NSW school leaders share their vision for 2021
Student leaders and captains from several NSW schools have revealed how they hope to make a positive difference at their school for the year ahead.
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Student leaders and captains from several NSW schools have revealed how they hope to make a positive difference at their school for the year ahead.
Caringbah High School, Caringbah
This year, as school leaders of Caringbah High School, on the back of an extraordinarily different year in 2020, we have envisioned the theme ‘Better than ever,” because in 2021, as a school community and SRC, our events are back and going to be better than ever. This year’s SRC theme is one of optimism and positivity, as we look brightly towards what the future can hold for us as individual students and as a school community.
We have a strong focus on mental health and student wellbeing; running events that inspire and excite students, thus allowing them a small break from the monotony of school life. Our major event is a ‘Big Day,’ that we will hold next term, where the school leaders run exciting activities and events for students for half the day.
We want to encourage our fellow students to be empathetic and passionate about helping others, both in the local and broader community. Specifically, we want to make our school more environmentally friendly and we intend to take up initiatives such as Lids 4 Kids and implement Return and Earn bins around the school to affirm that commitment.
Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah
Harry Parker
The vision for Endeavour Sports High School in 2021 is to continue to extend and strengthen our school’s reputation in the broader community, through continuing to improve in both fields of academic and sporting success. One exciting aspect in 2021 is the introduction of HSC tutors being available for year 11 and year 12 students so that they can maximise their opportunities to excel in the classroom and with their studies. 2020, was obviously a difficult period for everyone due to the pandemic halting plans the school had both internally and externally. However, in 2021, the vision of the school will be to continue to strive on our goals of personal best, commitment and respect, to ensure that our school and our community continues to sail honour bound.
Cassandra Brown
The 2021 vision of Endeavour Sports community is to build upon an already flourishing atmosphere, igniting a form of unity throughout the school. It’s taking individual achievements encompassing both sporting and academic that reflect our school values of personal best, commitment and respect. We would choose to celebrate all successes bringing a holistic and family like approach generating support and encouragement for all students who attend. This can be achieved through continuing the implementation of our learning support groups, providing reinforcement and help needed to anyone struggling or wanting extra assistance. It will also be attainable through the extension of using both our skills and our training partners to provide pathways that allow each student to take that one step closer to their goals. With the constant access to our school’s elite facilities it is our complete vision to see each individual grow and develop, and for us to be a stepping stone into their journey of future success.
Georges River College, Peakhurst Campus
School captains Cameron Appleby and Alivia Bridge and school vice-captains Arden-Lee He and Chloe Shayler
After 2020, a paramount goal for the SRC leadership team of Georges River College Peakhurst Campus this year is to create and enhance a comfortable and open learning environment for all students. We are already achieving this through hearing students’ suggestions from a suggestion box located outside our executive staff offices and promoting student voice through weekly learning activities. Making the most of every moment at school has become even more important to us now that we know how quickly everything can change.
Offering and leading a range of events for students to be involved in and take action in is also a priority. As School Captains, we want to leave GRC Peakhurst at the end of this year as the most fantastic learning space that we can. We work collegially with our Student Wellbeing team as well as our school’s Media Crew, Event Crew and Environmental Crew as an example of our coherence as a school community and how each one of us can contribute to making our school the best place it can be. We foster a culture of mutual support that celebrates achievement and nurtures empathy amongst our student body, as leadership opportunities should belong to everybody.
We are also keen on implementing initiatives involving maintaining the school community’s mental health after such a stressful 2020. For example, motivational speakers, youth workers speaking with students about warning signs and tips. With this initiative we hope to equip students with the ability to handle any anxiety or struggles, in order to develop a clear mindset for school work so that they’re able to focus in class and do their best. Earlier this term, we held a day where students were addressed by Daniel Merza (a student wellbeing and leadership specialist) and Kate Fitzsimons (a youth motivational speaker) which enhanced the awareness surrounding mental health. This further demonstrates how our school prioritises our mental wellbeing in support of these valued days that we spend together as staff and students of GRC Peakhurst.
