BEFORE YOU READ | Students in the school and local community have been finding their voices by advocating for change through clubs like GP Students for Change, Students Demand Action, GPN Students United and the GPN Culture and Community team. These clubs aim to enhance the community by focusing on local and state education policy, advocating against gun violence, empowering students to speak up and increasing student involvement at North.
GP Students for Change:
GP Students for Change meets outside of school which allows them to freely take stances on controversial issues that face the community such as their opinion on the most recent school board election. The club has members from both North and South and was founded by North senior Marissa Ford and South senior Isabella Rondini.
After noticing what they viewed as wrong-doings against staff and faculty at North, Ford and Rondini were inspired to voice their opinions on district and state matters.
“This club started at the end of last school year as a result of the mass teacher resignation at North,” Rondini said. “We are beginning to extend our advocacy and work from just within Grosse Pointe to statewide.”
Working in unison, Rondini and the rest of the club are in the process of extending their advocacy from campaigning for the newly elected school board members to looking out for what’s in the best interest of teachers and students alike.
“We hope to make positive changes in the education system,” Rondini said. “We would like equal opportunities and funding for everybody both in the GP School System and the state. We hope for more representation in our curriculum, more job security for our teachers, more safety for students and overall less corruption and hatred within the school system.”
Quick Facts:
What is their main goal?
To make positive changes to the education system by promoting equal opportunities and funding for everyone in the community.
Where do they meet?
Starbucks.
When do they meet?
Weekly or biweekly on Sunday afternoons.
How to join:
Reach out to a member of the club and follow them on Instagram @gpstudents4change.
Students Demand Action:
Students Demand Action is a North club whose main focus is raising awareness about gun violence. Students work together to organize events to educate the community about the dangers of gun violence. Club member, junior Peter Moe believes that educating others about gun safety will result in reduced gun violence.
Currently, the club is working to plan more events centered around educating the school and local community to promote gun safety.
“We’re advocating against gun violence and specifically with that we want to help kids and their mental health and also promote gun safety and the reduction of access to firearms among youth,” Moe said.
The club has already begun spreading the word about gun safety by organizing events that showcase its stance on gun safety, such as wearing orange.
“Well right now we’re having our ‘Wear Orange’ events, there was a new school board election obviously and so with that we worked with some candidates that were supporting that kind of event,” Moe said. “One thing we want to do is get the school to do more events.”
Quick Facts:
What is their main goal?
To advocate against gun violence and educate people on gun safety.
Where do they meet?
Mrs.Grattan’s room B315.
When do they meet?
Every other Tuesday, usually before school, with no set time.
How to join:
Come to a meeting or reach out to board members of the club and follow them on Instagram @studentsdemandgpn.
GPN Students United:
GPN Students United is a North club that welcomes student opinions on important decisions that are made in the school. Creating GPN Students United, seniors Andrew Bernard, Angel Randolph and Jack Ryan want to give students a voice in decisions that impact North students.
After the three of them participated in Summer Youth Dialogues, a program through the University of Michigan, Bernard realized the need for a similar club at North. GPN Students United is currently working on increasing student voice in policy making.
“Right now we’re working on hopefully getting a student to have their own spot on the board,” Bernard said. “That’s a very long-term goal. We want to have student involvement first and our plan is to have these big conferences where students can actually come and voice their issues and stuff like that.”
This club not only fights to give students bigger voices and more involvement in decisions, but it also works on fostering stronger relationships between students and admin.
“We advocate for more student involvement in admin assistance and stuff like that,” Bernard said. “And just more communication between the two groups, the admins being able to tell the students exactly what’s going to happen with each decision. And we don’t want the students to have to do all their own research outside of school to figure out what’s going to affect them.”
Quick Facts:
What is their main goal?
To advocate for freedom of student’s opinions on school decisions.
Where do they meet?
Mr. Bennett’s room B237.
When do they meet?
Every other Wednesday right after school. Meetings go for about 45 minutes to one hour depending on the topic.
How to join:
Go to one of the meetings or reach out to one of the leaders who run the club.
Culture and Community Team:
The Culture and Community team is a North club built around giving students a say in policies, processes and traditions. This team was originally assembled by last year’s Dean of Culture and Community, Kevin Shubnell, but is now advised by this year’s Dean, Robert Johnson.
After receiving teacher recommendations for potential members, this year’s team is made up of 33 students from all four grade levels. Johnson hopes to play a part in allowing this accomplished group of students to be a voice for their peers.
“The overall kind of goal for the Student Culture and Community Team is to bring different kids who are heavily involved in the school and to try and give them a voice in our school processes,” Johnson said.
Last year, the team successfully arranged for Christmas music to be played over the PA during passing time. The north community had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to this addition to their December school day. The group strives to create more traditions like this one to continue to strengthen our school’s culture, according to Johnson.
“I mean some things obviously like with school policies and traditions aren’t going to go away and they won’t go away, and some of them are school, community policies in general,” Johnson said. “But by having that conversation, hopefully, we can take a couple of those ideas that we talked about and see where we can go from there.”
Quick Facts:
What is their main goal?
Unite students by giving them a voice in North policies, processes and traditions.
Where do they meet?
Student collaboration room in the library.
When do they meet?
Once a quarter from 7 a.m.-7:45 a.m.
How to join:
Must be nominated by a teacher to join.
How to create your own club:
- See Mrs.Bonbrisco with the idea for a club.
- Fill out a club form, including an advisor’s signature.
- Return the form to Mrs.Bonbrisco for administrative approval.
- Possible meeting if further information is needed.
Mrs. Bonbrisco – Student Activities Director
“It’s important to know that your voice is heard and that’s what makes North so special. We have a club for everyone and they can choose what type of club they’d like to be in or start a club. So if they’re looking for a role of being an advocate then that gives them a great lead in to be with other people with the same needs.”
(Photo credit: Elissa Singh)
