Student Life

Student Government

Ring Mountain has an active Student Council dedicated to three objectives: (1) “Making a Difference” in the larger community, (2) upholding and improving the atmosphere and facilities at school, and (3) giving students practical experience in electoral government and parliamentary procedure.

Under the Council's motto, “Making a Difference,” Ring Mountain students raised money to adopt a pack of wolves in a sanctuary in northern Wisconsin. More recently they located and “adopted” Jackson House, a rural cooperative shelter in Arkansas housing forty people who lost their homes and possessions to Hurricane Katrina. The Council is sending financial aid raised by the students directly to these families through their shelter.

An example of the Council meeting its second objective is its plan for sharing of the school's playfield among all classes for play activities. The Council invented a flexible informal solution that has worked well.

The Council meets its third objective by ensuring that all students learn to introduce motions, debate and discuss them, and then respect and work with the outcome when the “question” is voted upon. The role of “speaker” rotates, so that every student gets experience conducting a meeting according to parliamentary rules. Council participants learn and practice mutual respect, attentive listening, and appreciation of one another.

Student Officers are elected after a vigorous election campaign each semester, and the Council welcomes additional participation from all interested students.

Student Council is one of many elective-type “Labs” available to Middle School students at Ring Mountain. Members of Grades K through 4 also are welcomed participants.