Prep’s newest cultural club is here!

The Arabic Language Club, headed by Ms. Abdelhamid of the Math Department, is Prep’s first student organization dedicated to Arabic culture and linguistics. It held its first meeting on ‘E’ Day of the third cycle, where students learned about the Arabic alphabet and how to write their names in the language. This is an exciting opportunity to explore heritage.

“[Arabic has] been an important part of my life since I was a kid,” said Club President Nofer Tadros. “I learned [it] at the same time as English, yet I wasn’t able to find a place to talk with others until now.” Nofer, a sophomore, is excited to deepen Prep’s diversity. The club’s mission statement, available on its Canvas page, reads:

The Arabic Language Club at Saint Peter’s Prep hopes to bring knowledge and shine a light on a language that tends to evade our grasp in the West and even at Prep. By joining, we hope to enlighten our members about the grammar and alphabet of the language, teach them basic vocabulary, and along the way, expose them to a vibrant and storied culture.

First and foremost, the goal is to educate others about Arabic customs. Like Prep’s other cultural organizations, the club welcomes the entire Prep community. “The first meeting was pretty fun,” says senior Ishaan Jain. “It was certainly interesting to learn the Arabic letters, and surprisingly informative.”

With time, the club hopes to educate its members about simple words such as greetings, as well as alternative dialects and various Arabic countries. Over time, they could introduce music, stories, and food, the latter of which will surely be appreciated by the greater Prep community. Ultimately, they will join the cast of stalwart cultural clubs at Prep, adding another shape to the cultural tapestry embraced in the mission statement.