News

Sarah Evans named Student Representative to the School Committee

CHELMSFORD, MA (July 8, 2021) – Rising senior Elizabeth Silva, who spent the 2020-21 academic year as President of the Student Council at Chelmsford High School, was elected to her second term on June 10 for the 2021-22 school year.

Additionally, rising senior Siya Gunda was voted Vice President while Sarah Evans, also a rising senior, was named the Student Representative to the School Committee.

The three student leaders will begin when students return on Wednesday, Sept. 1, but each already has their agenda solidified with an emphasis on redefining student leadership and enhancing communication, outreach and involvement.

As the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed all Student Council activities for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, Ms. Silva, who served as Secretary and was the sole elected member entering the 2020-21 school year, was asked by the Student Council advisors to serve as president. Despite her year’s experience, she was humbled to win the vote for 2021-22.

“When they approached me, I was honored and very glad that they thought of me,” she said. “I loved my role, and I wanted to continue in the role of a leader. I wanted to earn it. I want to help and service all the students at the high school.”

Among the issues Ms. Silva and Ms. Gunda wish to address is to make the Student Council more visible and more of a resource to the many clubs and organizations at the High School, even encouraging clubs to be a resource for one another. “It’s important to reach out to other clubs to bring students together, such as LIME (Leaders In Motion Everywhere), to see if they need assistance.” Ms. Silva said.

Additionally, both Ms. Silva and Ms. Gunda would like to extend the annual CHS Student Leadership Conference, which is expected to return in the spring of 2022, to both the Parker and McCarthy middle school students. “It would make for a nicer transition to the high school,” Ms. Silva noted.

Ms. Gunda is hoping for increased student involvement. Considering students went most of the 2020-21 academic year learning from home, she is hopeful the student body will share her ambition. “My goals by this time next year are to make sure we are able to get everyone involved in accomplishing the events we held last year and more,” she said. “We’re excited to be able accomplish much more this year with the lifted restrictions.”

Ms. Evans sees her new role as an opportunity to bridge a gap between the student body and the School Committee and encourage her classmates to take a role in local politics.

“All CHS students are stakeholders in any decision made by the School Committee, which is why I hold this position in very high importance,” said Ms. Evans. “Good communication and open discussion are both really crucial to our school community. I’m looking forward to the discussions I’ll have as a part of this role, and I’m excited to take on this new responsibility.”

The Chelmsford School Committee hosts its first meeting Tuesday, July 20 at 6 p.m.

About Chelmsford Public Schools

The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential.  This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students.  For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.