New Providence High School offers many different types of clubs to students. These include the Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian language clubs, the photojournalism club, and Student Council. 

For starters, the Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian club all allow any students interested to join the club. The members are not just limited to the students already taking that language in school. Spanish club has between 20-43 members, French club has between 20-50 members, Japanese club has over 70 members, and the Italian club has 60 members so far. 

The language clubs incorporate fun activities into their meetings. Spanish club holds discussions about Spanish culture, watches movies, listens to music, and exposes the members to the culture, language, and cuisine. French club has some activities involving meals, food tastings, movies, games, contests, email exchanges, and the club is “committed to giving personal time to these activities,” according to the advisor, Madame Huynh. Japanese club is a fun and exciting way to further expand the student’s mindsets of different cultures around the world, specifically in Japan. The club is meant to help connect people through cultural differences. Italian club discusses and enjoys all aspects of Italian language and culture, tastes authentic food, goes on college visits, and watches movies. 

The language clubs are advised by the corresponding language teacher: Mrs. Henriques, Madam Huynh, Sensei Paris, and Mrs. DeNicola, but they are actually run by students. Brooke Arnold and Matt Fusillo run the Spanish club. President, Cleo Trumbull, Vice President, Andi Bloom, and secretary, Emily Kapp are in charge of French club. The Japanese club is run by Co-presidents Olivia Haas and Ayla Silbahar. The secretary spot is filled by Steve Huashuayo, while this year’s treasurer is Molly Eng. Gabrielle Arace and Katie Zimmerman head the fundraising, publicity, gadget design, and instagram portion of the Italian club. Emily Rosato and Erin Orchard are the treasurers, and head meetings, public relation, the pen pal projects and Instagram as well. Finally, Genesis Ramirez and Juliana LaPara head events, field trips, the instagram, and bake sales. 

Now, while these next two clubs take more dedication and more hard work, they are just as fun!  The Photojournalism club has around 19 people while the Student Council has 3 to 4 representatives for each grade. These students enjoy making an impact on the other students’ lives and are always willing to step in to help others. The photojournalism club takes pictures of the athletes and clubs throughout the school year to show everyone, students and teachers, what is happening in the school and encourage everyone to become more involved in the school’s activities. The Student Council (throughout all grades) is meant to help create a representative government that runs each class’s fundraisers and projects.

The Photojournalism club advisor is Mrs.Jacqueney and the student who runs all of the meetings is Elizabeth Blank. As for student council, the Freshmen class advisors are Senora DiGirolamo and Ms. Noppenberger. The Freshman representatives are President Emi Goswami, Vice President Emma Ure, Secretary Alexandra Munies, and Treasurer Reese Marzynski. The Sophomore class advisors are Miss Berrios and Mrs.DeNicola. The representatives are President Eric Kaloshi, Vice President Max Fitzgerald, Secretary Matthew Eberle, and Treasurer Tommy Donahue. The Junior class advisors are Mrs.Halpern and Mrs.Gumerlock. The representatives are President Maddy LaMotta, Vice President Emma Rogozenski, and Secretary Grace Miller. Finally, the Senior class advisor is Mrs.Siek. The representatives are President Sadie Miller, Vice President Kylie Burton, Secretary Kyra Pitarresi, and Treasurer Ava Carreiro.

This 2019-2020 school year has a lot in store, as there is a lot that each club plans to accomplish. The Spanish club’s goal is to expose the members to more of the Spanish culture and to teach them more about what the culture is and why it’s important. French club is dynamic and bases its activities and goals on the mission statement: French club promises the French language and Francophone culture in order to broaden our international knowledge and understanding through social and service activities. According to Sensei Paris,“We [the Japanese club] are hoping to increase our reach beyond students currently taking Japanese towards those that are unable to.” The goal of the Italian club this year is to promote the Italian language and culture, and according to Mrs. DeNicola, “show everyone that learning Italian and about Italy is fun!” 

The goal of the the Photojournalism club is to publish photos throughout the community to enlighten others about what each of our students has accomplished in their time during high school. 

Each of the Student Councils also has many goals for the year. According to Senora DiGirolamo, freshman class advisor, “We do fundraisers to raise money towards expenses in the senior year 2023.” Sophomore class advisor, Miss.Berrios, says that, “I would say that our [the sophomore class] plans are to continue to raise money for the class of 2022, participate in community service, and increase student participation and spirit for school activities!” According to Mrs.Halpern, “Our [the junior class] main responsibilities are to help in the goal of Fundraising for Senior activities.” The senior class advisor, Mrs.Siek, adds that, “We [the senior class] raise money each year to go toward the class’s senior prom and other senior activities, such as the barbecue.”

Spanish, Japanese, and Italian club meets once a month and French club meets twice a month. The Photojournalism club meets whenever photos need to be taken for sports or any school activities (not as a full group, but individuals mostly come and go). The Student Councils meet whenever needed, whether that is once or three times a month. It all depends on what fundraisers they are planning to do.

The clubs conduct fun activities and create lasting relationships between the members, for a little commitment in return. Each club involves its members in the school through activities, photos, or fundraisers. So, if you want to get more involved at New Providence High School and don’t know where to start, start by joining one of these clubs! You might surprise yourself!