So You Want to Make a Difference at Needham High?

After the school year has begun, first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike search for extracurriculars that work to improve their community. Although students get the chance to quickly scan a slideshow or tri-fold poster about each club at the NHS Oracle each June and October, many do not get the opportunity to sit down with each group and discuss its organization’s mission, a major factor in deciding whether or not to join a club. Highlighted below are ten student-led organizations and clubs at NHS that strive to create a safe environment for their members and to educate other students, working towards uniting our school community. Each organization was asked the same three questions:

1. Why is this group important to you? Why is it important to have it at Needham High?

2. What do typical meetings look like?

3. What does your organization hope to change?

The list below is only a small fraction of the clubs and organizations at Needham High. If you are interested in joining the listed clubs, you can contact a leader named below the responses! Happy club hunting, everyone!

Asian Student Union (ASU):

1. ASU strives to connect Asian students and supporters around Needham High School to learn about Asian culture. Among a predominantly white town and high school, we wish for ASU to be a safe haven for Asian students and supporters; a place where they can freely share their struggles and experiences as an Asian and appreciate every aspect of Asian culture.

2. Typical meetings will take place after school, where snacks will be provided most of the time. There are a variety of different activities related to Asian culture, from sharing foods from various Asian cultures (bubble tea, pocky, moon cakes, etc.) to discussing any critical current events in the community. Meetings are around 45 minutes long, and we try to make the most of that time!

3. ASU strives to educate Needham High School students about Asian culture in order to eliminate some of the stereotypes that the majority may have about the Asian community.

Reach out to Mikayla Tow for more information. (mht241@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Black Student Union (BSU):

1. The BSU is important to me because it has helped me grow more confident in my identity and has given me the space to feel welcomed and included in Needham High School. After meeting a lot of other Black and Brown students who have struggled the same as me, I am glad that our team is able to provide a close group for us to build a part of a community. Because of BSU, I was able to grow more within the areas of my identity that I was denied when younger. Lastly, being a part of BSU has allowed me to gain leadership, public speaking, and communication skills. Diversity and diversity inclusion are so important at NHS because of the underrepresented communities that need to be brought to light. Within the BSU, there are so many different cultures and ethnicities that represent the Black experience, and our group provides comfort and support. Through our similar experiences, as we learn and spend most of our time in predominantly white environments, we learn to create room for one another and ourselves, as a group, within the Needham High School community. Black students need to feel as though they have a space where they can fully be themselves, without worrying about any societal expectations or limitations. Our group also helps teach leadership and aids Black students in feeling more comfortable with themselves. Diversity is an important aspect of the classroom, and it is a privilege to so many others that Black students offer their perspectives and experiences to enrich our learning environments and aid deeper conversations.

2. Because the BSU is a new club, we are still finalizing our structure and establishing long-term traditions and events. We meet every other week on Thursdays. Typically, the leadership team will hold quick presentations, and there will be some kind of activity, whether it be an ice-breaker, a restorative circle, a conversation, etc. We also spend much of our time planning for a BSU cookout, fundraisers, and club field trips -- all of which everyone in the club is involved in .

3. Our main goal is to provide a space for Black students within NHS to feel honored and supported. We also want our organization to thrive in the years to come, and continue to be a support for future Black NHS students. We hope to increase the presence of Black culture within the school.

Reach out to Lia Santiago for more information. (ls231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Environmental Action Club:

1. All of us care a lot about doing what we can to help the environment. There are many ways in which NHS and Needham as a whole can grow to be more sustainable, and we want to help initiate these changes.

2. We meet every Tuesday morning, at 7:30, in the Da Vinci lab (Room 101), and work on our current projects.

3. In general, we want to make our school and town community as sustainable as possible. Specifically, we are currently working to implement food recycling in the high school cafeteria. This program will change the way we throw out our waste in the cafeteria, as there will be four specific bins: one for food waste, one for liquids, one for trash, and one for recycling. The food waste will then be sent to a company called Agricycle who will convert the food waste into energy. This program will hopefully be implemented this fall!

Reach out to Christine Mittaz for more information. (cem231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Girl Up:

1. Girl Up is a movement created by the United Nations to advance girls’ skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders. The Needham Chapter is gender inclusive and has nearly 40 members! We lead and bring campaigns relating to gender-based issues to NHS to educate our peers, like the white ribbon campaign (a movement against gender-based violence). We also ran a campaign where we called state legislatures , and pressured for the ban of child marriage in Massachusetts. We also organize donation drives -- last year we donated hundreds of books to a girls school in Uganda.

