The EWPS Student leader team are chosen by their peers and the staff, for their leadership qualities, positive behaviour and ability to be encouraging role models for the school.
The purpose of the student council is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by organizing and carrying out school activities. In addition to planning events that contribute to school spirit and community welfare, the student council is the voice of the student body.
The leaders worked hard throughout the year with each being responsible for reading with students from junior classes in the school. This morning activity occurs before the official start of lessons, and as well as reading, student leaders helped with getting some students ready for class, ensuring they were set up for the day, and even helping with lunch ordering. This morning role goes much further than listening to reading.
They ensure the sport equipment is ready for use, and they have been great role models for pre- primary and year 1 students during recess. In the playground, leaders led games of duck-duck-goose, umpired chasey and helped students feel safe on the monkey bars.
Our student leaders can almost run assemblies independently, and have grown in confidence and maturity in speaking and controlling our school audience.
Student Prefect Expectations
A Student Prefect at East Waikiki Primary School is required to have the following attributes:
- Display positive leadership skills and attributes
- Have a consistent record of the best possible behaviour and manners throughout their tenure at East Waikiki PS
- Has a commitment to learn and always does their very best academically
- Has an excellent and consistent attendance record and is always punctual to classes and school events / activities
- Has the respect of their peers
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Confidence when speaking in public on formal and informal occasions
- Is willing to work diligently to represent their peers
- Is willing to learn new skills and attributes
- Is willing to give up their personal time at school to undertake their duties as a Student Prefect
- Always be well groomed and always wear the East Waikiki School Uniform
- Always is tolerant and respectful of the views and beliefs of other students
Roles and Responsibilities of a Student Leader
Our Student Leaders will:
- practice and develop essential leadership, cooperation, team building and life skills
- draft and developing a range of short, medium and long-term personal goals and create a Personal Action Plan on how to achieve and assess these goals
- participate in student-based learning activities as part of their role and responsibilities as School Leaders at East Waikiki PS
- develop and improve their relationship with other students in their respective class and classes
- play a precise role in student-based planning and programs in conjunction with our staff, the East Waikiki School Council and East Waikiki PS P & C
- develop a positive respect and concern for others and their rights
- further improve / develop their public speaking / oral language skills
- improve their time management knowledge and skills
- encourage, develop and improve their decision making and leadership skills
- develop their personal confidence and self-esteem through participation in a variety of planned social and educational activities and experiences not available in a typical classroom setting.
- Represent their school at formal and informal events on and off-site during and out of school hours
- Assist with setting up and running of our fortnightly School Assemblies
- Provide information and feedback regarding student issues to Administration, staff and the School Council
- Organise and coordinate fund-raising activities and events
- Organise and coordinate school-based activities and events for their peers
- Assist in the training of new Student Prefects for the following year
All planned activities / training is designed to ensure that it does not distract from their normal learning program in the classroom. Our Student Prefects are required to keep up to date with all of their classroom assignments and work schedules, achieve their highest possible grades across all learning areas and constantly display positive behaviour and manners.
Selection Process
Formal student leadership plays a major role at East Waikiki Primary School. Our school uses a formal process of selecting the school’s Year 6 Student prefects who comprise our Student Council for the following year. Each student’s contribution to the school over their tenure at EWPS will also be taken into consideration.
The formal process involves the following steps:
- Formal presentation to all Year 5 students by the Principal and Year 6 Teaching Staff of the role and responsibilities of the East Waikiki PS Student Council, what is required of students to assess their suitability for, and nomination for Student Council and the selection process
- In early Term 4, students wishing to nominate for Student Council are to complete a Nomination Form and prepare a formal presentation about their suitability for the role of Student Prefect and the skills and attributes they have for this role
- Students who have formally nominated will present a formal speech to their peers and answer any questions from students and staff about the Student Council and how they would demonstrate their suitability. Formal nominations and formal speeches will be prepared by the students at school. Nominees will also be scored / rated on their suitability as Student Prefects based on:
- Academic standing and performance including work ethic and personal time management
- Verbal and written communication skills
- Behaviour and maturity
- Consistency of wearing full school uniform
- Attendance and punctuality
- Leadership qualities and skills
- Once all speeches have been undertaken, a formal voting process will take place. Voting will be undertaken by all Year 5 students, Year 5 teachers and support staff, specialist teachers and the Administration Leadership Team. Voting will be completed using prepared ballot papers and the Preferential Voting System will be used.