The German Club is a place to learn about new cultures, to spend time with peers and to experience new activities from a different part of the world.
The German Club has recently celebrated a popular festivity in Germany, called Oktoberfest. However, the German version of Oktoberfest and the Clements version vary in tradition, such as real Oktoberfest celebrating with the chicken dance and German-inspired food. In contrast, the Clements version includes team bonding games and root beer chugging competitions. The tradition is a welcoming chance for high school students from different schools to be able to connect and learn about an interesting culture.
“It gives us an opportunity to learn more about different things that are part of German culture,” sophomore Meher Rajpal said.
One of the other engaging activities that the German club offers is the award-winning Polka band, where Clements musicians come together to create the sweet sounds of German Polka music.
“People who do music, they do the Polka Band, and we go to the state German contest every year,” junior and German club officer Landon Bynum said. “We won the last two years and we’re hoping to again this year.”
An upcoming German festivity that many club members favor is called Houston Fest, a German contest for students in grades 8-12 that includes many different activities in arts and crafts such as building gingerbread houses or crafting traditional German-inspired crafts. Houston Fest also includes German language contests in reading, writing, and grammar.
“I think it’s a really unique experience to be there and do something that you like and learn while you’re at it,” senior and German club officer Mahira Momin said.
Although it is called the “German” Club, it’s not only for German-speaking students, as it’s more about creating long-lasting memories and connecting with high school students to share the cultural traditions of Germany.
“I would recommend it for all students because I think it’s just a really fun silly club,” junior and German club officer Allison Sobrinho said.
The most important part of the German Club is the sense of belonging it brings, as it’s not only a place to be involved in learning a new culture, but to communicate with peers while creating a welcoming environment for people with similar language interests and making a club feel like a family.
“German teachers don’t just teach German,” German teacher and club sponsor Frau Lauren Davis said. “I think it’s a way that we create a special place of belonging for students.”
