KRISTEN GONZALEZ: Hey Wizards, we are you co-hosts Kristen Gonzalez.
AMY OREA: and Amy Orea.
GONZALEZ: And today we are going to talk about what is student council?
OREA: Here today to help us learn about what the student council really is about our special guests. Sophomore class president
EMILIANO MORALES: Emilano Morales.
GONZALEZ: and ASB president.
VICTOR HIGAREDA: Victor Higareda.
OREA: Victor, during your campaign last year you mentioned you wanted a way for the student body to communicate with ASB. Is the committee the way you envisioned it?
HIGAREDA: Alongside the surveys we send out through five star, yes I feel like its a way for the students to incorporate their voices with like a representative for each grade level and it’s an easy way for their ideas to get brought back to ASB so we can incorporate them in our event and what we want to do and it also helps for them tailor specific events for what they want explicitly for their grade levels and make them feel special.
OREA: Do you think the committees have improved from fall to spring?
HIGAREDA: Considering in the fall the only committee that was there was the sophomore one I think this semester how each grade has their own committee and they had an application system and now people are getting more involved, yes again I feel like some of them can improve a little more with hosting more meeting and doing more things for their grade but other than that I think it has improved significantly.
GONZALEZ: Now for you Emi, do you feel that you listen to your committee’s ideas and concerns?
ORALES: I do believe I like listen to my committees ideas and concerns whether if its like in the a meeting im always asking them for their suggestions and also like beyond the meetings we have a group chat where I like constantly ask them like do you guys want this or do you guys believe this is a good event and I also do like voting where I choose to not vote and allow the students to vote so that it like 100 percent reflects on what they want and not what I want.
OREA: What do you enjoy most about leading the committee?
MORALES: What I enjoy most about leading the committee is like seeing the feedback and suggestions from students coming to life, I feel like last year it was mostly like ASB that was like making events for the students but now with the council we actually have the ability to make special events for the specific grade levels and that something I’m proud of.
OREA: Do you think that the meetings are productive? Why or why not?
MORALES: I do believe the meetings are productive because it like really allows us to like sit together in a group and discuss in real time. Like in group chats, like you can discuss, but it’s kind of harder to like really like find like a way to navigate and plan an event but when we’re in person, all the ideas and thoughts can like be formed. So I do think they’re productive.
GONZALEZ: What do you do as class president to make sure you are creating a safe environment for the members that gives them the security needed for them to speak freely?
MORALES: Um, as class president, I think I’m creating a safe environment for students to speak up freely by allowing them to go to groups and like familiarize with like people. And then what I also do is I first allow them to talk in groups and then I have one person from each group talk about what their group discussed. That way, like I know some people might be shy and I don’t want to put them on the spot. So I give them that option to discuss with the team first before actually like saying it out loud.
OREA: Do you and other leaders follow through on plans and commitments to the best of your ability?
MORALES: Yes, we do. Follow through on plans and commitments to our best of our ability. Sometimes events or ideas that students like mention might be like out of our boundaries to like actually create. But I do my best to, like make find the work around or like find an event that’s similar to it. That way, like the students can still implement their ideas. Also, I’m always communicating with them. Like I have to talk to Victor and then I have to talk to Mrs. Silverstein, but when I get like a yes or I get a green light, like I make sure to like instantly start working on it. That way like, we don’t get held back. So, yeah.
GONZALEZ: How do you lead by example in work ethic and attitude?
MORALES: I lead by example in work ethic and attitude by always being the first one to be there and like take out all the materials for students to work on events and help after school. An example of this is like sometimes I put them into groups and then like if they have they need any help, I make sure to help them. And while they’re doing this, I’m also working like behind the scenes, like planning ahead. That way, like I’m not just sitting there and just bossing them around. So I’m actually collaborating with them.
OREA: In what ways do you feel the committee is improving and growing through the year?
MORALES: I think we’ve improved throughout the year because in the fall, everything was still like kind of new, and I didn’t really know how to manage a committee. However, as time progressed, we were able to collaborate more efficiently being able to create more events such as a Bad Bunny Valentine bash.
GONZALEZ: How do you make sure you’re transparent with the members about plans, goals, and decision-making?
MORALES: Um, I let them know all the school rules and allow them to vote on the events they want. I also show them the survey data that we collect so that they are able to improve. And lastly, I communicate through a student committee, Instagram account so that we’re all updated on like the event status.
OREA: How can students contact you?
