Chelan ASB shares progress report with school board

Tori Carpenter

COURTESY OF ONLY 7 SECONDS

CHELAN – The latest in outreach and in-class projects – including Only 7 Seconds - spearheaded by the Chelan High School Associated Student Body (ASB) were part of a presentation to the bi-monthly meeting of the Lake Chelan School Boar on Oct.14. Senior ASB President Caleb Bertomeu delivered an insightful report on the efforts his team members are devoting toward greater inclusion, communication, and community building.

Bertomeu began by explaining that the ASB runs the student council and includes representatives from all school sports and clubs. The council meets quarterly “as an opportunity to hear from other voices and to get the pulse of the school,” Bertomeu said.

To foster culture at CHS, the ASB follows Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) guidelines.

“We try to highlight everyone’s best abilities,” said Bertomeu. “The class reps format helps encourage students to find their leadership strengths and work towards the goals of the group.”

Only 7 Seconds

The ASB Leadership class met with the Only 7 Seconds organization upon learning that the nonprofit will be part of the CHS curriculum this year. Only 7 Seconds was originally founded in Chelan in March 2018 to address youth loneliness. 

The class met with Tori Carpenter, who joined Only 7 Seconds in October 2023 as the North Central Washington Program Coordinator. 

“We brainstormed ways in which ASB could support the movement from the students’ perspective…to bring the inclusion message to their classmates,” Bertomeu said. 

Recently, Only 7 Seconds gifted the entire student body pink “Because You Matter” shirts to support the school’s October Pink Out! theme.

Concessions management

On the business side, one of ASB’s largest responsibilities involves managing fall and winter sports concessions. 

Bertomeu said this creates the opportunity for sports and clubs to raise funds. The Leadership group schedules weekly rotations of three student groups through the concession process to learn stocking, sales trends, product pricing, and other aspects of a profitable concessions sales system.

Other highlights:

• First Fridays of each month for all-school fun competition between classes. 
• Spirit Days to build community within grades.
• Color Wars, where each class has its designated color for the weekly competition.
• Other color days – Jersey Day, Twin Day - to break up the consistency:

Strategies to build teamwork complement strategies to express individuality.

“I think we can really rebuild the community around here,” said Bertomeu. “We are taking big first steps.”

Bertomeu said he sees many people who are happy to be out at events like the school pep rally. 

“Manson and Chelan coming together for another pep rally was really fun to do,” said Bertomeu. “Even the school resource officers were able to communicate with each other and enjoy the night.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media