The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted an open forum 4 p.m. Nov. 20 with the deans, combining two student favorites: donuts and the deans. This casual event gave the about 30 attending students the chance to engage with the deans in a relaxed setting, fostering open communication and discussion.
SGA facilitated discussions with students on a range of topics, including common school policies, the new Principals’ breakfast, environmentalism, dress code and school events. The administration aims to host multiple similar open forums each year.
”This event is to facilitate an open forum event for the students to ask their questions. If they can’t be present, the class presidents have already received questions from the students to ask the Deans and Principals,” senior class president Matthew Ruiz said.
“This event is very informative; it was cool to get insight on the Deans’ perspective,” senior Nesibe Kalb-Karakaya said.
Mr. Osmel Rodriguez, Mrs. Natalie Cashman and Mr. Dean Nolle (who introduced himself as “a rose amongst two thorns”) paneled at the event to answer any questions students may have.
Here is a glimpse into the questions that were answered:
Q: Why does the library require students to put their phones in the phone spa?
A: I’m not sure the specific reason, but the librarians have said it’s helped for students to come in and focus. It’s also for the students taking make-up assessments after school.
Q: On days where it gets colder, why aren’t students allowed to wear sweatpants?
A: Mr. Nolle: That’s not going to happen. I’ll go back to UNI, uní meaning one, FORM. I urge you to take a look at the dress up days we have for various weeks and how incredible some of the non-participating outfits are. If you open it up to sweatpants, now you’re opening it up to pajama pants, and leggings, and basketball shorts…uniforms are such an issue at this school and I wish they weren’t.
Q: Why is Thanksgiving break only three days, and would it in the future go back to being a full week?
A: Mr. Nolle: We missed you too much… too much time away.
In all seriousness, we have never had a week off. We actually have an extra day now, normally we would leave Wednesday midday. We used to have a basketball game at noon on that Wednesday.
Q: What was the first car each of you drove?
A:
Mr. Nolle: My first car was a 1972 Ford Pinto. They had fixed the gasoline tank so it wouldn’t blow up. I made the strategic decision to purchase my car from my Algebra teacher, who is currently 86 and I am still friends with to this day…it was a lifelong purchase.
Mrs. Cashman: I had a little red Acura Integra.
Mr. Rodriguez: I don’t remember what my first was, to be honest. My second car was an ‘97 Pontiac Grand Prix. It was a fast car; it was a lot of fun. I’m happy to be alive.
Senior SGA Co-President Mila Bond and senior class president Matthew Ruiz serve donuts to attending students. (Photo/Zoe Horwitz)
