Winter Choice Blocks Bring Innovation to IACS

As the end of 2015 fast approaches, the first trimester division of choice blocks at IACS is also coming to an end.  This means that students are faced with the decision of what to choose for their new clubs on Tuesdays and Fridays for the coming months.  This trimester’s list has many unique choices, including some brand new ones as well as ones that have been offered in years past.

Many choice blocks at IACS are so popular with students that they are brought back year after year.  Mr. Gross’s Debate club, Mr. Pelham’s Art club, and the Improv club, (led by Ms. Olesen, Cameron Merullo ’16, and Joseph Harrington ‘17) are always offered as choices in some form.  Also back this trimester after a brief hiatus is the Slam Poetry club, led by Senior Emily Malachowski.

At the beginning of this school, year, a number of new clubs were offered, and are now returning for the second trimester. Juniors Spencer Royston and Jeffrey Taylor, creators of last year’s popular Lecture Hall Live, are now leading a choice block dedicated to activities based on the original live performances seen last year.  Additionally, Ms. Derival has brought back her Meditation club for the Friday block.  For Seniors, Mr. Barr and Ms. Morocco are helping with the college process in College Planning on Tuesdays.

Also for Seniors, Mr. Deery is now advising a group dedicated to working on Senior Project research and presentations in preparation for next semester’s class.  Also new for this trimester is a club created by Ms. Cruz and Ms. Theep, called Flashback Friday.  Flashback Friday will give students the opportunity to participate in activities commonly done in elementary school, such as storytelling and arts and crafts, all without the use of any tech devices.

For Tuesdays, Ms. Derival has created a club that focuses on drug addiction in modern-day society called Drugs in Society.  She created the choice block with the help of Junior Emma Chaitin, after they both attended a seminar at Lowell High School last month that showcased the effects of drug addiction as well as how to help those struggling with it.  She told her Forensic Science class that, after the loss of IACS alum Andrew Gibson last year to a heroin overdose, combined with the experience of attending this seminar, she feels motivated to reach out to the school community to help educate teens about the dangers of addiction and what can be done to combat its effects.

Regardless of what interests IACS students have, teachers and fellow students alike offer clubs that always seem to satisfy those interests.  As a result, many new and innovative ideas are developed into clubs that are more often than not found to be useful for enriching students’ time in school.