By: Arya Pindiprolu
Welcome to WEHS! This article is all about advice for your transition into WEHS.
WEHS has a unique environment, and free periods are a big part of that. Many people have told you where you can go during your free periods; however, what you do during your free periods is what matters the most. You can be productive in your free periods by eating in the commons and then working on homework in the guidance area or the library. Another tip is to figure out if your teachers have any of the same free periods as you. If you ever have a question or would like help understanding a lesson, you can ask them during these free periods. There are also always teachers in the clinic areas, so you can approach almost anyone in the clinic, not just your teacher. Make sure you watch your volume throughout the day. I’m sure you have seen how easy it is to get distracted in class when people are in the hallway talking. Make sure you don’t cause a distraction. Another key tip is to plan ahead. You have to continue to plan ahead in order to stay on top of everything. The final tip is to take advantage of all the opportunities at WEHS, such as the extracurriculars offered here.
Start to get involved at East! East offers a variety of clubs. Informational meetings, dates, and other information is always updated on the WITS homepage. Start to check the WITS page for informational club meetings! Try out a few clubs at the beginning, and then see which clubs you would be interested in committing to. Below are some of the clubs offered at WEHS so you can get an idea of what you may be interested in.
Chess Club- Compete against your peers, and learn new strategies. Meetings are held every Wednesday, and the club is open to all.
FBLA- FBLA is one of East’s largest clubs. This club is great for making friends and meeting new people. It is a great way to meet upperclassmen. FBLA helps develop leadership skills through business education. There are also various competitions throughout the year. For more information see Mrs. Anzalone.
Foreign Language Clubs- WEHS offers a variety of LOTE clubs including: Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin Club.
Masterminds- This club is for people who have a knack for memorizing not just facts learned in school, but sports, pop culture trivia, current political events, art and music history, etc. Masterminds welcomes you all to try out for this club, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t make it in!
Mock Trial- Teams in New York State are given a legal case with a case summary, affidavits, and evidence. The students act as lawyers or witnesses and they compete against other schools. Mock Trial models real trials and students become familiar with the legal system. Try outs for Mock Trial will be towards the end of September!
Model UN- Are you interested in international affairs? Model UN allows students to model a United Nations Conference, in which students discuss foreign policy in a number of different committees. Students discuss the best resolutions to their assigned country’s policies through parliamentary procedure.
Earthwise- Reuse, Reduce, Recycle… Earthwise students pick up and sort the recycling bins throughout the school. You meet a lot of new people in Earthwise, and you can also earn government hours.
Newspaper- Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Newspaper club is the place to be. You must be a competent writer, responsible and independent. Writers have the freedom to choose what they would like to write about, such as writing a National article one week then switching to a Science/Tech article a week later. Newspaper club meets every Wednesday in 204. Newspaper Club also holds a coffeehouse about four times a year on a Friday night, where there are student performances, food, and fun!
Paws For a Cause- Are you an animal lover? Paws For a Cause supports organizations such as the SPCA, and they also engage in various activities to make a difference, such as making beds for dogs. Paws For a Cause is a relatively new club, and if you have any questions you can ask Mr. Moose, the advisor of this club.
Science Olympiad- This Club is great for those who enjoy science and includes all topics/events from earth science to building helicopters! Members of Science Olympiad have the opportunity to win medals at the regional or state level competition. Those who are interested are encouraged to try out!
Service Club- The WEHS Service clubs provide students the opportunity to volunteer within the community. Membership is open all year and updates of Service Club volunteer events are sent to everyone’s witsmail.
Shakespeariment- “to be, or not to be: that is the question.”William Shakespeare. Are you fascinated by the works of Shakespeare? Shakespeariment dedicates itself to “doing more with Shakespeare”. Perform monthly “guerilla shows”, participate in a monologue competition, and act in one of Shakespeare’s plays in May.
Stage crew- Do you want to get involved in the school musicals, plays, and concerts? Stage Crew works with the sound and lighting in the auditorium, and no experience is required.
Steering committee- Get involved in your Freshman class steering committee, which is composed of students who want to help the advisors and class officers plan class activities.
Unity in Diversity- Unity in Diversity is a great way for any students to meet new people and possibly new friends, along with different cultures you’re used to seeing. The club advisor is Mr. Huber and it takes place in room 214. You have the opportunity to join different groups/countries within Unity and they become like a family to you. This club is a great place for freshmen to start when joining clubs!
Yearbook- Are you interested in writing, photography, organization, and scrapbooking memories? Yearbook club is looking for students who are dependable and attend meetings regularly so deadlines are met.
Other clubs at East are Cancer Awareness Stand up Stand out, Girl Up, Project Green, East Film Studios, Philosophy Forum, and Drama Club
The Symphonic/ Wind Ensemble experience:
The 1st period ensembles are a lot to take on as a Freshman. You first have to get adjusted to the atmosphere ensembles. These ensembles are not like middle school. Symphonic/ Wind Ensemble is just like every other class where you are expected to do your share of the work. Practice your music! The key to being successful in the Symphonic/ Wind Ensemble is time management. You have to make time to practice despite whatever other activities you are involved in. This includes musicianship classes. Stay on top of musicianship classes, and make use of free periods in between classes. Ask upperclassmen for help or officers. They would be more than willing to help, and they could give you pointers before you go pass out of a level.
