Henniker students present NELMS leadership lessons and propose student-run school shop

Middle school students who attended the New England League of Middle Schools leadership conference presented to the Henniker School District board and outlined plans for a student-run school shop to raise money for new gym and recess equipment.

The group — which identified itself at the meeting as Sam Wasserman (7th grade), Kieran Van, Blake Gammon (6th grade), Kevin Hall (6th grade) and Addison Fifield (6th grade) — described conference activities including cross-school collaboration, a leadership chart and a "pizza chart" exercise to identify strengths and areas to improve. "We made it six things we either had to work on or our strengths," one presenter said.

Their proposal calls for identifying a shop location on campus, selecting low-cost inventory (pencils, pens, school-branded items and small novelty awards such as pins), and recruiting students to staff the operation. They suggested a revenue split with about 40% returning to the school and shop operations and 60% going toward new equipment for gym and recess.

During a board Q&A, trustees pressed for details about customers, inventory and timing. A student said the primary customers would be students but acknowledged teachers and parents could also buy items; the students suggested placing the shop near the office or in the cafeteria to reach the largest number of customers. Board members offered to help with seed donations and logistics and encouraged the students to present their plan to district staff and to Mr. Morrell to develop next steps.

The board also acknowledged the two adults who organized travel to the conference, Ashley Rainey and Joanne Kierstead. Board members invited the students to return to a future meeting with a progress update and to coordinate with PTA volunteers and district staff on implementation and fundraising logistics.

The students’ presentation closed with trustees praising the leadership and collaboration skills the project would give younger students, including practical lessons in money management and entrepreneurship. The district did not take a formal action at the meeting; next steps include a student presentation to the school board and meetings with district staff to finalize location, inventory and a timeline.