Imagine being a 10-year-old in fifth grade wanting to skip your recess time to be a part of student leadership.
It is odd and peculiar to even think a student would sacrifice their favorite time of the school day for only more school work. Many students would likely beg for even another recess but a group of six students at Roosevelt Elementary School are making a sacrifice to affect change in their school.
Students Steven Martin, Scarlett Prewitt, Eliana Martin, Trehsa Lee, Malea Cordova and Rylan Sparks are part of the Roosevelt Student Council this year and have already made it known they are wanting to impart change in their school coming off a year filled with many uncertainties and question marks.
New Dean of Students, Rebecca Morehouse, has made it a priority of hers to bring back a group of student leaders after it had not been done in the school the last two years.
The six students, which consists of four fifth-grade students and two fourth graders, have made their stamp in the school by coming up with the idea of having a canned food drive for students that will eventually be donated to the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank. The canned food drive lasted two weeks and ended today.
“It is fun to organize the canned food drive and help the community,” Steven Martin said. “The reason I wanted to do this was to help the community and help those who do not have much.”
Martin and his fellow student leaders came up with what they call a ‘snowball drop.” It had students at Roosevelt bring as many canned food items they could, and whoever did, earned an extra recess. In total, there were 200 bags filled with food that had to be organized by the student leaders.
Between the entire school, there have been 16 large barrels filled with food, each barrel is marked by grade. The school is competing between grades to see who can bring the most.
“I have never done a canned food drive. It was them who said we need to do something, and it was their idea,” Morehouse said, “I said it now but they do not realize that is a huge community service event to provide.”
Other ideas for the student council
Along with the canned food drive, the student council has been exceptionally busy in coming up with ideas to help build camaraderie within the school. In past years, Roosevelt had been a part of the Box Top$ For Education fundraiser. One of the students on student leadership asked why the fundraiser was not had this year.
Another idea the students have come up with is trying to fulfill a longtime tradition at the elementary school that has fifth graders imprint their hand on a wall. This year, looking out for the student’s safety, they were told they would not be able to climb a tall ladder to leave their handprint but the students have been spending their time brainstorming how they will be able to fulfill their rite of passage.
“We thought about how you could put your hand on a piece of paper backwards and stick it on the wall by an adult,” fifth grader, Eliana Martin, said. “We even thought about filling out the bottom of the wall, too.”
In the future, the student council plans on doing a donation of clothes.
Morehouse has had many teachers ask her if the student council genuinely enjoys missing their recess time but all of the students have not complained. Morehouse has even given them the option of meeting after school but they said no, and at times, meet during lunch to give them more time together.
Not one student has missed a meeting. The six students went through an election where they were voted on by their peers. Good grades and attendance were required.
The final decision belonged the student’s teachers, and if it was a close call between students, Morehouse asked teachers who they would recommend or would benefit the group most.
Parent Teacher Organization and Student Council
Morehouse has many ideas for her student leaders and will look to include them in the Parent Teacher Organization at Roosevelt. PTO has parents, teachers and administrators meet together to discuss school matters, plan events and which guests can come and speak at the school.
Morehouse wants to put more responsibility on the student council and have them plan an event with PTO. She also intends on introducing her group of leaders in the school’s next assembly, which as of now, is all virtual. The hope is for the students to lead the assembly whenever Roosevelt is allowed to have its entire student body together in one place again.
Steven Martin has already had plenty of experience leading his peers and gets on the school intercom to say good morning and gives announcements. Martin reads a script written by Morehouse, which encourages the school to be safe, respectful and responsible.
“That is my next step, to help them with public speaking. It is something even adults struggle with. I will not throw them into it but I will sit with them and help them feel more comfortable about speaking in front of people,” Morehouse said.
Returning to Roosevelt
Morehouse has been through her growing pains after she lost her entire class during the pandemic. She was asked to work at the Klamath Home Learning Academy, formally known as Rivers Academy, and agreed to do so last year.
She pondered, though, if she would be able to return to Roosevelt and discovered the Dean of Students position was available and applied. Now, she will be able to devote all her time as in past years, Roosevelt did not have a full-time Dean of Students.
Morehouse helped with student council two years ago but had to focus on her fourth-grade class at the same time.
“I lost my class and did not have any students. I asked if I could come back, or if there would be a position available,” Morehouse said. “The student council goes to show these students are resilient, capable through this change and funky time; they have hope. Now, that I am back here, I am hoping this will be a fixture at Roosevelt – that we will do this every single year and provide for the kids an opportunity.”
“They are looking for leadership and wanting to learn and help their school be the best it can be.”
aguilar-floresj@kfalls.k12.or.us