The student senate is basically the “government” of the school who makes important decisions regarding the students and the activities that happen throughout the year.

This year, the spot for Middle School president came in as a tie between Maddie Brown and John Edson. To avoid confrontation or disagreement, the two agreed to be Co-Presidents and work together. The new vice president is Rebekah Champlin. Our 7th grade treasurer is Terry Hammond and our 8th grade treasurer is Megan Oswald. Our last officer is Ryan Goodman as secretary. Last, but not least, a total of 48 representatives from all three grades make the senate complete. A list of the representatives will be posted outside of Ms. Mclellan-Tuck’s room in the Middle School.

In past years, the Senate has organized dances, can-drives, and miscellaneous drives and fund raisers. All of the money raised either goes to the school or is given back to the community.

The most popular activity is always the can-drive. The whole Middle School collects cans or other food items and puts them in the collective boxes, located throughout the school. The cans are then sent to various organizations to give to the people who need them. Usually, the cans are sent to the Rushville Lions Club to be distributed in Christmas baskets all over. Each year, the Middle School has collected between two and three thousand cans, a significant amount more than any other school Ms. Mclellan-Tuck has previously worked at. They even gather more cans that the entire high school. In 2007, they reached a grand total of 3,019 cans. Last year, the goal was to reach 3,000 cans, but due to a lack of students, they totaled 2,924 cans. The cans are collected by grade level, and the grade with the most cans by the end of the year wins a pizza party when the drive is finished. In addition, if the goal is met, several teachers get pied in the face in front of everyone. Last year, the students were the ones who got pied (with parental permission, of course!)

Three or four times out of the year, the senate organizes a dance in the Middle School to raise money. The raisings always goes to local or national charities. Money has gone to both the American Cancer Association and the Red Cross. In 2005, donations were sent to the Jim Tuck Memorial Fund. Proceeds have also been sent to families who have lost their homes in the community and, once, to help pay for the training for a Seeing Eye dog.

Other fund raisers and activities included a Valentine’s Day Present Give-Away. Students pay to have candy or flowers sent to someone special during the school day. On St. Patrick’s Day, they have a contest to see which grade wears the most green. The winners receive candy for their entire class. In the past, to win individual prizes, they had the opportunity to guess how many marshmallows were in the jar filed with Lucky Charms Cereal. The person, who guesses closest, without going over, wins a prize.

The money raised that wasn’t sent to charity, goes to the school. This helps sponsor the moving up ceremony for the eighth graders. In addition, the members of the Student Senate have gone to Seabreeze at the end of almost every year.

During Teacher Appreciation week, the students recognize their faculty and staff along with the teachers. Custodians, bus drivers, teachers’ aids, and cafeteria workers all receive presents with the teachers, to show how much they really mean to the Middle School.

This year, Ms. Mclellan-Tuck hopes to continue their past traditions, as well as create some new ones. She wants to organize a character education/spirit week for the Middle School. She says it will be similar to the high school spirit week; students will show their school spirit and dress up each day of the week. When they dress up, they get a sticker, which can be redeemed at the Office for candy. She also wants to assist Ms. Weissinger with the Bookfair that she is planning on having.

In an E-Mail that Ms. Mclellan-Tuck sent out to all of the teachers, she wrote, “I am very excited about Student Senate and am sure this will be one of the best years yet.”