Ninth Grade Events Committee Unites Freshman Class

Organizing the Ninth Grade Events Committee was a “no-brainer” for class sponsor Ms. Waber: “Last year… I decided it would be fun to form an event committee of 12th graders so that I could plan events not only with student input but allow any students who enjoy planning events to get involved and help out. It was a great success and it was a no-brainer for me to use the same structure for this year's ninth-grade class.” The committee, composed of twelve ninth-grade students, began as a small group, “and then it expanded,” recalls Malik Corbin (9-1). 

Committee member Tess Mullen (9-3) describes a common sentiment shared by many ninth-graders at the beginning of the school year: “some [ninth-graders] were [feeling] outside of the rest of the high school.” The new students felt outcasted by the grades above them and, as a result, held back on participating in school activities. 

Responding to ninth graders’ lack of involvement, the group aims to spur student participation by organizing exciting events planned by and for ninth graders. With several of their recent and upcoming events being fundraisers, they also hope to “lower class dues and help more events in the future,” says Kendal Ryans (9-3), hinting at future, higher-budget plans such as class trips and dances.

This Valentine’s Day, the events committee introduced itself to the school through a bouquet sale, its kickoff fundraiser. For $3, students could buy and send a small bouquet of flowers to a peer. The committee also held a bake sale on Valentine’s Day. A purchase over $5 at the bouquet sale or bake sale entered the student into a raffle to win a teddy bear. “It was a pleasure to watch them work together in a giant group, which, truthfully, they did better than most adults. Their enthusiasm is contagious,” comments Ms. Waber. Their sales of flowery and floury goods were a major success, so much so that the committee members decided to raffle off more teddy bears throughout the month of February.”

With more fundraisers and events to come, the Ninth Grade Events Committee is determined to bring together the freshman class while making their presence felt throughout the building: “This club is going to give people a chance to see how the ninth grade can be involved in school activities,” says Joyce Jimenez (9-2). Through their efforts to unite both the ninth grade and the school, the events committee is effectively strengthening the student body and sense of community at Masterman. According to Tess, “this is something that can bring us together and show that we’re part of the school.”