any time and give it a try. Additionally, the club houses a variety of students and recently welcomed new freshman students.
There are many different motivations and reasoning as to why students have wanted to join and participate in the club in past years.
Freshman Mayra Rocha shared why she was interested in the club and what she’s most excited about.
“I joined because I wanted to hang out with my friends and I thought it would be fun to learn more about French culture and make French food,” she said.
Secretary and Junior Heather Begg said, “My sister was in it [French Club] and I joined during COVID and I was the only existing member for that entire year … and I stuck with it.”
Even though two meetings have already been held so far, new members are always welcome to check out the club at any time throughout the year and see if it’s something they are interested in.
The cabinet and Madame Malinge welcome all students to stop by a meeting on every other Thursday to come play games and join in on the entertainment.
“I heard that there was karaoke and dancing and that there were silly costumes. I’m dressed as the Cheshire Cat. Yes, I’ll be coming back because here I get to be myself,” exclaimed Freshman and non-French learner Madison Dwyer.
Freshman Madison Dwyer Dressed up for Karaoke and Costumes, Tori Roderick/The Mustang Gazette
The most recent French Club meeting was October 20th, where the cabinet welcomed everyone to wear costumes and passionately sing a song for karaoke. Prizes were rewarded to both the best dressed, Junior Allie Murphy and the best performer, Freshman Selenes Rivera at the very end of the festivities.
The next meeting is Thursday, November 17th.
The club has been going on for 14 years and will continue for many years to come.
Come stop by and give it a try, there’s something for everyone! We look forward to seeing you in weeks to come. Au revoir!
Olivia Tucker (left) and Maddy Dwyer (right) singing “Baby” by Justin Bieber for French Club’s Karaoke and Costumes, Tori Roderick/The Mustang Gazette