Click HERE To Apply for Student Trustee
Student Trustee – Your Student Voice
We value what our students have to say about their education. Each year
the Student Senate selects one secondary student to represent the
interests of students and give them a meaningful voice at Board
meetings. The student trustee serves for approximately six months as a
student trustee-elect and then a 12 month term as the official student
representative, where he or she attends Board meetings and fully
participates in discussions. There is a period of overlap between
incoming and outgoing student trustees to allow for a smooth transition
and orientation.
Your Student Trustees
The Student Senate
Our student trustees convene a Student Senate that has
representatives from each of the nine secondary schools in the Board.
The Student Senate meets several times a year to discuss issues and
matters of importance to students.
Staying Connected to Your Student Trustee
Voice your opinion! Express your views! Your student trustee
represents you...to do that, they need to hear from you. Let your
student trustee know what you think about education issues that are
important to you. Keep in contact to find out what decisions the Board
of Trustees have made.
Why become a student trustee?
What a great learning experience!
You will have the opportunity to represent your fellow students and
learn about political processes and the education system. You will gain
valuable public speaking, research, leadership and evaluation skills.
And you will also gain insight into the gift of Catholic education and
foster an understanding of the importance of promoting and practicing
our faith within our learning environment.
You will be provided with mentorship from a trustee on the Board and
either your principal or another designate will act as your in-school
mentor. These mentorship opportunities will help you develop important
relationships and guide you in your journey as a student trustee.
In addition, experience as a student trustee will provide you with a
solid foundation and practical skills that will benefit you in your
post-secondary endeavours. Future employers and institutions of higher
education will look favourably on the experiences gained through this
role.
Who can apply to be a student trustee?
To be eligible for the role of student trustee, you must:
- Be a Roman Catholic student in full-time attendance in the
senior division at a secondary school within the jurisdiction of the
Board
- Have successfully completed two years of secondary school before commencing the duties of the student trustee
- Maintain regular school attendance
- Provide written confirmation of support from your principal
- Provide written confirmation of support and acknowledgement of
the student trustee’s responsibilities from the parent/guardian for
students under the age of 18
- Be willing to commit the necessary time to attend meetings and perform the duties and responsibilities of a student trustee
How do you apply?
During the fall term of each year, appropriate information will be provided to every student eligible to be a student trustee.
If you wish to stand for election, you should review the Student Trustee Representation on the Board Policy as well as the supporting Procedures and Guidelines (search GP-19), which includes the Expression of Interest for Student Trustee Form, Principal's Support of Nomination Form and Parent/Guardian Consent Form
(for students under 18). Each of these forms must be completed and
submitted to your principal in order to be considered for the position.
How is a decision made?
You will need to present yourself at the regularly scheduled Student
Senate meeting in December and declare your candidacy. You will have an
opportunity to address the Student Senate.
The Student Senate will conduct an indirect vote and will elect, by
secret ballot, the student who will be the Student Trustee for the
period from August 1st to July 31st following the election.
Should you be the only candidate, you will be declared elected by acclamation.
In the event a vacancy arises prior to the expiration of the term of a
student trustee and the Board decides to fill the vacancy, it shall be
filled by a Student Senate by-election held within 30 days of the date
of vacancy. The by-election would be handled in the same manner as the
election, with the Student Senate voting by secret ballot.