Student Leadership
Student leadership in the Middle School is centred on the principle of providing the opportunity for all to develop their leadership skills from our entry point in Stage 3 to our exit point at the completion of Stage 4. We achieve this through the use of our school parliament. The parliament sits every second Wednesday. Its role is to develop ideas and plans to make our school a better place for all. Students can choose to participate in parliament in a variety of ways. They can be involved as members of a committee, as regular participants in the debates which take place or if in Stage 4 they can take on a senior leadership role as a minister or shadow minister. The ministers and shadow ministers are chosen by the leaders of the two parties which make up our democracy.
The leaders of the two parties are our School Captains and they are ably assisted by our Vice Captains. The selection of our Middle School Captains is a process which is akin to the being selected for a job. In September of the year preceding the incoming Year 8 students are asked to apply for captaincy positions by filling out a questionnaire. From the responses students are selected for interview. At the same time staff are asked to give references for those students whom they feel would be best for the roles. The selected students are then interviewed by the Director of Middle School and the Stage 4 Patron. At the completion of this process a recommendation is made to the Headmaster who makes a final decision as to who the captains and vice captains (1 of each gender) will be.
In the first week of the new year the leadership team and the Director of Middle School head to Blue Mountains Grammar School for the Heads of Independent Co-Educational Schools student leadership day. On this day these students undertake a variety of activities and workshops which are aimed at further developing their leadership skills. This is a most productive day which allows the team and the Director of Middle School to develop their plans for the year. The captains, with the help of their vice captains, then form their plans for the year and place them before the Middle School for their consideration prior to our polling day. A Government and an Opposition is then chosen and parliament commences sitting. It is expected that parliament will develop new ideas for exciting and interesting activities to take place around the school. These would include but are not limited to, such things as recycling paper, a worm farm and lunchtime sporting events for the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools.
The opportunity to develop leadership skills is important for every student in the Middle School.
Student Leadership in the Senior School
The distinctive feature of the Senior School is to focus on the idea of ‘destiny’ in preparing the students for their future beyond school. Students consider the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being a student in the senior part of the school and how their behaviour and presentation impacts on younger students who look up to them. Being a senior student also means focusing more closely on where life after School might take them. Personal development in the form of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and leadership development particularly through the Peer Support Program, are two important parts of preparing students for the future.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
An important focus for our senior students in preparing them for School leadership is the opportunity provided through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Year 9 are strongly encouraged to complete the Bronze Award. The Duke of Edinburgh Award involves students developing in four areas – Skills, Recreation, Community Service and Outdoor Expedition. Following the completion of the Bronze Award, students can do the Silver and Gold Awards in the following years.
Leadership Training in the Senior School
The greatest focus in developing leadership in all of our students is during the Year 10 Special Program following the completion of the School Certificate in Year 10 and through Peer Support leadership as Year 11 leaders working with Year 7 and Stage 3 students. These programs focus on such things as dealing with personal challenges, overcoming fears, leadership of younger students, group dynamics, models of leadership, leadership in the workforce and community, and peer mentoring.
During the Year 10 Special Program the students complete a two day Peer Support Training Certificate; a job application process including actual job interviews; a Challenge and Leadership Retreat with a range of challenge and initiative activities designed to shift personal boundaries and encourage team work; and an optional Reading Mentoring Course to train senior students to assist younger students with reading.
House and school activities allow our senior students in Years 10-12 to be given opportunities to organise teams, direct and encourage younger students, referee and manage activities and have a direct input into house and school events designed to encourage student involvement, a sense of belonging and student fun and friendship. Year 11 and 12 students who don’t hold School leadership positions may apply for House Captain and Vice-Captain positions.
Two students from Year 11 are also chosen to represent the School on the Gilmore Youth Roundtable – a forum for the youth of the electorate. They meet regularly with their own peers and the School Student leaders to develop ideas to discuss with students from the other school in the electorate.
School Leadership Positions
The selection of our School Leaders is a process which is akin to the being selected for a job. In September of Year 11 students are asked to apply for the following Student Leadership positions – Male and female School captains; male and female School Vice-Captains; and approximately five Student Leader positions. All staff, outgoing Student Leaders and Year 11 are asked to comment on any or all of the applicants in writing. Applicants are then interviewed by a panel comprising the Director of Senior School, Deputy Headmaster and one other staff member. At the completion of this process the interview panel make a recommendation to the Headmaster who makes the final decision and announcement of the School Leaders for the next twelve months beginning from Term Four of Year 11. Each of the School student leaders has specific responsibilities which are determined early in their time as leaders in discussion with the Director of Senior School and in regular meetings.
Our School Leaders attend the Gilmore Youth Forum with the leaders from all the other schools in the Gilmore Electorate. This is a three day retreat which prepares them further for their important responsibilities as leaders in the School and enables them to share ideas with peers from schools in their more immediate area. They also attend the Anglican Schools’ Prefects induction Service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral to provide them with a sense of their role as leaders in an Anglican School.
It is essential that all senior students be given the opportunity to be challenged and to develop their leadership skills in readiness for life after school. Involvement in a wide range of House and School opportunities helps develop strong School leaders and prepares all students for life beyond School.
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