According to my high school yearbook, the ten student council members and one advisor met weekly and “During the year, the council appointed various committees, helped sponsor elections, acted on all social functions and served as general government of the student body”. There were about 300 students in grades 7 thru 12 the year I graduated. A good friend of mine was the council president and he remembers dealing with things like dress code, lunch room hours and school activity suggestions. His take on the experience is that “it was interesting and fun if you took it seriously.” MLHS has about 450 students and 35 student council members and three advisors. I was able to talk to some council members during the middle of their very busy Homecoming week learn what a student council does these days. Mrs. Rachel Dale, Mrs. Jeanne Omvig and Mrs. Kim Fynboh are the council advisors and Mrs. Fynboh provided an overview of the council for me. Each grade elects 5 five of its own to be on the council and there also five atlarge positions. Elections are held in the spring, except for the new 7th graders, who vote near the beginning of the school year. In order to be on the ballot, students must get signatures from 15 classmates, one teacher, one council advisor and principal Mr. David Hanson. In addition to the standard four officers, two more officer positions were created this year. The two new communication directors focus on social media such as twitter and instagram that high school students use a lot. The officers have their leadership responsibilities but all the juniors and seniors are expected to mentor the younger students and lead by example. The council serves as a conduit between the staff and the larger student body and is run by the students with supervision from the advisors. In order to “letter” in student council, sophomores, juniors and seniors have to lead at least one activity and attend at least 60% of the bi-weekly council meetings. Planning events that contribute to school spirit is a large part of the council’s mission. Homecoming activities are an example and there are many more. Activities for the Halloween celebration are being planned. The Jingle Ball Dance, Deck the Walls competition and Sno-Coming will add some fun and test the creativity of students. Handing out cookies for National Education Week, providing treats and decorations for faculty members during Teacher Appreciation Week and teaming up for Coaches vs Cancer are more examples. Service projects, such as painting the weight room and planting trees and shrubs by the main entrance to the school, get students involved in their school. The Talent Show, previously named the Gong Show, fills the auditorium to enjoy the show and see who will win the cash prizes. All of the activities are paid for with money raised by the council and participation fees that are kept as low as possible. Senior Michael Miller is the council president this year and he has been on the council every year since 7th grade. He leads council meetings and has developed skills to draw people together and organize them to reach goals. He enjoys working behind the scenes and making community connections. One of his favorite activities is emceeing the pep fest and he told me that landscaping project is one of the activities he is most proud of. Junior Katie Goelz is the vice president and she describes the council as “a community of people making the school better.” She enjoys planning the dances and the independence in making all the needed decisions. Junior Jordan Gries serves as the secretary and he likes the council’s ability to help other students and being a link between students and staff. He was instrumental in restarting the talent show in 2016 and seeks out students to participate in it. Comedy, drama and music skills can be displayed for cash prizes of $75.00 for first, $50.00 for second and $25.00 for third. Judges are recruited from the community and have a tough job determining the winners. What I learned: The MLHS student council plays a very large role in school spirit and Irish Pride.
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