Student voice was the driving force of Calhoun's Lower School Council election process. Rather than running as individuals, our fourth graders chose a cause they are passionate about – from new Lower School sports teams to additional opportunities for homework help – and demonstrated to voters why their position matters.

Throughout the election process, the candidates worked hard to convince the student body to vote for their cause. They created campaign posters promoting their topic of interest and recorded speeches formally introducing themselves. The candidates used the opportunity to appeal directly to voters, with Charlie M. '34, who ran on a platform of increased time at the park, stating, “If you ever feel like park is too short, this is your time to actually say something about it.” At a town hall assembly, the candidates expanded on their stances as they answered questions posed by the student body.

The final part of the process was voting. Students took to the polls to rank the top three causes they would most like to see addressed. Our Lower School team will use the election results to determine the order in which the Council will work on each issue throughout the school year. After tabulating the votes, here are the results:

Council's First Round Priorities

• More park time
• More park equipment 
• Student led clubs + theater club + sports 

Council's Second Round Priorities

• Homework help 
• Lunch changes 
• More time in Specials

The election provided candidates a vehicle to develop their leadership and communication skills, while empowering the entire student body to engage in the democratic process. Moving forward, students on the Council will work in a rotation – ensuring everyone has an equal voice as they work to make a difference in the Lower School community. We're excited to see how the Council collaboratively brings their ideas to life!

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