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Roosevelt students showcase student council, kindness campaign and new inclusive playground features
Summary
Students from Roosevelt Elementary presented their student council activities, a kindness campaign, and school clubs to the Port Angeles School District board; the principal described inclusive playground improvements funded by the PTO.
Roosevelt Elementary students and staff presented student-of-the-month recognitions, a newly formed student council and several student-run clubs during the Port Angeles School District board meeting on Feb. 13, 2025.
The Roosevelt principal opened the school presentation by introducing student-of-the-month recognitions and describing Roosevelt as the district’s largest elementary with 442 students and multiple special programs, including TK and developmental pre-K. She told the board the school has prioritized “building community,” teacher collaboration and classroom-level interventions so small groups of students can receive focused instruction.
Student council members described how the council formed and what it does. “To get into student council, we had to do a campaign … We made posters and had to either make a video or give a speech to other students,” said Avery Coffee, who identified herself as the student council treasurer. Cooper Fairchild, the student council secretary, said the students wrote a charter and learned meeting minutes and organization skills: “I've learned that leadership takes a lot of bravery.” Council members said they are running a kindness campaign that posts weekly kindness quotes and gives students “kindness acts” on a cougar calendar to encourage peer support.
Other student groups described their activities. Aggie Huff said the student council started a newspaper that documents spirit days and interviews classmates. Grace described an environmental club that organizes campus cleanups and plans to expand its work across town. Kayla and Holly explained the student-run art club meets at recess, does projects for the community (for example, making Valentine’s cards) and is learning to be accessible to multiple grade levels. Jarrett said a poster and “kindness tree” help students who feel down by offering encouraging messages.
Roosevelt’s principal also highlighted recent playground improvements driven by the PTO: a fenced area intended to provide a smaller, sheltered play space for students at risk of elopement and new ramps and an adaptive swing designed so non-mobile students can use the equipment. She said PTO fundraisers targeted inclusivity after consulting families of students with special needs.
Board members praised the students’ presentations. One board member told the students, “That was wonderful … thank you all so much,” and another said she was impressed by the students’ bravery speaking before the board.
The Roosevelt presentation concluded with the principal and counselor—cited in the presentation as Laura Havens—acknowledging teachers and families who supported the students’ work.
Why it matters: Student-run activities and targeted playground changes reflect school-level choices about inclusion, social-emotional learning and family engagement that can affect daily experience for hundreds of students.
Ending: The board moved on to additional agenda items after the Roosevelt presentation; the students and staff left the meeting after their presentation.
