Board of Monitors Work to Change School Culture, Plan Events for New Year

Chineme Amechi ‘18, the current Worcester Academy Head Monitor, ran for BOM because she wanted to change the atmosphere of student life at WA. When Chineme first came to this school, she was excited to attend high school sports games, watch the plays and musicals, go to school dances and other events that happen in daily high school life. When she got here, it did not take long to realize that not many kids show up to these events, and it was time to make a change.

This is why one of the main goals the Board of Monitors want to accomplish this year is bringing school spirit. Although WA was lacking in the spirit department, it has improved significantly since the beginning of year. Chineme believes that not having school spirit is a bad habit that the school needs to get rid of.

Another main goal is to change the school’s culture. Some suggest there is a wall between the international and domestic students, and the BOM hopes to break that wall and integrate the two groups. The Board of Monitors believe that there is no reason for there to be a gap between the international and domestic students, and many students agree that it is time to make a change.

So far, the BOM has organized and helped out with many events. They started over the summer and by helping the Ambassadors plan student orientation. Once the school year began, they organized a kick-off assembly to set a positive and spirited tone to the year. There was a neon dance hosted by the BOM, which was a raging success, with students from all grades coming out to have a good time. With Oskee Weekend, they planned a tailgate, with the help of the parents, for the homecoming football game, and a homecoming dance as well. Sebastian Ortiz ‘18, another BOM member, created a hype squad to improve school spirit and to help get a crowd for sports games at school. With the help of Ms. Tucker and Nuestra Voz, the BOM organized a salsa social to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.

Recently, the BOM held an open forum to hear the student’s voices. Students shared what they wanted to change about the school and ideas for the school to improve, and the BOM is working on implementing those changes so that every student at Worcester Academy feels comfortable being at school everyday. BOM members started visiting advisories to have smaller open forums, so that they can hear what every student wants and receive suggestions for what they should do in the future. These were all before the first semester ended, and they have big plans for the upcoming months while we head into the second semester.

In January, one of the biggest event the BOM is hosting this year is the For the Culture Dance. Along with the Multicultural Alliance at school, they are planning a dance in honor of the different cultures the school represents, and is going to invite other schools to come celebrate those cultures with us. The day after the dance, there will be an upper school wide dodgeball tournament to help bring the school spirit. In February, there will be a spirit week, which was heavily requested by the students because there was not one before Oskee weekend.  

The Board of Monitors aim to create a campus and school that every student wants to be a part of. This year, the Worcester Academy student body is in great hands, because every member of the Board of Monitors is working their hardest to make this school the best it can be.