Jonathan Byrne
Student council members pose in front of their presentation table. "The idea of the conference is not just to present, but also obviously to listen to other presentations," adviser Jonathan Byrne said. "We took away some cool ideas from other presenters."
On Feb. 16, 11 Student Association members, including junior Catie Archambeau, accompanied by adviser Jonathan Byrne and activities director Peggy Bonbrisco attended the Regional Student Council Conference at Detroit Marriott Hotel.
Student councils from around the Metro Detroit area showed what they’ve done around their school. SA members presented on how the club recognizes different seasons of the year for students and staff.
Byrne said the goal of the conference was to absorb innovative ideas from other presenters and introduce them to North. In addition, the event allowed advisers from different schools to meet and network.
“It went well,” Byrne said. “We had some students who presented at the conference which means they had a 40-minute-presentation window to engage students from all over Metro Detroit about an idea that they had.”
To maximize student participation, SA payed for the convention fee. Archambeau said this and the conference as a whole were advantageous.
“I think it’s beneficial just because it’s a way to get a ton of student leadership kids together and help realize the impact we actually have and to make us realize the good we’re doing for our communities and for our school,” Archambeau said. “It’s a really good idea to … give out ideas of what other schools are doing so that we could do them in our school as well.”
To attend the state conference in March, SA must be picked by the Michigan Association of Student Councils and Honor Societies. Byrne and Archambeau said they have high hopes for the club to advance.
“One of the things the regional conference does is kind of gets you ready for the state conference because what we presented will hopefully be picked as one of the presentations at the state conference which is a pretty big deal,” he said. “We think our chances are pretty good at being picked, but it’s not guaranteed.”
