Clubs look to expand into local elementary and middle schools

Two clubs, Interact Club and SHARP tutoring, have been looking to expand into local middle and elementary schools in order to build a connection among younger students in the community.

Interact vice presidents junior Felicia Hung and senior Randy Tsai are working to create a Junior Interact at Redwood Middle School. Although it has not been attempted in Saratoga before, there are other Junior Interact clubs at schools like Hart and Miller Middle School.

Tsai said the motivation to create Junior Interact was to encourage students to become active members of the community.

“They benefit themselves by gaining a more enriched knowledge of their surroundings,” Tsai said. “At the same time, they benefit the community as advocators of change.”
Tsai also hopes that, in creating this new branch of Interact, Redwood students will be able to establish a bond with students at Saratoga High.

The club is not currently active, and still needs approval from the Redwood administration.

Once it is active, Junior Interact members will be allowed to attend the same social gatherings and volunteer opportunities as SHS Interactors.

Redwood students will be able to sign up for the club via a clipboard at the Redwood office where interested students can leave their emails.

Just like the high school equivalent, Junior Interact will also have meetings that will most likely happen after school, according to Tsai.

Tsai hopes that this new program will help Redwood students get accustomed to high school.

“Since freshman year can be an awkward year, we want these students to become an active part of the Saratoga community as soon as possible,” Tsai said.

Another club that has been active in the local secondary schools is SHARP tutoring.

SHARP tutoring club is an out-of-school organization that tutors elementary school students at Foothill Elementary School and is looking to expand to Redwood Middle School. Members of the clubs provide homework help on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Junior Suneel Belkhale started the club because of his experience as a freshman helping out with the Math Olympiad program.    

“It was so much fun for me and I started to wonder what kind of an impact there would be if there was a program that allowed students to tutor younger kids, but in any subject,” the current junior said. “I realized just how much younger kids look up to us, and how much we could reinforce what they learned in school in a way that would be fun for them.”

Sulkhale’s hope for the club is to establish a network for academic help between Saratoga High and the local elementary and middle schools.

“Kids who need academic help can get it for free, and high school students who love to teach can teach with the added benefit of volunteer hours,” Belkhale said.

Belkhale wants SHARP tutoring to have a profound impact on the kids that are tutored.

“I really want this club to give back to the community through education,” Belkhale said. “I am hoping that students at elementary and middle schools become more motivated to learn, and therefore more ready for high school and their future endeavors.”