Published January 29, 2025
BY RUBY IRANMANESH
Starting this winter, the student senate at Carmel High School aims to give students a greater opportunity to engage in discussions and propose solutions for issues taking place at the high school and in the Carmel Unified School District.
Introduced this year by Associated Student Body president Juliet Norman, the student-led group consists of about 35 CHS students who joined the senate so that they could have a leadership role in school and help contribute to making CHS a better place.
Each member of the senate is nominated by their fifth period classmates or instructors, ensuring that every class at CHS has a voice through the one representative that they chose. Classes additionally voted on one alternate member so that they will consistently be represented in the meetings.
“It is an opportunity for kids to have a voice and get feedback between their fifth periods and our leadership class, and give people an opportunity to have a leadership role,” says CHS Leadership teacher Aubrey Powers.
The senate is scheduled to meet once a month during office hours to discuss issues occurring at the school or in the district so that they can come up with a resolution or petition to present to the board, administration or leadership class. At their first meeting Dec. 5, the senate discussed a climate change proposal that might be presented to the school board.
Norman mainly began the senate to give students not involved in typical school leadership roles an opportunity to take part in a group where they could freely express their thoughts or concerns about the CHS community.
“It’s more so that we get more representation than just the Leadership class, which is [only] 30 kids,” says Norman.
The senate met again Jan. 16 where they planned to work together to come up with helpful solutions and explore other issues brought up by CHS students.
