Wantagh Middle School students learned the importance of civic participation during the third annual Citizens Day on Nov. 12. This year’s theme was “leadership,” which included classroom discussions and activities, as well as voting for student council officers.

The event was coordinated by eighth grade social studies teachers Missy Beckler and Victoria Briguglio. During each lunch period, sixth, seventh and eighth graders voted for their class president and vice president. Like at a real polling place, students checked in, received a ballot, went to a privacy booth, cast their ballots and even received an “I voted” sticker. Before voting took place, each grade level watched campaign speech videos from the candidates. 

In the morning, students discussed the characteristics of a leader and created large posters that ranked leadership qualities. There were also collaborative leadership games. In one, a student was blindfolded and had to put together a puzzle by following the directions of his or her classmates. 

Ms. Briguglio explained that the goal was for students to understand that voting is the cornerstone of civic participation. Ms. Beckler added that Citizens Day prepares them to be active participants in their community, whether it is in school now or in society when they reach voting age. 

“We want students to understand that they have a voice in school,” Ms. Beckler said. “If they want their school to be better and they want the world to be better, they have to take an active role.”