Leadership opportunities
Senior Leadership
In late Term 3, Year 11 students apply for the positions of College Captain and College Vice-Captain. The students are interviewed by the Principal and then make a presentation to staff and Year 11 students. Year 11 students and staff then vote for these positions. The College Captain and College Vice-Captain are then announced to the school community at the end of Term 3.
Year 11 students then apply for Prefect positions. Students present to the whole school and voting commences.
Responsibilities of Prefects include:
- establishing a relationship with a Pastoral Care class, which generally includes organising one or more activities with the class and visiting the class weekly
- regular attendance at weekly Prefect meetings, facilitated by two staff members
- planning and organising the Senior Dinner Dance for Year 11 and Year 12 students
- leading and addressing school assemblies
- addressing staff meetings and school tour groups
- attending leadership conferences
- writing articles for the College Newsletter
- assisting at College functions such as acting as guides on Open Days
- speaking at the Annual Awards Assembly
- organising fund-raising activities
- presenting a written report for the College Year Book.
The College Captain and College Vice-Captain attend a JJAMM Leadership Conference in Sydney each year to meet with leaders from other Australian Josephite Schools.
Primarily, the duty of a Prefect is to be a visible role model for other students, to promote harmony within the school community and to maintain the charism of Mary MacKillop, which they do actively during the week of her Feast Day celebration in August. During this week the Prefects plan and organise a variety of whole school lunchtime activities.
Sports Captains
Students are placed in one of four Houses when they begin at the College. The four College Houses – Tappeiner, Tenison, Flora and Alexander are led by a Senior Captain and Vice-Captain who acquire their leadership role on the basis of votes by fellow Senior House members.
Responsibilities include:
- conducting House meetings for the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals
- speaking at Assemblies
- writing reports for the College Newsletter
- organising cheer squads for the Spirit Award
- making formal and informal connections with all year levels.
Music Captains
Music Captains raise the profile of Music in the College and provide organisational assistance with the growing numbers of students involved in vocal and instrumental ensembles. Three Music Captains are selected each year.
Responsibilities include:
- assisting Music staff with events such as the Primary School Music Tours, Concert Evenings and the School Musical
- attendance at School Heads of Music Conferences
- presenting reports at Assemblies and in the College newsletter.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
Each class selects a representative by vote to be part of this Council, giving 12 members from the Senior School. The SRC is formally inducted at the St Joseph’s Day Mass in Term 1.
Responsibilities include:
- regular attendance at meetings facilitated by two teachers
- dialoguing with members of their class to present summaries of meetings and identifying issues of concern to be addresses at following meetings
- dialoguing with the College Leadership Team
- organising fund raising activities
- organising and assisting at the SRC Social
- presenting a written report for the College Year Book
Peer Support Leadership Program
The leadership selection process, a combination of self- nomination, student nomination and teacher nomination, occurs at the end of the Year 10 Peer Support Program, which is undertaken by all Year 10 students as part of their PLP (Personal Learning Plan).
The Year 11 Peer Support Leaders, generally 20-25 in number, meet regularly with Year 8 students throughout their first semester at the College. Two leaders are responsible for a group of 8-10 Year 8 students. Leaders work with a teacher facilitator, however, it is their responsibility to plan the group activities and to debrief after each session.
- regular attendance at planning and debriefing sessions
- conducting activities with Year 8 students as part of their Pastoral Care
- sharing issues of concern about a student with their teacher facilitator
- being a friend to students in their group in the school yard
- assisting at school functions such as the College Open Day and other community functions.
Social Justice Captains
Social Justice Captains promote the concept of social justice within and beyond the school community. This is a new leadership position which will develop throughout 2012.
St Vincent de Paul Society
This group meets to address the needy in our society under the inspiration of Mary MacKillop. It consists of students across all year levels and is voluntary.
Responsibilities include:
- attendance at regular meetings, facilitated by two teachers
- fund-raising activities
- awareness-raising Bread and Fruit Days and Food and Blanket Drives
- presentation of reports and activities at assemblies
- newsletter reports
- assistance with the organization of the St Vincent de Paul Annual Social
- making conference and retreat connections with the SA St Vincent de Paul Society
- organisation of the annual class Christmas Hampers for particular needy families
- invitations to guest speakers
- assistance with Fred’s Van
- assistance with meals for the homeless.
Class Leadership
Learning Assistance Program (LAP)
Senior students are able to participate in the Learning Assistance Program which provides personal and academic support to students who may be challenged in a variety of ways. Their participation involves spending one of their unscheduled lessons each week to mentor a student in a safe learning environment and it can contribute to their Community Service hours at Year 11.
Responsibilities include:
- weekly meetings with a nominated student
- implementing a program
- keeping a record of activities and program evaluations
- meeting with the LAP facilitator.
