Outside of the art classes, there are opportunities for creativity and individualism.
Whether you’re creative or enjoy spending time with friends, artistic clubs may have the perfect place for you. These clubs have stayed under the radar for far too long. Students dedicate their time and form friendships in these clubs, while others don’t even realize what they are missing out on.
Every year, an activities fair during academic intervention is held to showcase the areas where students can get involved and meet new people. It can be difficult for students to find common ground in classes that don’t give opportunities to create relationships that can make the school feel like a community. These extracurricular clubs are the perfect chance to take hold of the time in your high school career, to grow in skills that you enjoy pursuing and create relationships that outlast your time in school.
One of the newest clubs, that creates an impact on the community and allows students to gain skills and opportunities, is Sending Sunshine. TStudents make simple, colorful cards for senior citizens in the area, who don’t have many visitors. Some of the club members directly go out to the community to retirement homes and see the reaction to the cards that the students have dedicated their time to.
The Club founder, Junior Kriti Kumar, created this club as a way to reach the community without leaving the school. The club also qualifies for extra credit hours for the programs within the school.
“It’s for a good cause and we’re putting smiles on senior citizen’s faces, especially those that can’t even remember their family members,” Kriti Kumar (11) said.
In Clay Club, members have the oppertunity to make ceramics to experiment with their ideas. There is also a sale at conferences, for parents to buy the creations and a fair in conjunction with Horticulture to use the ceramics for plant pots for the plants they are selling.
Leadership team member, Abrianna Barnes (12) says club is for those who are seeking to get more artistic time.
“For people that don’t have room in their schedule to take ceramics or art class or want to learn about ceramics to have the opportunity to make stuff and grow artistically.” Abrianna Barnes (12) said.
Art club is one of the more broad creativity clubs because students do many different projects. It could be painting, drawing, making bracelets or even designing t-shirts. Recently, the club has decided to paint a mural on The Yellow Barn in Olathe to help out the community. These projects are perfect for students who would like unique or specific art.
The teacher facilitator, Mr. Albrechtson explains that it’s the students who run the club and that he is happy to open his classroom to give these students a place to be creative.
“The club allows for the students to have a place to go and just create and have fun and not stress out about anything else.” Mr. Albrechtsen said.
Crochet Club is another amazing opportunity at Olathe North that has begun recently. The club began as a possibility for students interested in crocheting to meet with others who either wanted to learn or had the same interest. Future plans have already been made by the club sponsor to make blankets to donate to animal and homeless shelters which is an incredible way to impact the community further than just teaching the crochet.
The presidents of the club have promised to dedicate time to teach those who are willing to be patient and learn the skill of crocheting. Junior Elizabeth Parks, who is one of the main leaders of the is club shares how the club has had a great turnout because it is open to everyone.
“It’s a great place to be for people who want to know how to crochet but also for those that know how to crochet and want to meet other people with the same interest.” Elizabeth Parks (11) said.
One thing all these clubs have in common is that they have the ability to create a community of people with a shared interest. Whether you’re getting in the swing of making a clay pot or an expert crocheter, these clubs could be the place in high school where you learn the skills and meet the people that you remember long after you’re graduated.
Mr. Case, the teacher facilitator for Clay Club, adds that the students must be the ones who make these opportunities for themselves because that shows they are proactively seeking this chance.
“The ones who initiate the club are the students, who want to pursue art more outside of their class time. Our leadership is made up of the students who got it going from there” Mr. Case Said.
