Student Senate: kicking spirit up a notch
photo by sky stockton
Student Senate is their name and school spirit is their game. Watch out 2019-2020, because Student Senate’s got an exciting year planned.
Student Senate is in charge of planning all of the student-oriented events for St. Joseph High School. The group of 24 high school students meets approximately two times a week to discuss new and improved ways to ignite SJHS’ school spirit.
“We’re constantly trying to make it more of what students want,” Mrs. Amanda Wallace, advisor of Student Senate, said.
Mrs. Wallace has been in charge of Student Senate for four years now. Mrs. Wallace began her Student Senate career with Young Life coordinator, Mr. Paul Knapp, but now she is the head of Student Senate and loves every part of it.
“I like seeing the kids have fun. [On September 15], we window painted [SJHS] for about an hour and they [Student Senate] got fired up. It was exciting to see passion and fun,” Mrs. Wallace said.
One of the main goals commonly shared among Student Senate is their hope to build and improve the culture of SJHS.
“This year, I want people to be more engaged when the school is doing spirit stuff and for everyone to just have fun.”
“This year, I want people to be more engaged when the school is doing spirit stuff and for everyone to just have fun,” Cici Strickler, 12, Vice President of Student Senate, said. Cici has been on Student Senate since 10th grade, along with Bella Finnigan, 12, who is the Secretary of Student Senate.
“It has really been my goal this year to improve the overall school spirit of St. Joe. I felt like in years past, no one cared, and that just wasn’t fun. So, my personal goal is to get everyone excited and proud to be a Bear,” Bella said.
From September 16 to September 20, Student Senate hosted events to prepare St. Joe students for the “War by the Shore” (Lakeshore-St. Joseph’s rivalry football game). During both A and B lunch periods, Student Senate engaged students in school spirit: playing mini-games, singing karaoke, and having friendly competitions between each class.
On September 19, WNDU News came to St. Joseph for a sneak peak of the “War by the Shore.” There, Student Senate spoke about their “Team Up Against Cancer” event, which took place on September 20.
Events like these are only a small portion of what is to come. Major events that Student Senate hosts include the annual Veterans’ Breakfast, Homecoming, Winterfest, and more.
“Homecoming week is pretty standard, the same, but we’re trying to ramp up the pep assembly and get the students more involved. Veterans’ Breakfast is a big [event]. We’re going to do what we can to have more staff vs. student events. Also, I think there is a mens volleyball [game] in the works, maybe even a spike ball tournament,” Mrs. Wallace said.
Although Student Senate members are voted in, other students are welcome to voice their ideas as well.
“I wish they [the student body] would know that [Student Senate] is there to represent them and not to push ideas upon them. Rather than students saying ‘Oh, that sucked,’ I want students to submit their ideas. If they [students] don’t know who their representatives are, they can reach out and come talk to me or the administration. If you have ideas, we want them to be heard,” Mrs. Wallace said.
To make this year one to remember, please voice your opinions as the student body, participate in things outside of your comfort zone, and be proud to be a Bear.