Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY- The Student Representatives from Christiansburg High School and Eastern Montgomery High School, Disha Talajia and Aija McHone, presented their school reports to the school board on Sept. 3, 2024.
The Montgomery County Public Schools School Board Meeting started with two of the four student representatives providing their reports to the School Board. First was Christiansburg High School’s representative Disha Talajia, who began by reading the MCPS belief statement.
“MCPS is an innovative educational community,” Talajia read. “We value diversity and we are committed to equity and inclusion. MCPS empowers learners to realize success in an ever-changing global society through collaboration with communities, families, staff and students. MCPS provides a safe engaging learning environment and an international exposure to positive social, emotional and academic experiences.”
The student representative reports aid in helping the MCPS School Board gain a student perspective on how things are going in the schools and what students need in order to succeed and thrive.
In ger report, Talajia discussed the renovations being done to the high school and the significant progress made during the summer break. Talajia said students have handled these changes easily and are excited for the new space. Talajia also reported that despite concerns regarding the new cell phone policy that MCPS put in place over the summer, students have adjusted and received it positively, stating that on the first day 31 phones were confiscated but that number has decreased significantly over the beginning of the school year as students continue to adjust to the policy. Talajia continued her report with updates on the Club Fair, 2nd Annual Festival of the Bands, and September Homecoming Schedule.
The second report was from Aija McHone from Eastern Montgomery High School. McHone reported Eastern Montgomery’s Back to School Night had an amazing turnout and showed that students were excited to start a new year.
“We hope to have the same excitement,” McHone said, “this Thursday (September 5, 2024) in which parents of juniors and seniors will come to learn more about the college world and hear guidance about how to begin the next chapter in their lives.”
McHone highlighted the success of EMHS’s sports teams like golf, cross country, volleyball, football and cheerleading.
McHone then reported that students are currently most dissatisfied with the school lunch options, feeling as though there’s not as much variety as they’d like and that the fruit sometimes has a chemical aftertaste. McHone stated that students are “very grateful for the free lunch program that is offered at our school” because it has helped students, families and the community.
Overall, both student representatives report the school year is off to a great start and students are happy to be back.