Student Leadership

Communication with Assistant Principal, Llew Humphries: llewela.humphries@education.vic.gov.au

Communication with Year Five/Six Level Leader, Stacey Bowles: stacey.bowles@education.vic.gov.au

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2024

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

Welcome to our first ever Student Leadership newsletter page. We have got many exciting things planned for our student leaders through the year and we are looking forward to working with them.

At Upwey South PS, we have a range of roles which students can lead. They range from being a School Leader, a Specialist Leader, a House Leader, or a School Wide Positive Behaviour of Learning Leader, the opportunities are great.

USPS School Leaders

On the final day of 2023, our current School Leaders (previously known as School Captains), were announced in front of our whole school at assembly. These students presented a speech to their peers and a range of teachers, and were voted for. Congratulations to all students who put themselves forward and tried their best, we are very proud of the effort you put in. 

I would like to welcome our four School Leaders to the community of Upwey South:

Jack, Eden, Franklin and Mila. 

These four students have already undertaken a couple of roles this year with the most constant one being the raising and lowering of our 3 flags each week. 

SWPBL, House and Specialist Leaders

On February 13th, Miss Bowles sent out a Compass post explaining the other leadership positions, what is required and the expectations for our students. Below is the part of the Compass post which links directly to student leadership:

Student Leadership Positions

In 2024 there are a number of leadership positions that our students are encouraged to apply for. These include: House leaders – 2 students for each house (year 5 and/or year 6 students). School Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning (SWPBL) leaders – 2-4 students (year 5 and/or year 6 students). Specialist leaders – (year 5 and/or year 6 students)      

• Performing Arts – 2 students
• Visual Arts – 2 students
• Science – 2 students
• Auslan – 2 students

The leadership positions are both exciting and challenging, but essentially are a key support to the teachers throughout the course of the year, helping and supporting them with a variety of activities – above and beyond the classroom experience. A written application needs to be submitted for each of the positions that the students would like to apply for. These applications will form the student’s speech. Each student may apply for as many positions as they would like to. 

House leader speeches / applications will be read out in front of the student’s house cohort from year three to six, and the students will then vote for the leaders once all speeches have been read. This will occur on Monday 19th February. 

SWPBL leader speeches will be read out in front of the Year five / six cohort during week four. 

Specialist written applications will be submitted to and read by specialist teaching staff, and the best applications will be discussed and chosen. These applications need to be handed into your child’s classroom teacher by Monday 19th February.

Students have been given some time during their writing lessons to draft speeches, but if you can support your child at home with their applications, that would be beneficial. Focus of these applications should be around: our three school values, what the student can offer their peers and the school community and the reason why this position is important to them. Positions will be filled based upon “the best applicants” and not dependent on gender. We would encourage ALL students to consider applying for at least one leadership role. Once roles and responsibilities have been assigned, students will be presented with their badges and sign a Student Leader Pledge at a school assembly on Thursday 29th February.

Special Leadership Assembly

I am looking forward to celebrating our new leaders at the Special Assembly on Thursday 29th February. This assembly will begin promptly at 2.45pm.

Signing Off from the AP...

Part of my Assistant Principal role will be to work with our student leaders to build their capacity to lead their peers in many different ways. I look forward to meeting with them regularly throughout the term. 

I have enjoyed moving around the school chatting to students, working with different groups and supporting classroom teachers. I hope all families have had a great start to the year and that your children have all settled in smoothly. If you would to be in contact with me, please send an email and I will be in touch. Keep Smiling. 

Llew Humphries