More clubs started this week, September 30- October 4. Let’s take a closer look.
YES Club
YES club stands for Youth Earth Savers. The advisor is Ms. Snell in Room A104. Meetings are every 3rd Monday from 2:15-3 with new members always being welcome. They are a group of students focusing on the impact of environmental issues on our communities and our world, and what they as a group can do to help our planet through creative community service projects, because [this planet is] the only one we have. Past projects have included, “Reusable/upcycling crafts, donating them to local charities/organizations (plastic bags to mats for homeless shelters, glass bottles to birdfeeders, etc.); fundraising to Save Abingdon Woods; handing out seed packets at the farm fair and educating people about the benefits of native plants, and Earth day trivia,” according to member Hannah Parayil. Reasons to join include connecting with people with the same heart for the environment, to learn simple sustainability practices, and to participate in fun service projects/crafts and get volunteer hours. “We are a relaxed low-commitment club,” explained Parayil, “you don’t have to come to every meeting, and you don’t have to be super passionate about the environment/sustainability to be in the club.”
Future Teachers of America
Referred to as FTA and Teacher Rising, it is a club which provides a clear pathway in every school district in America for young people who want to serve their communities as highly skilled educators. It’s a great club for people who are interested in education or working with children. Past activities include, “[joining] up working with Bel Air MS students and their Ed Rising Club, HCPS Books that Bind Us Campaign where we visit schools that are in our school system and read to different elementary school students, [collecting] books to present to an elementary school library in honor of a little boy who had passed away, hold[ing] a teacher apperception week where we present the teachers with little gifts each day, hold[ing] a spirit week as well for Teacher Appreciation week. We also honor a teacher each month on the announcements with a teacher spotlight,” explained advisor Kristin Maddox.
Mental Health Club 
This is a new club that meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month in room B210. The club’s purpose is to, “bring awareness to BAHS to mental health managing and maintaining mental health,” voiced Davida Kissel, club advisor. Kissel went on to explain, “[it’s] not necessarily if you are struggling [with mental health] but bringing awareness during stressful times.” They plan on doing activities like having something in the library during testing. They are looking for more members to help start and bring form to the club.