Student Council Wraps Up Holiday Cheer

By Larissa Lytwyn

Members of Reed Intermediate School’s Student Council recently held a “wrap party,” wrapping gifts for a family they adopted this holiday season through the Newtown Fund.

“We get a list of gifts that the family wants and then our advisors, [Lil Martensen and Michael Altenberger] buy them,” explained Student Council President Rebecca Castegner. “Then we wrap them!”

While distributing a pair of women’s slippers, a giant can of Swiss Miss Cocoa, and other goodies for students to wrap, Ms Martensen thanked members for providing wrapping paper, ribbons, scotch tape, and other packaging supplies.

The 36-member Student Council consists of representatives from each of Reed’s 36 homerooms, as well as “alternates” assisting each classroom representative.

To serve on Student Council, prospective members must fulfill a detailed application process, including interviews with faculty members and a speech to the student body on how they could serve their fellow students. Students then vote on candidates they feel will best represent them.

“Our homerooms vote on ideas we’ve thought of, from student [social events] to community service [activities]” said Rebecca, “and then we begin planning the event!”

Upcoming activities include ice cream socials and a springtime “Spirit Week,” following the immense success of the fall event.

“We had Wacky Wednesday, Hawaiian Day, Retro Day…and everyone loved dressing up in the different kinds of clothes!” noted member Michael Tuccio. “It will be great to have it again!”

Student Council also organized a Thanksgiving canned food drive for local shelters and contributed to another school drive delivering “care packages” for American troops in Iraq.

Beginning January 12, Student Council will begin selling tickets for a raffle raising money to purchase books and other materials for the school’s Library/Media Center.

“Last year we raised over $2,000,” said library media specialist Donna McGough. “We hope to at least match that this year.”

Raffle prizes include two digital cameras, a palm pilot, a karaoke machine, and two personal-sized black-and-white televisions, as well as computer software and other items.

“A lot of the prizes were acquired through Reed ordering mass quantities of books,” explained Ms McGough. Students and faculty members alike, she said, will have the opportunity to select their favorite titles from a list she plans to assemble of “roughly 100” of the year’s most popular books.

“Most students buy two tickets, and the faculty buy, too,” said Ms McGough. “The last day of ticket-buying will be January 29 and we will distribute raffle prizes on January 30.”

“It’s a fantastic group, this Student Council,” said Ms Martensen. “They are really motivated. We’re looking forward to January!”