2. Meetings are held every Thursday at 7:30 in Room 701. We brainstorm and act upon our latest activism works.

3. We want to make our school and community more educated on issues relating to gender-based violence, girls education, sexism in the professional world, and child marriage. We work towards having a high school where all genders are treated equitably.

Reach out to Rachel Talcoff for more information. (rct231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Korean Student Union:

1. KSU is important because it allows us to rekindle our cultural roots and share our culture. This group is important to NHS to raise awareness surrounding issues specific to Korean Americans and for there to be a safe space for Korean Americans to feel part of a community.

2. Meetings typically take place in Mrs. Briggs’ homeroom (tech room), where we will share thoughts about current events and future plans such as fundraising and community-building.

3. We hope to change the racial/ethnic dynamics and barriers at the high school by creating more close-knit bonds among ourselves and with other groups.

Reach out to Ethan McMarron for more information. (emm231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

League of Women Voters:

1. In the League of Women Voters, it is our job to make sure that all Needham High Schoolers are aware of not only how to vote, but also why they should vote. We work to educate our community about their responsibility to vote. We contribute to promoting a more inclusive democracy where everyone’s voices are equally heard and welcomed.

2. Our gender-inclusive meetings take place about every other week, where we brainstorm ways to spread voting information. In the past we have: communicated with peers to spread voter information, handed out birthday bags (bags given to seniors turning 18 years old that contain voter information and small gifts), organized voter registration drives, and participated in local town election forums.

3. We hope our club will spread the League of Women Voters’ message of empowering voters and defending democracy throughout the Needham High community.

Reach out to Lauren Yee for more information. (lgy241@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Muslim Student Association:

1. Growing up, we never had a Muslim community by our side, nor did we ever get any representation in both school and the media. We felt that it was important for us to create a space for Muslims to feel united, represented, and included within the community. Not only do we feel that with this student association, we can help out not only the Muslim community in our school, but also educate the non-Muslims on our religion and identity.

2. During a typical meeting, we usually take a few minutes before the meeting starts to converse with one another. Afterward, we talk about current events relevant to Islam. We speak about our personal experiences as Muslims living in America.

3. We hope to spread awareness throughout the school about issues occurring within Muslim countries and communities. We feel that such issues continue to be disregarded and unrecognized so we strive to change that. We hope to unite all religious communities within the school, and influence the new and old students to actively engage in anti-Islamophobia activities and discussions.

Reach out to Saida Imakaeva for more information. (si231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

NewspapHER:

1. The NewspapHER is important to us because gender inequality is an issue that affects everyone, and this is a space where those passionate about feminism can work together with a purpose of education and advocacy. At NHS, our presence is important because we are able to take local issues and connect them to broader themes as well as give everyone a voice in gender equality.

2. Usually, meetings are a time for discussion of current issues, editing, and brainstorming. Much of the work that goes into the NewspapHER publication happens outside of meetings, so this is really a time to connect with and inspire one another.

3. We hope to empower people in our community to speak out against the negative effects that the patriarchy has on everyone. Through creating publications that will inspire people outside the group to think critically, we aim to provide others with new perspectives.

Reach out to Kathleen Grady for more information. (kmg231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Queer Student Union:

1. The Queer Student Union is important to myself and my co-president as we are both trans and queer people, who most often do not get to share spaces with people of shared identities at NHS. It is of particular importance to have GSAs/QSUs at middle and high schools due to folks often coming into their queer identities at these times and seeking affinity with one another.

2. We meet, have snacks, socialize, build affinity, and work alongside other unions to build coalitions and work on broader projects within the school.

3. We hope to create a space for queer and trans students to feel affirmed in their queer identity, to enable them to better see themselves reflected in mentors, and to build skills in order to navigate our community.

Reach out to Jesse Young-Paulson for more information. (jey241@students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Students Advocating Life Without Substance Abuse (SALSA):

1. SALSA is important to me because I know we are spreading a positive message and helping better the community around us. It is an important group at NHS because we are a great resource and let students know they aren't alone if they choose not to use substances.

2. Typically meetings include discussions with our members and working on upcoming projects and events. We always have something fun to do!

3. Our organization hopes to improve the culture surrounding substances at Needham High and to let students know there are other ways to have fun. We are also here as a resource to let students know where to get the necessary support if they are struggling.

Reach out to Izzie Currie for more information. (iec231@students.needham.k12.ma.us)