Last year many of our after-school activities were taking a backseat to what was happening in the world around us. This year, Hills’ clubs and student groups have been making an extra effort to make up for lost time. This includes some new clubs that have been recently established at Hills.

One of these newly formed groups is the Taylor Swift Student Society. This club is a way to bring students in all grades together to share their love for Taylor Swift. They plan on holding listening parties, analyzing lyrics, decoding some of her perplexing social media posts, playing Taylor Swift related games, and most importantly just being together.   

“I started the Taylor Swift Student Group because I realized that, like me, Taylor Swift is a role model or an important figure for many students at Pascack Hills… My goals are for those of all grades and friend groups to bond over something they are passionate about and expand their friendships. Also, it can be just a safe space for Taylor Swift fans to passionately discuss the same topic. It is a collaborative student group, so everyone has the chance to be a leader.” Says Hills junior Leila Dhawan, the founder of the group.

Although this particular group is more lighthearted and fun, it is also such a safe community for all different types of students to come together and discuss something, or someone, they love.

Jonathan Mathew and Jake Agranovich, both juniors at Hills, have also created a new club for members of the Hills community. They have founded the Student Immigrant Alliance (SIA) in hopes to make our community a more welcoming place for immigrants, as well as enlighten Hills students about what they can do to help immigrants in our area. This year, they plan on working with “Welcome Home Refugees,” a group dedicated to providing educational and employment opportunities as well as material goods to those in need in the Jersey City area.

“Both of us come from families of immigrants, so we understand the challenges that they go through and admire the sacrifices they make to improve circumstances for their families.” says Mathew.

Mathew, Agranovich, and the SIA faculty advisor, Ms. Yeam, all wish to see more representation for first-generation immigrant families in Bergen County. At the meetings, they intend on developing fundraising ideas, as well as determining which organizations they want to focus on assisting. 

Ms.Yeam, noted that, “As the first generation to be born and raised in the US, Jonathan and Jake wanted to use the resources that they have thanks to the sacrifices their parents made to ease the immigrant experience for others in the area by starting a club of their own.”

More information about the PHHS Student Immigration Alliance can be found on the club’s Instagram @phhssia !

Another one of Hill’s new clubs this year includes Cooking for a Cause. An organization dedicated to sharing recipes, cooking, baking, and participating in community service. They have already held quite a few bake sales at Hills, and this week for Thanksgiving, they are joining forces in the cooking room after school to help the food shelter “Family Promise”. “Family Promise” has a myriad of locations where they dedicate their efforts to providing a sense of community and daily necessities to families in need.

Cooking for a Cause is a great opportunity to cook, express your love for food, meet new people, and give back to our community. To keep up with more of their events they will be posting on their Instagram @phhscookingforacause.

All Hills clubs can be a safe space for students and there are so many to choose from, not just these. Go out and get involved in our community!