By Erik Brito
They are in the same building, in some of the same classes, but the seventh graders of Lane will not be allowed in the same clubs with the upperclassmen.
As the new year begins, Lane’s seventh graders are eager to join the clubs offered at their new school. Approximately 90 enrolled LTAC students will be offered a list of clubs and sports just for them. Along with clubs such as Science Olympiad and Battle of the Books, the seventh graders will also have the opportunity to run their own Student Council.
Some seventh graders are disappointed about being separated from the rest of Lane’s student body.
“We interact with them in class and in the hallways,” said Jamir Jackson, Div. 752. “We should be able to join their clubs.”
“It stinks,” said Aliyah Vale, Div. 752. “I guess they didn’t want high school kids to pick on us.”
On the other hand, Kamila Postolowicz, Div. 752, believes the separation is a good idea. She said that they are still, “too young,” to be in the same clubs with high school kids.
If Lane were to allow the seventh graders to participate with the rest of the school’s clubs, many of them would react the way Alex Boush, Div. 750, did, with an enthusiastic, “Yipee!”
Unfortunately for Boush, the administration was adamant that seventh graders not participate in high school activities.
First, the LTAC’s early dismissal would mean a lot of waiting around during eighth period (when LTAC students don’t have class) in order to attend club meetings.
A second reason behind the administration’s decision to keep both programs’ extracurriculars separate, is that certain clubs offered to the LTAC students require them to be of a certain age in order to participate.
Finally, the administration wants to ensure the LTAC remains a separate program from the high school.
Still, Kaiden Friedrich, Div. 752, said, “It’d be cool to join the clubs and get a bigger variety than what we have now.”
LTAC students, Jazmin Aveces, Div. 751, and Sam Sklar, Div. 750, are indifferent towards the administration’s decision.
“I don’t really care,” Sklar said. “I spend two hours [every night] doing homework, which gives me no time for clubs.”
Aveces agrees, finding herself busy enough with the piano lessons she takes after school to even think about joining clubs at Lane.
“We want the kids to have something to look forward to once they are enrolled as freshmen at Lane,” said Ms. Beck, coordinator for the Academic Center. “Next year we hope to add more clubs.”
“They should at least let us make our own clubs,” Jackson said.
Suggestions include a drama club or ethnic clubs like the ones available for the high school students.
“Next year kids will be able to create their own clubs if they meet the [school’s] requirements,” Beck said.
The program is still new and, as Beck says, Lane is looking at other Academic Centers in the Chicagoland area for inspiration to ensure the center continues to run smoothly.
