How to Promote Student Council for Middle Schools

Student councils are excellent community builders in middle schools.

Student councils promote school unity, school activities and strive to improve student life. Students on middle school student councils also get the opportunity to learn leadership and democratic teamwork skills which will stay with them throughout their lives. An essential feature of a student council is to promote the work they do so that all students, faculty and parents know about sales, fundraisers, field trips and public meetings. Promotion can also be a fun activity for members of the student council.

Instructions

1. Create fliers and posters to put up throughout the school. Make sure all-important information is included in the poster, such as the day, time, possible costs and why the event is being held. Use bright colored paper to attract attention. Put these posters around clocks, in stairwells and near any high-traffic areas.

2. Set up an information table before school and at lunchtime. Student council members or volunteers can sit at the table while people file to their classes. Students will find out what student council does and about upcoming student council events. Make sure to create a bright banner advertising the table as the student council table.

3. Advertise and promote student council activities in the school's newsletter or paper. Many schools have a monthly publication which will be an extremely useful in promoting student council activities and objectives. An advertisement would be an effective vehicle to discuss student council events, while a written article would also be an ideal way to get the message across.

4. Make handouts that students to take home with them and placed in locations such as near the bathrooms and cafeteria. Handouts should contain information and contacts that will be helpful. Handouts can also be taken home to parents interested in the student council's goals and activities.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be shy, get the word out there about student council by talking to people.

References

• Michigan Principals: Advertising Ideas
• Bluffton Middle School: The 'STANG Student Council