Smack! An oversized, orange, foam arrow sticks to the window panel of the door. Suddenly, several Student Council members rush into the classroom. One of them approaches a student, and gets down on one knee. One poem down, hundreds more to go.

For the first time ever, Student Council offered a unique way to spread the Valentine’s Day spirit to all members of the student body, not just to those in a romantic relationship.  Students were able to gift poetry to their friends and significant others for a small price.

Any student friends with Student Council President, senior Ishpaul Bhamber, received a cheery message on his or her Facebook news feed last night:

“Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Student Council will have fun tomorrow,

I hope that you do, too!”

This Valentine’s Day, the fun was heard throughout the Upper School as over 200 poems were read aloud by various Student Council members.

After selling poetry the week before Valentine’s Day, Student Council advisor and English teacher Mr. James Flanigan’s fundraising idea came to life when Student Council members popped into one class after the next to read either romantic or comedic poetry to an unsuspecting student.

While the teachers were warned via e-mail yesterday that their classes might be interrupted, both students and teachers were unsure as to when and how their gifted poems would find the ear of the receiver.

In the midst of a new lesson, a Student Council member entered with bow and arrow in hand, and a special someone was caught off-guard:

“Lauren, my love, my girlfriend, is tall.

I love you so dear, like Falcons baseball.

Your eyes are so bright, as bright as the sun.

Happy Valentine’s Day! You are my homerun.”

Sophomore Lauren Biach, the recipient of the poem written above, said receiving this poem from senior Michael Roberts was a shock.

“I wasn’t expecting it because he had told me he was not sending me a poem. It was funny and cute, brightening my day,” she said.

Bhamber said Student Council’s main intention was to bring a festive spirit to the entire student body, not just those in a relationship.

“Our goal in presenting the poems was to make it as awkward as possible; we used the bows and arrows to [act as] Cupid and bring some love to Saint Stephen’s,” he said.

Forming a complete idea for a fundraiser was only the beginning of the numerous hours Student Council members spent writing and assembling the poems, Bhamber said.

“Once we figured out what we wanted to accomplish and sold the poems, Student Council members spent an immense amount of time putting their poetry skills to the test. Every member wrote over 20 poems, which were then reviewed by Mr. Flanigan and [history teacher and Student Council advisor] Mrs. [Dominique] Craft, but there was a ton of group work as well.”

Student Council sold the poetry in the Lunch Loggia the week prior to Valentine’s Day. Four lines of poetry was just $1. Students also had the option to purchase a “surprise gift” for $4.

Special requests for topics discussed in the poems were fulfilled to the best of the Student Council’s ability while still ensuring that all poems were appropriate for the school setting.