New student trustees to be sworn in by ALCDSB later this month
Students in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) will again have their voices heard, and perspectives represented on the Board of Trustees for the 2021-2022 school year.
For the second year, ALCDSB will have two student trustees representing the student population at the board level. In 2019, the Ministry of Education revised previous directives, mandating a minimum of two student trustees on each board of education in Ontario. Last week the ALCDSB appointed two students who will be officially sworn into their role as Student Trustees for the upcoming school year at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, according to a release from ALCDSB.
“Student Trustees are vital to ensuring we understand and respond to the perspectives of our student body from across the entirety our Catholic school board. This role also provides valuable, real-life experience to these students in areas such as leadership, collaboration, and advocacy,” said Tom Dall, Chair of the board.
Abby Ows, a Regiopolis Notre Dame Catholic High School (Kingston) student will be representing the eastern constituency of ALCDSB. Abby is entering grade 11 this fall, and the board said she has been a passionate member of several teams and student organizations throughout her years attending ALCDSB schools, including basketball and volleyball teams, and playing trumpet in both junior and senior band at Regi. Abby will also be volunteering this coming year with Loving Spoonful, an initiative to create a more vibrant community by providing fresh, healthy food to those in need.
Alyssa Phieffer of St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School (Belleville) will be representing the western constituency of the board. Alyssa is also entering grade 11 this fall, and the board said she looks forward to utilizing the Catholic faith toward improving school communities and bringing students together. Abby’s past experience includes Student Council President at St Mary Catholic School, Read, playing for the Belleville Ravens Volleyball Club, and volunteering as an altar server at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church for five years.
The student trustee contributes 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, in addition to other commitments and opportunities for professional development throughout the year. According to the release, student trustees will also be welcomed as members of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, which is the voice of students across Ontario.
The ALCDSB said they look forward to welcoming its new Student Trustees as it continues on the mission to build faith-filled learning communities where each member is loved, inspired, and successful.