THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 9, 2025 Page 11 Student Government Day in Saugus T wenty-nine Saugus Middle and High Schools students from grades 6 through 11 participated for nearly six hours in Saugus Town Hall last week (May 1), drawing a special audience from some of the best and brightest minds of Saugus local government in the first student Government Day since 2019. The students, broken up into the three elective bodies of Saugus municipal government, held mock meetings for the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee and the Annual Town Meeting. Joining them during the time of the program were the entire Board of Selectmen, two School Committee members and about a dozen Town Meeting members. The town manager, the school superintendent, the town moderator, the Board of Selectmen Chair and the School Committee Chair were all there for the duration of the program. At the outset of the program, the Town Clerk briefed students about the role and duties of the Town Clerk’s Office. There were agendas crafted for the Selectmen and School Committee Meetings and a warrant for the Town Meeting. The students were Garden encouraged to ask questions before and after each of the mock meetings. Student Government Advisor Patricia Prizio, who spent 16 years as a Town Meeting member representing residents of Saugus Precinct 7, organized the program. She received a citation from the student Board of Selectmen as their final order of business. Lunch was provided by the Saugus Business Education Collaborative and Kowloon Restaurant. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) GOVERNMENT DAY | SEE PAGE 12 Club Notes The Saugus Garden Club will host its annual fundraiser next Wednesday at Saugus Town Hall By Laura Eisener M aster flower show judge Kathy Leva will present ideas GETTING A BRIEFING: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta briefed the students before their mock Board of Selectmen’s meeting. TOWN MEETING MENTORING: Town Moderator Stephen N. Doherty offered some advice for students before their mock Town Meeting. TOWN HALL ADVICE: Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree devoted much of his Thursday morning to helping seventh-grader Nicholas Kohr learn the mechanics of briefing selectmen. COACHING THE CHAIR: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta gave some pointers to Bianca Flores on how to preside over her mock selectmen’s meeting. MODERATOR TO MODERATOR: Town Moderator Stephen N. Doherty let eighth-grader Briella Aguero try out his gavel before the opening of the students’ mock Town Meeting. A FUTURE SAUGUS LEADER: Ninth-grader Nicholas Shaw conducted business at his mock School Committee Meeting while the real School Committee Chair, Vincent Serino, stood by to offer guidance. for flower arranging at the Saugus Garden Club’s Annual Fund Raiser, set for 6 p.m. next Wednesday (May 14), in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Kathy is the current president of the Lexington Field & Garden Club, the oldest garden club in the United States. She has long been active in horticultural activities, having participated in the Boston Flower Show, Newport Rhode Island Flower Show and flower shows in Topsfield and Marshfield and at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. There will be a great selection of raffle baskets and light refreshments will be served. On April 16, the Saugus Garden Club had its annual spring luncheon at the Visitor’s Center at Breakheart Reservation. Joyce Venetsanakos was awarded a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Plant-a-Tree Certificate from the Saugus Garden Club for her work in the club, which went well beyond expectations. Other plans for spring include the Saugus Garden Club Plant Sale, which will be June 21 in conjunction with the Saugus Historical Society Strawberry Festival. A FRIENDLY CHAT: Tenth-grader Anigaelle Jean Baptiste receives one-on-one tutoring from Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini. Joyce Venetsanakos received a Plant-a-Tree Certificate from the Saugus Garden Club at their spring luncheon last month. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
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