Student Council Members at the sponsored spikeball tournament Photo Credits: Charlie Stumb, Watauga Yearbook
Sophie Parker, Staff Member to The Powderhorn
For one week every September, students are able to put their school spirit on full display. From dressing in their best themed attire, to the much-anticipated Homecoming dance, students at Watauga High School express their love of Spirit Week and all the following activities. But behind all of the planning, decorating, and scheduling is the Student Council, working behind the scenes to ensure the best possible week for the student body.
“They stay here until midnight, 1:00 a.m. sometimes,” said Brittany Maggard, Student Council Advisor. “Then depending on what we get done, they have to come in in the morning, they have to go to the dance and afterwards we have to clean up the dance that night and make it look like it never happened.”
Homecoming week embodies the phrase, “every second counts”. With little down time, much less room for other activities, members of Student Council are fully devoted to their committments to the high school.
“It's very minute by minute and you're always doing things, always on the move and trying figuring things out,” said Keatyn Wuest, Sophomore Class Vice President. “You're checking things, you're preparing things. It's a lot of moving parts.”
Not only do members work tirelessly the week prior, but great deal of time goes to planning and preparing months in advance.
“We started in April and then over the summer we met regularly to talk about themes and timelines,” said Hatherly Armfield, Student Body President. “We go over when signs need to be made, when pep rally music needs to be finished and plans for class, because we're also balancing and and organizing the class every day.”
Armfield has been involved with Student Council since her freshman year, and has had plenty of experience with spirit week preparations. This year, being her last, she was determined to make it fulfill her highest expectations.
“When I came into high school my freshman year, we were still feeling the effects of COVID,” said Armfield.,” said Armfield. “That year we actually couldn't have a Homecoming dance, and that was really hard on the student body. Since then we've kind of worked to build back to what we had before COVID and build back student participation. From my freshman year I would say numbers have doubled, which is really awesome to see.”
Although Spirit Week engagement is on the rise, StuCo is constantly receiving backlash, necessary or not.
“A lot of the time [StuCo members] only hear negative things people are saying,” said Maggard.“ “I think that takes a toll on them as well, which is why it's not necessarily everyone's favorite event but it is our busiest and biggest.”
Unfortunately, Student Council faces much adversity relating to the events they plan, and with all the chaos that is Homecoming week they have to keep their heads up and continue to look forward.
“I think that an appreciation for Student Council has definitely grown from administration in the last few years,” said Armfield. “However, I do feel students don't fully comprehend how much stuff we're dealing with. They just see the things we put out. But there's so much that goes on behind the scenes and that goes into events. Oftentimes, that goes overlooked by our student body.”
It isn't so much words that express gratitude, but the enthusiasm and school pride that students display.
“If they're smiling, they're having fun, and that's a little note that’s appreciated,” said Maggard.
The Student Council will continue to diligently work to put on memorable school events throughout this year and the years to come. Their next big project will be hosting Mr. WHS show, an annual tradition at the high school, where all proceeds will go directly to community members in need.
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