Three seniors from Bridgewater-Raritan High School (BRHS) were appointed to be student representatives in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education (BRRSD BOE). The induction meeting was held at the Wade Administration building on October 8, where student representatives Gianna Callari, Sunny Chen and Isabel Lu were welcomed by the board members.
The ceremony began shortly after 7:30 p.m., beginning with a word from BRRSD superintendent Robert Beers. He provided an update on Respect Week and the activities that were going on across each of the schools in our district, from elementary schools to the high school.
Afterwards, Jennifer Loughran, the vice president of the Board of Education, began the session’s agenda of welcoming the three new student representatives.
Callari, Chen and Lu each went through a selective process in order to be considered for this position. First, each applicant interested in becoming a student representative had to complete an extensive form explaining why they believed that they were a good candidate and how they would be able to provide insight to the board. Next, selected applicants moved onto an interview stage with Mr. Daniel Hemberger, the principal of BRHS. Finally, these three students were selected and were introduced to the board.
Mr. Hemberger expanded on his intentions with these representatives and how he believes they can contribute to board discussions.
“Given the amount of applicants we received for this position, there is a lot of weight in terms of prestige in this position… The student representatives’ input is very useful from my end of things because they’re an extension of our communications team. Student voice is really essential, and they offer insight on things I can improve. There’s 3,000 students and only 300 faculty, so their input is very beneficial,” he said.
Gianna Callari, one of the three representatives, spoke of her enthusiasm.
“I’m very passionate about serving and advocating for my peers, and I hope to use my diverse experiences at this school to ensure every student feels heard. I plan to effectively communicate ideas between the board and the student body, fostering positive changes in our community for current and future students,” she said.
Sunny Chen elaborated on what she hopes to accomplish in this role.
“Students experience the effects of educational policies first hand—thus, their input provides valuable insight into everyday occurrences so the Board of Education can be informed and effectively address them. I would like to focus on accessibility and inclusion, so I hope to be a voice for all BRHS students,” she said.
Isabel Lu reflected on her nomination and spoke to her gratitude.
“I feel honored to be a board representative this year and I just hope to be an advocate for my peers. Bridgewater has given me the space to develop into who I am and I want everyone to feel the same,” she said.
Callari and Chen were also a part of the Student Advisory Council, a group of BRHS representatives that cater specifically to the BRHS community and its needs.
These new representatives will regularly be attending board meetings during the 2024-2025 school year, providing valuable insight from a student perspective. They will be able to speak on the behalf of all students and ensure that students’ voices are heard.
