Activity Fair publicizes possibilities at NRHEG

Possibility was the focus on May 6 as all students at the NRHEG Secondary building strolled through an “Activity Fair” conceived and planned by students Harbor Cromwell and Chloe Stork.

Student representatives from 34 school-based activities set up tables in the gymnasium and shared what they like, and what they gained from being involved in everything from sports teams to the drama club to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“We wanted everyone to realize that, even if we are a smaller school, we have a lot to offer,” said Harbor. “It’s pretty impressive how many options there are.”

“I heard people talking about it for the rest of the day,” observed Chloe. “I like to think we got some people thinking about the possibilities.”

Both Harbor and Chloe say their own experiences at school have been enriched by the activities they’ve joined, and they want the same for others.

“Helping kids find more involvement is a way to give them purpose,” said Harbor. “Instead of ‘I have to go to school,’ maybe their attitude could change to ‘I get to go to school and do this thing I like.’

“It could help make things better for everybody.”

The event went on all morning, with two grades moving through at a time. Light music played in the background, and various tables had decorations and items meant to catch people’s interest.

Harbor and Chloe met each group as it arrived, shared their personal experiences and observations, and encouraged students to approach the event with open minds. The two organizers say they wanted a relaxed, pleasant environment for the activity fair which would encourage everyone to mingle and ask questions.

“We wanted them to be able to walk around with their friend groups,” mentioned Chloe. “That way they would be more comfortable, and they would talk about their impressions.”

The two say it was very important to them that middle schoolers attend the fair. “That way we lay some groundwork for the future,” commented Harbor.

Along with strengthening student engagement, Harbor and Chloe speculate the fair could help  bolster the ranks for some of the activities.

“One thing, we wanted people to know they don’t have to limit themselves,” commented Chloe, mentioning she has been in three sports and seven other activities. “They can compete in sports and be on the math team or Student Ambassadors or Knowledge Bowl.

“If you don’t try something, how will you know if you like it or not?”

Planning for this month’s activity fair began last fall, Harbor said, after he learned about similar events at other school districts. He recruited Chloe’s help in planning and preparations, all with an eye to having her, a junior, continue the momentum into the future.

“Next year, we want to put the hammer down right away in fall,” said Harbor. “We gave them some ideas here at this event, maybe having another one will get some of them to consider signing up as the school year gets going.”

Among the clubs and organizations with tables at the activity fair were student council, band, color guard, yearbook, DECA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), National Honor Society, Prostart, the Anti Bully Club (ABC) and the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA). Among the MSHSL sponsored sports and competition teams were football, volleyball, cross country, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ basketball, one-act play, dance, hockey, gymnastics, trap shooting, track, softball, baseball, golf, choir, cheerleading, speech team, art.