Student Council

Tuesday, December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The Student Council bulletin board is under construction!  We have posted photos of our officers and the classroom representatives for the year.  The rest of the board will document in photos and short paragraphs the service work of the council members and the student body.  Our goal is to be active members of the Body of Christ in our parish/school community, the Grand Rapids area, and in our sister parishes in Haiti.  Look over the activities after weekend Masses as you share coffee and doughnuts. 

Peace and Blessings
Ms. Gunning    

 

Monday, November 30, 2009
Welcome to the Student Council page!! 
    Congratulations to this year’s officers and class representatives.  The officers are members of the 8th grade class and will be taking a leadership role in all the council sponsored activities.  The two members of each class will represent their grade level at all school functions.  Our new student council officers and class representatives have been very busy already since their election at the end of September.
    Our officers act as student ambassadors for visitors and guests to our school.  They introduce themselves with a firm handshake and escort the guests to their destinations.  A few of the officers have been working with the parent volunteers who give school tours to families interested in enrolling at St. Paul’s.  The students are able to elaborate on the many extra curricular activities offered here at St. Paul’s, give a student’s perspective of daily life in the “Halls”, and add details about the classes, schedules, prayer times, and Masses.  Their enthusiasm generates excitment among the visitors and the council members love it! 
    In September, Fathers Rams and Roosevelt and Mr. Doug Porritt from Rays of Hope for Haiti visited the students of grades 7 & 8.  They shared stories and pictures of their parishioners, especially the children of the school,  as they struggle to meet their daily needs for body and soul.  Our students were so moved by the tremendous suffering and lack of basic necessities of the Haitians, they wanted to do something immediately.  A few students quickly collected extra school supplies and gave them to Mr. Porritt, and discussed with our guests, ways they could make a personal contribution to the needs of the Haitian parishioners.  The officers proposed a parish wide clothing drive as parishioners sorted summer clothes in preparation for the cooler autumn weather.  The secretary and treasurer designed a flyer for the parish bulletin and the “Halls of St. Paul’s”, and brought in bags and boxes for the collection.  The response was overwhelming!!!  We are still sorting and boxing the hundreds of items of new and used outfits, girls purses, soccer equipment, shoes, toys and school supplies.  The stack of boxes and clothes is amazing (as you can see from the photo below).  Thank you to all who supported the officers’ efforts to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy.  Mr. Porritt will be picking up the boxes soon for shipment to Fathers Rams and Roosevelt.

    All council officers and the class representatives actively participated in the school Thanksgiving liturgy.  Representatives welcomed parishioners and visitors, read Scripture, offered petitions, led the Penitential Rite, were altar servers, and carried the bread and wine for consecration. Many of the older representatives assisted the younger readers and sang in the junior high choir as well. 
    Students and parents from grade six decorated our windows with Advent and Christmas themes.  These students were scheduled to decorate the VA home with Mr. O’Rourke, but the trip was cancelled due to the flu outbreak. Faculty set up a school Advent wreath in the entrance of the school, and every Monday morning, student council officers will lead the students, faculty, and parents in a school wide Advent prayer service.  Join us at 8:05 AM if you are able. It’s a wonderful way to begin the week!
             
                                                                        Peace and Blessings,
                                                                        Ms. Gunning, faculty advisor