This year’s Student Government Association (SGA) has expanded to include not only the usual positions of president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, but also two additional positions. The new jobs of the Counselor Ambassadors are designed to support the four officers, as well as help guide the rest of the SGA team, which includes 34 students this semester.

As a whole, this year’s SGA team is working on a variety of new ideas to make 2017 unforgettable. One such event was the recent outdoor movie night on Sept. 24, which featured a double feature of the movies Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Soul Surfer shown on a giant projection screen on the lawn behind the school.

“There was a great turn out. I would say about 50-plus people showed up,” said SGA Vice President Maddie Garrett, who added that the event “brought the community closer together and added a great sense of friendship.” Since SGA spent about $150 to purchase the screen, they plan on having more movie nights in the future.

Their most pressing project is planning this year’s Homecoming, which will be held on Oct. 22. Far more than just putting on a dance, Homecoming involves planning Spirit Week, a Homecoming pep rally and parade, and of course, overseeing the voting for the Homecoming court. “This year’s Homecoming will surpass all past dances because everyone in SGA worked hard, and we were able to come to a conclusion everyone liked,” said SGA President Sophie Kershner.  

The theme for this year’s Homecoming is Welcome to New York. “Decorations will be very unique, including cutouts like a taxi cab photo booth and a newspaper stand,” said SGA member Madison Grimsley, who added that “the tickets will be subway-themed.” As for the Homecoming pep rally, SGA plans to get the student body ready for the event by starting with the cheerleaders walking the halls, followed by the football players, and then the marching band, before finally having the rest of the students make their way to the main gym.  

SGA is also currently working on another annual tradition, the Powderpuff football game on Oct. 19. Involving girls on teams from grades 8-12, the game offers the winners a chance to gloat for the rest of the year.

One new SGA effort this year involves getting more teacher involvement in spirit events, such as having teacher-designated spirit days and teacher-student lunches. “We would like for the teachers and students to build a stronger bond with each other, which would make school more enjoyable,” said SGA member Melanie Stone.

Senior Nicole Kent, one of the new SGA counselor ambassadors, said that later in the year their goal will include “working on Hands on Fluvanna to make it bigger and better, and also trying to get more people.” They are considering giving out a prize to the class with the most spirit points, possibly a field day, something which few students appear likely to turn down, given the chance.