Student life at Princeton Day School is guided by both faculty and student leaders and is the school’s way to focus on expanding opportunities for connection and creativity. This year, the student coheads, Junior Gabby Kratee and Senior Ana Sofia Ramirez, along with Student Life Coordinator Teacher Perry, are taking strides toward fostering a stronger sense of community through creating memorable experiences for students.
Teacher Perry has been working closely with students to enhance their experience as the new student life coordinator. Teacher Perry remarked on the goals for student life at PDS, “The two biggest things right now are trying to get more afternoon and evening student events to build community and a more transparent and nimble club process so that it’s easier for kids to start activities they want to do.” With these objectives in mind, Teacher Perry shared enthusiasm about the passion and engagement of the PDS student body and added, “I think that student life is in a good place because you guys are so passionate.”
The student leaders are playing a key role in shaping this year’s Student Life initiatives. Kratee described her position as “a fulfilling way to give back to our PDS community.” She also emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for students to relax and connect and mentioned, “I love the moments where students can get a break from the stress and anxiety of school and come together to have really fun memories.”
This collaborative approach between faculty and students has already inspired several exciting events. Kratee highlighted plans for a new Upperclassmen bonfire and a Lock-In where students spend the night at school, both of which aim to create meaningful experiences outside of the classroom. “Teacher Perry, Ana, and I have been coming up with so many great ideas for this school year,” Kratee added.
The overarching goal of these efforts is to create vibrant student life initiatives that reflect the interests of the PDS community. With traditional events returning and new ones on the horizon, faculty and student leaders are optimistic about the year ahead. As noted by Kratte, “There are many exciting things to look forward to this year because as a student council we’ve all really tried to be innovative in the way we connect with the student body.”
