State's student councils meet in Cape Girardeau next year

~ Central High School is seeking host families to keep costs down.

Central High School's Student Senate will play host for the state convention of the Missouri Association of Student Councils in Cape Girardeau next year.

In an attempt to keep costs as low as possible, the Student Senate is seeking families willing to host a visiting student or two for the weekend of March 10 to 12. More than 1,200 high school students from across Missouri will be looking for a place to call home during the convention.

The host families will be responsible for providing breakfasts and one dinner as well as making sure the students have transportation to and from the weekend's events.

There are no restrictions on becoming a host family, said Student Senate president Maggie Limbaugh.

Living with a strange family for a weekend is part of the convention experience, Limbaugh said. "The convention is about interacting with people and getting new ideas," she said.

Host families will get to see what it is like to be in high school now and be a part of the weekend's festivities through their student, Limbaugh said.

Acting as a host family is another way for people to help the community and get involved with the school, she said.

In addition to asking the community to help house visiting students Central's Student Senate is also asking area businesses and community members to donate money to help defray the cost of holding such an enormous event.

The funds will go to pay for leadership activities, such as an obstacle course and a speaker for the convention.

At the state convention last year, Central was elected by the state's student senates to serve as president of the Missouri Association of Student Councils and hold the state convention.

This is the fourth time the Central Student Senate has served as president in the last 25 years. It also served as president in 1982, 1992 and 2002.

People interested in hosting a student or making a contribution should contact advisers Bonnie Strack or Kathy Wright at Central High School, 335-8228.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127