LEADERSHIP | In the Junior School
Student Leadership in the St Paul’s Junior School Written by Rachael Jamieson Newton Deputy Head of Junior School – Welfare and Organisation
In the Junior School we value the voice of our students. Their questions and ideas are central to our passion for inquiry – not just in the classroom, but in the playground too. From Pre-Kindergarten all the way through to Year 6, students in the Junior School have many opportunities to experience leadership. Under the careful guidance of their teachers, these opportunities progressively become more formal as students grow and build their confidence.
Every term, in Years 2 to 6, our students elect Class Captains. These students are leaders amongst their peers and provide assistance to their teachers. The role of Class Captain gives students a practical ‘taste’ of what leadership really means and it is always exciting to induct these students and watch them wear their pins proudly. Students who are passionate about representing the voice of others are often drawn to our Student Representative Council (SRC). Members of this group commit for the whole year and attend weekly meetings. Ms Hinrichsen facilitates this group, giving students the chance to report on behalf of their classmates and discuss issues of importance to Junior School students. The SRC also run a yearly Easter Egg Hunt and the very popular School Disco. Year 6 leadership positions are especially important to the Junior School and the process of applying for one of these roles is robust. Students are required to submit a written application, attend an interview with the Head of Junior School and give a speech in front of both teachers and students. It is a series of tasks many adults would find challenging!
Ben Dwyer: “I especially wanted to be a house leader because I have a passion for Strathdon. I was always told I was good at helping and leading.“ (House Captain – Strathdon) Stella Muscat: “I wanted to help serve our school. My little brother thought I should be a leader because he thinks I’m bossy! I think I’m good at helping people.” (Junior School Prefect) Our Junior School leaders know their role is not about telling people what to do, but about servant leadership. We talk with the students about how Jesus showed us that to be great, we must be servants to all. Our student leaders serve their peers at all times. From the playground, to the classroom, to the Junior School Hall stage, they take part in a range of important duties. From helping to facilitate games in the Infants playground to leading Junior School assemblies and other formal school events, their confidence, and interpersonal and service skills are consistently being tested and strengthened. While juggling the roster of leadership jobs is a challenge, all of the leaders love to help and know that this is appreciated by staff and students. One task they undoubtedly enjoy is canteen duty, where they collect and distribute lunch
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St Paul’s Grammar School
orders. This is an enormous job on Fridays! A welcome sight in the Junior School is a leader in a bright fluro vest leading a long line of eager Infants students all the way to the canteen, coins excitedly clutched in their hands. They are also encouraged to be creative, with their fresh ideas often leading to fun and inventive activities for their peers. The introduction of “Fun Times Fridays” is currently being planned, where leaders will run special activities like dancing, boot camp and soccer for children in the school. Working with the Junior School leaders is a privilege as they build and strengthen their leadership potential. It is wonderful to witness a student who is nervous about public speaking step out onto the stage and out of their comfort zone; to observe a child put aside their own desire to play to serve another; or to see our leaders rally and encourage their house mates at sporting carnivals. The early opportunities to lead that students receive at St Paul’s make a lasting difference in their personal development. It has a powerful impact that does not start and stop at the school gate but flows outward as each student takes what they have learned and carries it with them into their wider community.
