At the beginning of the school year all clubs were operating through a virtual form due to COVID-19. However, more and more clubs have started to have in-person meetings again. There are new guidelines, though, that clubs need to follow.

“[Clubs] just need to reserve a space that is large enough to have all of their students maintain six feet of social distancing during the time, no physical contact during their meeting times and masks at all times, as well as self-certification screens that are checked and sanitizing spaces before and after the kids sit down,” said Melinda Roberts, Assistant Principal for Student Life.

Another change is that clubs are not allowed to have food at meetings.

“We’re not eating in club meetings, and I know that for some groups, that was a big part of their culture,” said Roberts.

Clubs were first given the opportunity to return to in-person meetings in October when students started to return to in-person learning, but few clubs switched from virtual to in-person meetings.

“We only had a few clubs that took advantage of that time, primarily because so many students were staying home,” said Roberts.

However, as more students have started to return to in-person learning full time, more clubs have taken advantage of being able to meet in person.

“As we started to have more students come back, more clubs have decided that they want to meet in person,” said Roberts.

Clubs have enjoyed meeting in person and having additional opportunities for face-to-face interaction. One of the first clubs to come back in person was Book Club.

“We started meeting in person right when the opportunity came up. We were the first club I think to meet in person,” said Lindsay Boynton, Book Club Adviser.

Being in person has made having discussions easier and more organic.

“It’s so difficult to have an organic discussion over Google Meet just because there’s lag time and it’s hard to have a naturally flowing conversation. For Book Club, the whole club is discussing what we’re reading. And so, meeting in person is just so much nicer and it lets us have better discussions,” said Emily Oh, senior and Book Club member.

However, Roberts is hopeful that more clubs will be able to meet in person next year.

“We are looking forward to when we come back to school in the fall having a more kind of traditional set up for activities so that our students still have those options and opportunities to get together to explore the things that they really love and are passionate about,” said Roberts.