The Student Body Council (SBC) had its first full year of operation this past academic year, during which SBC officers and members laid an excellent foundation for this important venture in grooming student leaders. According to its bylaws, the goals of the Council are “to teach government, civics and leadership.” These goals were met through a variety of initiatives ranging from service projects to activities that built community within our school. The SBC sponsored fund-raising for our sister school in Dzuwa, Malawi, which runs a feeding program there. Monies were also collected for our annual “baby bottle campaign” which goes to support Mother and Child, a ministry in Portland serving needy families. Another local ministry initiative was to perform music at the neighboring assisted-living residence, Hearthstone. To fulfill its mission to cultivate Christian community within the student body, the SBC organized a series of desserts for the upper school which were sponsored by individual classes and hosted by various SSA families throughout the course of the year. The SBC is under the direction of its faculty advisor, Mrs. Lauri Puttman.