Students having a say

Suzie Harrison

Though other councils in town are known to have some incongruity at

times, Top of the World Elementary School’s student council was

nothing but one happy group Tuesday, as its members shared pizza at

their meeting.

The lunch hour whisked by, as the 12 fifth-grade students who make

up the council discussed past projects and things that were in the

works.

Students are chosen to serve on the council after being nominated

by peers and then campaigning for their classmates’ votes. Three

representatives are chosen from each fifth-grade class to make up the

council.

“They share jobs and responsibilities,” Principal Ron La Motte

said. “We try to get away from popularity contests. It’s more a

matter who in the class they choose ... who will best represent them,

so it’s a shared responsibility.”

The council is directed by teacher Susan Dick. She said one of the

big agenda items on Friday was the building dedication and ribbon

cutting ceremony.

“Thank you for enthusiastically participating Friday as a

leadership class,” Dick said. “Leadership will facilitate our

visitors for the building dedication ... it’s a big deal.”

The council also discussed Red Ribbon Week, which begins Monday

and is led by music teacher Beth Sand.

“We will start a fund penny drive and do a scholarship this time

for two high school students who have been drug free all through

their school experience,” Dick said.

Dick said the student council needs to help in any way possible

with the penny drive and make sure boxes are distributed to each

class to start collecting money.

The task is one Mollie Khachadlorian, 10, takes seriously.

“It’s really important not to do drugs,” Mollie said. “Don’t do

it. You can’t stop and you’re going to get dumb.”

Alex Hunt, 10, echoed Mollie’s sentiments about not doing drugs.

“It really makes a difference on kids not smoking and doing

drugs,” Alex said. “They might remember the pledge they make. By

remembering the pledge, they might remember I can’t break this pledge

and smoke and do drugs.”

The council also works on specific projects to help the community,

both near and far. The students recently helped people in Florida

dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

“We put all this money in one box, and it was taken to a school in

Florida,” Marina Paul 9, said.

Marina said the council asked students in each class to donate

money and put it in a box in each classroom.

“We ended up having $692,” Marina said.

It’s just the beginning for this council and the students already

have a good idea of the work ahead of them.

“Student council is really important,” said 10-year-old Marley

Donned. “It’s what the students of the school think, not what adults

think, about what us kids want to do.”