Clubs, teachers host fun, creative activities for Speak Up for Change week

Photo by Students write positive notes on post-its in the College and Career center on Jan. 24.

Students write positive notes on post-its in the College and Career center on Jan. 24.

To complement this year’s Speak Up for Change theme of Moving Past, several clubs on campus hosted activities during the week of Jan. 23. 

Monday, Jan. 23

Dear Asian Youth held a discussion about racism and presented coping strategies on how to deal with discrimination. During the discussion, club officers Jasmine Ispasoiu, Allison Tan and Vivian Wang elaborated on how it was important to stand together in solidarity during these times when racism is rampant. Members also examined the Monterey Park shooting that occurred the previous day on Lunar New Year. Although it wasn’t a racially motivated crime, the officers found it relevant to discuss due to its effects on the Asian community. 

Along with the club, physics teacher Kirk Davis allowed students to come in during tutorial to play fun board games like Monopoly and Twister as a way to relieve stress. Because Davis is a fan of board games himself, he believed it would be a good way for students to socialize and have fun.

“I hope they were relaxed while playing the games and able to leave any worries or stress they had at the door,” Davis said. “Hopefully, they found a relaxing game that they can play in the future for stress relief.”

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Four activities took place on Tuesday: three club events and an activity hosted by college and career specialist Brad Ward. During lunch, Singing for Smiles members performed uplifting songs such as “Titanium” and “Fight Song.” Student singers included freshman Sahana Kumar, who performed “Change”; junior Simarya Ahuja, who performed “Titanium”; and sophomore Annabelle Miin, who performed “Fight Song.”

“‘Fight Song’ is about being strong, so I thought it would be fitting for this week,” Min said.

The Chinese Club showed an anti-anxiety diet video. They discussed foods that contain magnesium, zinc and other elements that help fuel the human body to relax. Healthy foods such as avocados, apples, and nuts were also brought to the meeting for the members to enjoy.

Drama Club held a “Ripping Up Negativity” activity where students wrote their sources of stress on little slips of paper before ripping the papers up. Drama Club president Arushi Maheshwar said the activity was a way to cleanse negative energy.

“A lot of times, when you are angry, you just have an urge to tear something apart,” Maheshwar said. “This activity is a safe and helpful way to execute that.”

In addition, Ward invited students to write positive affirmations on sticky notes and plaster them in the school bathrooms.

“Two students at my old school came up to me with this idea, so we started something called the Happiness Club,” Ward said. “We would meet every few weeks and come up with activities to do. It is something that I would like to start permanently at Saratoga as well.”

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Chemistry teacher Kathy Nakamatsu allowed students to come into her room and play jigsaw puzzles, while art teacher Theresa Muñoz hosted a ceramic craft making activity to simultaneously socialize and express creativity. Wellness center coordinator Grace Conley hosted “Talkative Thursdays,” which was moved up a day so that a meditation session could be held on Thursday instead. “Talkative Thursday” allowed students to sit in the wellness center and talk to each other or the staff about whatever was on their minds.

“During this week’s ‘Talkative Thursday,’ we talked about techniques to alleviate stress,” Conley said. “I would love for everybody to come to one of our sessions, but if you just come to one session and learn one technique to help you get through the day, that would be great already.”

Thursday, Jan. 26

The Ultimate Frisbee Club invited all the students to play frisbee on the upper field as a way of destressing. The Crafting Club opened its doors and invited students to make yarn leis. 

“I find crafting, knitting and other tasks that are repetitive to be very relaxing,” senior president Miranda Yee said. “It is what I do when I am stressed, and I hope it can help other people relieve stress as well.”

The wellness center held a meditation session, once again hosted by Conley. 

“Speak Up for Change is about mental health, and that is what we are all about,” Conley said. “Hopefully, meditation can help reduce the students’ tension and get them through the rest of the day.”

Friday, Jan. 27

The week concluded with a school-wide assembly on Friday, finishing off a week of Moving Past and spreading mental health awareness  in the school community.