The diverse clubs at SHSID are dedicated to spreading knowledge and love beyond school gates, which provides students opportunities to connect with their community and delve deeply into their interests. After the first round of voting for Star Clubs this past May, altogether, fifteen clubs remain and have entered into the second round which will take place in June. All the clubs worked hard to make wonderful presentations online to compete for this year’s Star Club honors. Now, let's have an online tour of the presentations of this year’s G9-10 star clubs.

SciAcademy Club

SciAcademy is a club dedicated to spreading science knowledge in our daily lives, passing meaning of science and spirit of exploration, and using science to help others. Founded in 2017, SciAcademy expands its influence across middle school and high school sections, having almost 100 members. In the club, members often discuss interesting questions such as why horses sleep only 3 hours a day or why eating chili peppers makes us feel hot?

During the Labor Day holiday, SciAcademy published many new videos and articles such as the videos “Tongue Coating” and “Astrobiology”, and the article “How Does JWST Capture Its Images?” To make it possible for students to gain interesting knowledge during lockdown, SciAcademy collaborated with the Science Fair of middle and primary school sections, and provided online lectures on interesting topics for middle and primary school students. In the future, SciAcademy is going to progress on the path of science, explore the scientific solutions to our daily problems, bring more people happiness, and help by spreading the love of science!

Mock Trial Club

Mock Trial is full of magic. In this special activity, students are able to learn about public speaking and experience different personalities and careers. In each mock trial case, there are two different roles that students may choose to be: a witness or an attorney. In order to help prep the members for the biannual tradition of holding the End of Semester Competition, club sessions have revolved around holding weekly meetings on Tuesday afternoons to discuss anything from rules of evidence to how witnesses should structure their character.

And this is basically what Mock Trial is like. Filled to the brim with formal wear, tears, that rush of exhilaration when your objection gets sustained, endless pages of rules for you to memorize, many, many, many different drafts of different cross and direct examinations, furiously highlighted copies of affidavits and exhibits, sleepless nights, many direct examinations that each deserve an Oscar, compelling cross examinations, but, most importantly, laughter. And that’s why, no matter the result at the end of a competition, you always find yourself signing up for the next tournament, for the next experience, for that next rush of exhilaration.

MCG Philharmonics

In this special period, MCG Philharmonics decided to record orchestral pieces and solo musical pieces in online club sessions by following specific tempos and rhythms. Gradually, club members adapted to this new form of club activity and continuously posted numerous recorded musical pieces on BiliBili, NetEase Podcast, and WeChat videos account. The MCG members performed many lyrical songs that would help relieve the stress and provide sensational relaxation for their audience on these platforms. In May and June, MCG hosted six musical concerts in an aim to raise charitable funds and provide wonderful musical performances to give back to society, including several community-service concerts for the elderly at nursing homes, for children at a school for the blind, for people with disabilities, and for volunteers who served during the lockdown period. When words fail, music speaks！

The Electronics Club

The Electronics Club led by 9th graders actively worked to explore the mysteries of electronics and let more people know about electronics. At school, they held a fun electronics trivia session last semester during the Science Fair club showcase. Outside of school, students were able to contribute to their communities by fixing old computers and donating them to schools in need. This enabled more students to access online information and computer technology.

During the year, the club wrote electronics articles, received signals from the International Space Station, worked on many electronics projects such as a particle detector, and also made contact with a researcher at CERN and amateur radio enthusiasts around the world.

Art to Zine

Art to Zine is a club dedicated to showcasing the best work of artists of all mediums from A-Z. Art to Zine’s biannual magazine features Chinese and English writers, illustrators, designers, and even musicians. Art to Zine’s magazine issues feature original writing, illustration, and design work all from its club members. Art to Zine also runs an official account updated weekly, where articles of featured artists, teasers for the magazine, and original writing are published. Art to Zine has recently branched into the art of music, creating a three-way tie of music, art, and literature to feature a variety of art forms. This February, Art to Zine was also able to use the school’s Art Center exhibition area to feature the work of its club members, hosting the first student-organized art exhibit. Art to Zine is dedicated to showcasing various artwork and design, allowing for artists to do something more creative, experimental, and innovative; it is a platform solely dedicated to artists and creatives --- by artists, for artists.

(Written by 10(9) Amy Cheng, 10(2) Sophie Yu, 12(4) Grace Lo, 9(7) Harrison Tang, 10(3) Erika Liao, 9(8) Jonathan Hu Pictures: from the respective clubs Supervised by Meijun Shi, Hazel Gu Reviewed by Qian Zuo)