Cairns student leaders: School leaders settle into exciting new roles
The next generation of leaders and school captains is making its mark in Cairns school communities, as the 2023 academic year gets into full swing. Get to know the star students.
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The next generation of student leaders have taken roles in schools all around the Far North, as the 2023 academic year gets into full swing.
School captains across Cairns are embracing leadership in their schools after being selected to represent their peers.
Trinity Anglican School principal Paul Sjogren said having a captain system allowed students to grow and accelerate as leaders.
“Student leadership structures allow the student body to have some ownership and influence over school culture,” he said.
“Student leaders themselves are provided the personal opportunity to improve their skills: communication, problem-solving, team-building, motivating and engaging others.”
Cairns State High School executive principal Christopher Zilm said student leaders were absolutely critical.
“They serve as role models for their peers and have the opportunity to influence their classmates and the school community as a whole,” he said.
“By promoting positive behaviour, leaders help set expectations and encourage their classmates to make positive choices.”
Meet the young leaders of Cairns below:
Michelle George
Age: 17
School: Cairns State High School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Being able to confidently say I did my best to make a difference in my school community and becoming a role model for younger students. The role comes with so many opportunities to reach out to the wider community and meet some amazing leaders.
What are you required to do as school captain?
We often become the bridge between the cohort and teachers, so a lot of our job is listening and trying to implement change. Helping our incredible prefect team run projects and fundraising as well as representing Cairns State High School at events.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
This year I hope to give all our students a platform to come forward with their issues and do my best to make the school community an inclusive environment.
Konstiantyn Volkov
Age: 17
School: Cairns State High School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about being school captain is the fact that your peers have gifted you with their trust to make decisions that will impact their lives. Their faith in you indicates that your previous actions and initiatives were significant. Such trust and responsibly only inspires you to be better.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As a school captain you are obviously required to be a role model that younger peers can look up to, as well as maintaining a warm, welcoming demeanour, so that the students feel safe to share their concerns and opinions. Responsibility that comes with the role is maintaining your image externally, as now you do not only represent yourself, but your also school and its values.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
The goal for this year is to cease the idea of school being a place of misery, instead make it the place that students are keen as beans to go to. The plan is to ignite the school spirit, bring the community together and unite the student body.
My personal goal for this year to inspire others to raise their own bar and find their passions.
Monica Dixon
Age: 17
School: Cairns State High School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about being school captain at Cairns State High school is having the opportunity to work with others and engage in conversations to make the school community a safe and better place for everyone.
What are you required to do as school captain?
My role as school captain is to both represent and provide leadership to the student body. I am required to encourage active participation across all areas in the school community and demonstrate exemplary effort and behaviour to provide a positive role model for students. Additionally, I must work closely with teachers and staff to ensure the school community is a place where every individual feels safe, valued and engaged.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
In 2023, I want to establish a greater sense of school spirit. I hope to do this by organising and assisting in events throughout the year that aim to unite all grades and encourage positive engagement both at school and in the wider community. I want students to say they are proud to be a CSHS Bulldog.
Nelson Alo
Age: 16
School: Cairns State High School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The different perspectives I have to offer to the leadership team and making a positive change for the experience at Cairns High.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Maintain the values in and out of school, while also leading as an authentic example of who I am. It’s important to be true to yourself when given titles like this because there is no one type of person who can be a leader.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
My personal aim for this year is to exemplify the meaning of initiative and authenticity within my own actions. I hope to show and prove this with my actions and accomplishments throughout this year. It’s very important to me that people be genuine to get/be what they want. If I can set an example for this without personally being in their lives, I believe I’ve done a good job.
Benjamin Baker
Age: 17
School: Freshwater Christian College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Having the opportunity to plan and make a noticeable impact in my school to strengthen the community.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Set the vision for the student leadership team and set an active example to the student body of God’s love.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
I want to cultivate a greater understanding of who God is and His word so that my community is equipped to live their lives to the fullest.
