by Andy Ortiz

From the Environmental Club to the Body Building Club, the 2023 Club Carnival offered the Braves more chances to get involved on campus.

Last Wednesday, the 2023 Club Carnival took place during lunch in the Mary Help of Christians Quad. Many tables were set up along the edge of the quad featuring many returning clubs from prior years and also many new clubs. With such a variety of options, Bosco Braves have more chances than ever to get involved in their school community.

“The best part of having clubs here is having more opportunities to make new friends and expand upon your own abilities, while gaining new ones,” said science teacher Mr. Brian Miller.

A popular group in the Club Carnival was the International Club. There is no current president, but it is being temporarily directed by juniors Josue Sanchez and Joseph Muhl under the moderation of Ms. Carleen Carney. This club focuses on the many different types of cultures and the people from those cultures. 

“This club is unique because of the diverse cultures and people [at St. John Bosco],” Josue said. “Everyone from every kind of culture is welcome here in the International Club.” 

The club holds Kahoots about different cultures, potlucks and even field trips to other countries.

The Robotics Club also received tons of interest as a result of their engaging display, which featured Bosco’s very own robot. Led by junior Diego Salcedo and moderated by Mr. Walt Wippler, this club works on building and controlling robots in preparation for their later competition.

Robotics can be very time consuming and requires a big commitment, but promises to be worth it if you have the interest as well as the time.

“Even if you don’t know anything about robotics, this group is very welcoming,” said junior Andrew Rios. Mr. Wippler is very patient and makes sure everyone is on task.”

At the event, the academic honor societies also garnered interest. The Spanish Honors Society is led by President Diego Salcedo and Vice President junior Emmanuel Garcia and moderated by Ms. Cindy Rayas. An honors society mainly focuses on helping with charity and community service, and the Spanish Honors Society, in particular, focuses on helping the Spanish speaking community. 

On top of volunteer work, the Spanish Honors Society also appears during culture fairs, selling cultural food. They also pride themselves in being all inclusive. The Spanish Honors Society’s main goal is to educate people about Spanish culture.

The Black Student Union (BSU) was another club that gained many new members during the Club Carnival. Led by junior John McCovey and moderated by Mrs. Michele Dolphin, the BSU provides support for minorities of all kinds while celebrating African culture. They hold cookouts, dances, movie nights and game nights. 

The BSU is for people who feel that they have no representation. They are welcoming to all, as their motto goes: “No one is rejected. Everyone is accepted.”

The Illustration Club is a new addition to the list of clubs here at Bosco. Moderated by new teacher Mr. Issac Sanchez, this club goes hand in hand with The Inklings – Creative Writing, as they both hone a student’s artistic skills. Illustration focuses on telling stories through drawing, and they plan to eventually paint a mural, start an artist alley and share art portfolios. 

“We want to build a respectful space, where people can freely share their art and ideas,” Mr. Sanchez said.

The Card Club also garnered attention among the student body, led by junior Nicholas Venezuela and moderated by Mr. Ruben Solorza. As the name implies, the general gist of this group is to play card games and hang out. It isn’t a super serious thing, but anyone looking for an escape can join this club to learn cards and have fun.

“Anyone who likes games and having a good time is welcome here,” said Nicholas.

But undoubtedly the most interesting club at the Carnival was the Brave St. Baldrick’s Club. Led by freshman Charlie Dotts, this club brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to the Bosco campus. St. Baldricks is committed to funding and researching cancer in children. As for the club, it plans to spearhead initiatives that raise money for this foundation. In March and April, the members plan to shave their heads bald to raise awareness about children with cancer.