Clubs Provide Infinite Opportunities For Students

Jamesville-Dewitt High school has much more to offer than just academic classes, one can discuss various political views then learn the twists and turns of the Spanish language and culture, then finally end up with a group responsible for providing those who have very little with an experience of a lifetime.

Junior, Dan Burkett, the president of The Young Conservative Republicans Club, as well as co-founder of the group, expects a very good turnout for the club in the upcoming year. "It gives references for history, knowledge for the future, and a deeper understanding about politics. Not to mention it aids a person's debating abilities" Burkett says. "We're hoping to get people's opinions out there in the open."

The club's objective is to discuss of certain ideas and topics. Like current elections, President Obama, and the overall views of the young Republicans belonging to the club. Sophie Higgins, who graduated in the spring, concocted the idea for this particular organization with Burkett.

The idea was then carried further when Higgins approached art teacher Carlos Benedict, who now holds the position of club adviser. " It's my job to give them information, advice and suggestions that will be beneficial to the club and its members." Says Benedict. The club meets every Monday in B04; and new members are welcome.

¿Te gusta el español?
Do you like Spanish? Then visit Spanish club, which offers J-DHS students a way to explore the Spanish language and culture outside the classroom.

The club meets weekly and always has interesting activities planned, such as watching the Spanish version of "Ugly Betty" or gathering at a Mexican restaurant to practice conversing in Spanish. The club's meetings are mostly run in Spanish, although some English is spoken as well.

This year, the club hopes to engage in fundraising in order to take a trip together as a club, possibly to New York City. They also plan on meeting at Panera Bread throughout the year to practice their speaking.

Spanish Club meetings are held in the back of the Library Media Center each Friday. Anyone interested in joining is welcome, no matter his or her Spanish-speaking ability.

Hole in the wall members have an entirely different objective from most other clubs; helping children with disabilities/serious illnesses.

The organization was originally founded in 1988 by actor Paul Newman to allow disabled children to attend summer camp, as many regular camps aren't properly equipped to care for these children.

Hole in the Wall club is dedicated to contributing to this cause and puts forth tremendous amounts of effort to help those with disabilities. Not one child attending the summer camp is expected to pay the $1,800 fee; so, throughout the year, club members organize multiple fundraisers in order to help pay for the children to attend. Last year, the club was able to pay for two children.

This year, Hole in the Wall will continue fundraising through the charity semi-formal ball and an electronic recycling drive, where people can bring in old computers and cell phones.

In addition to raising money, club members also travel to Double H Ranch, one of the eleven Hole in the Wall camps located throughout the world. Four to five times each year, Hole in the Wall members have the opportunity to travel to the camp, located in the Adirondacks. While there, students help out around the camp by making the cabin beds, cleaning out barns, painting and doing other chores to prepare the camp for next summer.

"Nobody works as hard as our kids do," says Clete Gualtieri, a guidance counselor at J-DHS and the advisor for Hole in the Wall. The people at Double H Ranch "really appreciate J-D for all the hard work they do."

"Once, we went swimming in the pool with our clothes on," says co-vice president of Hole in the Wall Kaitlyn Murphy and co-president Lilly Rizzo, both juniors. The two also reveal that club members often have water fights while working, ensuring that the trips are fun as well. As long as enough members sign up, the club intends on visiting the camp over the summer.

"You can always tell that you are helping out. With this club, you know that you are directly helping someone," says Rizzo.

"J-DHS is one of few, if not the only high school, to have a Hole in the Wall club," said Mr. Gualtieri. This is thanks to Julia Mayne who founded the club back in 2002 after volunteering at the camp for a summer. Since then, the club has been a major success and is becming increasingly popular among students.

The club plans to meet Tuesdays for a few more weeks until it switches to meeting on a rotating schedule. All students interested in joining should listen to the announcements regarding club meetings. The first planned trip to the Double H Ranch is Tuesday, October 13. For more information regarding the club or upcoming trips, feel free to attend a club meeting, or visit the Hole in the Wall website at www.holeinthewallcamps.org to learn more about the organization.