Student Leadership Connects with High School Administration

6/2/2015

By: Justin W. '16

Over the past few weeks, the High School Student Government has collected dozens of suggestions and requests for school improvements. Condensing this student input into three major discussion topics--scheduling, food and drink, and school additions--the Student Government Executive Bboard met with the administration recently to address the concerns.

Following that meeting, Student Government provided students with feedback from their meeting with High School Interim Principal Mrs. Deborah Rapoport and Director of Education Mrs. Zipora Schorr. Among the most exciting results of the meeting, Student Government has been invited to provide input for next year’s revised schedule. Viewing this as a major accomplishment, Hannah C. ‘16 expressed that she is "very interested in next year's schedule" and that "the students should be represented in this type of decision which impacts every aspect of our school day."

This concept of student representation has drawn much support from both the students and the administration. While Student Government is ecstatic to be heard by the administration and to present their concerns, Mrs. Schorr and Mrs. Rapoport were also grateful to hear student suggestions and approach controversial topics from the perspective of the students.

Mrs. Rapoport said that “Admin Connect is a terrific initiative” which establishes “a forum through which the student leadership and administration can openly discuss concerns, solve problems, and generate initiatives” and “gives the administration a good understanding of what is important to the students.” Regarding their first meeting, Mrs. Rapoport added that “the Executive Board prepared a substantive and well thought out agenda” and that “everyone left the meeting with new insights and a new sense of appreciation for the challenges of the other.” Student Government hopes to continue this effective cooperation and would like to thank Mrs. Rapoport for organizing this meeting and listening to the students’ input. The full report from the recent meeting can be found below.

Admin Connect Report:

The Executive Board collected a number of topics from the students to review with Mrs. Rapoport. Discussion topics and feedback below. PLEASE come see Justin, Emma, Rayut, Allison, and Yitzi for more information! The Executive Board will keep you posted as things develop and also welcome any more topics you’d like to share.

1) Scheduling – we shared some concerns we heard from you

• Seven periods proposal for next year’s schedule

• Posting special schedules in advance

• Assigning fewer Judaics assessments to upperclassmen from one week prior to AP exams through AP week

• Giving students performing in the play extra study halls

• High School trips, like going to Hershey Park, early-mid year

Feedback:

- SG was invited to provide input for next year’s revised schedule. Mrs. Schorr will meet with us. The seven period schedule is a possibility.

- The administration will work on sharing special schedules with reasonable time to prepare in the future. Changes in lunch schedules will be announced during announcements the day before.

- The administration already removed multiple assessments from junior schedules during AP week this year and is making notes to help prevent overburdening students next year.

- It turns out that students in the play may swap their GWAP period for a study hall during the musical.

- We will be having a Hershey Park trip next year!

2) Food and Drink:

• Making hot water accessible for students

• Student microwaves

• Snack machines accessible

• Healthier/more filling lunch and snack options

Feedback:

-We are looking into ways to make hot water available—plans are in process, details to follow.

-Kashrut, cleanliness, and functionality of student microwaves are too difficult to maintain, however we are looking into making healthier school lunch options available. SG will be asking you for your feedback and suggestions!

-Snacks will be more accessible to students next year. Some issues to consider are how much would people really pay for a healthier snack? Where should the machines/food be sold so people can access them even after classes are over?

Please let us know what you think!

3) School Additions

• A textbook shelf with a catalog of class textbooks used throughout the school to be kept on reserve in the library?

• Standardized WiFi (give out the code at assembly, connect everybody to network)

• Supplies for women in girls' bathroom

Feedback:

-The administration loved the idea of having textbook shelves stocked by academic departments. Textbooks will be available next school year- thanks!

- WiFi has been opened to the public! BTGUEST is open to everybody in the building!

- School is looking into providing more accessible feminine products

4) Programming

• Pro-Israel vs. Anti-Israel live debate with articulate speakers (explicitly for upperclassmen)

(It is better to educate our students on the entirety of the issue and expose them in the Beth Tfiloh environment to legitimate Anti-Israel arguments than for them to hear counter arguments in college without proper guidance.)

Feedback:

- Mrs. Schorr is trying to get a very knowledgeable speaker to educate upperclassmen on both sides of the Israel Conflict.

5) Miscellaneous

• Painting the senior locker bay

Feedback:

- It’s possible—senior reps need to make a proposal to the administration!

We’d like to thank Mrs. Rapoport for our meeting and for being so open and thoughtful about the ideas, concerns and suggestions we brought to the table. We’d also like to thank you, the students, for your input!

Next Admin Connect will hopefully be at the end of the year before the summer so please let us know if you have anything for us to bring up!

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Student Leadership Connects with High School Administration

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School