Jemma Martel
Age: 16
School: Freshwater Christian College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
To impact students’ lives, not only that, but also the community. I’m excited to be a part of a team that is full of passion to create a difference and shine the light of Christ in everything we achieve this year.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Be a role model that shines the light of Christ and bring glory to Him in everything we do.
Practically, we attend weekly devotions and represent the College effectively at events.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
See organic faith in and around the College become more evident.
Scarlett Van Der Velde
Age: 11
School: Freshwater Christian College (primary school)
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about being school captain is being able to lead our school chapel service. Sometimes we make important speeches.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As school captain, I am required to run chapel, and help out with Prep and Grade 1 students.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
The one thing I want to achieve this year is I want to become a better leader and be more humble.
Harrison Ly
Age: 11
School: Freshwater Christian College (primary school)
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about being school captain is being able to lead and guide my friends and peers in my grade and all of primary. I want to help my peers in their struggles, and show confidence and courage to others by setting a good example for everyone.
What are you required to do as school captain?
To be an exceptional school captain you need to show courage, wisdom, compassion, honour, humility and integrity along with a great kindness and respect to your peers and teachers.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
As a school captain, I want to help others become better with their faith in the Lord Jesus and to become better people.
Libra Aying
Age: 17
School: Peace Lutheran College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
For me, it would be seeing ideas and projects come to life. In the short time that I’ve been a captain, I’ve discovered that a lot of it occurs in the background. The “loud” aspect of your role, like representing at events or speaking at assemblies, is all that people see most of the time. I would say that’s only 5% of it. The other 95% – all of the managing, negotiating and communicating – all of that happens in silence. So, it’s really gratifying seeing people engage with and enjoy something I’ve worked so hard on.
What are you required to do as school captain?
At a baseline level, we’re expected to uphold our school values and be role models to our peers. We’re also the bridge between students and staff in the sense that we’re the voice of the student population. The ability to juggle commitments is also something that we’re required to have. It can be easy to forget that you’re in Year 12 when you’re busy with leadership responsibilities.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
I want to help younger students realise that just because you don’t tick off every single trait that’s expected of a leader doesn’t mean that you can’t be one. I believe we all have something to offer. So, if you’re a student reading this, and are having second thoughts about applying for a leadership role: stop thinking. “Fear is the mind-killer”, and most of the time, you are your own worst enemy. Give it a go because who knows? Things just might go your way.
Serah Merrick
Age: 17
School: Peace Lutheran College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about being a school captain is being able to build positive relationships among students and teachers to further improve the school’s community and culture. And through this, we’re able to strive for our goals, knowing that students and teachers can trust leaders to make an impact with their voices and actions.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As school captain, I am required to strengthen the college’s values, those being peace, excellence, respect, and community. I believe that as a leader I must encourage everyone to be the best version of themselves, always putting their best foot forward. As well as inspiring others to make a change, with the desire to do something and the responsibility to commit. All while having fun of course.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
I want to build strong mindsets among the students at Peace. To advocate the importance of finding out what type of person they want to be and how they can get there. As a student myself, I can understand the difficulty many students feel when questioning their identity inside and outside of school. Thus, I hope that creating a safe and positive school environment can help students learn more about themselves.
Max Erwin, Vice Captain
Age: 17
School: Peace Lutheran College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Most exciting thing about being a captain is being able to be someone that students look up to, as well as representing my peers.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As captains we help with all the activities in and around the school community such as assemblies and Anzac Day Dawn Service. We are also here to support the students in every way we can.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
The one thing I want to achieve is student voice. I want the students to be heard so the school can improve all the little things which can motivate the students.
Sophie Gavin, Vice Captain
Age: 17
School: Peace Lutheran College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
I think the most exciting thing about being a school captain is the change we get to initiate within our school community. Working alongside my fellow captains is inspiring in that bringing together different ideas to create one vision for the school makes it easy to leave our mark on Peace in 2023.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As a school captain, we are required to contribute to weekly assemblies, working alongside the staff leadership team, assist in school events and represent Peace in the wider community. We also are required to achieve certain goals that we as captains create in 2023.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
One thing I wish to achieve for my school this year is promoting student voice. My fellow captains and myself have been at Peace for most of our schooling lives and have seen changes throughout the year. We wish to make it a seamless process to talk to staff about creating positive changes and make Peace the best place it can possibly be.
