As the end of the school year approaches, students look ahead to the next year with excitement. This is especially true for every year’s senior grade, which comes with a multitude of events. Meanwhile, the people who organize the following year’s activities and events are doing the same, each with their own goals and initiatives.
Creating the most successful school year starts with Student Council Senate board interviews.
“With the 44 seniors [on student council] leaving, there’s a bunch of spots opening up, meaning the opportunities for productivity are exponentially larger,” 2026-27 Student Council President Grant Hudson said.
As Senate becomes finalized, members start looking inward on what they believe should be the main goals for the upcoming school year.
“I saw a lot of people this year that kind of took their foot back and thought that they could do less in a way, and I think in the end we all want to do work and we can all do work. So I think one of the main goals for me is to make sure everyone is working, because we can all work together as a team instead of just individuals,” Hudson said.
When looking forward, the council also starts looking at what the challenging aspects of organizing a senior year full of activities and deadlines could look like.
“Palmetto has about 2700 people. It’s hard to appeal to such a large population full of people that sometimes don’t have the same motivation as others, whether it be like going to pep rallies, looking at school in like a fun way, or just enjoying themselves when they come year 2026-2027 I think getting more people involved is very important,” Hudson said.
While Student Council toils away at plans to make senior activities special for the graduating class every year, some people are approaching the end of their special time with the specific graduating class. Lisa Mallard, Student Services chair person, school sponsor and sponsor of the class of 2027, has built a special relationship with this graduating class.
“I have been waiting for this moment. The group that I have, the class of 2027, is just such a fabulous group. All of them are really close, positive, eager to do many things for the school and for the students,” Mallard said.
For a class sponsor, senior year is the climax of all the work that they have done for that specific year. They put time and energy into the students to make sure they have the most successful high school experience. But, that does not mean that they also do not get to have just as much fun with the events.
“When it comes to Panther Prowl, this is do or die time. I have got my war paint on my face, and the kids know that it is on,” Mallard said.
Whether it is administration, students and everyone in between, the upcoming plans for the school year and senior events are a chance for change and excitement among everyone at Miami Palmetto Senior High.
