Perhaps the most common advice that a student might receive in their first year at Foran is to, in some way, get involved. For those who play a sport, a feeling of belonging might come before school even begins. However, some students may struggle to find their niche in a brand-new environment.
Foran’s wide variety of club opportunities may prove overwhelming for newcomers. For those unsure where to start, service-based clubs may provide a great opportunity to both meet a diverse group of new people and help out in the local and Foran communities.
Key Club
Key Club is an international club that volunteers for local schools and organizations. It also provides a great avenue to begin working towards the 200 hours of community service required for students who aim to graduate with distinction.
“It is a great way to meet peers that like to help our local community and raise money for those in need,” Key Club advisor Mrs. Catherine Ganun explains.
Key Club meets every Tuesday in the cafeteria. Interested students should attend the first meeting after school September 17 in the cafeteria.
Although Key Club is Foran’s largest service-based club, smaller, more specialized clubs include The Giving Table, meeting Tuesdays in room 604, Interact Club, meeting every other Monday in room 123, and Habitat for Humanity, meeting every other Thursday in room 118.
For students who already have an idea of what they are looking for in a club and want to meet others who share similar interests, Foran offers a plethora of interest-based clubs. These clubs are the perfect medium for students to delve deeper into their areas of passion while forging bonds with like-minded peers.
Debate Club
Foran’s Debate Club, run by advisor Mr. Austin Cesare, serves as a perfect setting for students who are considering a career or are interested in politics and current world affairs. Club members break off into teams that participate in active debates and challenge each other’s ideas on various debate topics.
“It’s a great way to learn about current events and how to participate in a formal debate. It’s also a great way to meet new friends!” Cesare emphasizes.
The club meets on Mondays after school in room 207. For more information, reach out to Cesare via email or in-person.
“New members are always welcome to the Debate Club,” he adds.
Model UN
Similar to Debate Club, Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) provides another outlet for politically interested students to take to the debate floor. However, students in this club take on the role of member states of the United Nations in an attempt to reach resolutions on real-world issues.
Foran offers Model UN as an elective as well, but for those with limited room in their schedules, the club allows students to participate in the class without having to give up valuable schedule space. Whether in the club or the class, students attend conferences outside of school to compete for awards.
“We attended the UNH Charger MUN Conference last October and our club won several awards for position papers and delegation,” shares Mrs. Cynthia Bradford, Model UN advisor. Bradford adds that the club plans to attend more conferences this year in an effort to further improve diplomacy skills and meet Model UN members from across the globe.
As well as being a great opportunity to meet new people, Model UN is also a strong addition to any resumé due to its widespread recognition.
“Model UN looks great on job and college applications because people familiar with Model UN know what the preparation and commitment entails,” Bradford advocates.
The club meets in room 205. Information about meeting dates and times can be found at the Model UN Instagram page @foranmun.
Sci-Lions
The Sci-Lions are Foran’s science olympiad team, competing against other high schools yearly since 2011. This year, they compete in the Connecticut State Olympiad at UConn on March 22, along with local invitationals at Sacred Heart University on November 2, and Yale University on February 8.
From Codebusters to Robot Tour to Forensics, this club provides a multitude of scientific events to choose from based on a student’s skills and interests. The club not only provides an avenue to meet new, like-minded peers, but also valuable academic experience.
“It allows students, especially freshmen, an opportunity to explore the field of STEM,” Sci-Lions advisor Mr. John Connors remarks, “Also, the students get to see and compete on a college campus.”
New members are always welcome at meetings, held in room 409 and announced through morning announcements. Interested students should reach out to Connors.
Other interest-based clubs include the Sleepy Sloths, meeting on Fridays in room 205, Game Club, meeting on Fridays in room 404, and the Crochet Club, meeting in room 257.
Despite Foran’s vast list of club choices, some may still feel unfulfilled. Fortunately, the school encourages its students to create clubs and groups in order to represent their own interests.
Senior Julia O’Connell is familiar with the process of creating a new club. This year, she founded Foran’s Pickleball Club after her interest in the sport and desire to create a fun environment.
“You need no prior experience to participate, even if you’ve never played,” O’Connell explains, “For any freshmen looking to get involved at Foran, Pickleball Club is a great place to start.”
The club meets at the Foran tennis courts on Mondays at 2:15 until November 5. Although they have extras, students are asked to bring pickleball paddles if they own them.
