On Sept. 19, San Domenico High School hosted its annual club fair, bustling with nearly 50 clubs across a wide variety of categories, like community service, art, STEM and activism. Focused on community involvement, clubs at San Domenico provide opportunities to learn more about your peers, form friendships and connections, and get involved in a cause that you are passionate about.
For some clubs, this purpose is expressed through educating and doing community service for their cause. 11th graders Kiyomi Dallaskid and Cara Parks are the co-leaders of the green team at SD.
“One of our goals this year is to teach the lower school students about the ecosystems in California and how humans impact what happens to them,” Parks said. “We want to educate them on what green practices they can have in their lives that help our environment.”
The green team plans to host a booth at the garden fair this year that involves a spot-the-difference game where kids can learn about and identify real monarch butterflies versus mimics. They are also working on a children’s book about the local kelp forest ecosystem, teaching kids what kind of animals rely on this environment in an easily digestible way.
Additionally, clubs at San Domenico aim to give students creative freedom beyond the classroom to explore their interests.
“We’re also open to any new member’s suggestions,” Dallaskid said. “We had one new member this year who we allowed to start doing some bake sales because they were really passionate about them as a way to fundraise for organizations like the marine mammal center.”
San Domenico also provides lots of low-stakes, relaxed clubs that allow students to relieve some stress while fostering friendships. Noah Brown-Lewin, an SD senior, is a co-founder of the Minecraft Appreciation Club.
“Minecraft is a community game because there are infinite different ways to play,” Brown-Lewin said. “You can create or build anything you want. Crucially, it’s multiplayer. It’s the people that make it so great.”
Students in SD clubs can participate in performing arts, learn about international relations, join affinity groups like BSU or Jew Crew, and play games like mahjong. These clubs reflect the student body’s diverse range of interests, and are made possible by the SD community’s commitment to turning ideas into real experiences.
