Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Mixer Brings Student Council Members Together

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School is now home to a much larger student government, with 162 students in grades 6 through 8 serving on the Student Council this school year.

The expanded council follows the addition of sixth grade students and staff at the middle school this fall.

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To help bring that larger group together, the school held a Student Council Mixer on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

After classes ended, students gathered in the middle school auditorium, where co-advisors Kim Pratt and Meghan Wilkinson and the council's 12-member Executive Board led activities and challenges designed to help members get to know one another.

Pratt and Wilkinson explained the purpose of the event in a statement about the program.

"The purpose of the mixer is to build community within our Student Council early on in the year, so members have a better idea of how to serve the school and their peers in their new role. Students will have a chance to participate in icebreakers, team-building, and other leadership training. It is a fun event that involves some wonderful refreshments and treats as well," said Pratt and Wilkinson.

According to the school's account of the event, 140 of the council's 162 members attended that afternoon.

Students rotated through 15-minute sessions that included leadership and public speaking training in the courtyard outside the auditorium, games and challenges inside the auditorium, and snacks and refreshments in the nearby cafeteria.

Danny Higgins, an eighth grader who serves on the Executive Board as treasurer, said the mixer was meant to help students connect.

"We are trying to accomplish an experience so everyone gets to know each other," Higgins said. "Our mixer will help communication skills, public speaking skills and attention skills."

The school's co-advisors later described the event this way: "The Student Council Mixer was lively, with strong student participation, and well attended."

Danny also offered a short review of the afternoon: "It turned out great."