Students of the Spice Valley Middle School now have a direct line to voice school concerns.

Last week they inducted their first Student Council in a special ceremony held during the morning assembly.

Twenty-seven candidates campaigned and gave speeches to drum up student support last year.

And 19 successfully won seats when practically every student of the school's 304 voted in November elections.

Organisers had originally planned for only five representatives for each of the three school levels.

But student council advisor Dejuanna Burrows said the total was adjusted to allow for two ties and one very close call.

The council's executive members include president Zahra Muhammad of M3, vice-president Shoa Bean of M2, secretary Tiffani Simons of M2, treasurer Jozelle Escolatica of M1, and public relations officer Quincy Caines of M3.

They will meet each Monday in order to set an agenda of student concerns for discussion in a general membership meeting each Thursday.

And some of the issues discussed would then be taken to the school administration.

Thirteen-year-old Zahra said she nominated herself for the council because it would be a good chance to help her peers.

Vice-president Shoa said she ran for similar reasons and went on to say some of the student concerns raised during the campaign included calls for less detention, a more attractive school, and soap in the bathrooms.

As VP, Shoa is the only officer with a confirmed post next year as president.

She had this advice for next year's aspiring candidates: "Keep their heads straight, try not be nervous, just believe that they can do it.''