Junior High Youth Board Meets with Nebo School Board of Education - Answer to Wednesday Challenge

Submitted by lana.hiskey on
Junior High Youth Board meets with Nebo School Board of Education
Junior High Youth Board meets with Nebo School Board of Education
Junior High Youth Board meets with Nebo School Board of Education
Junior High Youth Board meets with Nebo School Board of Education
Junior High Youth Board meets with Nebo School Board of Education

The Nebo School Board of Education and Dr. RaShel Shepherd meet with students from each of the high schools and junior high schools on a quarterly basis. Each Youth Board representative is selected by his/her principal to be a spokesperson for their school.

The discussion started with introductions by Nebo School Board members and the junior high students on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The junior high student leaders were asked multiple questions throughout the hour including some of the following questions: 

  • What do you love about your school? Most of the students talked about school spirit, positive teacher interactions, everyone is friendly, and teachers are willing to help and get to know each student individually.
  • What is the number one thing on your mind when you go to school? Most of the students mentioned social engagements and friends. One student mentioned comparisons.
  • What is the best thing that happened today? Unanimously, the students agreed, seeing friends.
  • When asked about their physical education classes, most students said they didn’t like to dress in gym clothes unless it was absolutely necessary for the sport they were playing that day.
  • Is the school meeting your social and emotional needs? The students said yes and that they feel safe at school. Board President, Christine Riley, asked if they had downloaded the SafeUT app on their phone. If the students had not, she asked them to do so now.
  • Other discussions included flex-time, access to teachers, and the term ending before Christmas. When asked about what the students would change about their school, they unanimously agreed to a longer lunch.         

School board member, Rick Ainge, said, “We hear from the parents and teachers. We value their opinions, but more importantly we value the students’ opinions. Our most important focus is on you, students. Speak up and let us know what you like and don’t like.

There was much discussion on the emphasis of the inclusion of everyone, making friends, and showing kindness. The Nebo School Board and the students expressed their appreciation for this back and forth communication.

The Nebo School Board said this Youth Board meeting time is valuable to the Board because they get to hear from the students.

An advantage of these group discussions for students to be heard and to learn from each other. This sharing opportunity promotes friendships between the schools in our Nebo School District that is growing about 500 students yearly with over 36,000 students this year.    

Congratulations to Jane Wilkins for answering this week’s “Where are we Wednesday?” challenge sponsored by Wiggy Wash.

#TheClimb #NeboHero #NeboSchoolDistrict #StudentSuccess #EmpowerStudents #EngageStudents #FocusOnStudents #LoveUTpublicSchools #UtPol #UtEd #ThankATeacher #LoveTeaching

Photos:
Back Row: Nebo School Board of Education
Kristen Betts, Shannon Acor, Rick Ainge, Superintendent Rick Nielsen, Christine Riley, Lisa Rowley, Shauna Warnick, John Taylor

Front Row: Nebo Youth Board
Halle Hall & Rhett Morrison, Springville Junior
Aubri Kirchner & Cooper Evans, Spanish Fork Junior
Blake    Schmaling & Zailee Hargraves, Mapleton Junior
Bentley Myers & Alma Ugarte, Payson Junior
Grace Lindsey & Brennan Reynolds, Salem Junior
and Secondary Director RaShel Shepherd

Attributions
By Lana Hiskey