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April 2023 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 13 The Impact of The Student-Staff Senate at NRHS
By BRittany amalfi
In today’s world, it is com- mon knowledge that when stu- dents have a voice in different matters, a positive outcome is on the horizon. When students feel heard, the entire school’s at- mosphere begins to change into a more welcoming and positive place. And an exceptional orga- nization at Newfound Regional High School is well aware of that. The Student-Staff Senate was created over ten years ago at NRHS when the school was searching for a different educa- tional approach and complete redesign that allowed the format to include student voices.
The Staff-Student Senate’s mission statement is “The Or- ganization exists as an active stu- dent-faculty body at Newfound Regional High School to provide authentic student and staff voice and collaboration in areas of policy and communication. The Organization promotes positive relations between students and staff through sharing ideas. The mission of the Organization is to improve the academic and social environment at NRHS for the benefit of the school and the community.”
The established organization continues to constantly look at the procedures and policies of the school to ensure that student voices are involved in the mat- ters. They take proposals from the students as well as the staff of NRHS, and then they get to work.
I had the opportunity to speak to Amy Yeakel, the Staff Co- Chair, and she had nothing but wonderful things to say about the Staff-Student Senate. “We get
various proposals about different levels of freedom in the school, and the proposal goes before the Senate,” Yeakel informed me. “Once they go before the Sen- ate, the proposal then goes to a sub-committee, and then the principal.” At times, the propos- als might have to go to the Policy Committee if it involves different matters.
The whole organization is such a bright light in the school. “It allows students to have a say rather than someone just mak- ing all the decisions,” Yeakel continued. She also told me that the Staff-Student Senate typically has four students from each grade level and various staff members. She also informed me that everything about it is incred- ibly structured. “There are stu- dent co-chairs, someone taking minutes of the meetings, and so
on,” Yeakel said.
The Staff-Student Senate also
had a fantastic opportunity to venture to Concord at the end of last year to see how the actual Senate works.
“We have those high-flying students who show wonderful leadership skills and students who just want to fight for a better sys- tem in the school,” Yeakel hap- pily said. Yeakel also informed me that her favorite part about working within the organization was “working closely with the students.” She continued. “They show their incredible leadership skills, and seeing them grow and evolve as leaders is amazing.”
Gretchen Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Student-Staff Senate, said, “ Student-Staff Senate gives stu- dents the opportunity to not only have a voice in their school’s poli- cies and decisions but encourages
and strengthens leadership and formal discussion skills. For my- self personally, collaborating with other students and staff members in the senate helped me grow my voice and leadership abilities, es- pecially with taking on the role of co-chair this year. Also, Stu- dent-Staff Senate has shown me the impact that a small group of voices can have on bigger issues as well as the responsibility that goes with being one of the few
voices representing the student body in big, sometimes contro- versial decisions.”
Undoubtedly, the Staff-Stu- dent Senate has made an in- credible impact at NRHS. With changes that have been made in the student handbook and ensuring that student voices are heard in important matters, the organization continues to stand up for a productive educational atmosphere.
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