Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1518706
U P P E R S C H O O L Trevor Translates: Student Council by Dr. Natalka Freeland, Upper School English Teacher and Student Council Advisor, and contributor Haerat A., Class of 2024 Trevor's promise—Ambitious academics. Engaged students. Balanced lives—puts student engagement at the center of our school. While we think our faculty, staff, and administration are pretty special, students are at the heart of everything we do, from the student-led tours that welcome new families into our community to the student speakers who send our graduates off to their next adventures on Commencement Day. You can see this ethos in any Trevor classroom, where you'll find students tackling the hands-on work of discussion, debate, and inquiry. You can see it in our clubs, which are founded and led by students pursuing their passions. Above all, you can see it in Trevor's Student Council, which creates a forum for every student to have a voice in the key issues facing our community. The Student Council is democracy in action. It's the only elected body in the Upper School: Each class typically has four representatives, with the 9th- and 10th-grade councilors serving one-year terms, and those elected in their junior year serving until they graduate. In recent elections, candidates have showcased their roles as true representatives of their grades: Leah R. '25 described herself as having a strong voice, and promised to use it on behalf of her classmates who might not feel as comfortable speaking up. Theo Y. '27 highlighted listening and empathy. Haerat A. '24 spoke about the range of students who make up our community, and the importance of including all their perspectives. True to this vision, the Student Council reflects the diverse interests of our student body: The councilors are scholars, athletes, and artists; Trevor "lifers" and newcomers; assertive speakers and more introspective thinkers. They come from all corners of the city (and New Jersey, too!), and from a wide range 26 / TREVOR MAGAZINE WINTER 2023–24