Written By: Alexandra Steyn

This year’s student government is up and running, consistently injecting energy and fun into daily school life and taking on any challenges or issues presented by students. Emily Cheigh ’25 leads the charge as Student Body President, with Nola Coady ’26 backing her up as Student Body Vice President. Together, these two advise individual grades’ student governments on projects, set the agenda for student government meetings, and plan events for the community. Advised by Mr. Kyle, the Dean of Students, student government works many hours a week to improve student life. To learn more about the inner workings of student government, The Rye Crop ventured behind the scenes to discover what student government is currently up to.

Typically, student government meets every Tuesday during clubs with very few exceptions. While the meetings are open to the public and minutes are taken meticulously, many students do not realize such an option exists. This article offers an insight into those highly productive and important meetings. The meeting begins with a discussion of upcoming events requiring student government’s immediate attention, such as the recent Fall Formal. The meeting then transitions to grade-level discussions, which take the majority of the time. Each grade’s student government shares their recent projects, and the Student Body President offers advice when needed. The meeting concludes in one of three ways: upperclassmen mentor lowerclassmen for the remaining time; student government brainstorms projects as a group; or they finish early, having taken care of pressing matters. Outside of the large meetings, individual grades’ governments meet with their deans approximately once a cycle to discuss their ideas in greater depth.

The plans devised in these meetings are then implemented in school, with students completing nearly all the work, planning, and actualization. The concept of a Fall Formal, for example, was entirely a student government initiative and their most recent major project. Due to the funds required for major projects as well as the time and planning, major projects—dances, overnight trips, et cetera—are only implemented two or three times a year, but smaller (yet just as fun) events are planned daily. “Typically, StuGo works on smaller projects, but more of them, so that everyone can have some more fun in their daily lives,” explained Cheigh. “This way, students can enjoy something fun more often.”

However, the few major events they do plan require a significant amount of preparation, and student government works tirelessly to ensure those events are as exciting as possible. For example, the “re-emergence,” as Mr. Kyle called it, of the overnight trip a few years ago resulted from the driven spirit of the sophomore class’ student government. In response to a survey given to students, who were asked about their preferred project for student government, the 10th grade student government jumped headfirst into planning the option most students voted for: an overnight trip. “StuGo did all of the research, checking of appropriate facilities, and getting cost estimates on their own, and then shared those with the grade deans more for approval than anything else,” recalled Mr. Kyle, who at the time was the 10th grade dean. “It was a tremendous amount of student initiative.” Such an undertaking has truly paid off—the sophomore and junior classes now take a yearly overnight trip as an orientation exercise at the beginning of the year—and points to the true essence of Rye Country Day’s student government: a determination to effectively meet students’ hopes in an efficient and exciting manner.

The current student government is certainly making true on their promises. Coady’s use of Club Hub to organize the often confusing club system has been highly helpful to both leaders and members of clubs, and Cheigh’s Fall Formal was a definite, fun-filled success. Another example is the installation of a vending machine in the Athletic Center, a result of the year-long effort of Caroline Stronski ’27, who previously served as 9th Grade Vice President and is now the 10th Grade Vice President. “We’re also happy to see that people are enjoying the vending machine—and the funds it’s bringing in are exciting to see,” Stronski said. The vending machine is a double success; it provides energy and snacks into an often-hungry high schooler’s day and offers a new source of funds for student government. Reflecting on student government’s efforts, Mr. Kyle said, “They have made great strides in enhancing and building spirit in the school community,” and added that it is “very effective.”

However, student government members do not bask long in their achievements before moving on to address the next issue or tackle their next project. Cheigh has a number of projects to enact before she graduates. Her next ideas include guest appearances of other student government members at community meetings to raise student interaction with their governing body, and a school policy that allows the Student Body President and Vice President to delegate funds to grade-level student governments. Stronski hopes to add a drink vending machine as a complement to the vending machine currently installed. These ideas and projects reflect student government’s work ethic and will further enhance school life.

Student government is a relentless source of spirit and joy for the student body. Behind the scenes, members perpetually work to improve school life, fulfill promises made in election speeches, and effectively handle and respond to issues. They act as a liaison between students and administration, continuously strengthening that relationship and ensuring key administrators receive a student perspective. Students’ feedback shapes their initiatives; they focus on events and projects that excite and surprise students and are often met with widespread support. With first semester steadily slipping away, student government has a little over half a year to accomplish all that they hope to. Good luck—your students are rooting for you.