Everyday life fosters community spirit – student councils strengthen school engagement in Espoo

The teachers guiding student council activities describe how the theme has been realised through small and large activities in everyday life, where the pupils’ inclusion, shared activities and enjoyment are the focus.

Many schools have improved their community spirit by increasing the number of clubs, recess activities and shared events where pupils can casually meet each other during the school day. Guided recess activities, such as board games, karaoke, gym, crafts, bingo or even napping, have directly addressed pupils’ wishes and provided options for different pupils.

Several schools have also improved their recess equipment and facilities based on feedback from student councils and surveys. Schools have acquired reading materials, games and activities to make attending school more enjoyable.

The student councils have a wealth of ideas, which is reflected in the themed days, dress-up weeks and school-wide competitions organised during the school year. Halloween and Valentine’s Day events, colour weeks, disco nights, film days and talent shows have brought joy to everyday school life and lowered the threshold for participation.

In many schools, classes have participated in shared topical events and competitions, during which individual heats, performances and shared celebrations have fostered a community spirit both within classes and throughout the entire school.

In addition to individual events, student councils focus on listening to pupils and giving them a voice. Student council representatives have gathered feedback from their classes, collaborated with tutor students, youth and community counsellors as well as student welfare services and held joint discussions on what kind of school would be safe and welcoming for everyone.

At the same time, schools have recognised that school engagement is rooted strongly in school culture. Everyday practices, communication and structures can support inclusion and positive interactions and thus strengthen the pupils’ sense of belonging to the school community. This experience is also a key factor in preventing absences.

“This year, the student council at Olarin koulu has focused particularly on strengthening communal activities. We have collaborated with – for example – the community pupils and student welfare services at our school. We have engaged pupils by organising different themed days and events, such as dress-up week and a tasting competition. We have improved recess activities by allowing pupils to vote on the types of team-building activities they would like to see organised during recess as well as the supplies that the school could purchase for recess. The student council and student welfare services have held joint discussions on, for example, what kind of student welfare services do pupils find approachable and how aware pupils are of the student welfare services available”, explain Joel Myllyniemi and Leeni Isoviita, teachers at Olarin koulu.

In the next school year, joint development efforts will continue from a new perspective. The student councils’ selected shared theme for the 2026–2027 school year is promoting an active lifestyle. Once again, the theme offers student councils and school communities the opportunity to foster well-being, inclusion and communality in various situations during the school day while also improving school engagement.