WEST MIFFLIN — From student council to the art club, robotics to the outdoors club, and more, students at both West Mifflin Area High School and West Mifflin Area Middle School are sure to find an extracurricular activity that appeals to them.
West Mifflin offers more than 30 clubs at the high school level, and more than 20 at the middle school level. Those numbers don’t include participating in athletics.
“There’s something for you somewhere,” said Alexis Zywan, a physics educator at WMAHS and advisor to the student council.
There are a multitude of benefits for a student to join a school organization. Clubs provide an opportunity for students to socialize and make friends, and also look good on potential college applications. They also provide opportunities for leadership.
“(Colleges) look for students who are well-rounded. … They’re still looking for kids who can show that they can deal with time management, stress management, conflict among peers, all of that sort of stuff.”
It’s those same skills that will apply to life beyond the classroom, too, Zywan noted.
And, of course, clubs give students a sense of community and belonging.
“There’s all sorts of research. We know that having students involved in school, in extracurriculars, in sports, all those things, it gives them a reason to come to school and to do well,” Zywan said. “If they don’t feel like they have a place, if they don’t feel like they belong, they tend to not want to be here as much, which of course causes problems with attendance. … So we know that having (students) involved gives them a motivation to come to school and do well. It also gives them that social well-being.”
This year, West Mifflin is instituting a Titan Learning Time (TLT) schedule at the high school. During the middle of the school day, there will be three 30-minute sessions. One of those will be lunch, while during the other two, students can pick activities, receive extra attention in a subject should they need it, or receive more attention in something like band.
During the first week of school, club meetings will take place, during which students can visit a club, get to know what that club is about, and see if it’s the right fit for the student.
Some clubs, like National Honor Society, may have requirements to join, while others are open to any applicant.
“It’s really about making the kids feel a sense of both learning and leadership,” Zywan said.