Mei Iwamura and Hannah Edwards
Ages: 17
School: St Monica’s College
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The most exciting thing about taking on our roles as captains has been having the opportunity to positively impact the lives of our fellow students. We have thoroughly enjoyed our years at St Monica’s College and as captains, our aim is to ensure that all students benefit from their time at school as much as we have, while also paving the way for those who will follow us.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As college captains, we are required to represent our school at various events and functions, model our school values, and advocate on behalf of the student body when making whole-school decisions.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
We want to continue to build our school’s sense of community. Our 2023 initiatives are designed to ensure that all students feel safe, respected, and that they belong.
Carter Peters
Age: 10
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Helping new students settle in so that they love being at our school.
Having the opportunity to represent my school at different events.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Be someone that students can comfortably approach to discuss any issues/ ideas.
Lead fortnightly assembly.
Helping make our school a great place to be.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
Encourage other students to be the best they can be and also make sure we keep participating in lots of community service activities and fundraising for charities
Joanna Kate Male
Age: 11
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
One of the things that is very exciting about being a school captain is the opportunity to have more to do with kids in younger grades. I love helping them out and doing activities with them. We get to assist with the swimming carnivals for the P-12 kids and I can’t wait to see them splashing around and having a good time.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As school captain we get to do lots of different things and are offered any different opportunities. Some of our responsibilities include: speaking at assemblies, giving notices, assisting with younger students’ carnivals, helping display TAS’s four core values (integrity, compassion, curiosity and perseverance) and generally helping around the school
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
This year I want to make the school community a better place. I want kids to know they can come to me or even just hang out and have a chat. I want everyone’s ideas to be heard, and everyone have their say in everything. I want school to be a fun and fair environment that everyone is happy in. I want to inspire and encourage others to be the best they can be and I want everyone to know that I’ll be there if they need a hand or some advice.
Madeleine Springell
Age: 11
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Being able to help and inspire the younger grades and learning to be the best leader I can be.
What are you required to do as school captain?
To help the younger grades and help look after the environment. Teach younger grades about our school community and the school values. Helping at special events by greeting people and making speeches
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
helping the younger grades and helping the school community as much as I can.
Oscar Loveridge
Age: 11
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Being able to help and inspire the younger children to become better people. Teaching younger grades about the importance of the environment.
What are you required to do as school captain?
To make speeches at special events and assemblies. To lead by example and help people who need it at the school. Try to make sure that everyone is having fun and that they are upholding the school values of compassion, integrity, perseverance and curiosity.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To make the school environment an even better one to work, play and learn in. By doing that, it would help both the teaches and the pupils at TAS.
Rebecca Robinson
Age: 17
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
I think the most exciting thing about being a school captain is the ability to help others and to contribute to the future for younger students. With the role comes great responsibility, but what excites me is the idea that alongside my fellow captain, Myuri, we are able to incite positive change within the school community, making the student experience at TAS the best it can possibly be. As both Myuri and I have been at TAS for our entire high school life, we understand the school’s systems very well, and we know what it is like to go through high school here at TAS. This is extremely beneficial, as we know what the highlights are, and how to encourage students to make the most of these opportunities. Additionally, it is extremely exciting for us to have the opportunity to make positive changes.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As school captain, there are opportunities including delivering speeches at assembly, representing the school at various events within the community, and leading the school with pride – specifically upholding the core values of compassion, curiosity, perseverance, and integrity. However, there is an entire part of the role of school captain that lies beneath the surface of the badge. You are a role model of the school, and a figure for younger students to aspire to. This means always being friendly and approachable, having a smile on your face, and trying to interact and form bonds with other students, specifically those in younger grades. Here at TAS, students across the school have a very strong bond, starting in their vertical tutor groups, extending to their house, and then the entire school. There is a wonderful sense of family, and to me, that is extremely important. I wish for all students to feel entirely comfortable to come to me at any time. To me, that means always being a friendly, positive, genuine, and welcoming person.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
I wish to encourage all students to put forward their feedback, their ideas, and their concerns to incite positive change. As a school captain, I wish to be the voice of the student body and bring forth ideas that benefit the entire community. This not only improves the school by making such positive changes, but it also creates a sense of personal responsibility, altering the students’ mindset of their role within the school. If students know their thoughts and feedback will make a difference, they will gain a sense of responsibility to the school, as their ideas have helped build it.
