Student Leadership

Year 10 Peer Support Leaders at Year 7 Camp

Across two days and in two groups, 40 Peer Support leaders from Year 10 attended the Year 7 camps. This was intended as a trial of an idea of expanding the role of Peer Support leaders and strengthen the capabilities of both our leaders and the new students in the school. Overwhelmingly, students felt the initiative was a positive one and an expansion of the program is being considered for 2020.

The Year 10 Peer Support leader experience

At the Year 7 camp at Arrabri, the  Peer Support leaders spent two days with the Year 7s, in separate groups. The idea was to give the Peer Support leaders a larger role apart from the weekly sessions with the Year 7 students.

Personally, I think it was a success. When we got there in the morning, we split into two groups, conducting a particular activity with them. It was a great opportunity to have conversations, get to know the Year 7s and work with students from other Peer Support groups.

The river walk  was another great opportunity to mix with students we didn’t know. Once we got to the river, it got crazy, in the best way. We were all splashing each other and getting absolutely soaked, but what made the largest impression was that we were just a group of girls having a bunch of fun. Our year level or age made no difference. I think it was here that we really befriended the new Year 7s. 

Back at camp, we conducted the leadership speeches and it was amazing to see how many Year 7s were putting their hands up for leadership positions. The Year 10s helped to build their confidence and showed them positive examples of leadership which encouraged our newest students to get involved.  

Once afternoon tea was over, we had some free time, another great opportunity to just hang out with the Year 7s and get to know them before we went back home.

The Peer Support Leaders are now friends with such a large number of Year 7s. I’ve already said hi to so many of them during school and a friend of mine sat with some of them at recess. I think the camp was a really great opportunity to get closer to them because we’re not just their ‘Peer Support Leaders’ now, we’re their friends.

Nisha Makam  (Year 10)

IWD - Breakfast with Level Crossing Project Group

Eighteen students, Sian Sharpe and myself attended a breakfast at the Mentone RSL last Tuesday celebrating IWD. The breakfast gave students from all of the local secondary schools the opportunity to hear from key personnel working on the project, which will commence later this year. Not only were there a variety of guest speakers, but additional staff to sit at each table enabling a more personal experience and more detailed conversation about the vast array of roles required for such a project. Students were able to ask specific questions about the various types of roles and how they might pursue them. Most students were unaware of the diversity of roles.

IWD Assembly at MGSC – Friday March 8

All of our student leaders received their badges at the assembly on Friday. Senior teams also received a presentation from the office representing the Hon. Mark Dreyfus. Former MGSC student, Rianna Turner was our guest speaker, sharing with us her story of going into the construction industry as an engineer. It was interesting to hear her progression from MGSC, not knowing then what she wanted to do, nor really what engineering was, to find herself in her current role.

Wendy Harvey

Director of Student Leadership & Engagement