By Ella Hopkins-Gianotti – Staff Reporter

The Natural Helpers Club has started the year off strong after having its first meeting on September 24. 

Natural Helpers, which meets in Room 231 at 2:00 every other Tuesday, is a student-run club that encourages students to get out of their comfort zone by doing activities planned by the club. The activities are based on student preference and not the teachers.

“We try to come up with activities and events that cater to a variety of student interests with the hope that with anything we do, students walk away with a smile and a sense of belonging,” Club Advisor Ms. Smuniewski said.

The club is excited to be bringing back some of its favorite events.

“We plan to repeat some of our favorite events from years past, including after-school bonding opportunities like Halloween Bingo, kindness-themed activities like creating/giving kindness rocks, passing positive notes to peers, our annual DeStress Fest before final exams, and little activities along the way designed to bring a smile to peoples faces,” Smuniewski said, “Whatever we do, our goals are to try to bring students together in a way that ensures all students feel safe and connected in our school.”

The Natural Helpers Club’s goal this year is to focus on the student’s well-being.

“My goal is to just create a safe space for everyone. I just want the club to be an open welcoming space,” senior President Sarah Ahmed said. “ You could just join the club in general especially if you want somewhere to have fun.”

The Natural Helpers don’t just plan events, they make the school environment more welcoming.

“We help many people who don’t necessarily have a lot of friends, that are shy or quiet, that don’t normally reach out to different people,” senior Vice President Carol Jiang said. “It helps students be willing to connect with others.”

The events are not just for the other students to enjoy but also for the club members themselves.

“My favorite part about the club is going to the events, and talking to all the different people who show up. I love seeing if people are enjoying the different things we set up,” sophomore Secretary Elina Nett said.

The Natural Helpers Club is still looking for members.

“We want more people in our club because there’s already a good amount of people, but we want to have a bunch more,” junior Natural Helper Molly Lynch said. “I think it’s great to participate in our school community. We do these events to get kids more involved with the school and to get to know each other.”