LFC, Connecting Through Clubs

Article by Leia-Marie Brooks, Grade 10

At the Lycée Français de Chicago, high school students have a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. The LFC offers a growing number of clubs, now totaling 12! These clubs are constantly evolving, growing and helping students learn important skills of self-motivation, leadership, and much more. LFC offers a wide range of club opportunities, from the competitive business DECA Club, to the Eye-to-Eye Club, where students help their younger peers learn about their learning differences. The clubs at the LFC help foster our community and play a key role in the educational and social development of the students. 

What Makes the LFC Special

“There is a little something for everybody” shares the student life coordinator, Erin Sheets. LFC's diverse clubs cover topics from academic and creative pursuits to community service and cultural awareness. Each club touches a different interest allowing every student to have the opportunity to explore something new. 

Academic and Leadership Clubs

• DECA Club: Preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs through competitions in marketing, finance, and management.
• Model UN: Students role-play the United Nations by participating in conferences to debate on global issues.
• Science Club: Students prepare science projects and experiments to present and compete in science fairs.
• Maths en Jean: Preparing for a conference with other Lycées around the country, students work together in small groups to solve mathematical questions.

Creative and Artistic Clubs

• Creative Writing Club: In a welcoming space for creativity, students meet to share and write stories, poetry, and creative writing.
• Yearbook: The magic behind our school's yearbook, from choosing the theme to designing the layout and selecting photos.
• Zeen: A new addition to the LFC clubs, connecting art and writing. Students create Zeens filled with art, poems, and short stories.
• Film Club: Students create short films, learn about filmmaking techniques, and watch and discuss films.

Community and Social Impact Clubs

• Black Student Alliance: Fostering a sense of belonging, students bond over shared experiences whilst spreading awareness.
• Key Club: Service-oriented projects that consist of volunteering and community fundraising.
• Eye-to-Eye Club: Older students mentor and give awareness to their younger peers about learning disabilities. 

Why Clubs Matter to LFC Students

LFC academics are time-consuming and challenging, but clubs offer students the chance to take a break, to connect and to participate in something they are passionate about outside the classroom. Time to unwind with people who share the same interests is a must when navigating high school demands and grades. Beyond helping connect students, clubs further equip them to learn important life skills, such as leadership and self-motivation. Clubs offer an opportunity for leadership, where older students help mentor younger ones and assist the teacher in club organization. 

Akhil M., a current 10th grader participating in the Model UN Club, explains that he interacts with students in older grades who give him important and helpful advice on managing classes, extra-curriculars, and tips for college. He also has a chance to meet “people all over the city who introduce [him] to a lot of different views and ideas, that help [him] open [his] eyes to the world”. 

Starting Something New

Beyond the traditional clubs, students have the possibility and liberty to create their own. All it takes is the support of one faculty member and the participation of at least five students. No matter the time of the year, new ideas and activities can be formed into a Club. For example, just this past month, the new club Zeen was added to the pool of options.

At LFC, clubs are more than a break from academic life—they are an incredible opportunity for students to fully participate and benefit from the LFC’s unique high school experience. Clubs also help to foster the tight-knit community in our hallways with every new exchange. Whether it’s debating global issues, mentoring peers, or creating art, students find a place where they can thrive and belong.