Newly elected head monitors Semi Oloko (II) and Tyler Piazza (II) have taken up the mantle as school leaders from outgoing head monitors Avery Park (I) and Mack Makishima (I). Semi is a varsity tennis player, involved with Christian Fellowship and Onyx. Tyler is a varsity cross country and track athlete, a Community Service board member, and was a Class II SGA class rep.
Although the Class II Retreat was abbreviated due to severe weather, the day’s activities still energized class spirit, and Class II students rose to the challenge of running for office. Over the course of two weeks in April, 12 students—self-nominated—each made his or her case to all students and to the faculty, that he or she should be one of the two head monitors for the 2016–2017 year. In their creative and effective speeches, Semi described herself as the parts of a burrito, and Tyler described himself as a meme.
Semi and Tyler are already planning for the 2016–2017 school year. One of their ideas is to appoint a Class II student to each Class IV advisory group (usually made up of five to six students that meet weekly with a faculty advisor). The juniors will meet with the groups about once a month. Semi and Tyler hope this will give Class IV students an opportunity to ask questions about some of the academic milestones coming down the pike—Class IV talks, the critical essay, the U.S History research paper, and January exams.
Being a member of Class I is a leadership position in itself, carrying both influence and responsibility. Semi and Tyler say they are excited about leading their class and uniting the whole student body.