Amped Student Government Association Builds School Community and Culture

Since taking office in September, the Amped facilitated Tara High School Student Government Association has worked diligently to make meaningful change on campus. Knowing Humanities Amped’s reputation for developing and supporting young leaders, Tara High School asked for Humanities Amped to manage this elected body of students tasked with making decisions on behalf of their fellow students. With an emphasis on school culture and community, the SGA members are building on the successes of last semester as they look toward what’s coming up this spring.

In order to best serve the multifaceted Tara High School student body, this year’s SGA is composed of two kinds of representatives: class representatives and affinity representatives. The traditional class representatives represent each grade level, while the affinity representatives are students who provide a voice for historically underrepresented groups. The 2024-2025 SGA includes two Latino/Latina student representatives, two Black student representatives, and two LGBTQ+ representatives, with plans to fill the vacancies for an AAPI and an accessibility representative next year.

Following being sworn into office, the SGA members began two major projects: Homecoming, a school culture project, and a series of Listening Circles, a community-building project aimed at better understanding the experiences of English Learner (EL) and immigrant students at Tara High School. For Homecoming, the SGA decorated the halls, threw favors in the Homecoming Parade, hosted a field day, and led the student body in chants and games for the pep rally. For the SGA members, this project was an opportunity to make the environment of the school more amiable and welcoming, so that every student feels like Tara High is a place worth coming to. The English Learner Listening Circles helped to clarify the challenges EL students face, and what supports they need on campus. On February 4, the SGA will extend the work of these listening circles with a National Day of Racial Healing event, continuing to make space for EL and immigrant students to share their experiences and build solidarity with their fellow students.
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In the second half of the Fall semester, the SGA students began a series of trainings on Restorative Justice. Students deepened their understanding of what Restorative Justice is and examined ways in which restorative justice could be further developed and implemented at Tara. Students began to widely brainstorm what are ways they would like for their school to respond in manners that align with the principles of restorative justice more. This training series culminated in an off-campus retreat where the students used forum and image theatre techniques to brainstorm and pull apart two major issues they wanted to address this school year. The students explored the role of power in making change, considering what it means to use power effectively in their roles as leaders on campus. The SGA chose these topics as their focus moving forward: Mental Health and Well Being & Discipline and Culture. The SGA split into two action committees with each committee working on each respective topic.

​The Discipline & Culture committee began by designing and sharing a survey to gather data on students’ perspectives about discipline at school, with the goal of developing a better understanding of what is the disconnect between students' perceptions, administrative actions, and the narrative at large about discipline at Tara. Following reviewing surveys from over 200 students, the SGA students plan on taking more action items and releasing a report about student perceptions of discipline.

The Mental Health Committee is exploring how Tara High School can become a school that prioritizes the mental health conditions of students, teachers, and administration. After making a problem tree to investigate root causes, the students realized that there are systemic issues that impact students’ experiences. This committee of students plans to improve Tara High’s Mental Health environment as a whole through:

1. Training in peer mental health supports so that SGA members can facilitate dialogues around mental health. 

2. Identifying at least four teachers or administrators to be certified as “Get Right” space facilitators. 

3. Holding a series of listening circles where fellow students, teachers, and peers can better understand the mental health issues of one another. 
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By the end of the spring semester, the students hope to have four designated Get Right spaces on Tara High School's campus where students can self-regulate when experiencing difficult emotions or having hard days.

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What's New At Humanities Amped

Fresh Heat Teen Open Mic is back! February 13, 2025 at Mid-City Ballroom, open to all Baton Rouge youth poets.

​Mark your calendars for Family Literacy Night! Join us at Tara High School on February 26, 2025 to celebrate the Freshmen Seminar Students who will present their original children's books centered on the theme of overcoming challenges.

Last semester, we introduced a series of Parent/Family Engagement Circles. These initiatives aim to strengthen the home-school partnership by supporting Tara High students' overall well-being and academic success, while also providing valuable resources and support for families. To learn more about these circles, and for information on upcoming events and resources that can benefit your family, contact LaChanda Harris at [email protected]. ​

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