PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Wilmette League has offered this cherished village-wide program for over 50 years, making it one of the longest running programs of its kind in any of the 900 local chapters of the League of Women Voters. It is a 7-week extra-curricular interactive civics program designed for Wilmette 8th graders that typically runs from January through March.
plans this year
The Student Government Leader (SGL) program is back in a scaled-back way for 2022, given the ongoing battle with Covid 19. After its 2021 hiatus, LWV-Wilmette and District 39 are committed to continuing this legacy of offering students this important local civics experience. All program details have been designed to follow current Covid protocols, including 6’ social distancing and masking, but are subject to change.
This year’s program will involve thirty 8th graders from WJHS experiencing the role and responsibilities of local government through the operations of the Wilmette Village Board.
Details of the 2022 SGL course are:
- Kick-Off Meeting for participating Students and Village Board members on Wednesday, January 12th, at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (WJHS Auditorium). Wilmette District 39 Administrators and School Board Members, along with representatives from the Wilmette Park District and the Wilmette Library Board will also attend.
- Four school-day workshops at WJHS Learning Commons.
- Mid-program evening meeting with Village Board Counterparts and observation of Village Board Meeting in action.
- Culminating Mock Board Meetings on Wednesday, March 9th at 4:15-7:00 p.m. at Wilmette Village Hall.
This year’s program will involve thirty 8th graders from WJHS experiencing the role and responsibilities of local government through the operations of the Wilmette Village Board.
Details of the 2022 SGL course are:
- Kick-Off Meeting for participating Students and Village Board members on Wednesday, January 12th, at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (WJHS Auditorium). Wilmette District 39 Administrators and School Board Members, along with representatives from the Wilmette Park District and the Wilmette Library Board will also attend.
- Four school-day workshops at WJHS Learning Commons.
- Mid-program evening meeting with Village Board Counterparts and observation of Village Board Meeting in action.
- Culminating Mock Board Meetings on Wednesday, March 9th at 4:15-7:00 p.m. at Wilmette Village Hall.
highlights from 2020 (a typical year)
Approximately sixty 8th graders studied a variety of community issues, observed government officials at work, and learned how to run a public meeting. The program culminated in student-led mock board meetings televised on Channel 6.
School administrators and teachers provided the opportunity to interface with the students during the school day. Trained League members gave lively lunchtime instructions on Robert’s Rules of Order, the prescribed civil method for meeting management.
Elected and appointed officials from Wilmette District 39, Avoca District 37, SJFX School, Wilmette Village, Wilmette Park District and Wilmette Public Library served as program faculty and partners.
Topics covered in the mock meetings were school nutrition at D39 and 2020 budget at Village Board. Past topics have included capital improvement budgets for the Village; D37’s option of sale or renovation of the Avoca Center; menu offerings in the WJHS cafeteria and the Park District’s Gillson Park lakefront design.
School administrators and teachers provided the opportunity to interface with the students during the school day. Trained League members gave lively lunchtime instructions on Robert’s Rules of Order, the prescribed civil method for meeting management.
Elected and appointed officials from Wilmette District 39, Avoca District 37, SJFX School, Wilmette Village, Wilmette Park District and Wilmette Public Library served as program faculty and partners.
Topics covered in the mock meetings were school nutrition at D39 and 2020 budget at Village Board. Past topics have included capital improvement budgets for the Village; D37’s option of sale or renovation of the Avoca Center; menu offerings in the WJHS cafeteria and the Park District’s Gillson Park lakefront design.
volunteer opportunity
With the resumption of the SGL program, we still need members to volunteer. No experience necessary. Click the button below to sign up.