Student Leaders Hope to Make Their Mark on Sage Hill
Student Leaders Hope to Make Their Mark on Sage Hill
Sage Hill School’s student leaders take their roles seriously and started preparing for the year before school even began.
Members of Honor Committee, SAME, Student Council and Peer Counselors attended the Student Leadership Retreat on campus August 11. The retreat was valuable in helping the groups establish goals for the year, as well as getting all the members excited for what’s to come.
Senior Isabella Deckey, a member of Honor Committee for the second year, said she is most looking forward to helping students that might be steering down the wrong path.
“During the Student Leadership Retreat, Honor Committee discussed a lot about how to approach the new year considering we have the largest incoming grade Sage has ever seen,” Deckey said.
Previously, Honor Committee has struggled with the huge gap between suspension and social restriction along with the lightness of social warning, she said. The group came to the conclusion to add more flexible responses to student mistakes, including community service, reflections and apology letters.
“I always enjoy seeing students get back on the right track and moving on from their past struggles. This year, we have a great group of students on the committee, and I am grateful to lead our community with them by my side,” Deckey said.
Senior Emma Rafatjoo of SAME said the most important thing she learned at the retreat was communication.
“It was extremely helpful getting to talk through our goals and expectations for the year with the other leadership groups, as we do not get much time to do that during the school year.” she said. “I believe that building connections between leadership groups is imperative so that we can all support one another’s goals and lift one another up.”
She said she hopes this year there will be a lot of changes regarding the way in which students have conversations.
“When it all boils down to it, SAME’s message is about love and acceptance no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you believe in,” Rafatjoo said. “I am really excited to celebrate our differences and spread the message of acceptance, as this is what SAME means to me.”
Student Council may be the most visible leadership group on campus as members run Town Meeting, lead pep rallies and plan tons of school-wide activities.
President Miles Wilson and Vice President Ashton Carroll are taking the lead.
“I believe that it is my duty to voice the students’ opinions to the administration and act as a bridge between students and the faculty above them,” Wilson told the Bolt student newspaper earlier this month.
The first big event for Student Council is the Back to School Dance on Saturday, August 26 at 7:00 PM by the Lisa Argyros and Family Science Center.
But students can expect some new activities to pop up as well.
“We want to introduce more school-wide events, such as lunchtime bingo, scavenger hunts and movie nights,” Carroll told the Bolt.
Senior Ryan Spataro is a Peer Counselor this year, and his experience as a freshman led him to seek out this leadership role.
“My peer counselor made me want to do it. I was feeling awkward and new, and my counselor was a cool guy who made me feel included. I wanted to be that for a person now,” Spataro said.
Peer Counselors are the guides for new freshmen to get them through every day life at Sage Hill. They meet with their assigned group once a month during advisory and also attend Ninth Grade Retreat in mid-September.
“If they’re having a hard time, we’re there for them,” Spataro said.
His advice for freshman?
“Take your first year seriously but not too seriously.”
Sage Hill School
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.