Student Council

Student Council at VME - A Great opportunity for Growth

Students in grades 5 through 8 have an opportunity to learn leadership skills, parliamentary procedure, and help the community as part of the Student Council.

Elections are held early in the school year. Students in 7th and 8th grades are eligible to run for an executive position. After being nominated, there is a week of campaigning and speeches by the candidates.

The following students are part of the executive board for the 2009-2010 school year:

Elaine Khodzhayan: President
Bryan Gildone: Vice President
Andy Wilcox: Treasurer
Raven Clark: Secretary
Ben Deck: Assistant Secretary
Ryan Signorino: Historian

Once the election is over 2 representatives are elected in each homeroom (Grades 5 - 8). The executive board meets twice a month and the Homeroom reps join them once a month to plan service projects, social events and discuss what is happening in the school that might need to be addressed. This is their first hands-on exposure to the way government works. The Student Council has a constitution and by laws. Meetings are run loosely on Roberts Rules of Law and Order. Advisors, Sister Anne Marie Joint and Ms. Jane Zwacki, try to guide the students but step back from running the meetings and making decisions.

One of the service projects that the Student Council is involved with, along with the Villa Volunteers, is the 'Thanksgiving Penny Challenge'. Proceeds go to the SSJ’s annual Thanksgiving dinner to the community at Marketplace Grill. Each year they raise over $1,000.

Movie’s, dances and game days are organized for the different grade levels. When a policy change is questioned, the student reps and board members are responsible for writing up a new proposal and setting up a meeting with the principal to deliver their opinion.

There are many valuable lessons to be learned by being a part of this very useful organization.
These students go to high school with sharpened leadership skills ready to get involved and make a real difference.