Students interested in philanthropy, movie making, or ancient and modern philosophies won’t have to travel far to pursue their passions, as they are among the subjects for eight new clubs Ridgefield High School will offer this year.
Also being offered to students are clubs that focus on band tutoring, school technology, and stock market simulation.
“This is a very exciting time for us,” RHS principal Stacey Gross told the Board of Education on Tuesday night. “In the past we’ve only gotten to offer one or two new clubs per year and this year we have eight clubs that are willing to explore different approaches and avenues that are currently not offered to our students.”
The board unanimously approved the eight proposals at the high school as well as another club called Best Buddies at Scotts Ridge Middle School that pairs students with disabilities with peers who commit to developing their friendship both in and outside of school.
The Best Buddies program, which has an international mission to establish a global volunteer movement, is currently in place at RHS.
Tim Salem, the principal of Scotts Ridge, spoke about a presentation high school students made at his school in the spring.
“They did a tremendous job of describing what the club meant to them and it got our students really excited about having this opportunity in our school,” he said. “From there it really blossomed. …
“We have plenty of support from teachers, parents and students who are ready to volunteer,” he said. “This would really dovetail the high school’s program and become a wonderful asset to our district.”
A board member questioned why East Ridge Middle School wasn’t adding the program to its list of clubs.
The answer is simple: they can’t — yet.
“They can join us eventually and we can’t wait for that to happen,” Mr. Salem said. “Unfortunately, right now they are on the waiting list with Best Buddies. …
“It’s a long approval process — they vet you pretty hard,” he said. “We had to have a series of meetings with them before we could even think of having it at Scotts Ridge.”
According to Mr. Salem’s proposal, the program is designed to promote friendship among students with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for socialization in larger groups as well as one-to-one interactions.
“Activities would include large group meetings after school twice per month, with occasional field trips for leisure activities — like going to the movies,” he said. “Peer ‘buddies’ also make a commitment to make contact with their buddy once per week either in person, like having lunch together in school, or via the phone.
“Being social is such a crucial part of going to school, and friendships like the one Best Buddies creates can foster inclusion, leadership and positive changes to social stigmas,” he said.
He said that about 20 students have expressed interest in forming the Best Buddies club at Scotts Ridge and that no additional funding would be requested.
Robin Hood and ‘Children’
Best Buddies isn’t the only international organization making its way into the schools.
One of the eight clubs approved at the meeting was the RHS Save the Children, which plans to raise funds for the global charity that helps children in need.
The club will organize fund-raisers where 100% of the proceeds go to Save the Children, which will then distribute the funds among varying campaigns at its discretion.
“It gives our students an incredible world view that they might not have yet,” Dr. Gross said. “It really will open the door to some great possibilities and perspectives, and that’s what we’re always striving for — to create global citizens.”
At a more local level, the board also approved the RHS Robin Hood Club, which works with students to make a meaningful difference in their community through developing leadership and fund-raising skills.
The larger Robin Hood Foundation funds and partners with programs that aim to help those impoverished in the state of Connecticut.
“This provides a unique combination of investment principles applied to philanthropy,” Dr. Gross explained.
Follow the money
Talking about investments, the high school’s newly forged Young Capitalist Society will have its members participate in stock market simulations and will hold business presentation contests.
“It will be kids giving different presentations about business ideas — very similar to the show Shark Tank, if any of you have seen that,” Dr. Gross told the meeting. “This one will also have a fund-raising component to it.”
Through fund raising, members of the club will raise venture capital and invest that money in the business presentation they think is the best.
When the winner makes enough money to pay back the club its initial investment, all ties would cease, according to Dr. Gross, and the club’s funds would get to carry over year to year.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity with the startup costs and the paying back,” she said. “The students have already come up with some really interesting business ideas.”
Curious souls
Far from the stacks of money, high school students interested in philosophy can explore ancient and modern theologies and approaches to life in the new RHS Philosophy Club.
“This club is a venue for curious souls who strive to find enlightenment and explore the wonders of this natural world and of our very own minds through individual thought and shared discussion,” the club’s description reads.
Dr. Gross said about 15 students had expressed interested in the club.
Instruments and computers
Band members struggling with high school-level band music and technology wizards with a knack for helping teachers who aren’t tech savvy will have their own clubs this year, too.
BEATS — Band Education and Tutoring Services — provides its members, especially ninth graders struggling with the transition to high school, with a tutoring service that will prepare them for playing in the high school band.
“Older, more experienced members will volunteer a couple of hours each week to tutor younger members of the band for free,” Dr. Gross said.
As for the Ridgefield High School Technology Corps, students who are interested in school-related technology will be given the opportunity to support the very classrooms they attend.
“The goal is to have kids that we can send out during their free periods to help teachers who need assistance,” Dr. Gross said. “We have a lot of students who have so many different technology skills.”
Sharing ideas, stories
Storytellers weren’t forgotten about at the meeting.
The educators approved the RHS Film Club, which will allow students interested in filmmaking and acting to improve their skills by creating scenes and short movies.
“It’s not like the old days where you needed a ton of equipment to shoot film,” Dr. Gross said. “Kids can run this club with their own gear and shoot footage on their phones.”
Students interested in sharing ideas with others will welcome the new club TED-Ed Ridgefield, which gives students the freedom to study any topic and research public speaking skills on how to present it.
The end of the year will culminate with a TEDx event where students will give talks on their topics.
“As we all know, practicing public speaking is important to all kids today,” Dr. Gross said. “It’s a skill everyone needs to be able learn and develop.”
Student interest
Board member Chris Murray asked what would happen to some of the clubs if student interest dissipated.
“Sometimes clubs close and that gives us the opportunity to start new ones like the ones you’re hearing tonight,” Dr. Gross said.
“Clubs have an ebb and flow,” she added. “It’s all about student interest — I wouldn’t run a club that nobody is interested in.”
Board member Michael Raduazzo was impressed with the new clubs, especially the two philanthropic groups — Save the Children and Robin Hood.
“Our students want to be a part of the world more than ever before,” Dr. Gross said.