F lin Flon school trust ees spend a lot of time hearing about what teachers, parents and taxpayers want.
But on Tuesday it was time to glean feedback from perhaps the most important group of all – students.
Student council members from Hapnot Collegiate, Ecole McIsaac School and Ruth Betts Community School updated trustees on school happenings and goals.
The Hapnot delegation – Myla Bridgeman-Forbes, Taylor Oliynyk and Abby Wiens – noted the school is considering the idea of a sports mascot.
One suggestion would have the mascot be a court jester – an appropriate choice considering Hapnot’s sports teams are the Kings and Kweens.
Hapnot is also looking at murals, recarpetting the hallway benches and sponsoring a child, children or village in a Third World country.
Fundraisers at the high school have seen students sell popcorn at the Kinettes’ movie nights, held in the Hapnot Theatre, as well as hot dogs and hot chocolate during the school day.
Potential future fundraisers include a gift-wrapping service this holiday season, candy grams on Valentine’s Day and “Hat Day Fridays,” where students pay $1 to wear a hat in school all day.
The teens spoke enthusiastically of We Day, a youth-inspiring conference attended by 20-plus Hapnot students in Winnipeg in October.
Speakers included a man born without legs as well as famed actor and activist Martin Sheen.
In response to a question, Hapnot teacher Mark Lucas said initiatives are held to engage students who may not otherwise be involved with their school.
Events like the Xmas Xcitement talent show as well as art nights allow students to showcase their gifts, Lucas said.
Participate
Student council also works to involve students who tend not to participate in school activities, trustees heard.
From McIsaac, Elizabeth MacDonald, Jayden Laliberty and Abby Janz spoke of past and planned school events such as dances, a talent show and Spirit Days that celebrate school spirit.
Among the perceived needs at McIsaac are a repaved outdoor basketball court and new basketball nets to replace the damaged ones now there.
There is also support for new, safer teeter-totters for younger children.
From Ruth Betts, Destinee Lahonen and Mackenzie McIntyre addressed the need for a new playground slide, new soccer nets, basketball nets and fresh rock for underneath the jungle gym.
Other desired improvements include upgraded junior high benches and new archery equipment.
Destinee and Mackenzie also gave an overview of student council events at Ruth Betts, such as cancer-fighting fundraisers and drives to collect non-perishables for the Lord’s Bounty Food Bank.
And a recent school assembly sought to bring an end to bullying.
Tuesday’s meeting between the students and trustees, held at the school division offices, featured a complimentary supper of pizza, cookies and box drinks.
The meeting is an annual affair. Trustees attending this year were Angela Simpson, Tim Davis, Vicky Davie, Murray Skeavington and Glenn Smith.
Trustees and student council members posed for a photo after their joint meeting Tuesday. Pictured (back, l-r) are Trustee Angela Simpson, Abby Wiens of Hapnot, Trustee Vicky Davie, Taylor Oliynyk of Hapnot, Elizabeth MacDonald of McIsaac, Trustee Glenn Smith, Trustee Tim Davis and Trustee Murray Skeavington; and (front) Myla Bridgeman-Forbes of Hapnot, Jayden Laliberty of McIsaac, Mackenzie McIntyre of Ruth Betts, Destinee Lahonen of Ruth Betts and Abby Janz of McIsaac.
PHOTO BY JONATHON NAYLOR
