Bears Rush to Join New Clubs on the Green

Bears filled the Green for Leadership’s annual Club Rush to discover and sign up for a range of clubs on Thursday during lunch. Over 40 clubs participated, ranging in focus from community service to hobbies to culture. They decorated their stands with colorful posters and candy, attracting interested students.

“The turnout was amazing. The weather was on our side and it made it very dreamy,” senior and Club Coordinator Millo Skhiri said.

Check out ten of the featured clubs. 

The Coding for Community Club teaches students how to use AI and computer science to help solve community problems. Freshmen and Co-Presidents Brooklyn Shank and Maliha Bhat started this club because computer science is very relevant in the growing technology world.  “We have different units where we focus on different parts of our community,” Shank said. Their units cover the environment, medicine, and other various projects. They also do field trips to senior homes and other places that connect to the unit they finished. “Please show up guys, and we can catch you up. It’s really fun and there’s always food,” Shank said. The Coding for Community Club meets every Monday in I-4.

The Jewish Student Union’s (JSU) purpose is to represent the Jewish student body at M-A. They teach aspects of Jewish history and culture. “I joined the club because I really resonate with my Jewish identity,” senior and JSU Co-President Naomi Wolosin said. JSU hosts meetings teaching members about Jewish holidays, as well as school and cooking events. They meet every Tuesday in C-11.

The Women in STEM club was started as an initiative to interest more women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The club informs members of opportunities to work with professors and get internships. “We want to get more women interested in STEM, and it is a good way to find programs that you can put on your college application,” senior and President Mariam Abdelbary said. The Women in STEM Club meets every Tuesday in F-13.

The Media Management Club helps students manage screentime, introduces them to new habits that help reduce screen time, and informs people about the possible dangers of social media. They walk through the guidelines of cyberbullying and ways to handle it when being involved in it. “We started the club because we ourselves struggle with getting offline and unplugging for a while,” freshman and Co-President Lucy Thayer said. They meet every Tuesday in G-9.

The Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) aims to spread equality and love across M-A. Freshman and Vice President Lillian Jackson joined the club because of its warm community. “I was a part of my middle schools’ GSA. I think it’s just important for me to be a part of the club,” Jackson said. The GSA club plans to have a bake sale and are going on a field trip. They meet every other Tuesday in G-8. 

The Picking Up Neighborhood Trash Club (PUNT) intends to rid local areas of waste and litter. “It’s really about making our community cleaner and safer,” senior and Co-President Zachary Quintana said. The club organizes community cleanups around twice a month in Redwood City, Palo Alto, Atherton, and Menlo Park. Along with serving the community, PUNT is a great way to earn AP Environmental Science credits. They meet every other Thursday in S-8.

Those curious about logic, critical literature, or philosophy should join the Philosophy Club. The club gives lectures on philosophical subjects, and meets to debate and discuss them. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. The club’s leaders are interested in core philosophers, as well as the way in which philosophy developed into distinct disciplines like mathematics, science, and the study of politics. “Back in the day, everything was called philosophy and even now a lot of those subjects intertwine,” sophomore President Gael Garcia Maldonado said. The Philosophy Club meets on Thursdays in F-12.

The Women in Politics Club is a new club that aims to encourage civic engagement and discussion about female politicians. They plan to host guest speakers, including the Stanford Women in Politics organization. “We really want to foster civil discourse between the kids in our school,” sophomore and President Ines Bensoussan said. They meet every other Wednesday in G-10.

If you have any interest in cars, join the Car Culture Club. The new club meets to talk about all the components of cars, from racing to their parts. Once a month, they pick a famous car to talk about and explore. “[We discuss] the experience of being in a car community and how it’s a culture itself,” sophomore and President Logan Weiss said. The club meets every Friday at lunch in B-2.

The Bible Study Club seeks to teach students about the Bible and other Christian texts. No religious background is required, and people of all religions are encouraged to join. A typical meeting includes readings and discussions from the Bible, as well as talks about current world issues. “It’s really for anybody who wants to come together, bring the community together, and learn the word of God,” junior and Vice President Teddy Honerkamp said.