The weekend of Halloween, MCHS Student Senators visited Des Moines for the annual Iowa Leadership Conference, where they learned the best ways to engage the student body in activities and make their schools better environments. Along with an exchange from Harlan Student Council members, and presentations from various schools, speaker Scott Backovich shared his experience with student bodies.
Senate members learned about the ways that students can be encouraged to participate in activities, and how students can interact with other students to create a positive school environment. They learned various ideas from different schools, including how to make students feel welcome, how to create a successful activity, and the best ways to encourage the student body’s voice.
At the leadership conference, the MCHS Student Senate learned many things, not only about leadership, but about a Charity Opportunity from the Native Fund. The Native Fund is a nonprofit organization founded by teen choice award winning actor Ashton Kutcher and professional football player Dallas Clark. The Native Fund is a charity that, in their own words, is all about “Iowans helping Iowans,” by providing funding for local families in need, disaster relief whenever there is a major flood or other natural disaster, amongst other things. In 2008, both Dallas Clark and Ashton Kutcher felt helpless watching the devastation created by the catastrophic flooding in Cedar Rapids, and from their conservations, the concept of the Native fund was born. In more exciting news, if our school manages to raise enough money for The Native Fund, Ashton Kutcher himself will personally come to our school. The Student Senate also had the opportunity to have an exchange, where they met up with other Senate’s from across the state, to discuss leadership opportunities and other ways to improve our Student Senate.
The exchange with Harlan went over extremely well, and consisted of several students exchanging ideas on what kind of events to plan in the future, ways to boost student morale, amongst other things.
Just remember, students. If you have an idea or suggestion with the school, talk to your Student Senators and it may just be resolved!
– Maya Jalukar (Fr.) and Daniel Stephenson (Fr.), MCHS