Somers student leaders describe statewide conference experience; SIS recognizes monthly 'heroes'

Jimmy Galavan, Somers High School student council president, and fellow student-council officers updated the Somers Central School District Board of Education on Jan. 21 about student leadership activities and a recent statewide conference.

Galavan said he and about 40 Somers student leaders attended the New York State Council on Leadership and Student Activities conference (NYSC LSA) in Lake Placid. He described the conference as an opportunity to build leadership skills through speaker sessions, workshops and interaction with student leaders from across the state. "I honestly think if it wasn't for the leadership skills that I learned... I wouldn't be here today as a student council president," Galavan said.

Fellow student officers shared that several Somers students served in conference leadership roles, helped organize service projects and worked with a community group called Stephanie's Mission to assemble relief baskets distributed to Red Cross centers. Augustus Infante and other student-board members described hands-on planning and community-service work carried out at the conference.

The board also spotlighted a district elementary program called SIS Heroes. District staff said SIS Heroes nominates students from each grade who demonstrate kindness, help classmates and act as upstanders; monthly recognitions occur at town-hall meetings and include examples used in classroom discussion.

Ending: Student leaders thanked the board for the opportunity to present; district officials said the student participation and leadership roles at NYSC LSA complement school activities and cross-apply to athletics and other student organizations.