Community Council Presidential Candidates 2017

Community+Council+Presidential+Candidates+2017

 

Name: Francesca Docters

Grade next year: 12th

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

As shown through my participation in the Community Council over the past two years, I truly care about supporting the community and making every day spent at Hackley one to remember. I would be a good candidate for this position because in addition to any commitment to making Hackley the best place to be, I will work extremely hard to do so. I enjoy taking on challenges and a position like school president will give me the opportunity to push myself and my co-council members to achieve out goals.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

Over my years at Hackley, especially in high school, I have contributed to the Hackley community in several ways. For the past two years, I have been a member of council holding the positions of Grade Rep and the Clerk of the Board of Magistrates. As a part of council, I’ve given valuable input to the discussion and execution of ideas and events. I have also been part of the Ambassador program since Middle School. As an Ambassador, I’ve hosted visitors, given many tours and helped out at Admissions related events and more.

What are your goals if elected?

If elected to this position, my goals including coming up with and planning fun activities/events for the community and also finding ways to increase student attendance at these types of events, sports games, plays, concerts, etc. One idea I have is to hold monthly competitions where advisories compete in activities such as baking/cooking, sports, etc. Then, at the end of the year, the advisory with the most victories wins a prize. Although this will take plenty of time and effort, I think the result can be worth it. It gives students the opportunity to feel constantly engaged in the spirit of the school.


Name: Georgia Panitz

Grade next year: 12th

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I think I would be a good candidate for school-wide president because I have been a dedicated member of community council for my entire high school and middle school career, and I have always been willing and able to offer my help to ensure that all council sponsored events are successful. I know what needs to be done in order to make certain events happen, such as who to contact for approval, what is needed for the event, and how to get all of Council’s members involved and motivated so that things happen in a timely and orderly fashion. Throughout my three years in high school as a member of Council, I have made a concerted effort to help as much as I can with all council sponsored events and participate actively during all of our council meetings. I have helped with numerous concession stands, events such as movie night, assisted as a part of the snowball decoration committee and helped set up for the event each year, helped in planning and setting up for the haunted house, and sold candy grams every lunch period I was available. While last year’s Woodstock event did not happen, I helped a lot with the planning and preparation for that as well. I always look forward to council meetings and genuinely enjoy the discussions and efforts which lead to fun events for the student body and community. I have made an effort during all my years on council to reach out to students, whether it be asking people about their opinions on some of council’s ideas, or coming up with the idea to post council updates each week in the 2018 Facebook group in an effort to make sure my peers could be more informed about what is going on in council and have input.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I have contributed to the community by being an active member of Community Council for the past three years and have offered my help and ideas during meetings, as well as helped at all council sponsored events. I have also attended sporting events, music performances, and plays to support my peers and their hard work. During my years on the hilltop, I have also been a member of Hackley’s Varsity Swimming team, a part of community service groups such as Soup Kitchen, a writer and page editor for The Dial, and a member of band and chamber ensembles. Every group and team I have been a part of I have tried to contribute something in the hopes that my efforts in partnership with others would improve life at Hackley.

What are your goals if elected?

While I feel that Council has done a great job this year, this being one of our most successful years yet, I still feel that there is room for further improvements. While Council’s event planning has been successful, I feel that we can plan more events for the student body. I think it would be amazing to implement a system similar to the Middle School’s Hive system, but organized by grade, and have events throughout the year among grades for points. Our end of the year field day would be even more fun as a result because I think people would be more invested and excited to participate in contributing points so that their grade could win the competition for the year. As a part of this new spirit system, Council would host events and activities during break and community times throughout the year as fun things for everyone to get involved in and be a part of which I think could be a great new Hackley tradition. In order to make these things happen, I would implement new organization methods so every member of Council is aware of what is going on and what their part is in making things happen. I think it would be helpful to create a calendar and Google Drive sheet which indicates when dates for events are, when people need to complete tasks by, forms for students to complete if they wish to present an event, and a place to sign up to present their ideas. This would help members stay on top of things and complete their tasks on time, therefore allowing council to be more efficient. I also think we should try to fundraise more by running more concession stands, and also charging students a small fee to go to events like the Color Run or Woodstock (but not Snowball), because with more funds we have more flexibility and ability to plan events. Overall if I were elected I would love to help spearhead a new spirit system as well as implement new organization and communication efforts so that council can plan more fun events for the community.


Name: Patrick Walker

Grade next year: 12th

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I have served as class president for my grade for the past three years and I definitely understand the type of leadership and responsibility this position requires. I have witnessed my brother Ryan, Ally Pettiti, and current president Alex Meyer all represent our school in the best way possible. I have taken their advice and witnessed their accomplishments and goals as leaders and know how to replicate that into my success next year. I also have established myself as a great leader and representative of my own grade. I consider myself more reserved than outgoing in group discussions but I have learned to progressively contribute more and more to council ideas over my three years as grade president. I also believe I am a great communicator with my classmates through our Facebook group and homeroom announcements about upcoming Council events. Furthermore, myself and the other junior representatives have been a great team and perfect group of kids to properly represent our community and the 11th grade this year, and I know that this type of bond will help us be so successful next year as seniors. Lastly, I know how to represent the needs of my classmates in the best way possible because I have been doing it throughout all of high school. I make it my job, not just as a council representative, but as a person, to make sure everyone’s questions, comments, and concerns are answered to the fullest.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I am lifer at Hackley and for that reason, have been apart of its community for so long. As a Council member, I have contributed tremendously to all sorts of events and creative ideas for the last three years. This year I played a key role in our Haunted House, Snowball, selling of candy grams, and creation of the new Hackley T-shirt design. Prior to snowball, for example, we created a YouTube video featuring me asking someone to the snowball to promote the dance. The video was a huge success and encouraged lots of kids to attend the event. At the dance, I brought lots of desserts and decorations to help make the event a great time. During preparation, Michael, Eli, and I spent the majority of the time setting up all the lights from the top that circled around the whole PAC. After completing this, we helped out with the arrangement of chairs, tables, blowing of balloons, and more at the bottom. And at the end of the night, when most people left, I was one of 5 people to stay the extra 30-45 minutes and clean up a successful dance. Also, smaller grade-wide event I created for my grade this year was the grade-wide Secret Santa gift exchange. We had never done an event like this before in our grade and kids loved it. It was more than just giving and receiving gifts, it encouraged people to talk to others they wouldn’t normally encounter. It brought the whole grade together in a way that was great to see. Lastly, outside of community council, every coffee house I always help out with the setting up and cleaning up chairs and tables. Preparing for an event like that can require a lot of help so I’m always happy to do what I can.

What are your goals if elected?

If elected to this position I want to do big things that have never been done before. I don’t want to just say I’m going to do them like most presidents say during their campaigns, but I actually want to follow through with my word. Although events like snowball, the selling of candy grams and turkey grams, and sprit week are examples of big hits for council, I want to establish newer traditions that I can leave behind on the hilltop. These ideas could consist of ping pong tournaments, spikeball tournaments, FIFA tournaments on field days, school wide gift exchanges, and more ideas to come. I also feel like I am a great communicator with my class but as a president of the whole school it is going to be much harder to gather everyone’s opinions. That’s why during the community council emails to the entire upper school I want to have a “reply” section that allows students to address certain questions, comments, and concerns regarding anything and have it be sent straight to me. That way I can get a much better idea of what each individual person is thinking and successfully fulfill the needs of each Upper Schooler.

 

Photos by Benjy Renton.