The Student Government is a spirited, hardworking group of Middle School girls who are devoted to maintaining healthy, fun-filled student life at Hamlin. Comprised of a four position Executive Council (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary), which is made up of only seventh and eighth graders, and one representative from each of the eight Middle School homerooms, each girl plays an integral role in the functioning of this organization. The Executive Council is elected in the spring of the previous year, and homeroom representatives are elected during the fall and spring semesters. One faculty member also serves as the faculty advisor to this organization. Weekly meetings are held on Wednesdays during lunch, but often the girls meet additional mornings or afternoons on an as-needed basis.

The student body President runs each meeting; usually the faculty advisor meets with the President to approve the agenda for each week’s meeting. The Student Government uses this time to plan for upcoming special events, fundraisers, or to prepare for student-run Community meetings. Also, weekly meetings are a forum where homeroom representatives can voice suggestions or concerns from the girls in her homeroom.

Participating in Student Government engenders a sense of leadership and responsibility in each girl as they all learn how to plan and run a meeting, organize a student assembly, help lead Middle School assemblies, help facilitate grade level meetings to discuss topics of interest, make announcements in homeroom, learn how to work within a budget, and learn about the organization and advance planning that it takes to pull off a large scale event. This is a student-centered organization, one where the girls are encouraged to be responsible to as much as possible. While the faculty advisor guides the group with a caring, yet realistic hand, it is important that the girls shoulder an appropriate level of responsibility for each event they undertake.

In addition to the Student Government, many other opportunities for nurturing the girls’ nascent leadership skills are available in the Middle School. The Community Service Club, 8th grade Tour Guide program, Debate Club, Recycling program, sports teams, the Big and Little Sister program, and Dining Hall duty all offer students a chance to cultivate and demonstrate leadership.