ALCDSB Student Trustees appointed for 2022/2023 school year
Secondary School Student Trustee representatives in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) have been elected by their Student Senate for the upcoming 2022/2023 school year.
According to a release from the school board, the ALCDSB student Senate met at the board office on the morning of Tuesday, Apr, 26, 2022, where the group of secondary school students engaged in a leadership workshop centred on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, followed by a session led by special guest Dr. Andrew B. Campbell. The meeting closed with a vote where two Student Trustees were elected, one from the eastern constituency and one from the western constituency of the ALCDSB.
Each year two student trustees are elected to sit on the Board of Trustees to represent the voice of approximately 12,000 students. The role of the Student Trustee is to contribute to the school board in a number of ways, including representing all elementary and secondary students in the system, and attending monthly board and committee meetings and represent the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, according to the release.
“By electing Student Trustees, we are ensuring the different viewpoints of our diverse student population is well represented,” said Tom Dall, Chair of the Board. “Becoming a Student Trustee offers our secondary school aged students with an invaluable experience. By becoming involved at the board level, the students will gain hands-on experience in a professional environment and an opportunity to exercise their leadership qualities while advocating for their peers.”
Mary Mekhaeil, a Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School (Kingston) student will represent the eastern constituency of ALCDSB. Mekhaeil is entering grade 11 this fall and has been an active member of her school community throughout her Catholic school education, according to the release. Mekhaeil is passionate about service and volunteerism and shows her leadership through joining clubs getting involved in extracurricular activities and practicing collaboration, cooperation, and accountability, ALCDSB said. As a Student Trustee, Mekhaeil is most looking forward to gathering student opinions, ensuring their voices are heard and shedding light on those issues affecting students in the ALCDSB community.
Marlow Slatter of Nicolson Catholic College (Belleville) has been elected to represent the western constituency of the board. Slatter is also entering grade 11 this fall, and is motivated by making a meaningful impact, and supporting equal opportunity initiatives, so that all students will benefit from her participation, according to the release. Slatter’s experience includes being an engaged member of Nicolson Catholic College’s Student Council. ALCDSB said that she applies her passion for communications and media to enrich the student experience for her peers through the creation of videos, posters, social media posts, announcements, electronic communications, and public speaking at school assemblies.
The two students who were elected by their peers to represent the ALCDSB student population will officially be sworn into their roles as Student Trustees at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jun. 21, 2022.
According to the release, the ALCDSB looks forward to welcoming its new Student Trustees as it continues its mission to build faith filled learning communities where each member is loved, inspired, and successful.