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Garfield Middle School student council reports more than 500 votes, outlines community service and civic engagement
Summary
Teacher leaders and student officers from Garfield Middle School presented to the Hamilton City Scribe Board on the council's goals, a student election that drew more than 500 voters, and recent community events including a toy drive, neighborhood summit panel and volunteer cleanups.
Garfield Middle School student council leaders told the Hamilton City Scribe Board that the council has increased student involvement in both the school and the wider Hamilton community through elections, volunteer drives and public appearances.
Rachel Ahonan, a teacher leader for the Garfield Student Council, said the group set out "to build school spirit and community, enhance student engagement, and promote inclusivity and kindness." Ahonan and fellow teacher leader Jen Dixon told the board the council is also "working to encourage community service and volunteering" and is responsible for planning school events and leadership development.
Sam Perez, Garfield's student council president, described the council's role in connecting students with city activities. "When I got invited to be on the council, it definitely felt like an opportunity for me to be involved in the community and being on the panel just made it better," Perez said. Perez also noted that student council members introduced students to local organizations and helped plan upcoming events such as a neighborhood cleanup, a fourth-quarter incentive day and lawn games intended to motivate attendance and academic performance.
The council held its own student elections on November 8, electing three positions — president, vice president and secretary — and organizing a schoolwide voting process that included posters, videos and a ballot box. The presenters said more than 500 Garfield students cast votes that day, and winners received "I voted" stickers.
Presenters described recent community activities the council supported: a toy drive whose donations were privately distributed to identified families before winter break; volunteering at a local market and a community scavenger-hunt-style event; and student participation at a neighborhood summit where a Garfield student joined a Latino youth panel. The presentation referenced a community cleanup and a market event (the transcript uses the names "Chris Bridal Mart" and "Chris Campbell Market" inconsistently).
School staff also highlighted student media involvement: Sarah White's media class filmed election commercials and produced announcements that helped drive turnout. Staff praised the council's student leaders for representing Garfield at a Hamilton City Council meeting and for public presentations.
Board members who spoke commended the students and teachers for expanding student leadership beyond the school building. At the end of the item the board moved into an executive session; that motion was approved by roll call (see Actions). The presentation closed with offers from district leaders to involve students in future advisory roles.
For clarity: the presenters identified the election date as "November eighth" in the presentation but did not specify a year; the transcript lists two different names for a community market noted above. The school identified three elected positions and stated that more than 500 students voted in the school election.
