By Ria Kokkengada
No part of the world has been unaffected by COVID - 19, and the Great Valley High School’s student council is no exception. However, the members as well as club leadership have taken these unconventional circumstances in stride. Through the devotion of its members and effective leadership, the student council is a true testament to the strength of the Great Valley Community.
The student council has been continuing to adapt to the many changes that have taken place, the most notable one being the change in the format of Council and School Board meetings. To no surprise, the student meetings occur virtually. Members and officers have begun to meet over Microsoft Teams. To continue to promote grade-level interaction, at the end of every meeting, there are breakout rooms to allow officers to disseminate information to their peers.
Also, the council has organized themselves by various committees. These committees include the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the School Spirit , the Service, the Judicial, and the Communications.
“We want to provide more outlets for people to share their ideas and provide discussion through the homeroom representatives and officers,” said senior Rebecca Stern, the current Student Body President. “We want the voice of every student to be heard.”
Additionally, school board meetings have continued to be in-person, but in limited attendance. One of the people allowed access is junior Hope Semar. As the student representative, she serves as the connection between the student body and school board. At each school board meeting, she presents a run-down on what has been occurring at the high school.
“My run-downs are about the students’ perspectives on how they are adapting to the changing learning environment, as many are entering the school building after seven months,” said Semar. “It’s so important that students’ voices are being heard, especially during this pandemic.”
While the general public is not allowed to attend the meetings, there is time allotted for public comment. To participate, you must email the communications director in advance, who will read your comment out loud during the meeting.
“Obviously, the members of the board are not the ones in the classrooms,” said Semar. “So they are really trying their best to make sure they truly understand the students’ perspectives.” The board is also having a greater number of meetings than in previous years. They are available for live streaming on the Great Valley TV YouTube Channel.
The student council is continuing to provide assistance in all areas of the school community. Their latest mission is to help ensure a smooth transition from virtual to hybrid learning. The student council officers and board representatives participated in the filming of a video demonstration of how the hybrid model will be introduced in the middle and high school. The student council officers also held in-person tours for freshmen before hybrid began and wrote positive messages in chalk at the front entrance of the school. The council even plays music over the school’s speakers at the beginning and end of the school day to lift the students’ spirits.
“The goals of these activities is to make the beginning of the return to school special and make everyone feel part of the school community,” said Stern.
Meghan Daney, a student council advisor and English teacher, also believes that the council serves as a perspective on the realities of hybrid learning. “It is beneficial for teachers and the students to see exactly what the school community has to think about and what really goes into in-person school,” said Mrs. Daney. “This includes the many different facets of consideration that there are for a safe gathering of people before you can actually look at making an in-person event, because there are a lot of unknowns.”
In addition, Mrs. Daney added, “Students can adjust their expectations for hybrid learning and get a better understanding of why the restrictions are in place and their intent.”
Many students and their families are wondering how they can expect to see future student council events running. While things are constantly changing, the student council has a plan of action to preserve the school’s beloved traditions.
“For the foreseeable future, most events will be virtual,” said Mrs. Daney. “But as restrictions ease up for in-person gatherings, parents and students can expect to see us trying within the realm of possibility to make as many in-person events happen. However, there is definitely not going to be as many as usual. The administration has to be particular about what is chosen to be in-person and some events may continue to be virtual.”
However, Mrs. Daney remains positive as she looks to the future. “So, we will be hosting virtual events for now but optimistically looking to have in-person events within the parameters recommended by the Health Department Guidelines,“ said Mrs. Daney.
In the meantime, there are still many events to look forward to, one of which is the virtual Homecoming celebration. This is a fun-filled event with trivia, prizes, and a video recap of the different fall sports’ seasons. Also, the student council is planning to host the annual senior picnic on November 13.
This pandemic has served as an opportunity to learn and grow more as a community.
“I have learned how to put myself in other people's shoes a lot more than I ever have before, because I have to report the perspective of not just a sophomore cross country runner but all of my fellow peers,” said Semar. “I have also learned more about the importance of social connection, whether virtual or in-person.”
“It is really important to have a community behind you and to build stronger connections with your friends and families,” explained Stern.
“This process has also been a great exercise in fluid and clear communication, which is definitely a silver lining to all this,” said Mrs. Daney, “Lately, there has been a lot of open communication, which is huge.”
The Great Valley Student Council and school board wants your opinion! If you haven’t already, follow @gv.stuco on Instagram for updates, upcoming events, and more. There is a link to a virtual “Suggestion Box” in their bio, so please send in any suggestions you have for this school year. Every response will be read and responded to, so your voice will be heard. Additionally, if you would like to be notified about updates on the Great Valley School Board, follow @gvschoolboardstudentreps on Instagram.