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PAST:

The majority of students at Antioch Community High School are or have been involved in a club at school. In fact, 68.5 percent of ACHS students are involved in some sort of club according to a recent survey sent out by the Tom Tom. Whether it be German Club, Interact Cub, Psychology Club or another club of choice, Sequoits love to get involved at ACHS. Much like present students, the past students of ACHS also took great pride in their school by getting involved with clubs, but some of the clubs and organizations from back in the day were a little strange.

Back in the 1930s, Stamp Club was all the rage at ACHS.  The club was for members who loved to collect and trade stamps. It had an exhibition each year.

Another odd club for collectors was the Microscope Club, which was formed at ACHS in 1939.

The 1939 Sequoia said, “It was organized to help the students get a direct appreciation of nature and to realize that there are many beautiful things to be observed through the microscope.”

Back in the day when a lot more people succumbed to gender stereotypes, the Home Economics Club, the Future Farmers of America and the Future Homemakers of America were huge hits at ACHS.

Some other strange clubs include the Rod and Gun Club and the Coin Collectors Club.

What ever happened to these clubs? No one quite knows, but they paved the way for new clubs to form at ACHS that make a difference in the school, the community and the world.

PRESENT:

Seeing friends in the hallway, going to the corn maze or even going to watch the football team play on a Friday night; these are all things that many high school students take for granted, but the truth is some students never experience these things even though they so badly want to. This is where the Sequoit Sidekicks program comes in. The Sequoit Sidekicks club is new to Antioch Community High School this year and its goal is to make every student get involved and feel loved.

Special education teacher Jamie Atkinson, who helped organized the club, said, “The main goal is to open kids up to things in the school that they might not have done before. It’s funny to think that there are kids in the school who have never gone to a football game just because they don’t have the friends to do that, or people that they trust to help them there. That’s why goal is to get all kids in the school involved in activities that help them make friends and help them get to know more people.”

Sequoit Sidekicks was organized by Atkinson, PE teacher Marni Polakow and special education teacher Neil Farlow. The club began in September and is already  thriving, with 45 members and 4 successful events, including a ‘Get To Know You’ night, a Harlem Ambassadors game, a trip to the Richardson corn maze and a dodgeball night.

“It has been the best thing we could ever do. It strengthens our community and makes everybody feel loved. All the kids in Sequoit Sidekicks absolutely love it,” said Atkinson.

The Sequoit Sidekick members certainly do love it. Members get to try new activities and come out of their shell while meeting and bonding with new friends. Everyone is included, appreciated and loved.

Sequoit Sidekick member and ACHS junior Matthew Cacciatore said, “It’s amazing because you get to do things with your friends.”

Another member said, “I see my friends at school and they say hi to me.”

The Sequoit Sidekick members are all looking forward to upcoming activities such as swimming, going to the movies and ice skating. Atkinson mentioned that the long term goals for the club are to start up a soccer league and continue to get more and more members to join.

The Sequoit Sidekicks club is an incredibly positive and fun new program at ACHS. It helps all students involved to open up, try new things and just have a good time. Atkinson encourages any student who is interested in joining to contact her.

FUTURE:

The clubs of ACHS’s past were definitely a little strange and random, the clubs of ACHS’s present are positive outlets that are making a difference, but what will the clubs of ACHS’s future be like?

In a recent survey by the Tom Tom, many ACHS students expressed interest in creating both a Cooking Club and a Ping Pong Club. Perhaps students who are interested in cooking and baking or who have taken a Foods class would enjoy meeting a few times a month to make new recipes and maybe even compete with peers in cooking contests. A Ping Pong Club would be a great addition for ACHS students to play a fun game in a competitive environment

Some students suggested clubs such as a Snowboard/Ski club, like the club at local school Antioch Upper Grade School which meets at Wilmot Mountain just over the border in Wilmot, Wis. Other club ideas include a Japanese club for students interested in Japanese culture, or a Glee Club in the spirit of the hit television show, “Glee.”

These are all phenomenal ideas and with the help of dedicated students who are willing to start them up, these clubs could all be a part of ACHS’ near future.