Even though the school provides resources and platforms for students to infuse their own creativity and share feedback, some at Northwest Academy still express dissatisfaction with events such as retreats and dances.
“I feel like a lot of complaints could be avoided if someone would speak up a little more,” said Skye Groves, a NWA junior. “[Students] that are complaining about school events, but are still not getting involved, [it’s] their own fault.”
Groves believes that proactive communication and personal responsibility are crucial when addressing issues at the school. Yet, many students are reluctant to engage in problem solving.
Hadley Pack, NWA’s high school Activities Coordinator, is encouraging students to come to the Student Advisory Forum, a space where they can share ideas for anything related to school activities. The forum meets on Tuesdays in the Plaza conference room.
“My goal is to create opportunities for students and foster [a] relationship with students so that they feel comfortable coming to me and feel like their voice is heard,” said Pack.
The Student Advisory Forum is an opportunity for students to propose ideas for anything, from dances, retreats or lunch events during an unstructured meeting. Pack helps set students up with ways to put their plans into action.
However, Elise Walters, a sophomore who is the only consistent attendee, believes the forum lacks action.
“Students are offered the resources to do something about their complaints,” said Walters, “but even the Student Advisory Forum doesn’t do anything from my perspective.”
Walters feels that students stepping into a leadership role would be a much more effective way to motivate and to include students in activities.
“It would benefit the whole community,” said Walters. “Because students listen to students.”
Groves emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility in driving positive change and urges other students to take action.
“I feel like people have to individually get themselves more involved if they want things to get better,” said Groves, “rather than just assuming someone else is going to do it.”
Walters believes that a student representative from each grade could come to the Student Advisory Forum, in order to form something resembling a Student Council. Those students could gather ideas and feedback from their grade cohort.
“This would encourage students to collaborate more and not force them to go straight to administrators with issues they have,” said Walters. “I know administrators can be intimidating and students can be worried about interacting with them.”
Groves referenced last year’s Homecoming and how students disliked the camping theme despite having chosen it as an example where more people could have spoken up earlier.
“The students voted for it which I think is a really prime example of getting involved but not enough because there weren’t enough advocates against it and everybody hated it,” they said.
Wren Alger, a junior, sees a gap between the complaints and the action taken to combat the dissatisfaction with school events.
“Students get to plan them, [so] there are often some polarizing opinions as to the theme of such events,” said Alger. “But that way, in theory, if there are things that you do or don’t want to see in the event, you have the power to try to make that happen.”
Alger notes that while students voice their opinions about the lack of enjoyment in these activities, many are given resources to implement changes yet fail to take advantage of them.
Some students feel that in-person voting, as opposed to voting online, may be a more effective way to get people to participate in the Student Advisory Forum.
“If [we] vote for the dance [in person] instead of [on] a form, you would have to show up [to the Activities Forum to] fill out a ballot,” said Ziggy Prusiewicz, a freshman.
Reporting by Scarlett Collins, Sasha Greenblatt and Leora Mellor
