From Club Fair to Community Life Fair

By Zihan (Chelsea) Cao ’28

What counts as student life at St. Mark’s School? In past years, the answer to this question would be “clubs”, but this year the answer was different. This year, our Club Fair has been replaced with a new name — Community Life Fair. This event brings not only clubs but also affinity groups, musical groups, and other student-led activities on campus together in one event.

This change was motivated by the desire to showcase all the different organizations available at school. “Our student life isn’t just clubs,” said Ms. O’Connell, “we want to show all the things students can do outside of academics.” By showcasing all of these organizations and activities in one space, the school hopes to present them not as individual groups but as parts of a larger, shared community.

One of the main goals of this event is for students to have the opportunity to “try things they’re interested in” and have a “first try” at something they have never done before. The school hopes students won’t just simply sign up for activities but also explore curiosities about things that they have never done before. Students may come with a solid idea of which organization they want to join, but the wide selection could lead them to a new, unfamiliar activity. A small Q&A conversation about an unfamiliar activity at a table could spark curiosity and start a journey into something new.

This opportunity to explore the wide range of activities may be precious for new students at St. Mark’s School. At the beginning of the year, the school introduced new students to the norms, expectations, dorm life, and a new environment. The Community Life Fair gives these new students another opportunity to understand the school.