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Library Council

As a new club this year, Library Council stands as a platform not only to meet new people but to also have more student input on the library and its setup. While the Library Council is very student-run it is also facilitated by a new high school librarian: Bethany Winter. As a new librarian, when asked about Library Council, Winter touched on how “It is beneficial to a school library because it encourages students to take ownership of their space”. Similar to the goals of the Middle School’s Library Council, the Library Council at the Upper School aims to improve the quality of the content and student experience within the library while also “Involving the students,” said Winter. As a very student-focused group Library Council appreciates student feedback for the improvement of the library. As also referenced by Winter the library “program is about much more than books”. From the “art on the walls” to the overall “community” the library is an important space for representing student voice in all sorts of ways. Feel free to drop by the library at any time to sign up and join the email list.

Winter invites students to join the Library Council on Friday, Nov. 15.

Songs for Smiles

Raiden Chen ’24 performs a piano piece during one of Songs For Smile’s volunteer events. The students performed at Mainstreet Lodge in Minneapolis.

Community service is a huge part of our school’s community, and this is extremely apparent when looking at all the service-based clubs and groups around the school. One of the lesser-known of these is Songs for Smiles. Songs for Smiles is a group that is made up of all kinds of musicians, singers, and instrumentalists. The group meets monthly at senior homes such as Mainstreet Lodge in Minneapolis. Here members perform a variety of music for elders. Not only is Songs for Smiles an amazing opportunity to share any musical talent one might have but also for bringing joy into the lives of our elderly community members. As one leader of the leaders of Songs for Smiles Aanya Pandey ‘25 stated: “We started Songs for Smiles last year to address the issue of loneliness and isolation among senior citizens and that's been an issue that has gotten worse after the pandemic.” As one of the most important portions of our population bringing joy to the lives of senior citizens is important for the community. As stated by Pandey Songs for Smiles is extremely “Low commitment” meaning that one is not obligated to attend all performances. Putting in just a couple hours of one’s entire month makes a significant impact on the lives of the senior community. Songs for Smiles meets the Friday before any weekend performances, for more details and upcoming performances reach out to Pandey, Catherin Lin '25, or Gabi Marmet '25.

Hacky Sack

The unsuspecting sport of hacky sack has emerged rapidly as a common activity among students within the halls of the Upper School. The catalyst of this rampant growth, Atlee Askew ‘27 had this to say when asked about why he believed Hacky Sack has grown at such a rapid rate: “One day I just brought the hobby to school, and from there, it spread pretty fast due to the fast paste nature of the game”. The game has no time constraints so finding time to play is very easy, as said by founder Soren Reyes ‘26 “Regardless if it’s a two-minute brain break or a seventy-minute study hall I always find time to take my mind off of school and play hacky sack”. This newfound club meets very frequently though not having set times in which they play, primarily found throughout the halls in groups ranging from two to eight. Askew claimed that “The competitiveness that many athletes possess was probably the main reason for the growth of Hacky Sack,” building off this removing one's mind from school and enjoying some time with friends brings joy to all. You can learn more about the Hacky Sack club by following them on Instagram @Blakehackysack

Askew and Charlie Moore ‘26 playing with the hacky sack in the library at 11:53 on Monday, Nov. 11.

Chess Club

Esther Lee ‘27 and Madhav Kumar ‘27 in an intense game in the library during their free block.

Open to beginners, advanced players, or anyone in between, the chess club provides a welcoming space to play chess with peers. As a low-commitment club, chess club is a great opportunity to meet new people and improve your chess skills. Chess Club is primarily student-led with one of the leaders being Teddy Bower ‘26 an experienced player who describes chess club as a place where “you will be welcomed into a passionate community of strategic and fun-loving people. Whether an inexperienced patzer or a well-versed expert, your contributions to our club will be valued.” Just as “every different chess piece has the opportunity to influence the position,” whatever you bring to the table is worth showing up for. The Chess club meets weekly on Thursdays in Room 253 during both lunches. Bower states “Chess Club gives members the opportunity mentally “square” up against their rivals, and forge new friendships. When not clashing over the 64 squares, members of all skill levels come together to learn new skills, analyze tactics and develop strategy”. The Chess club's mission is ultimately to get the student body more engaged in the game of chess while helping others meet new people and create an inclusive community where people can engage in the game of chess with a tight-knit community.

Images by Camila Pardo, Drew Cheng, and Gabi Marmet.