Student reps highlight mental health programming, Kindness Week and athletic qualifiers at Merrill board meeting

Student board representatives gave a brief report at the start of the Feb. 18 Merrill Area School District Board of Education meeting, outlining several school activities and student-led efforts.

A student representative said the annual Great Speakers Forum will feature Duncan Kirkwood, director of the Center for Resiliency at Villa Maria College and a former U.S. Army master resilience trainer, and that the program will be presented to both high school and middle-school students. The student report also noted a new teen mental-health first aid module to be offered in health classes for sophomores, intended to teach ways to manage mental health and available resources.

The choir is planning an annual dinner-and-show this Friday, with a fish fry as the meal, and students described Kindness Week activities including sticky notes on lockers, 'kindness clothespins' and plans to write notes to teachers. The student update recognized career-spotlight visits from Wendorff Construction Company focused on commercial construction and electrical trades.

Athletics highlights included wrestling sectionals in Antigo and student qualifiers for state: Remington Skick (winner in the 150-pound class), Noah Klug (second at 190) and Hunter Opper (second at 175); the wrestling team is aiming to qualify the full team at the upcoming team sectionals.

The student report closed with named student 'stars' for the quarter and a reminder that the district and administrators will review these items further as needed in committee and future meetings.