OWLS HEAD — Students at Owls Head Central School this year are learning some valuable lessons about student- and self-government, and what it means to do good things for others. And while many kids are familiar with participating in community service events by the time they reach third-, fourth- or fifth-grade, most aren't the ones choosing the cause and the method of fundraising.

This is the first year that the Owls Head Central School has had a student council, and so far the eight student representatives have become more acquainted with their fellow students, they have listened to their issues and ideas, and advocated for activities and changes on their behalf.

Each of the eight students had to make posters, while the fourth- and fifth-graders had to give speeches. The younger class was tasked with making their speech before the fourth-graders, while the officer candidates were tasked with giving their speech before the entire 60-member student body at an assembly.

The Owls Head Central School's 60 students is comprised of 21 third-graders, 18 fourth-graders and 21 fifth-graders.

This year's student council members, chosen either by their grade class, or by vote of the whole school, include Jacob (president), Addison (vice president), Ava (Secretary), Phoebe (treasurer), Olivia and Abby (fourth-grade representatives), and Violet and Mariah (third-grade representatives).

The student council meets every other Wednesday, and their goals are to represent the student's opinions, come up with activities for students, and brainstorm community service and fundraising ideas. They also hope to work on fundraising for school supplies and other items the school might need in the future.

On Nov. 20, the student council was prepared to present a check to Grace McMullen, the events coordinator at Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County. The councilors would be making the presentation during a school assembly, at which McMullen spoke and described what kinds of animals the shelter and adoption center cares for, what the volunteers do to help out and what kinds of supplies and donations they need on a regular basis.

Prior to Thursday afternoon's assembly, the student council had organized a fundraising drive in October. In exchange for bringing in money or pet food, students were allowed to wear a hat in school on the first Friday in November.

"Almost everybody participated," said Jacob.

"We collected two boxes of food and $53," said Phoebe, the student council's treasurer.

This week, the school's project is a food drive to benefit the Rockland food pantry.

"We have one full box now, and we are filling the second box now," said Olivia.

On Nov. 25, "just for fun," the student council has organized Twin Day, when they can dress up as twins with a friend, or as triplets or even quadruplets. Over the holidays, they are thinking about either a Secret Santa project, an Adopt-a-Family project or a toy fundraiser for Toys for Tots.

As with most committees and quasi-governmental entities, the Owls Head Student Council discusses items and takes votes to make final decisions, said Abby.

"Or if there is a tie, we consider doing both," she said.

Violet and Mariah said that in addition to getting to know the other students better, during school and recess, they get asked a lot of questions and given many ideas for projects and fun things to do.

But it's not all just fun and games, because the student council, as student representatives, this year were tasked with dealing with a sticky issue for both students and teachers. It had to do with the rule that there is no talking until a student is finished eating.

"A lot of students complained and we brought it up to the teachers," said Addison.

The councilors learned the issues that prompted the rule, which included people not finishing their lunch, a lot of food being wasted and that the noise level not only became too much at times, but kept getting louder as more kids began talking and trying to be heard.

Fifth-grade teacher Lorrie Callaway was the motivation behind getting a student council up and running at Owls Head, and she said that it was good that the students were able to voice their concerns and unhappiness with the rule, through their student representatives.

"They learned that the rule is a work in process, and that we are trying to make it work better," said Callaway.

Moments before the rest of the student body filed into the common room, where McMullen was to give her presentation about the shelter/adoption center, the student councilors were asked if they liked the job.

All of them said yes, adding that they planned to run again next year. All but the fifth-graders, that is, who will be moving up to the middle school next year, when a whole new world will open up before them. But having served their final year of grade school on a student council, it’s possible the familiarity of that role will be something they seek out at their new school.

Related link:

• Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.