We are looking to challenge each of our peers to push themselves to do better in every subject, try new things and motivate each other to follow our school’s motto which is ‘Creating Your Future’. We will also continue to raise more awareness on societal issues such as discrimination and bullying in our Peak Learning lessons as it is also very important that we make sure that everyone feels safe, as our school is a friendly and safe environment. We see the value in the Peer Mediation program and want to work with staff to ensure this program continues and allows students to work together to solve issues (and at times, ‘disagree respectfully’).
The SRC student leadership team would also like to continue modernising and upgrading our playground facilities. Our General Assistants work tirelessly to make our school grounds so vibrant and a place where students want to be. By upgrading some of the playground facilities, we will create a better learning environment for the students as it will give them a fresh space to study in or even hang out with friends, e.g. the canteen area. We also believe that we need to update some of the learning facilities in the classroom. As we are living in a more contemporary time, we believe that classrooms should be equipped with technology and new appliances to further enhance the learning experience at GRC Peakhurst and we will work with staff to negotiate some options for this.
Something very important to us all in the SRC is our community outreach not only locally but to our World Vision sponsor child Simret. It is so important to support everyone throughout these stressful times so we can all move forward united. Our continued support of Simret and initiatives such as the World’s Greatest Shave in support of the Leukaemia Foundation illustrates the acute sense of empathy that is at the forefront of our community’s shared values. These events that bring our entire school community together are all student led, and have a positive and tangible impact on our school and local community. We look forward to our school’s support of our goals and working on achieving them together!
St Vincent’s College, Potts Point
Co-Captains Holly Beamond and Lily Deerfield:
As the senior student leaders of St Vincent’s, our vision is to strengthen our College, so we can be an inclusive, hopeful and joyful community.
As young women we face many challenges in a culture where respect for women is not yet universal. It is therefore imperative that we work towards building a College environment where we deeply respect each other, can depend on each other during times of hardship and adversity and work towards promoting the rights, freedoms, choices and dignity of all women. With generosity of spirit, we hope to lead through hope, justice, respect and service.
St Johns College Dubbo
Grace Jasprizza, College Captain
My vision for St Johns College embraces our College mission statement ‘Respect, Encourage and Belong.’ For this vision to radiate amongst our school and the school community, it would include students not only striving for academic success but also reaching their full potential as people. This would see them becoming responsible, ethical, spiritual, creative and compassionate members of St Johns College. Our school empowers all students to encompass learning and to achieve their personal best. I believe every student should feel a deep sense of belonging and pride within our school community. Each student has the opportunity to grow in a supportive environment and develop their own values that are reflected through the College motto, ‘Christ is my Light.’ I am excited for the year ahead and I feel privileged and honoured to be part of this journey for 2021.
Thomas Gray, College Captain
The vision I share for the College in 2021 is one of honesty and integrity, strength and unity. We are lucky to lead in a close-knit community that prides itself on supporting one another and big picture thinking. 2021 aims to bring with it genuineness and resilience so that we continue to lead through both triumphs and defeat, in the hopes that we only grow stronger and closer with each day. The overarching goal for the year is to create an experience that envelopes each year group and further creates a sense of community and compassion that emanates throughout the school. Each member of the College flourishes in such unique, beautifully profound ways, and as leaders we must be focused on creating experiences that are everlasting. When this happens, we are met with a passion-fuelled legacy unlike any laid before us. Our future is vivid with the drive and values we aim to instil in those around us. Our future is prolific in the intertwined culture our leaders are creating for the school community. It is through this vision that we will transcend 2021, and ultimately inspire the College community to continue creating greatness.
Lorna Mitchell, Vice-Captain
I would like to be there for youth in Dubbo and give back to the community through involvement with Leader Life and other charities, and allow students to support each other and grow together through participation in their local community. Also, that students can provide a model for members of the community in challenging traditional gender roles and through providing an example of an accepting community that does not isolate or discriminate against young people of diversity.
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