The Student Senate is a program that started three years ago. It was created to give students a voice and help them better understand why schools and districts have certain rules and expectations. It also allows students to share ideas on how to improve both their school and the district as a whole.

The idea for the Student Senate came from observing other schools and districts that had similar programs and saw positive results. Students from every school site attend the meetings. They usually leave around 9:00 or 9:30 in the morning and return around 1:00 in the afternoon. However, if they are part of the Portrait of a Learner group, they stay for the rest of the school day.

During these meetings, students discuss data from surveys, learn about California laws, and share their opinions about school-related topics. Each school is represented, and students also talk about how they were chosen to participate in the program.

The Student Senate helps students make their voices heard and gives them a deeper understanding of topics such as the Portrait of a Learner, school expectations, and district rules. It also allows them to analyze survey data, share feedback, and build stronger student connections.

So, what do students think about the Student Senate? Amy R. says, “I like the Student Senate. It’s very achievable, and we get to talk about our opinions and thoughts, but it does get boring.” Valeria adds, “Yeah, I do like the Student Senate because I get to give my own opinions and thoughts, but I do get bored because sometimes no one talks or communicates.”

Overall, the Student Senate helps both GEMS and the WPUSD district by giving students the opportunity to share their ideas, express their opinions, and work together to make schools better.