Now that we find ourselves twenty-five percent of the way into the school year, Mendham’s numerous extracurricular activities are in full swing. Maybe you are already a part of five different clubs, holding a leadership position in each one, and haven’t had a single normal lunch period in over a month, or maybe you’re looking for your first but don’t know where to start. If you fall into the second category, I have good news for you: the Art Club, Lego Club, and Project Rescue are all in need of new members, and if you’re not already sold from their names alone, I’d invite you to keep reading. 

The Art Club, led by Julia Sun and me, Vivien Zemaitis, meets in the art room every Wednesday and serves as a creative outlet for many students, regardless of their ‘talent’ or ‘skill level’. Chelsea Pappas, part of the club’s leadership team, said this: “Art Club is a super inviting environment as well, welcoming artists of all skill levels and all mediums, from aspiring painters to expert crocheters. The Art Club also makes connections with outside art organizations, like the Art Council of the Mendhams, to connect members with artistic opportunities outside of the school.” The group recently participated in Mendham Borough’s Fall Fest on October 4th, where they painted a live mural and helped to raise money with the Mendham Arts Council for scholarships for art-oriented students. “I’ve seen so many talented and skilled artists across the entire student body, both in and out of the club, and I hope that the Art Club can connect these artists to each other and to the opportunities we offer,” Julia Sun said of the club’s plans. If you’re creative and looking for a community, then the Art Club is the perfect place for you. You can follow them on their Instagram, @mendham.artclub, to see their past activities and to be notified of their next endeavors.

If you’ve ever had an interest in architecture, are an avid LEGO fan, or just simply want to have fun, then you may consider joining the LEGO Club. It was founded by Kam Fehling, who was inspired by the LEGO Clubs of other schools and thought it looked “really fun. “LEGO Club provides a space for students to experiment creatively and have fun building freely at lunch. At a typical meeting, we all work on our own separate projects while we eat, but we all still interact with each other,” Kam said of the club. They meet on Tuesdays during lunch in room 201, where they will begin working on their winter holiday builds.

Do you love animals —specifically dogs— or have a humanitarian streak? Project Rescue, led by Julianna Morrissey, Maya Vinu, and Naya Gabai, was created to support local animal shelters in the Morris County area. The club hosts bake sales, participates in raffles, and raises money through a variety of volunteer opportunities to better the lives of dogs up for adoption living in the Randolph Animal Shelter; they recently held a bake sale in October that raised over $900 in donations. When asked about the club’s future aspirations, Maya and Naya answered promptly: “We hope to be able to continue hosting fun events that raise money for the shelter. And to eventually spread to other shelters because right now, we only work with the Randolph Animal Shelter. If you care deeply for animals and want to help those struggling in your community, it’s a low-commitment way to be able to give back to your community, and to gain volunteer hours for college and Mendham’s IB programs.” If you’re interested in joining, look out for their next meeting in Ms. Fabin’s room in the coming weeks.