(June 14, 2002) Dance Club may be large now but two years ago it was tough to start. “Emily Apcar wanted to have a dance club and I was the only one who was willing. I was resistant because I’m not a choreographer or a dancer, but they needed an advisor,” said teacher Cynthia Puchniarz. This year, Dance Club performed for the PTSA Founder’s Day and the nighttime talent show, which was “more fun because with more students in the audience, the crowd gets more hyped up,” said Praise Lee. “I like the couple of days before a performance. Seeing everything come together [is] a great feeling. The outcome of all the hard work is really great,” said Lee. Welcome to Poetry Club , where “students can share poetry to express feelings and hear guest poets,” said advisor Maral Guarino. Guarino established Poetry Club two years ago. “I felt students needed a creative outlet in an academic environment,” she said. In its first year, members entered the San Gabriel poetry contest, and one of two teams won second place. Poetry Club held its own Poetry Night this year and the 2000 Glendale Unified School District Poetry Night. Members passionately recited poetry before the District Poetry Night’s competition. During meetings, members read original poems or poems from other authors. Former student Sandra Ngamsanga said that she liked student poems and seeing students’ different sides. Poetry can “express torments of figuring out an identity,” she said. “I really loved Poetry Club, reading poetry to the club, performing in Poetry Night and the San Gabriel Competition,” said Jenny Schellbach. Mock Trial began in 1998 as one of Clark’s first clubs. Its 18 members met twice a week from 3-5 p.m. in teacher Chris Davis’ room to act out a fictional trial. Participants divided into teams: prosecution and defense. Davis selected members to play roles, “though you could request whom you wanted to play,” said Laila Gordy. Participants played characters and had witness statements to help prove their case, she said. Defense and prosecution competed against other schools for two days in Los Angeles County. To advance, both defense and prosecution must win. “You’re calm and collected, but sitting in the witness stand …it’s nerve racking. When you’re done, it’s a huge sigh of relief,” commented Gordy. That year, the team won one and lost one round. Former Clark teacher Barbara Marabian created Drama Club two years ago. The 19 members met every Tuesday and Thursday to strengthen acting abilities. First semester, Marabian gave basic acting lessons and members rehearsed the one-act play “Man of the House” to perform at the end of the year, according to Sara Laue. Marabian had acted in stage productions, taken acting classes and had lots of experience. “Though she was an advisor, she took over as a director,” said Chester Ramos. After re-learning acting skills, Drama Club started play rehearsals. I liked “my first [stage] entrance because my character was comical and domineering…I felt ready for that,” said Noor Hashem. Teacher Verjinia Karnik now advises Drama Club, which performed their 3-act play, “Play On!” by Rick Abott June 7. “The most difficult parts [were] coordinating rehearsals and the immense energy, especially for the actors rehears[ing] after a full day of school,” said Karnik.