In my final article, I write to you about another great reason to be a Marie Curie Student: the after school clubs! If you have ever watched a show involving teenagers at school, there schools seem to have awesome clubs. At Marie Curie, we encourage students to stay after school and gain more essential skills they can take with them into the real world. Joining clubs helps students build confidence, discover new passions, and make friends outside the typical classroom setting. These extracurricular activities foster essential social and life skills in a low-stress environment while improving academic focus and time management.
Over the course of three years as a Marie Curie Student, I have fond memories of the following clubs (some I have joined, the other clubs mentioned are part of the school wide choices offered to all students):
1. F.E.L.L.A.S: The F.E.L.L.A.S ( For Every Lesson; Learn, Achieve, Succeed) are a group of male students who meet to discuss social and academic issues. Peers discuss problems and how they can overcome them to be successful. I have learned different lessons and built a close bond with peers and the peers become friends you have for a lifetime. They are super supportive. It is a fun club to be in. We do community service, tutor students and build a better academic environment for everyone.
2. Ever thought about writing for the school newspaper? Do you dream of pursing a career in journalism? Marie Curie has an online newspaper The Curious Times https://png511.wixsite.com/thecurioustimes. Participating in the school newspaper club boosts literacy skills, enhances collaboration, and builds critical thinking. It provides a creative outlet for self-expression while helping students find their voice and feel more connected to their school community.
3. MS 158Q Chamber Choir: Joining chamber choir fosters deep social connections, builds essential leadership skills, and boosts mental and emotional well-being. Because chamber groups are smaller and often conductor-less, students must rely on active listening and peer collaboration. This accelerates both personal growth and musical independence.
4. Theater Club: Joining a theater club helps students build crucial life skills like public speaking, teamwork, and empathy. It provides a safe, creative outlet to step out of their comfort zone, explore their identity, and build lasting friendships across different grades.
5. Stage Crew: Joining stage crew teaches students invaluable life skills like teamwork, responsibility, and quick problem-solving. Working behind the scenes boosts confidence, helps them build friendships across different grades, and fosters a strong work ethic in a highly collaborative environment.
6. Science Team: Participating in a science team builds foundational STEM skills, boosts confidence in problem-solving, and teaches vital collaboration. By working together on hands-on, inquiry-based projects, students learn to view science as an exciting, creative process rather than just textbook memorization.
7. Asian Cultural Club: Joining an Asian Culture Club offers students a supportive community to explore their identity, build lasting friendships, and develop cultural empathy. Through hands-on activities, these clubs help combat stereotypes and foster an inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds.
8. Senior Class Representatives: Being a Senior Class Representative builds early leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. It empowers students to act as liaisons between their peers and faculty, giving them practical experience in advocacy, teamwork, and organizing school-wide initiatives.
