What is HIVE?

HIVE is perhaps one of the most recognizable clubs in H-B, among the longest running clubs, and almost certainly one of the biggest clubs. Perhaps this is because it is one of the few combined middle- and high-school clubs, with members from all grades.

The H-B Initiative for Volunteering and Engagement, or HIVE, has established itself as a central part of H-B culture since its formation. They’ve planned numerous equity blocks, various celebrations, and more recently, the turkey bowl Olympics, a school-wide competition in celebration of Thanksgiving.

According to their page on the H-B website, HIVE was formed “To fulfill H-B’s pillar of ‘Caring Community’; to facilitate interaction with our Arlington community; to connect across grades within our own community.” However, as senior and longtime HIVE member Naya Chopra summed up, “we are fundamentally a community service club.” The club is co-sponsored by Jennifer Goen, Deidre Reimers, and Rosie Walker.

In late September of 2015, HIVE was created by three high school students: Agnes Cheng, Marie Johnson, and Caroline Verrechia, with Jennifer as teacher sponsor. It was then that the first ever H-B Community day and Febfest was proposed and carried out, and in subsequent years more events have been planned.

HIVE also gives back to the larger Arlington community, organizing the school-wide “community day” as a day of volunteering every year, and planning various events in the benefit of AFAC, a local food kitchen.

Previously, HIVE had been segregated into middle school HIVE and high school HIVE after middle school HIVE’s creation in 2020 by Reina Malakoff. However, they recently decided to reform, as Naya explained: “We…wanted to make sure everybody can learn from each other, even if you’re…a sixth grader or…a 12th grader.”

When asked what drew her to the club, Naya remarked, “it makes me feel good to give back to everyone else,” and added the fact that “we kind of have to put ourselves out there, and be okay with being uncomfortable with new ideas, to make these bold and fun things that everybody else enjoys.”

HIVE meets every Tuesday in the health room.

This article was updated to add when HIVE meets and to clarify names.