Myuri Gopalapillai
Age: 17
School: Trinity Anglican School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
I think being able to give back to a school that has given me so many opportunities over the past 13 years. Another exciting thing is being the bridge between students and teachers and letting the voice of all students be heard to bring a positive impact to the school. Finally, to be representing TAS at school and wider community events is a real honour.
What are you required to do as school captain?
As school captain I have the opportunity to represent the school at any school or wider community events required, contribute new ideas and motivate other students to do their best and be a positive voice for the student body. I come up with new initiatives, continue traditions and act as a supportive role model to younger students. Finally, captains must have good communication skills and connections with teachers to convey opinions and ideas of positive change.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
One of the biggest things I would like to achieve this year is making the voice of all students heard and continuing the positive impact TAS has had on the wider community. I would really like to continue the Ponytail Project tradition the previous Grade 12s have done successfully. Also, I would really like to support organisations such as the FNQ Hospital Foundation and organise Daffodil Day.
Flynn Smith
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Being a role model to the school community. I also enjoy speaking at assembly.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Organise, motivate and lead the school students while being kind and respectful to my peers and teachers.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To introduce a lunchtime club for students that may be struggling at lunchtime.
Sonny-Ray Wapau
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
I get to help students and introduce students to the school.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Help teachers and set up at assembly and any job that is required of me.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
Help everyone to have the best year at school.
Tora Nicolson
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
You get to help out all the little kids and introduce them to the routines.
What are you required to do as school captain?
You have to assist the teachers and the students and help at assemblies.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
A closer connection with all the students so that they can trust me in helping them.
Tsubaki North
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Helping out the other students and helping with the assemblies.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Always lead by a good example and support my fellow students to try and do their best.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
For everyone at St Francis to strive to do their best, reach their goals and have a fun year.
Hudson Odgers
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Knowing that the younger children look up to me.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Host events and guide others to be respectful and responsible learners and have an enjoyable time at the school.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
Show young children that their small action can have big impacts in good and bad ways and to show that a little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Amika Morinaga
Age: 11
School: St Francis Xavier’s School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
That teachers can rely on me, and they know that I am trustworthy and reliable.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Show good leadership and to be a good role model that students can come to.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To encourage students to know that if they keep trying they can achieve their goals.
Oscar Morris
Age: 11
School: Edge Hill State School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
All the jobs we get to do.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Make the school a better place.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To beautify our school and encourage more wildlife into our school.
Jayme Davies
Age: 10
School: Edge Hill State School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Inspire young students to be their best.
Working with all the teachers and being a good role model to the younger students.
What are you required to do as school captain?
Inspire young students to be their best.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To make the school more environmentally friendly.
Max Burrows
Age: 11
School: Edge Hill State School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
Working with everyone and being part of a team.
What are you required to do as school captain?
To encourage future generations to achieve their goals.
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To participate to the best I can at all our student council events that make our school exciting and fun.
Willow Ingkris-Schroor
Age: 11
School: Edge Hill State School
What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?
The responsibilities and new opportunities
What are you required to do as school captain?
Help to look after our school and to create ideas that will benefit the future. Be the voice of the school
What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?
To make it a fair, friendly and exciting place to learn at
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