Learning at Meadowbank

Mayor for a Day

On Monday 4 August, our school participated in the "Mayor for a Day" event, where school captains from ten schools gathered to engage with local governance and share innovative ideas for community improvement. 

Our school leaders, Lily and Cullen, presented a significant proposal for the establishment of a shared sports field within the Meadowbank Education Precinct, aimed at benefiting both Meadowbank Public School and TAFE students. They articulated the importance of such a facility in promoting health, teamwork, and community spirit among young people. The discussions were vibrant, showcasing the students' understanding of civic responsibility and their ability to collaborate with peers from other schools. 

Overall, the event offered our students a meaningful experience that extended beyond the classroom and inspiring them to continue advocating for positive change in our community. Keep reading below to hear what our school leaders thought of the experience!

Mrs Rehman

From Lily:

Last Monday, Cullen and I went to the council chambers in Top Ryde. We started the day with some updates about Ryde, like how many people live here, the houses, and how the economy is doing. Then we participated in an activity to help the council figure out where they should spend their money for the next ten years! Each school took turns sharing a motion on what we think the council should do.

We learned that it's important for school leaders to know about the community and what people need. They can use that info to ask for things that will help our schools. It was also great to see how schools and the council can work together to make our community better.

At the end of the day, we talked with the mayor and met some new people, which was fun. After all that, we went home feeling happy about what we did!

From Cullen:

Mayor for a Day is a special event where council leaders invite student leaders from different schools to come together. We get to have debates, share our ideas, and learn about what it’s like to be a mayor. When we talk about motions, it means when someone in the community asks for changes to help make our city better.

After this amazing experience, I learned that not everyone gets their ideas heard and that being a mayor is a really tough job. It’s not something a lot of people choose to do because it comes with a lot of responsibility.

At the end of the day, we had morning tea with the mayor, which was really nice. Then we headed back to our schools, feeling proud of what we learned!