Extracurriculars are Back in Full Swing at HHS
People of Color and Allies Club collect sign-ups at freshman orientation.
October 3, 2021
Vibrant posters and fliers promoting extracurriculars and involvement opportunities decorate nearly every hallway in Hingham High School as of late. The promotion of such clubs and activities, old and new, reflects how significantly the in-person school year has rejuvenated student life.
The Freshman Orientation Club Fair allowed students of the high school to get involved in extracurricular activities that foster community, particularly amplified after numerous clubs could not complete regular activities in the spring of 2020 through the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Among the clubs promoted at the fair, People of Color and Allies (POCA), Books and Banter, and long-standing Student Council organizations have already started up for fall activities.
POCA Co-President Sherry Sze shared the inspiration behind the club, claiming that, “Our goal as a group is to discuss a lot of diversity issues and create a safe space for people of color who might not feel comfortable or struggle to find community.” When asked about the inaugural meeting, consisting of Sherry and her fellow members of the POCA executive board sharing information about themselves and the club’s missions, Sherry says that “We had a pretty good turn out. At our next meeting on October 8th, we will discuss cultural appropriation and its impact. Each month we will focus on a different culture.” Sze also shared with the Harborlight that POCA plans on having informal meetings outside of the school, doing activities such as watching movies and collaborating on game nights over Discord.
Junior Maggie O’Keeffe and I have revived Hingham High School’s Books and Banter, encouraging students to embrace leisurely reading by forming community and promoting conversation. Our first read is My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Maggie O’Keeffe remains “eager to meet everyone and discuss. I finished the book recently and cannot wait to hear everyone’s opinions and interpretations.” The first Books and Banter meeting will be on Friday, October 22nd, in the morning at the LMC.
HHS Student Council has also been reinvigorated in its extent and number of participants in activities as a result of in-person events. With two all-member meetings already marked in the books, members are revving up for Homecoming next week, concluding with a pep rally on Friday. Signs across the school display the themes of each day, starting Monday, October 5, with Class Color Day. STUCO members and other students at HHS are encouraged to decorate the designated hallway of their class in assigned colors. The week promises participation and excitement from students, as the virtual fall months, last year chipped at school morale in putting on events.
The buzz surrounding recent meetings and promotions of old and new organizations alike at Hingham High School promises a year full of possibilities and opportunities for interested students.