HIGAREDA: If students have any questions comments and concerns can contact me through my instagram prezzzvictor or if you don’t have Instagram, my email [email protected]
OREA: How about you, how can students contact you.
MORALES: Students can contact me through my instagram account at emiliano_sophomoreprez and if you guys don’t Instagram, you guys can contact me through my email, [email protected] Thank you.
OREA & GONZALEZ: Thank you for joining us on our podcast!
MORALES & HIGAREDA: Thank you for having us!
OREA: Now we are going to be hearing from the members of the committee and what they have to say about student council.
GONZALEZ: Here representing the sophomore student council are sophomores
EMILY FLORES: Emily Flores.
DIANA GRANADOS: Diana Granados.
BRIANA FLORES: Briana Flores.
IVAN RIOS: Ivan Rios.
SAMANTHA MARTINEZ: Samantha Martinez.
OREA: Question for you Emily, how would you describe your experience in the student council so far?
FLORES: I would describe my experience in the student committee as very positive. I’m able to share any ideas I might have for events and everyone works together to improve the ideas in their own ways. It’s a positive environment and I don’t feel judged or criticized for ideas, instead I feel good about sharing them.
GONZALEZ: What do you enjoy most about being in committee?
FLORES: I think what I enjoy most is how involved I am with school events and the opportunity to work with a bunch of classmates that want make events fun and cool and also just being able to share my concerns and ideas very freely. I feel like sometimes there’s environments where you feel a little scared to speak up or express yourself, but I feel I can be very open here.
OREA: For you Diana do you feel the president listens to committee members’ ideas and concerns, specifically yours?
GRANADOS: Um, I feel that the president listens to all council members’ ideas and concerns, even when they may be unrealistic or simplify a different perspective than other members. I think this has been really important since I want to bring in both the positive and negative perspectives from our students. Having a president that understands this and takes all perspectives into account ensures that we as a council constantly have that goal of wanting to improve our school.
GONZALEZ: Do you feel meetings are productive? Why or why not?
GRANADOS: I feel meetings are productive since everyone gets their chance to speak and it doesn’t get hectic or overwhelming as planning events or sharing ideas over text. Having a discussion where we not only discuss ideas but also possible limits and barriers such as issues with funding or promoting our event to sophomores. The most challenging part of council is not knowing what our possible barriers are, which is why it’s so important to talk face to face and establish what rules we have to follow and later build off our ideas off of that, face to face.
OREA: Ivan do you think the president creates an environment where members feel comfortable speaking up?
RIOS: Yes the president was nothing but open to suggestions and he would take into consideration what the council had to say.
GONZALEZ: Do you feel the president follows through on plans and commitments?
RIOS: The president always follows through with his word, and rarely has to make last minute changes but when he does he is very respectful.
OREA: Brianna do you think the president leads by example in work ethic and attitude?
FLORES: Yes he does lead by example. He’s very outgoing and works well with others which are traits everyone in the council should have. He also sets up a very nice environment for us as he’s friendly with everyone and makes sure everyone is included in whatever we’re doing.
GONZALEZ: Has the committee improved throughout the year? In what ways?
FLORES: Yes, I believe the committee has improved so much throughout the year. During the first semester when the committee barely became a thing, we never really had a set foundation or way of making things work so we just went with the flow. As of this semester, everything’s been going so well! We’ve already had an event happen for our grade and have already started brainstorming ideas for upcoming events as well!
OREA: Samatha do you feel the president is transparent about plans, goals, and decision-making?
MARTINEZ: Yes I do feel like the president is transparent about plans, goals, and decision-making mainly because when it comes to making like event ideas and stuff he makes sure to explain our boundaries and what we can and can’t do and as well when it comes to organizing on who get each task we all get our own appropriate task and we are able to complete it by knowing exactly what we’re doing and how we can communicate with others on how we can like complete it more effectively and efficiently.
GONZALEZ: Does the president communicate outside of meetings when necessary?
MARTINEZ: Yes the president is always consistent on communicating with us like on via group chat because we always communicate outside our meetings to be able to talk about oh maybe we can do this or maybe someone can show up and help like in any day so we can finish things on time and he also talks a lot about like budget planning as well on there.
GONZALEZ: If you have further questions feel free to contact Emilano or Victor with any of your questions or concerns.
OREA & GONZALEZ: That’s all for now wizards! Stay tuned for more episodes on the spellbinder. Bye!
