Student Council at Marist plays a major role in high school life by providing students with peers who will voice their opinions, and advocate for their needs.
Marist’s goal as a college preparatory school is to get students ready for the next step in their lives. Whether that’s college or a career, students say they benefit from leadership skills they gain by being a part of student council.
In addition to helping students learn how to advocate for themselves, collaborate with others, and strengthen speaking skills, counselors say it also looks great on college applications.
“I joined the student council to work on my public speaking skills and overall make students feel welcome at games and all school events,” said Abby McClorey, a member of Student Council.
Student Council elections are held at the end of every school year. Those who are interested in applying need all their current teachers and the dean to sign off for them to be able to apply. Once the student gets their appropriate paperwork signed and turned in to Moderator Ms. Nora Doyle, they can start hanging up posters on the tile walls and begin their campaign for a week leading up to elections.
Doyle will then send a Google Form for all students to vote on who they want to represent their grade. By the end of the day, she will tally up the votes, and then later make an announcement who will be the new representatives for the upcoming school year.
“I don’t think a lot of people know this, but all members of the student council vote on who will be the next vice president and president,” said McClorey.
If a student is looking to have a major leadership role in the Student‘s Council such as president or vice president, they would have to be a member of Student Council in the years prior. With a major role, more work will have to be done than just being an average representative. Both president and vice president do the afternoon prayer everyday, lead pep rallies, and the student sections, and speak to freshmen on their first day of school. With this being such a role where leadership and vocalization is needed, members of student council look for someone who will go above and beyond their duties to make Marist a better place.
“I’m deciding if we can get people outside the student council to run for president because it might be something they decide to do later in life,” said Doyle.
Meetings are held most Thursday mornings before school starts, during which members voice opinions on upcoming game day themes for the student section, pep rallies, and ways to get more people at games and involved in the school culture.
“We recently just hosted, through student council, a candy gram for Valentine’s Day where you can send a note to your significant other, a friend, or someone you know is having a rough day. We do a lot of little things to raise money for Champagnat Day,” said Doyle.
