For adults of a certain age, the words “student council” may bring up fond memories of homecoming and float-building. However, for PORTA Junior High, student council is about much more than homecoming week. PORTA Junior High Student Council (PJHSC) serves the school community year round.
Lora Puckett, the current PJHSC advisor began her work with the group seven years ago, following the previous advisor’s move to a new school district. Puckett, entering her eighth year of leadership, adheres to the Illinois Association of Junior High Student Council’s vision of “develop[ing] the leadership qualities of junior high/middle school students.” When asked about the benefits students gain from developing those leadership qualities, Puckett stated, “learning to believe in yourself by developing leadership skills and being a role model for the students in your class create genuinely positive feelings both for the student council members and the student body as a whole.”
Students who join PJHSC become part of one of the most active student-led organizations outside of sports for junior high students. PORTA students engage in activities such as attending a summer camp at the beautiful Allerton Park in Monticello, IL, as well as two leadership workshops during the school year, and the annual State Convention in April.
Puckett has a personal connection with student council, as her daughter, Ashleigh Smith, a 2016 PORTA graduate, served as a senior staffer at leadership camp while completing an internship with the camp nurse. Puckett, herself, is currently serving her second three-year term as the Adult Director for the Midwest District of Illinois and has also served the last six years as a senior Staffer at the summer leadership camp.
PORTA has a robust history when it comes to serving the state-wide organization, as several students--Wyatt Robinson, Skylar Bumgardner, Addison McMahan, and Anna Foster—were elected as Midwest District Representatives. Puckett remembers the moment Skylar Bumgardner was elected with special pleasure, as Bumgardner was elected in the early years of Puckett’s sponsorship. Puckett noted, “I felt so extremely proud to have had a student of mine from PORTA selected for such an important role in my second year as an advisor.” When considering what she’s learned as the PJHSC sponsor, Puckett tagged learning “that you have to let students have successes and failures to learn to become a great leader” as a critical lesson, but adds, “It can be really difficult to step back when you know from experience something is about to backfire.” In the end, the leadership skills the students learn are absolutely worth it.
Last year, PJHSC sponsored Pack the Place Nights in September; Trick-or-Treated for canned goods to donate to the Menard County Food Pantry in October; hosted a movie night in November; led a Deck The Halls Party in which students decorated their lockers in December; coordinated Spirit Week in January; spent Valentine’s Day at Sunny Acres, which included the student council donating a new calling board for the residents; and held a variety of fund raisers for charity throughout the year. Puckett pointed out that the PJHSC was recognized at the State Convention “for its contribution to the State Wide Service Project, Let It Be Us, an organization that helps foster kids go to summer camp and become adopted.” PJHSC looks forward to an equally busy year this year.
Lora Puckett, the current PJHSC advisor began her work with the group seven years ago, following the previous advisor’s move to a new school district. Puckett, entering her eighth year of leadership, adheres to the Illinois Association of Junior High Student Council’s vision of “develop[ing] the leadership qualities of junior high/middle school students.” When asked about the benefits students gain from developing those leadership qualities, Puckett stated, “learning to believe in yourself by developing leadership skills and being a role model for the students in your class create genuinely positive feelings both for the student council members and the student body as a whole.”
Students who join PJHSC become part of one of the most active student-led organizations outside of sports for junior high students. PORTA students engage in activities such as attending a summer camp at the beautiful Allerton Park in Monticello, IL, as well as two leadership workshops during the school year, and the annual State Convention in April.
Puckett has a personal connection with student council, as her daughter, Ashleigh Smith, a 2016 PORTA graduate, served as a senior staffer at leadership camp while completing an internship with the camp nurse. Puckett, herself, is currently serving her second three-year term as the Adult Director for the Midwest District of Illinois and has also served the last six years as a senior Staffer at the summer leadership camp.
PORTA has a robust history when it comes to serving the state-wide organization, as several students--Wyatt Robinson, Skylar Bumgardner, Addison McMahan, and Anna Foster—were elected as Midwest District Representatives. Puckett remembers the moment Skylar Bumgardner was elected with special pleasure, as Bumgardner was elected in the early years of Puckett’s sponsorship. Puckett noted, “I felt so extremely proud to have had a student of mine from PORTA selected for such an important role in my second year as an advisor.” When considering what she’s learned as the PJHSC sponsor, Puckett tagged learning “that you have to let students have successes and failures to learn to become a great leader” as a critical lesson, but adds, “It can be really difficult to step back when you know from experience something is about to backfire.” In the end, the leadership skills the students learn are absolutely worth it.
Last year, PJHSC sponsored Pack the Place Nights in September; Trick-or-Treated for canned goods to donate to the Menard County Food Pantry in October; hosted a movie night in November; led a Deck The Halls Party in which students decorated their lockers in December; coordinated Spirit Week in January; spent Valentine’s Day at Sunny Acres, which included the student council donating a new calling board for the residents; and held a variety of fund raisers for charity throughout the year. Puckett pointed out that the PJHSC was recognized at the State Convention “for its contribution to the State Wide Service Project, Let It Be Us, an organization that helps foster kids go to summer camp and become adopted.” PJHSC looks forward to an equally busy year this year.