Once the final bell rings at the end of the day, our school transforms into a vibrant world of slicing scissors, scribbling pencils and students chattering. Clubs have started. This activity will slow down as the afternoon turns into evening, only to start up again the next day.
Clubs are an integral part of our school’s student life and culture. Having a place to showcase your own ideas and meet with like-minded individuals gives students a break from the stress of academics, and provides them with valuable leadership and problem-solving skills.
“All of our clubs are student-initiated, student-run, and student-sustained…. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to operate in a microcosm of what they’re going to face when they go out into the larger community and world,” Director of Student Activities Michael Krulfeld said.
There’s such a wide range of clubs that every student has an opportunity to find their place, whether that be Math Club, Speech & Debate or UNO Club. Krulfeld has seen his fair share of interesting clubs. A career highlight for him was the Cheese Club.
“They would literally meet in the morning and they would sample different types of cheese and that was their goal, to become cheese connoisseurs,” Krulfeld said.
More recently, he’s been appreciating the Grilling Club.
“They’ve done different things: they’ve had competitions, hot dog eating competitions, where we had to put some guidelines on exactly how we could do that so it was safe,” Krulfeld said.
He noted that the club’s success depends on the members’ motivation. Junior Sam Martin, president of the Marjorie Hughes Fund Club, agrees.
“Committing your time to the club [makes you a good member],” Martin said.
This is especially true at our school, where students form the backbone of clubs.
“All of our clubs are student-initiated, student-run and student-sustained,” Krulfeld said.
However, once leadership changes, clubs start to struggle. Sometimes, clubs disappear for a few years, and then come back.
“To sustain over time, those student leaders who initiate the club need to find a way to tap students in different grade levels,” Krulfeld said.
Despite these challenges, every year Krulfeld estimates that there are 10-12 completely new clubs. This year, these include the Catholic Student Union and the Car and Motorsports Club.
Clubs at our school don’t only focus on service and academics; they also center around athletics. An example of this is our school’s Ice Hockey team. Even though it’s not technically affiliated with our school, it is largely made up of our school’s students. Like other clubs, it has a strong community.
“Seniors have a fun poker night where we just kind of hang out and play poker and get food,” senior John Chistolini said.
Getting involved in clubs is simple. If it’s the beginning of the year, just go to one of the school activities fairs. After that, you can visit the comprehensive, up-to-date list on the YHS Clubs and Student Activities 2025-2026 Canvas page. There, you’ll find the teacher sponsor who you can then email to ask about meetings.
For a club to be approved, it has to have a sponsor, be unique, occur on school property and have a larger purpose than only fundraising. Also, there can not be any clubs with the same cause.
Ultimately, clubs at our school give students the opportunity to accomplish wonders, even after the final bell. They are a place to hang out with friends, try new things and discover new talents. So remember, no matter what you are into, there is always a club for you. Don’t be afraid to join in, try something new and be a part of our school community.
