Every Wednesday, the Student Study Club comes together with a collective sole purpose–to help students get through the school year with a breeze.
The Student Study Club is one of the newest student-led clubs at John Dewey High School, and it is set out to provide an environment where students can work diligently without the pressures of class time.
“We’re studying more, you can get better grades,” President of the Student Study Club, junior Deanna Anderson said. “You could be successful with your peers helping you.”
Deanna Anderson explained that gaining initial interest was one of the biggest hurdles. “I feel like the biggest challenge was getting people to actually come to the club, ’cause, at first, I didn’t think nobody would want to come to a study club, because, some people said that they can do it at home, but when I told my friends about it and when I told other teachers about it, they thought it was a good idea, and people can come there if they didn’t understand the help they were getting at reassessment.” As the president of the club, Anderson made sure that over time the club would grow bigger, welcoming and helping more students.
As one of JDHS’s student-led organizations, the Study Club creates a focused environment where students can complete work without the pressures that often accompany class time. Although already an advisor for the Board Game Club, Mr. Garcia quickly recognized the positive impact this new initiative could have on the school community.
“In its essence, the club centers around social emotional learning, and the student-led aspect – which I respect and value.” Global Studies teacher Mr. Garcia said. “I’m honored to be the staff advisor.”
Since its launch, the Study Club has become a valuable resource for students who may feel reluctant to approach teachers directly or attend reassessment sessions. By providing peer-to-peer support, the club allows students to learn from others who understand the coursework from a student perspective.
This structure is especially beneficial to Dewey’s large population of ENL students.
Sophomore Farzona Sharipova, one of the many English language learners at the school, shared the value she has found in the program. “I’m still an English learner, sometimes I can’t keep up in class — or I don’t have time to ask my teacher’s questions,” she said. “The impact of the Study Club,” she added, “extends beyond academics, helping students integrate into our school and build friendships.
“I don’t think students can really study on their own, but hopefully, if their friends encourage them to study, they’ll get better grades and that’s why I wanted to start the club,” President Anderson said.
With its combination of academic support, student leadership, and community-building, the Student Study Club is quickly becoming an essential part of the JDHS student experience.