Leadership council proposes fair to limit stress

By Michelle McKenna
And Ari Gevov
Staff Writers

Leaders of Costa student organizations across campus came together to meet as the Student Leadership Council on Oct. 17 with Mira Costa Principal Ben Dale for their first meeting to discuss student life and how to reduce stress.

SLC began last year as a way for Mira Costa students to have a say in administrative policies. It meets every other Thursday in Dale’s office.

“These students are the top leaders on campus,” Dale said. “I am in awe of their ability.”

The SLC is made up of leaders from groups such as Drama, Model United Nations, Yearbook, La Vista, Student Government, Mustang Morning News and People Achieving Complete Equality. They coordinate events and ideas that aim to affect student life.

“Kids need to learn how to manage their lives so they are not so stressed out between school and their outside lives,” Dale said.

SLC has set goals to implement more technology into student curriculum and help teachers balance out homework to reduce student stress levels.

“Our goal is to create a healthy, student body,” SLC member Jill Thompson said.

Dale brought up the idea of creating a Healthy Living Fair next year to show students how to manage sleeping, eating and homework habits.
SLC and Dale have based their information on student stress levels on the annual California Healthy Kids Survey. The goal of the Healthy Living Fair will be to reduce students’ tendency to focus exclusively on school and teach them to also focus on nutrition and exercise.

Each organization involved in SLC is planning to set up separate booths in which they will be able to discuss different ways to handle pressure and reduce stress.

“We hope that this fair raises awareness for students,” Dale said. “Students shouldn’t be so consumed in the pursuit of getting into the best college. We want to help the students stay healthy.”

SLC and Dale are considering holding the fair on a Saturday. However, according to both SLC and School Site Council, it would be difficult to get students to take part in the event on a weekend.

“I am so overwhelmed with school work that I am open to options in reducing stress,” junior Jaclyn Henn said.