After being approved by the BOE in November and December, numerous new clubs have been getting started here at Ramapo. Flyers flooding your Schoology can be overwhelming, so Rampage brings you a list of clubs that have started recently for your convenience!
PAW Club
Advisor: Mr. Hedges
Meeting Room: 218
Do you love animals? If so, PAW is just the club for you! PAW stands for Pets and Animal Welfare and was created by juniors Lana Jepsen and Emma Sanchez in an effort to turn their mutual love for animals into something bigger. Lana explains, “We aim to raise money, supplies, and awareness for animals in need!” She continues, “Currently, we are in the process of reaching out and collaborating with organizations such as Seeing Eye, Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, and Real Dog Rescue.” But their plans don’t stop there! They also plan to hold a fundraiser for animals affected by the wildfires in LA and New Jersey — there’s definitely no pausing at PAW!
Food Allergy Awareness Club
Advisor: Mr. Kalman
Meeting Room: 103
In the United States of America, 5.8% of children and 6% of adults have food allergies (CDC). The Food Allergy Awareness Club is working to not only shine light on this topic, but also to educate students and promote safer dining experiences within the school. President of the club Ashley Ackerman and Vice President Emily Bellovich share, “We started this club because we both have seen firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the world with food allergies,” they continue, “We wanted to create a supportive space where we can educate others, share experiences, and advocate for better safety measures in public places.” Future plans for the club include teaching students how to use Epi-pens and advocating for nutrition labels on the cafeteria food, promoting safety first and foremost!
Irish Club/Celtic Culture Club
Advisor: Mrs. Gibson
Meeting room: 813
Celtic Culture Club aims to promote and celebrate Irish culture in Ramapo! From hosting traditional music sessions to dance workshops, they are bringing a multitude of ways to enrich your understanding of the country and its people. If you have ancestors from Ireland or simply have an interest in the country, make sure to make your way upstairs for the next meeting!
Asian Culture Club
Advisor: Mrs. Iwaki
Meeting Room: 706
The Asian Culture Club was established to not only share the traditions of the region with the school, but also to give students a place to embrace their culture. The club looks to give beginner lessons in languages such as Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese as well as having interactive matcha workshops, calligraphy lessons, and more. Additionally, at each meeting, there will be Asian snacks relating to the activity! Co-president of the club senior Hanna Weingartz says that she is especially excited to bring more attention and exposure to Asian culture to those not familiar with it! She adds, “While I’ll be graduating this year, I’m excited to leave behind this club as a place for future Asian students to experience an inclusive environment and for all Ramapo students to continue learning about different cultures.”
Girls State Club
Advisor: Ms. Gregory
Meeting Room: 606
For girls passionate about politics and government, Girls State Club provides students with a way to earn college credit while connecting with students across New Jersey, but the opportunity to earn college credit! Girls State Club aims to encourage female students to apply to Girls State, a state-wide program where 200 girls work together to run a mock state government. Upon completing the program, students can earn up to three credits in political science and are given opportunities to apply for various scholarships. President of the club senior Lucy Balaam shares that she was the first person to attend the program in 20 years. She describes, “The week I spent there was so uplifting and empowering, I believe more young women deserve the chance that I took.” As for future plans Lucy shares, “I hope to help them to go through the application process, [prepare] for interviews, and send them off to one of the best and unique experiences out there!”
Career Club
Advisor: Ms. Biunno
Meeting Room: 105
Still unsure of what you want to do in the future? Well don’t worry, Career Club has got you covered! Club advisor Ms. Biunno tells Rampage, “The goal of the Career Club is to help members explore different career paths, develop professional skills, and prepare for future job opportunities.” In the future, they look forward to having speakers come in to showcase the variety of occupations available to students!
The Creative Writing Club
Advisor: Ms. Copeland
Meeting Room: Media Center Classroom
The Creative Writing Club meets once a week, creating a space where writers of all levels can not only improve their skills and collaborate with others, but also find their voices. During meetings, students are presented with visual or written prompts and they later share their work to receive constructive feedback. Members are also encouraged to submit their work for Ramapo’s literary magazine Serendipity. The club also looks to provide literacy outreach to underserved communities in the future! The club’s advisor, Ms. Copeland, shares that as a visual artist she loves to create visual writing prompts and to see the product of the students’ hard work. Ms. Copeland explains, “Art is something we do that no one cares if we do NOT do. So a successful writing or art practice necessitates a vision, a lot of self-discipline, and a schedule.” She continues, “Otherwise, the work does not get done. And guess what? No one cares…until you have a great product!”
While we have these seven spectacular clubs up and running, there are still many newly approved clubs to keep an eye out for (Public Meeting Minutes 11/25/24 and 12/16/24)!
This includes:
- Entrepreneurship Club
- Pickleball Club
- Winter Guard Club
- Card Games Club
- Ramapo Fashion Club
- Healthcare Club
- Women in Law
It is clear that students at Ramapo are eager to take initiative and foster communities that can bond over shared interests. You yourself might be inspired to start a new club! If so, head over to Mr. Stokes’ office to get your application started!
