Schools

Svigos Wants to Make a Difference at Deer Path Middle School

Whiz Kid features outstanding youth in the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff communities.

This week's Whiz Kid: Lena Svigos, president of the Student Council at in Lake Forest.

 

1) What was the reason(s) you decided to run for Student Council president?

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What influenced me the most to run for Student Council president were the students. I knew that the students weren’t being heard as much as they liked to, even though that is Student Council’s purpose. Also, I was in Student Council in sixth and seventh grade and there I saw the executive board and I immediately knew that what they were doing was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to change Deer Path for the better and becoming Student Council president was the way to do it.

2) What purpose does the Student Council serve at Deer Path Middle School?

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Student Council’s main purpose at Deer Path is representing the students and trying to make a change in their favor. It is a way for kids from grades 5-8 to speak out and talk for their student body. Many of the problems kids face at Deer Path are brought up in Student Council and we try our best to help them. Student Council also serves as an event planner for the school. We are different from Effort in the sense that we don’t only make large fund-raisers and activities, but these events are brought up by the student body themselves.

3) What issues or causes were raised when you were running for Student Council President and have you been able to take any action on any of them? Give an example if you can.

One concern that was raised was more time between passing periods to allow kids a little extra time to get from one class to another. After bringing this up, we realized that this would add more time to the school day and that is never a good idea.

However, there has been a concern about Deer Path’s annual Walk-a-thon, which has been addressed with positive results. We were able to change the way the fund-raiser for the Walk-a-thon was chosen. In many years past, Deer Path Student Council teachers chose the cause. But, this year, Student Council received over 20 applications for a cause, which were then shorten down to five, and then the top one was voted by the students.

4). What is the best part of being Student Council president; what is the worst part?

The best part of being Student Council president is listening to my fellow students and understanding what is important to them, relaying this information and actually seeing changes. It makes me feel productive and heard.

I can't really say there is a worst part because I haven’t experienced any bad situations, but I will comment on the time it takes to implement change. Sometimes change takes longer than I think it is going to. We are so eager to see a difference, because we only have one year to do it.

5). Do you think you will get involved in student government at the high school? Why or why not?

Absolutely! From what I have heard numerous times before, the high school Student Council is a lot bigger than the one we have at Deer Path. I am excited for this minor change because I will see more students getting actively involved, trying to change their school for the better as well. This is one of the reasons why I am so excited for high school.

 

 Schools

Student Council Allows Fischer to Gain Leadership Experience

Whiz Kid features outstanding youth in the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff communities.

By | Email the author | March 9, 2011

0 Comments ‹ Back to Article View full size   new  To view this video, you may need to install Flash player version 8 or greater. Also, please make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser's preferences. Embed | Share Chris Fischer, president of Student Council at Lake Bluff Middle School. Lake Bluff Middle School Photos (1)

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This week's Whiz Kid: Chris Fischer, president of the Student Council at .

1) Why did you run for Student Council President?

I thought it would be a fun experience for me. I made up my mind at the last minute that I wanted to take charge in this role, so, I simply said, “Sure,” wrote a speech and went up in front of the school and did my speech. I won the election and I’ve loved it ever since.

2) What purpose/role does the Student Council serve at school?

Student Council actively participates in setting up dances, fund-raisers, Earth Day, Spirit Week and other activities that we think of. At the meetings, we think of what to go to next and everyone actively participates and enjoys it.

3) Do you like being in a leadership role? Why?

Of course! I am involved as being a Patrol Leader of the Bobcat Patrol in Troop 42, Lake Bluff. I have enjoyed that and being a Patrol Leader interested me in becoming president of the Student Council.

4) Have you been involved with Student Council before? What interested you to get involved?

I was the main representative of my advisory (homeroom) in sixth grade and I came to every meeting. I enjoyed actively participating in the Student Council, partially because we had such great support.

5) Will you get involved with Student Council in high school? Why?

Yes, because I enjoy Student Council in middle school, I would definitely see what high school Student Government has to offer! I might not run for president there, but then again, I haven’t made up my mind.

***

Know a great kid who achieved Eagle Scout, did your local soccer team take the championship, or do you know a young person making a difference in the community? They may be our next Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch Whiz Kid honoree.

Each week, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.

Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information tojames.powers@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator’s Name

• Nominator’s Email

• Whiz Kid’s Name

• Whiz Kid’s School

• Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment

• Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we’ll contact you and will request a photo. Questions? E-mail james.powers@patch.com


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