Every month, student leadership groups from the eight West Sequoia League (WSL) schools meet to compare and discuss events and experiences.

For the January exchange, five selected students — including seniors Justin Wilson, president, and Bree Ainley, vice president — drove to Firebaugh High School for the meeting, Jan. 24.

“We really go there to interact with the other students and to get to know them, so that we can have conversations with them and know what they do on campus,” leadership adviser Robert Foshee said. “It’s also fun to see what they do for their lunch, what they do for rallies, and what they do for signs.”

Due to fog delays, groups from some schools, such as Fowler High School, were not able to attend the meeting.

When the four attending schools had arrived, the event began with a mixer in order to allow students from different schools to get to know each other.

Inside the Firebaugh library, groups discussed topics such as the WSL Talent Show, winter formal, Sadies and Powder Puff. Each table shared different aspects the schools had in common and also discussed things unique to each school.

Students from Firebaugh led tours of their campus to all visiting schools. Firebaugh senior Jenna Alcorn, a member of the leadership class, spearheaded a tour along with two of her fellow students.

“It’s great to have everyone at our school,” Alcorn said. “We are able to discuss different topics and get ideas from people who are doing similar events. We also get to hear about different schools and what worked or didn’t work out for them.”

Wilson attends these meetings monthly and agrees with Alcorn that input from other schools can be helpful, he said.

“I love that we can take bits and pieces from all the different schools and put them into action to make our events even better,” Wilson said. “Even the little things, like things they do in hallways, can help us pump kids up. Being able to see how other schools run things gives us more than one perspective on the events we hold and how to run them.”

Junior Alexa Gomez, a member of Firebaugh’s leadership team, said she appreciates the events that WSL schools can plan together, such as the league talent show.

“The talent show is one of the things I like best about WSL,” Gomez said. “We all get together to see the best of each of our schools. We discuss the theme and all take part in the process. It’s not just one leadership class; it’s a group of us all with similar goals.”

The Firebaugh leadership adviser, Anthony Catalan, led most of the exchange. He announced that the goal of the gathering is to connect all the leadership teams in the WSL to learn from each other and discuss how to organize better events, he said.

“It’s great to come together and learn all about the differences in our district,” Catalan said. “It’s not about rivalry and sports, but to help each other out. Each school sends representatives that are able to hear and put into action new things at their school. We also want to mix the schools and students.”

The WSL will not hold a meeting in February due to the upcoming talent show, which will present its finale at Fresno Christian on Feb. 17. The next WSL meeting will be held on March 21 at Mendota High School.

For past coverage of WSL leadership meetings, read the Feb. 2, 2010 article, WSL meeting facilitates unity, talent show prep.

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