STUDENT VOICE
“Promoting and facilitating the development of student voice, student participation, and student leadership”.
Objectives
- To recognise students as stakeholders, value their views, and ensure their involvement in the operation of the school.
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To ensure that the student council is democratically elected and representative , and is a catalyst for change , with an active role in decision-making and policy development
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To support students in taking leadership roles by facilitating relevant training and providing opportunities to lead school initiatives.
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To consult and engage with students to review and improve teaching, learning and assessment practices.
Adapted from ‘Looking at Our School 2016: A Quality Framework for Post-Primary Schools’
Chairperson
Ruairi Halloran
Deputy Chairperson
Brianna Hurley
Secretary
Lily O’Sullivan
PR Team
Michael Carey
Paivi Dowds
Michael Maher
Student Council Members 2021/2022
1st Year
Anastasija Puzanova (1A)
Ria Murphy Quirke (1B)
Brian Fealy (1C)
2nd Year
Abigail O’Shea
Keira Griffin
Michael Duffy
3rd Year
Michael Carey
Lily O’Sullivan
Michael Maher
5th Year
Paivi Dowds
Marley Lyne
Brianna Hurley
6th Year
Eoghan O’Connell
Andrea Foley
Ruairi O’Halloran
Student Councils’ Work
Worked on planning of event to raise awareness of diversity in our school population with a special focus on LGBT+
Conducted a campaign to improve hygiene in the school particularly the toilets, canteen and corridors. Asking students to make posters to get the message across.
Carried out survey of students and staff at the request of the canteen provider to make suggestions for changes to the canteen menu.
Worked with management to discuss student questions and then communicate back responses to the student body.
Sample of Projects Undertaken in 2018/2019
- Organised and ran a Team Building Treasure Hunt on 14th Sept 2018 for our new first years to help them get to know each other better and ease the transition to second level. Great fun was had by all and of course a healthy level of competition was generated between the teams!
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Hosted a Coffee morning for students in aid of Kerry Hospice on Thursday 20th September
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Designed and purchased Student Council name badges, which all Council members now wear on their school jumpers. This is to create awareness amongst students and remind everyone of who the elected representatives are.
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Supported the organisation of Wellbeing Week on 12th Nov – had a positive quote each morning to start the day which was announced
on the intercom and shown on the TV at reception; organised Nutritionist to speak about healthy eating and good sleeping habits, hosted a Funky Shoe Day on Fri 16th November to recognise International Tolerance Day
- Launched a half-zip for student cohort. Surveyed student population and based on results, designed and organised the production of CGL half zips, featuring school colours and school crest. Orders will be taken in September 2019 again for more half zips. See below, photo of our Secretary, Luke and Treasurer Rachel modelling the half zips.
Our Chairperson, Snezjana attended two Board of Management meetings so far this year where feedback was given about the work of the council and also
opinions on the student population were fed back to the BOM, in particular giving a voice for students in the drafting of a Social Media Usage Policy for the school.
- Organised a Clothing Collection as a fundraising event in early January 2019 and raised approx. €150. Many thanks to the Parents Council for helping to organise this event with us.
Future Projects for 2018/2019
- Launch a CGL Newsletter – the first edition is to be published in May 2019 to celebrate and share information about all the good work and initiatives students and staff have engaged in over the year. Student Council members are currently
busy drafting articles!
Congratulations
The Student Council would like to acknowledge some of the many achievements of its members;-
Dylan Duffy – for his work volunteering at St Vincent de Paul, Tralee. Dylan is preparing for the Gaisce Awards, and like many other students in the school is ably supported by teacher, Ms O’Brien.
Snezjana Herbsts –was selected by Kerry ETB to interview the renowned author and key speaker Louise O’Neill at the recent Kerry ETB ‘EmPowerMe’ Event, held in the Rose Hotel, Tralee on 13th December 2018.
Samia Ali – has been selected to go to Paris with three other students and their teacher Mr Creagh.
Andrea Foley – and her family recently came first in the annual CGL Quiz night held on 1st February 2019. Well done to her sister Ellie also!
Paivi Dowds – showed her entrepreneurial skills when she launched a pop-up shop over Christmas in the school selling her hand crafted products, which include make-up brush holders and badges.
The above is just a sample of the many, many achievements of our Council members and students in Colaiste Gleann Li.