Middle School Creates New Senate Committee

Middle School Seattle Academy Leadership Team (SALT), a student-led leadership team, added a new Senate committee this year. The committee is composed of three 8th grade volunteer students — Harlem Yarbrough, Miles Lipson, and Maggie Seibert — who planned and led bimonthly Senate meetings with representatives from each Middle School advisory (grades 6,7, and 8). These student leaders made a yearlong commitment to serve in the important role of liaison and direct line of communication between leadership and the students themselves.

“We want to make sure sixth and seventh graders know they have a voice, as well,” says Achijah Berry, Middle School Dean of Student Life, who plays an active role in the committee alongside Senate faculty advisors Marie So and Lauren Johansen. Until now, SALT has been an eighth-grade leadership group charged to support the Middle School. “The Senate is a new design to include the sixth and seventh graders in a formal way.”

The committee is a cumulation of the past couple years, and iterations, of SALT’s efforts to best represent middle schoolers. Each year, SALT students are charged with creating and enacting their own initiatives. For some years, this has looked like adding feminine products to all of the bathrooms. In other years, it has taken the form of a physical feedback box. SALT, like leaders across all platforms, sought that direct tie to grade-level input. 

“These initiatives are SALT’s way to leave a mark and make a change, based on what they see as necessary,” Lauren says. “But historically they have come directly from SALT students and haven’t necessarily solicited feedback outside of SALT.”

With a little spark from the Dean of 6th Grade Julie Holstad bringing the idea — the Senate was born. Now, twice a month, advisory representatives from all three grades in the Middle School attend the Senate meetings. The Senate serves as a formal structure to empower students to build and engage in the school community they want and need. 

“The Senate provides a space for Middle School members to share their voices on issues in the community,” Senate leader Miles Lipson (Grade 8) says.

“The Senate is a means to teach middle schoolers how to leverage their voice,” says Lauren, “and how to create productive ways to be heard.”

“This is a space where students learn to advocate for themselves,” says Marie, “It is an avenue for the sixth and seventh graders to speak up for what they want.” 

SALT is modeled off the Upper School Associated Student Body (ASB), but structured differently. It is composed of several committees, including the Senate. It yields large participation each year due to its open enrollment and no-cut policy, whereas ASB uses an election process. SALT and Senate leaders must apply, obtain a faculty recommendation, and interview for the role. 

“The Senate has a lot of potential since it is new,” Senate leader Miles Lipson (Grade 8) says, “but things still need to be done to make it work more effectively. If we make some changes to what we are doing, it will be an inviting and important space — and part of the Middle School experience for future years.”

Leaders also learn practical skills that transfer to life in the Upper School. “All three leaders said they were looking for an opportunity to practice public speaking skills,” says Lauren. Also, the art of running a meeting. “What does it look like to share the mic, and who is talking more than others? Are they talking over each other? How do you run a small group discussion and take notes at the same time?” 

“It is good to get the kids used to always having a way to express their concerns – and they don’t have to wait until they get to high school,” says Marie. “It is good to get used to having this expression as a normal part of their life.” 

Senate leader Maggie Seibert (Grade 8) sums it up well, saying: “The Senate gives students a chance to share their voices and represent the student body's perspectives, which is important to the kids, to feel like they can speak up about something that concerns them at SAAS. The Senate can imagine solutions to perceived flaws in complex ideas and processes, and these representatives, with the help of their grade levels, can accomplish large-scale changes the students deem necessary. As leaders, we have the power to organize those ideas and make changes to systems within the Middle School to foster a stronger sense of community.”

“You don’t have to wait until eighth grade to have a voice,” says Achijah, “you now have a Senate.”