Student Council’s motto for the 2025-2026 school year is “Savor the Simple.” Whether it’s enjoying a quiet walk home from school, your favorite song, or your dog, this motto reminds us all to slow down a little and enjoy the little things in life that usually would go unnoticed. What really makes “Savor the Simple” so meaningful is that it doesn’t have a singular definition. Instead, each individual can find their own version of the “simple” worth savoring. To see what that looks like in our school, I asked students to share the small things that brighten their day.
“Reading with my dogs in my bed.” ~Alexa Kriesman, 11
“Starbucks” ~Haven Gaustad, 11
“The sun.” ~Harper Urbauer, 9 “My friends.” ~Alana Thomason, 9
“I like little compliments.” ~Jude Starkey, 11
“My friends.” ~Miles Clark, 11 “The gym.” ~Wesley Welch, 11
“My dog.” ~Oliver Ryken, 11 “Me too.” ~Andrew Laughlin, 10
“Good food.” ~Michael Strasberg, 10
“I appreciate Maddox.” ~Tristan Theis, 10
“Teachers.” ~CJ Olschner, 10
“Sunny mornings.” ~Yuki Wallander, 11
“My dogs.” ~Eli Murphy, 11
“Eating oranges in the shower. It doesn’t get very messy because, like, you’re already in the shower. The acidity from the hot water makes your whole shower smell like citrus.” ~Desmond Rietz, 11
“Blasting music with the windows down, driving on mountain roads.” ~Katie Bly Kicklighter, 12
“The 30 minutes of quiet I get before I start school when my siblings are gone.” ~Maream Getlawi, 11
Reading through everyone’s answers, you can see just how different the idea of “savoring the simple” can be. It doesn’t have to be anything big; it’s the little things that make our days better. Take a moment to consider what “Savor the Simple” means to you. What’s one thing that makes your life a little brighter? We’d love it if you add yours in the comments!
