The Woodhull Intermediate School student council is comprised of a spectacular cross-section of students who all possess the same overriding goal: to make the building a better place for everyone.
If the student council’s first meeting of 2018/19 is any indication this will be a year of civic involvement and activism. President Nina Fascilla, Vice President Nicholas Plachta, Treasurer Anthony Addeo and Secretary Lauren Donaghy were elected to their office late last spring. Room representatives were chosen by each class last month.
Officials were administered the oath of office at last week’s initial meeting. There was a quick celebration by the group, which then pivoted and got down to the important work at hand. A series of votes were taken to determine themes for this year’s Spirit Week leading up to Huntington’s Homecoming Day festivities.
Teachers Diane Grassi and Scott Armyn are back in the fold as Woodhull’s student council faculty advisors. They typically give the elected officers a healthy degree of discretion on the direction the group will take and this year is no different.
“We like to start clean and allow the president and other officers to help direct our efforts for the year,” Ms. Grassi said. The students are usually chock full of ideas and last week’s meeting was no different.
“If they want to focus on anti-bullying initiatives or local charities or relief for natural disasters, we try to facilitate any of their ideas,” Mr. Armyn said.
This year’s officers expressed a desire to bring in local officials and charities to help the youngsters learn about community service and civic involvement opportunities right here in Huntington.
This year’s student council will also have a special constitutional challenge. Since Huntington UFSD’s elementary schools have had their grade levels reconfigured, the Eagle’s student council constitution is in need of updating. Election rules must be changed to allow for grades 4-6.
One idea up for debate would allow for students of any grade level to be eligible to fill officer positions. “No doubt about it, the student council members will learn a valuable lesson this year on the value of compromise and consensus building,” Mr. Armyn said.
