Freedom HS is helping to raise a generation of leaders by placing students in authority positions in their own school. The focus this year seems to be to get more students responsible and involved in the school in many ways, most notably through helping the community.

But how exactly are these students leading the school and getting involved? Who does what in order to keep the rest of the school events running?

To start, Freedom’s student council has regular meetings where students are free to participate and offer ideas along with classmates of all grade levels.

“If students generate the ideas, they are more inclined to buy in,” said former adviser for student council Jodi Evans.

The meetings, guided by senior class officers, and teachers Deanna Webb and Michael Cleffi, take place before school with separate subcommittees meeting at various times in order to focus on specific tasks.

“At Freedom, student council organizes, plans, and hosts events in our school and our community. We aim to get students as involved as much as possible which ensures each event we plan is unique,” said Elizabeth Thomsen, a senior and president of student council.

In a meeting Sept. 24, the student council was focused on selling tickets for the homecoming dance and planning class hall decorations for Spirit Week. But student council goes beyond serving the school.

“Although what we do in school is the central focus of student council, I believe the most important work we do takes place in the community,” Thomsen said.

This year, some changes are being made in order to better help that community. The National Honor Society, led by teacher Dr. Carla Krieger and student president Miriam Siddiqui, is taking over the annual blood drive, which Evans says is modeled after the event already in place at Liberty HS, where National Honor Society plans the blood drive.

“Although student council handed the reins over to NHS for the blood drive, there are a lot of students who are in both clubs, so we will be supporting the NHS to make it even more of a success than it has been in the past,” said adviser Webb.

Moving this responsibility for planning has been applauded by students as well.

“With so much going on, it is crucial that we stay organized and efficient and turning over some responsibilities to other clubs helps us accomplish everything we need to this school year,” Thomsen said.

The hope is to get more people involved in planning service events. and advisors believe that it will help distribute the weight of service, so one organization is not completing all of the work.

“[We’re] giving everybody a part in helping the community,” Evans said.

As to continuing a system of student leadership, the advisers are in favor.

“I believe it is important for students to have a voice, and student council allows them to do that,” Webb said.