Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Despite not meeting in person for school, the Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School Student Council has kept its momentum.

Lydia Dommel is the art teacher at Mack Benn Jr. Elementary and has headed up the student council for four years with help from other teachers, including Rachel Summers, the music teacher. Even though the school has remained virtual for almost a year, the council has kept going.

“It’s nice to still be able to do something for the kids,” sad Dommel. “We still had a virtual election, and the kids voted online. It’s been our goal to keep doing what we can, and we have been able to do some fun things.”

The council has continued to meet over Zoom on the first and third Fridays of the month to make plans for student contests, fundraisers for prizes for the contests, make helpful videos and other ideas to boost morale in their school.

Before winter break, the students held an ugly holiday sweater art contest and received more than 40 entries. Each group’s winners received a sketchbook, pen set, pencils, a multicultural crayon set, and erasers to continue making their art. The winners included Sky’la Myles from the kindergarten and first grade group, Mariah Wilson from the second and third grade group and Landon Ferrell and Marissa Stoneham from the fourth and fifth grade group.

Currently, the student council is collecting canned cat food for the Suffolk Humane Society through March 12. A box is located in the school’s front lobby to collect donations. Marissa Stoneham, class representative for Ms. Tomaras’ class, and Caitlynn Bass, vice president of the student council, recorded an announcement for the canned cat food drive for the virtual morning announcements.

“I want to thank the girls for being brave in making those announcement videos,” said Dommel. “It really shows a lot of drive and motivation for the school.”

In their meeting on Feb. 19, the council discussed the new things they would do now that the schools will start opening back up in March. Summers plans on helping by editing videos of the students showing what they are bringing in their backpacks, since school will be very different as students can no longer use the water fountains or share supplies. They also discussed their next fundraiser to raise more money for prizes for future student contests.

“I want to say I am so impressed with this student council,” said Garrick Rhoads, principal of Mack Benn Jr. Elementary, at the meeting. “We strive here at Mack Benn for our students to become leaders, and you all are leaders. I’m grateful for all guys, and thank you for helping us make Mack Benn better.”