New student council takes up work at Smiltene Secondary School
Grade 11 student Valters Kvelde has become president of the student council at Smiltene Secondary School in Latvia for the new school year. The Smiltene municipality Youth Council has also been re-elected, now led by Tīna Rieksta.
A new student council has started work for the 2026/2027 school year at Smiltene Secondary School, the largest general education school in Latvia's Smiltene municipality. Grade 11 student Valters Kvelde is the new president, having taken over on 30 October from Amanda Zmičerevska, a Grade 12 student who held the post before. The council is formed by students on a voluntary basis, and one of its aims is to support the school's community life.
Team and election
Last school year Valters served as vice president. His team includes vice president Ērika Šuļja (Grade 11), assembly director Viktorija Golubova (Grade 12), who works with her group on event ideas and organisation, media director Evelīna Rence (Grade 12), creative executive Sanija Strauja (Grade 12) and technical executive director Gustavs Gulbis (Grade 11). All of them had been involved in the council before.
Students in Grades 8–12 can become council members, while the council is elected by students in Grades 7–12 and by teachers. This year Valters and his team were the only candidates for president, so no election was needed: under the council's rules, the existing council approves a sole candidate by majority vote. The first session of the new council took place on 30 October in the municipal building and was streamed live.
Plans
Valters Kvelde told the newspaper Ziemeļlatvija that he wants to make school life more pleasant and appealing and strengthen students' attachment to their school. The first event, a general-knowledge activity called "Mission – Discover Latvia", is set for 16 November. A formal crowning ceremony for the president is planned for 26 November. Monthly "Sports Nights", an aerobics festival and other activities will continue, and the council hopes to involve graduates.
Youth Council
The Smiltene municipality Youth Council, a consultative body set up by the local government to represent young people's interests and involve them in decision-making, was re-elected on 15 October. Tīna Rieksta is its chair and Valters Kvelde her deputy. Other members are Ieva Dreijalte, Gustavs Gulbis, Francis Rauza, Katrīna Ozoliņa, Emīlija Felce and Kristiāna Laganovska.
