The Upper School Council is a student-driven leadership organization. Three students from each grade level are voted into the council by their peers. These students serve as a communication bridge between the student body and administration.
Caleb Colton is one of the three ninth-grade class representatives for USC. Colton wanted to be a 9th-grade class representative to help the 9th grade run smoothly.

“If there were problems in our grade, I wanted to help fix them,” he said.

Since joining USC, Colton’s goals have broadened. Now, instead of focusing solely on the ninth grade, Colton is trying to decide which subcommittee to join in order to do more for the school.

Colton said, “There’s a different subcommittee for sustainability that I’m thinking of joining.”

Senior Cerena Karmaliani, is one of the two USC co-presidents. Back in 9th grade, Karmaliani said, “I had a lot of ideas for things I wanted to change in the school.”

This led her to join USC.

Some of the topics she focused on in her 9th-grade year were the dress code and inadequate feminine hygiene products in campus bathrooms.

In her sophomore to junior year, she ran for USC vice president, and then co-president in her junior to senior year. Karmaliani ran for both of these positions to “Have a more impactful change, and talk to admin more frequently,” she said.

Karmaliani identified overarching projects in the USC to be; the blood drives, speaker/community day, the mentor/mentee program, the House Cup, and their sustainability goals.

Sam McCarthy, also a 9th-grade representative on USC, joined because he thought it would be cool to help his grade.

“I thought it would be fun and interesting,” he said.

McCarthy is new to the USC process, so he hasn’t decided what he wants to focus on. Like Colton, sustainability is important to him. Currently, McCarthy wants to join the sustainability subcommittee. Mcarthy appreciates that in USC his voice is heard and his opinions matter.

Although they have only been in session for two months, the USC has already started implementing the previously mentioned policies. The house cup, blood drive, and meatless Wednesdays are all evidence of the elected group’s work so far.

What initiatives would you like to see USC implement subcommittees for this year? Share your ideas in the comments: