At ASH, students are encouraged to find their voice, take ownership of their learning, and play an active role in shaping their school community. Through opportunities such as Student Ambassadors, the Middle School Student Voice Initiative, and High School Student Senate, students can develop leadership skills, advocate for their interests, and help shape the future of the school. Elected by the high school student body, Student Senate works alongside students, teachers, and administrators to turn feedback and ideas into initiatives that strengthen the wider community.

 

Leading the Senate this year are Co-Presidents Joseph and Sissi. Their responsibilities range from organizing events and gathering student feedback to presenting proposals to administration. But their role ultimately centers on making sure students have a meaningful say in the direction of the school by acting as the bridge between students and teachers.

 

For Joseph, that commitment began when he joined Student Senate in ninth grade. He wanted to become more involved in the ASH community and gain a better understanding of how the school operates. Over the years, Senate has given him the opportunity to grow as a leader, contribute to school initiatives, and bring his own ideas to the table. “The Senate has always felt like a club where what I say matters and can actually have an impact on the school,” Joseph says. During weekly Senate meetings, they discuss recent student and teacher conversations through a “vibe check” and bring ideas and potential solutions to administration through formal proposals. They also create surveys and share them through the school bulletin to gather student feedback on everything from Spirit Week to new initiatives.

 

Joseph and Sissi continue the Monday Morning Announcements, a tradition now in its second year. In addition to sharing the bulletin with Grades 5–12, they include student- and teacher-submitted jokes, birthday celebrations, and recent athletic events, helping build a tighter sense of community at the start of each week.

 

A major part of their role is turning student feedback into tangible change. Last year, after hearing from students who wanted AP Psychology at ASH, they initiated a petition across the High School community. Today, ASH offers two AP Psychology classes. They have also advocated for improvements to everyday student life, including new microwaves for lunch and a potential ice machine on campus. Beyond advocacy, they focus on building school culture through grade-level community activities, dances, Spirit Week, and other events that bring students together through shared experiences and friendly competition.

 

Looking ahead, Joseph and Sissi see an opportunity to further strengthen communication between students and administration, particularly when changes are being introduced. They believe that clear and timely communication can help students stay connected to the decisions, and understand the reasons behind changes, feel included in the process, and ensure a smoother transition for the school community.

 

For Sissi, effective student leadership begins with listening. “To me, good student leadership means listening first,” she says. “Our job is to take feedback, innovate, and act on what our peers need most.” She says one of the biggest surprises of the role has been how much she has learned from the students around her. “Everyone has such amazing ideas and I love being able to bridge that to real change at school,” she says.

 

The Student Senate’s spirit of co-creation and collaboration, willingness to share perspectives and challenge ideas are essential for helping guide the school into a continuous cycle of growth and improvement. We are grateful for the energy, ideas, and curiosity our students bring to ASH every day.