Held at the start of the school year, the Club Fair has always been a popular and well-received event among the student body. The hosting of various clubs is a huge part of George School culture and a fantastic opportunity for community bonding.
On Wednesday, September 16, following our first Community Day, George School hosted its annual Club Fair. Unlike previous years, when the fair was typically held during lunch, this year’s event took place from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m., right after various community bonding events prepared by the faculty staff for students. With more than 70 clubs gathered in Red Square, the space was filled with cheerful music, colorful posters, and the enthusiasm of students eager to share their passions and discover new interests.
In order to ensure a successful club fair, the Student Council has been coordinating club registrations and approvals as early as before the start of the school year. Vishnu Anand ’27, the student council co-president, said, “The biggest challenge in managing the club fair is approving the sheer number of clubs and ensuring organization during the fair.” As a new strategy this year, the council and administration plan to monitor club activity throughout the year, not just at registration, to keep things consistent for the community. Overall, the student council has diligently prepared the club fair, giving every student who wishes to express their interests a chance in front of the entire community.
Since the start of last year, George School has started using Club Hub as a platform for students to sign up for clubs. Club Hub is a platform where students become enrolled in clubs at George School. Additionally, Club Hub is also used for club leaders to draft announcements to club members, as well as an application that organizes all clubs for simplicity, a significant upgrade from the scattering of club group chats and all student emails for announcements. The usage of Club Hub continues at the club fair this year, and on the day of club fair, the school made a special exception allowing students to have their phones out during the school day so they could scan QR codes for registered clubs. Zoe Ahagotu ’27 said Club Hub was especially convenient because she used QR codes to sign in all of her club’s members instead of recording names and emails on paper.
For club leaders, the fair was a chance to reconnect with old members and meet new ones. Cassandra Eusebio ’27, who leads both SEASU and the Ceramics Club, said she enjoyed seeing a mix of familiar and new faces at her table. She was surprised not just by the number of new members who signed up, but by how many returning members stopped by even though they were already on the mailing list. SEASU held its first meeting the following Friday in the Barash Room, which Cassandra summed up in one word: “Awesome.” “There was a lot of energy,” she added. Clubs that Zoe led, Mock Trial and Musical Theater, have already held their first meetings as well, both drawing strong attendance following the fair.
Still, the new format wasn’t without its challenges. Held under the afternoon sun, the fair could feel “hot and chaotic,” Cassandra said. Both she and Zoe suggested that future fairs be held in a larger space, giving clubs more room to set up and students more room to browse without feeling overwhelmed by crowds.
While the school may need to iron out these logistics, the energy and enthusiasm on display suggest George School’s club culture is as strong as ever. Overall, this year’s Club Fair set a strong tone for the school year ahead, and it’s exciting to think about what clubs will come up with next.
