The Student Representative Council (SRC) is a very important student leadership team at OLSH. Each year, representatives are elected by the student body to the SRC. Formation for leadership is an important aspect at OLSH, to prepare the newly elected team to function as people who lead the student body with courage, dignity and respect, as well as through service of the school. At OLSH, the SRC receives this formation at a Retreat Day, which is followed up by their formal commissioning at Mass. Last week, the SRC experienced both important events. Some members of the team reflect below on their Retreat Day:
Becoming an SRC member is important to me because I can be a good role model for OLSH students from Prep to Year 6. I would be a responsible student if I continue to look out for other students. Also it is important to me so I have the opportunity to make this school a better place to learn. I enjoyed the part where Fr Julius explained how to become a better role model and leader in the school and society. I enjoyed the part where he divided us in groups; the school captains, house captains and class captains to write down three things we would achieve when we are a SRC member of 2021. I also enjoyed knowing other SRC members in the upper grades. I learnt that being a member of the SRC is very important because, you have the opportunity to lead other students by example. I also learnt that I myself as a SRC should be caring and responsible person to other students in the school. Most of all I learnt that when we stand as one nothing is impossible. Anthony Vovola, Year 6
I feel that it is important for me to be part of the SRC, so I can learn new things and skills and show other students to be better in how they act in school. I loved the way they were voting and how Father Julius spoke and the advice he gave and the stories he told. I learnt that it’s better to work together than alone and working together you have more ideas. I will remember what Father Julius showed us the video together we stand divided we fall. Nukasa Thomas, Year 6
Being a member of SRC means I have to be a good leader which means I have to have a good character. But it doesn’t mean that I can boss other people to do my job or homework and not follow school rules. And also to help the teachers in class and around the school. During the retreat I learnt that when teams are divided they fail but when they are together they rise up and win. Father Julius also told us that if you become a leader now, in the future you might become a leader. Mikaylah Getzo, Year 6
Being a SCR member is important to me because I get to be a role model to the other students. And also be responsible for their needs. I enjoyed how Father Julius encouraged us to become a good role model to students. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the SRC members and how they work. I loved the food that we ate at the retreat. I learnt that being a SRC member is to be responsible for students around me. I also learned to help other students. Together we stand. Joseph Timan, Year 6
Being a Class Captain is very important to me because as a SRC member I can finally make a difference in the school and in the lives of students. I can lead by example, be a good role model to our younger students and have a positive effect on the student body as a whole. For just like the saying goes, “the best teacher doesn’t teach from the book but the heart”, so also as student leaders we lead from the heart and not just by word. We show love and compassion to others and honour their wishes for us to become their leaders and represent them in the SRC.
The best thing I enjoyed about the SRC retreat was that we were all given very good advice from our beloved teachers and Father Julius. We learned and discovered many interesting things about ourselves as well as about being a leader and what it takes as well as about our responsibilities and most importantly, working together as a unit “United we stand and divided we fall”.
So from now on as part of the SRC, we won’t be the students that we once were. In order to better serve our school as well as our fellow students, we have to become someone else, we have to become something else. We have to strive hard and lead our flock. Just like Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, so too must we lead our school into the year that is 2021. Shadrach Nason, Year 10
Hearing from the others members made me more eager to be part of the SRC. On that day I learned so many things that will be used in my role. But I know that the most important thing is to be honest and to always think positive and not only that but to also put God first, because through Him everything is possible.
The day has taught me a lot. Being a leader does not mean you give orders; it is about responsibility. Being responsible is taking the lead, leading by example, being a good role model, being true to others and oneself, being a good listener, a good communicator, having courage, setting goals, making good decisions, always thinking positive and most of all putting God first in everything you do and all your goals will be achieved. As the Year Ten Class Captain, I am still not that confident to talk in front of the class even though I’ve known most of them since Prep here at OLSH. I am sometimes not always true to others and myself, so as Father Julius was stating the qualities of a leader, courage and honesty being two of them, I reflected on the times that I have not shown these qualities. This has caused me to set myself a personal goal which is to be honest and courageous no matter what others say or think. This has influenced me as a member of the SRC to perform my duties honestly and confidently. Christina Thomas Year 10
Being a member of the SRC makes us feel more responsible for our studies and also our responsibilities around the school. This retreat has taught us that if we stand together as one team or one body, we can definitely with no doubt achieve our goals. We have learnt that with the skills we already possess like being courageous and understanding, these can help us as members of the SRC. This day will be remembered because we learnt that if we are chosen as this year’s leaders, we surely have great things ahead in the future. This retreat experience has made us think and believe in ourselves that we can do this if we stand together and work together. Leon Thomas, Year 11