Clubs and activities partner high school and lower school students

On Friday, high school students met for the first Friday clubs and activities period of the 2022-2023 school year. The clubs and activities period is a valuable part of the student experience. With offerings ranging from 3D art to board games, these clubs allow students to explore and invest in an area of personal interest. 
One club, Hand in Hand, focuses on servicing the Wesleyan community. High school students volunteer to work with lower school students in kindergarten through second grade. Lower school teachers create a lesson plan, and high school students implement it. This can involve reading, solving math problems, or making crafts. 

“I just love little kids, and seeing them reading makes me happy,” reflects club attendee Piper Prince ‘26. 

Hand in Hand was inspired by Katie Zimmerman ‘12. She wanted to create a club that would allow high schoolers to serve and encourage the lower school community. The interest was overwhelmingly positive, resulting in more than 80 volunteers in the club’s first year. 

“The time spent in the lower school is not only a blessing to the lower school students but also to the high school students who commit their free time to serving the community,” explains high school math teacher and club leader Ashley Stainback. 

One Hand in Hand benefit is that the club gives younger students a role model to look up to. Plus, it allows older students to see how they have matured and grown as young adults during their time at Wesleyan. It also serves as a moment for them to breathe in a week full of activities and deadlines.  

“I hope Hand in Hand can bridge a gap between the ‘big kids’ and the ‘little kids’ in the Wesleyan community,” says Stainback.I want the lower school students to have great role models in their classrooms each week. I hope they see their buddy on campus and feel confident enough to wave and say hello.” 

Hand in Hand also exists to help lower school students feel seen and valued by another student while allowing high school students to know they are making a difference in a younger student's day. 

“I want all of our students whether in high school or lower school to know and feel like they matter, because they do,” says Stainback. 

Thank you, high schoolers, for a wonderful club time on Friday!  
 
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