During the 2020-2021 school year, BHS learning has been almost entirely online. School time spent in-person lacks casual conversation and social interaction. Two BHS seniors hope to rekindle student connections through an unconventional new program: the BHS Social Club.

The club functions as an afterschool program that meets at 3:30 p.m at Edmunds Middle school each week. The first meeting was held last week, on January 20. Students engage in collaborative art, scavenger hunts, board games, and other fun activities–while adhering to Covid regulations. The club, which will run until February break, was founded by BHS seniors Ruby Wool and Wyatt Harte.

Harte has struggled with a lack of connection during the pandemic.

“I find myself a little crazy, actually, because of our [remote] structure,” Harte said. “I think it’s important to forge social connections. I find that to be kind of like a commodity that we didn’t even realize.”

Harte’s reflections led him to the idea of a social club. 

“I really think the vision right now is, while we’re still in remote learning, just to rebuild our community until we get to Macy’s,” Wool said. 

The seniors’ visions morphed into a concrete plan for the afterschool-like program. Despite the circumstances’ limitations, Wool suggested that the club’s unconventional environment might even bring new opportunities to students.

“[You can] meet with students of all ages, so it’s open to freshmen and seniors,” Wool said. “[You can] connect with students you might not normally hang out with, or be with.”

Harte wants the Social Club to serve as a larger forum for community engagement and connection. He hopes to expand the capacity in the coming weeks—although current limitations enforced by administrative approval and supervision needs limit the club to 15 participants per weekly session.

“I really want this to be a blend of different people, because I feel like that’s the kind of thing that happens in school, like a normal school day,” Harte said.

For contact tracing reasons, students sign up via google form.

“If you’re looking for a sense of community, and even if you’re not looking for a community–if you’re just looking for something to do, something to get outside of your house, or to get away from your screen,” Wool said. “Join the Social Club.”

For more information about the Social Club, contact Wyatt Harte ([email protected]) or Ruby Wool ([email protected]).