WOBURN — Hurld Wyman Elementary School students have a new opportunity to advocate for themselves and their peers: the Hurld Wyman Student Council.
Initiated by Principal Kristen Maloney and School Adjustment Counselor Brunna Afonso, Hurld Wyman will have its first school council, composed of students from Grades 3-5.
Each classroom in Grades 3-5 will have a representative on the council, with additional Grade 5 students representing classrooms in Kindergarten through Grade 2.
Students are invited to apply for the representative position by answering the question, “Why would you make a good representative for your class on Student Council?”. Students then get a signature from their teacher and a parent or guardian in support of their application.
The council will meet monthly to review the school’s monthly character trait and help design a poster conveying the trait to be hung up around the school. Traits include respect, responsibility, diligence, trustworthiness, caring — they rotate each month, and are recognized districtwide. Teachers then select a ‘Leader of the Pack’ at the end of the month who goes above and beyond the trait, and the chosen student will receive a t-shirt and certificate.
In addition, council members will take polls in the classrooms they represent, collecting feedback from their peers about enrichment opportunities, morning announcement messages, recess equipment, and more.
A new group of representatives will be chosen each year.
“We are proud to be able to give our students agency over their education,” said Principal Maloney. “We want to build decision-making and advocacy skills in children from a young age so that it becomes natural to them as they advance in our school system. We look forward to building leadership and confidence through our school council, and we can’t wait to see what these students accomplish.”
Grade 5 students are excited to begin this process and work with students in younger grades.
Grade 5 student Brody reported, “I felt so cool when the 2nd graders I represent recognized me in the hall and called out my name. I loved how excited the younger kids were for my visit.”
“Ready to help the community in and out of our school,” said Grade 5 student Juliana.
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