Whether you’ve seen their booth at a Club Rush, or maybe you have spoken in a “Heart Circle” during an advisory you know the name Heart Club. It’s a name that every student here at Northridge Academy has solidified in their mind, given that they have been here long enough. For as long as I can remember however, during my own advisory, there was always that persistent air of controversy from my peers when we were told that we would be visited in the morning, some of which expressed disdain for the activities altogether while others came to its defense. To me this raised a plethora of questions; What is the history and intentions behind the club? is this disdain a widely held sentiment? And if it is, is it time for a change? Now that the group is set to experience a change of leadership going into the next school year, what better time to examine the history, reception, and future of Heart Club.
Heart Club’s Humble Beginnings
To get a full perspective, we need to fully address and define what Heart Club really is. To start, there is an important distinction between the two branches, Heart Club and Heart Advisory, both being led by English teacher, Julie Glynn, who Puma Press had the chance to speak with to gain a deeper understanding. Heart Advisory is the homeroom which students might be more familiar with as they are responsible for conducting and planning homeroom visits. In contrast, the Heart Club can be joined by anyone despite not being in the advisory. According to Glynn, it was established eleven years ago when the district began requiring social/emotional intelligence education. Heart Circles, according to the lead, allows for students to “hear that what they are saying is similar to what their classmates are saying” when sharing their experiences. Another important distinction is Glynn stated that Heart circles were not for restorative justice, instead they are solely focused on community building but many members have been trained in conducting Restorative Circles. It’s made apparent that Heart club isn’t just another club at this school, instead a fully fledged program. This idea was solidified further when we were told that Glynn had even earned a Masters in Restorative Practices, a “field within the social sciences that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities” (International institute of Restorative Practices).
Researching the Receptions
In order to truly understand the reception of heart clubs activities such as heart circles, several students were polled on various questions regarding them. It seems safe to say that many expressed that they would like to see several changes to what they do in their advisory activities with a whopping 74.6% answering that the club should make changes. When asked how often they felt the benefit of a heart circle 58% answered either never or almost never, while 40.9 percent answered either sometimes, often, or almost always (which on its own racked up 4.2% of the vote). These are not blind expressions of disdain but clearly expressions of constructive criticism of the application as evidenced through the free response section. One anonymous user writes “I think the purpose behind Heart Club is very genuine and authentic. I appreciate the amount of effort they put into trying to make a closer community. Ultimately though, the activities they do are very surface-level and receive little engagement from the students. I understand this is due to the students’ behavior and mindset, but the purpose they’re trying to accomplish isn’t getting achieved”. The responses critique the practices from a wide variety of angles, with some users writing that the activities are not suited for those with social anxiety. Others question the engagement from those who facilitate the circles and the depth that the topics are being explored at.
It appears to be an honest belief of many surveyed students that Heart Club and Advisory is a program with pure intentions and messages that we could all benefit from. In a small school like NAHS, there is much opportunity to harbor a strong and intertwined community as it benefits the emotional and social well-being of both students and staff alike. These qualities should stand as our strengths. After the period of isolation we all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the new digital age of communication, it has become especially important to fill the gaps in our social skills. Its for these reasons that many commend them for their pursuit of such a noble goal. To achieve a community like this however, clear changes in practices need to occur with a further emphasis on improvement based upon student voices and feedback, both negative and positive. It is only after showing us that our opinions hold weight and validity, that a significant change can be achieved, and classes can become families. After all we cannot expect students to feel a connection with activities that they openly object to, especially when it comes to the topic of social-emotional health. A failure to accept these objections, not as student disobedience or contrarianism but as constructive criticism and growth opportunities has been a stark contradiction to the group’s mission
A New Future
It’s important to note that in light of Glynn’s retirement and subsequent withdrawal from the coordinator and head of Heart club, math teacher Berenice Castellanos has stepped up to lead the club into the next year. She is “very interested in the Heart Club curriculum” and very grateful for Glynn’s years of work with the group. Castellanos also enthusiastically noted that she wants Heart Club activities to be “more personalized to students and teachers” and looks to add a personal touch.
Conclusion
It goes without saying that Glynn’s dedication to the program does not go unseen or unappreciated. From her original concept, to Heart Club’s formation, and the implementation of Heart Advisory there has evidently been an incredible amount of work driven by her passion in fostering a community. The Puma Press speaks for all of Northridge Academy in thanking Glynn for her contributions to our school and wish her good fortune in her retirement and future endeavors. In addition, a congratulations to Castellanos for the new position.
