Enterprise Students Serve as Legislative Pages

Two outstanding 8th-graders at Enterprise Middle School recently had the opportunity to spend a week at the Washington State Capitol serving as legislative pages. Selected by Senator Perry Dozier, Phoenix Miller and Rosalie Ross gained an inside look at how state government operates and experienced the legislative process firsthand.

During their time in Olympia, Phoenix and Rosalie each created separate mock bills that were debated and voted on by their peers. They also sat in on official Senate committee meetings and had the opportunity to meet Washington State Supreme Court justices.

After returning to the classroom, both students shared their experiences with classmates, bringing real-world insight to their lessons and enriching discussions about government and civic engagement.

Jill Seid, 7th/8th grade Social Students Teacher at EMS, shared: "We talk a lot about government and specifically the legislative process in 8th grade, so sharing about the page program and encouraging students to apply is a huge priority of mine. This is one of a few real-life government experiences students can participate in, apply their learning, and possibly spark an interest in representing their community. To me, it is less about becoming a representative one day, and more about learning the process. I believe we would all benefit from greater understanding of the legislative process and why not start in middle school."