September and October are busy months for student organizations as school, clubs and sports find their routines. But few are busier than Educate club.
With book readings, a unity festival, a book festival and the homecoming parade all happening less than a month apart from one another, Educate is preparing for an action-packed schedule.
“We are used to only having 5-6 events a year so having 4-5 events in a whole month is crazy,” senior officer Grace Weis said.
Entering her second year in the club, Weis said she has never seen this level of activity in such a condensed period of time.
“Our busy schedule is definitely a change of pace,” she said. “We just got really lucky with how everything aligned and with all of the ideas and help we have this year.”
September 19 and 20, Educate members will be reading stories to students at Goshen and Nelson elementary schools. They will be representing Educate club at Unity Festival — hosted by Edwardsville Unity at Leclaire Park — on Sept. 28 and are working with the Edwardsville Public Library to host a book fair Oct. 5.
Educate club will also participate in the homecoming parade Oct. 9.
Typically Educate’s work has consisted of school-wide projects such as bulletin boards and positive messages around the building, as well as hosting candy sales in the lobby to raise money for their events.
However, Educate is now spreading to other locations around the community.
“Last year we had a few families that we bought Christmas gifts for, which was really fun,” junior Jazmin Hayes said.
Junior Malak Amer said the importance of Educate club cannot be overstated.
“It helps [students] embrace themselves and understand that they are all important and valued,” Amer said. “It also helps students to feel like they belong and have someone to talk to.”
With their busy schedule creating continuous community involvement, Educate club may be able to make a difference for more students than ever before.
“Our new saying for this year is, ‘someone for everyone,’ and I think this is exactly what our club represents,” Hayes said. “Our main goal is to provide support for everyone throughout the school, and I believe that Educate does just that.”