The Catholic Leader - 12 November

The Catholic Leader, November 12, 2017

www.catholicleader.com.au

Education + religion

Students raising voices

A PILOT project has given second-

ary students an opportunity to speak

up and “be the change you want

to see …” in schools and colleges

across Brisbane archdiocese.

Initiated by Brisbane Catholic Education’s Stu-

dent Protection Team, five colleges were invited

to take part in the Student Voice Pilot Project.

At the heart of the project are the Student

Voice Champions, six student representatives

from each college who are being guided and

supported throughout the pilot year by a college-

based “staff mentor”.

Essentially, the Student Voice Champions’

role was to represent the interest of students,

voice their concerns and in turn help make

schools a safer, more respectful and caring place

for all students.

Through the pilot project, these initial cham-

pions would build life skills by communicating

with diverse groups; thinking critically and

creatively; networking with peers; engaging in

teamwork; hosting and facilitating discussions;

and presenting their ideas to the college and

BCE’s leadership team.

A one-day workshop entitled Call to Action

– Amp Up your Voice brought together the

champions and their staff mentors from Carmel

College, Thornlands; San Sisto College, Ca-

rina; St Francis College, Crestmead; St Thomas

More College, Sunnybank; and Emmaus Col-

lege, Jimboomba, for the first time.

Facilitated by BCE’s student protection team

and hosted by ResourceLink, the champions

explored questions during the day such as what

does student voices look like in schools right

now; do all students really have a say; what are

the barriers to students having a voice; what

issues are important to students and what does

it take to be a “change-maker”?

Miriel Nyange, a young consultant with the

CREATE Foundation, the national peak advo-

cacy body representing the voices of children

Voices of action:

Call to Action gets a thumbs-up from attendees.

WHEN it comes to cultivating a positive

school culture and academic excellence, the

new principal at Our Lady of the Rosary

School, Caloundra, is leading by example.

Michael Stewart was conferred with a

doctorate from Central Queensland University

at a recent graduation ceremony held at the

Maroochydore RSL.

Dr Stewart, who completed his thesis last

year, said key findings from his research high-

lighted the importance of schools providing a

positive classroom/work environment.

“I have two simple goals, the first is that our

students and staff love coming to this school

and the second is, we all work together to be

awesome,” he said.

He said for this to happen respectful rela-

tions must occur between all members of the

school community.

He recommended staff should use positive

language to nurture relationships because it as-

sisted in the development of a positive school

culture and promoted a sense of belonging

amongst students.

“How successful the school is, depends

on the principal’s ability to unite the school

community in working together to achieve the

school’s goals and vision,” he said.

During his first nine months at Our Lady

of the Rosary School, Dr Stewart has worked

with the dedicated staff to establish high

expectations and a positive behaviour manage-

ment program.

“I encourage staff to book kids for good

behaviour and I am often ringing parents about

their child’s achievements,” he said.

“For a small community school, we have

made significant progress with our Year 5

Naplan results in writing the highest on the

coast, and our Wakakirri team made the state

finals,” he said.

Dr Stewart, who has presented many work-

shops at various educational conferences and

for large organisations including the Common-

wealth Bank, FoodWorks, Mater Misericordiae

Hospital, Queensland Police and CQ Univer-

sity, has a passion for improving teams and

leadership performance.

He brings a great wealth of practical knowl-

edge on how to move organisations forward,

especially bringing out the best in individuals.

His book Positive Culture+ effective Leader-

ship = Great Results was aimed for release

before Christmas.

Pride

in the

principal:

Students

Heidi

McDonald

and Millar

Gazzard

principal

Dr Michael

Stewart’s

celebra-

tions of his

doctorate.

and young people with an out-of-home care

experience, spoke to the champions about her

own experiences with not being heard.

BCE professional standards and student

protection senior officer Carolyn De Witt-

Ryall said it had long been recognised that stu-

dents learnt best and reached their full potential

in environments where they felt welcomed, safe

and had a real sense of belonging.

“Through the Student Voice pilot project

BCE wanted to hear directly from students

about how we can better build safe, supportive

and inclusive communities where all students

can learn and flourish,” Ms De Witt-Ryall said.

She said the concept of “student voice” was

deeply aligned with notions of student empow-

erment and authentic engagement in learning;

and was well established in educational frame-

works around the globe.

“These principles are founded in research,

recognised in international covenants and are

identified as key features of child-safe organisa-

tions,” Ms De Witt-Ryall said.

“Encouraging young people to speak out and

lead the way for positive change is at the heart

of Student Voice and echoed in the words of

Pope Francis in his homily at the World Youth

Day Vigil.”

The commitment to authentic engagement

with students to create safe, supportive and

inclusive school communities reflected the core

values of BCE.

Following on from the call-to-action event,

Student Voice Champions will host a Con-

versation Café at their colleges followed by a

“Your Voice Matters” survey and will present

their findings from the pilot project to the BCE

leadership team.

Principal leads by example

Students on Games time

THIRTY lucky Year 2 and 3 students from

St Pius’ Primary School, Banyo, attended

the launch of the Longines Commonwealth

Games Countdown clock at Brisbane Airport.

The event marked 175 days until the start of

the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

and the unveiling of a five-metre-tall, 1.75-tonne

Longines countdown clock.

Longines are the official timekeeper of the

2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Principal Peter Gordon said all 110 students

from Years 2 and 3 were keen to attend the

launch, but only 30 students could go.

He said all those wishing to attend entered a

draw and the lucky 30 students were drawn out.

“Naturally, some were very disappointed,” he

said.

At the event the excited students met athletes

such as Matt Shirvington and Cameron McEvoy,

along with games hopeful Amy Pejkovic.

Queensland Minister for Education and

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the

Commonwealth Games Kate Jones and former

Queensland Premier and chairman for the Com-

monwealth Games Corporation Peter Beattie

spoke to the students.

Mr Beattie said St Pius’, Banyo, was one

of the best schools in the world to which the

students agreed.

Mr Gordon said the athletes and dignitaries

were very accommodating to the students.

“In particular, Matt Shirvington, who took

time out from his MC duties and spoke to the

students about the upcoming games, athletics

and following your dreams,” he said.

Year 3 students Scarlet and Gus said it was

such a thrill to meet the athletes and get their

Longines hat signed as well as meeting Borobi,

the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games mascot.

“The students had an enjoyable morning and

it was certainly a great experience for all who

attended,” Mr Gordon said.

Perfect timning:

Pius’ students at the

launch of the Com-

monwealth Games

countdown clock.