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Leadership

Prefects | Student Council | CanTeen | Sports Committee | House Leaders | Student Representatives BOT

There are opportunities for students to develop and show leadership skills in the prefect system, the school council, sports committee, house leaders and a number of other committees such as SADD, and at specific times of the year things such as World Vision etc.

Prefects

There are usually between 18 to 22 prefects in the school who are chosen from Year 13. These students will have demonstrated leadership qualities and are prepared to be role models and active supporters of the school. There is always a Head Boy and a Head Girl and the appropriate deputies.

The prefects perform many functions in the school:
• They are a major part of the Peer support system.
• They have co-operative duties with the staff of the school.
• They are part of the school council.
• They organize the school prom.

Student Council

This is a forum for the expression of ideas. It discusses problems and develops concepts to improve the school as a place of learning. It also plays a part in various activities and organises mufti days.

The Council Structure is:
• All prefects
• Two elected representatives from each of year level (9-12)
• Two House Captains elected from the School Sports Committee
• The Student Representative on the Board of Trustees

The two Head Prefects share the position of Chairperson. Students are encouraged to pass ideas and concerns to members of the Student Council.

CanTeen

CanTeen is the New Zealand Teenage Cancer Patients' Society. Their aim is to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer. Hawera High School supports CanTeen by selling and wearing bandanas on a given day during the year.

Students from the school sell the bandanas on behalf of the Society and students in the school are allowed to wear them for the day. The bandana is a symbol of CanTeen as many young people choose o wear one when they lose their hair through treatment. This year, CanTeen Bandana Day at Hawera High School will be held on Friday 17th October (to be confirmed). Bandanas generally cost around $4:00 and come in a wide range of colours and styles.

Sports Committee

A student Sports Committee of the House Captains and Deputy House Captains meet with the Sports Co-ordinator on a regular basis. They organise and promote sports activities in the school.

Two elected representatives from this committee serve on the Student Council.

At the beginning of each year students can apply to be part of the sports committee. This group under the guidance of the Sports Coordinator takes a major part in promotion and organisation of sports in the school.

They are involved in the running and organisation of:
• Lunchtime recreation
• Sports exchanges
• Photographic records of sporting events and people
• Distribution and collection of equipment
• Promotion of competitions and challenges
• Monitoring and maintaining uniform and equipment inventories

House Leaders

Students belong to one of four different houses in the school, red, green, blue and gold.
Each year they elect a senior and junior house leaders and deputies. These students are responsible for organising teams in house competitions and encouraging house spirit. They are particularly busy during the athletic and swimming seasons, but competitions occur in a variety of sports throughout the year.

Student Representatives BOT

The position of Student Representative on the Board of Trustees is a very important one in the governance of Hawera High School. The student, elected for one year, has the same responsibilities and rights as all other trustees. Student elections take place in September each year and all Year 10 - Year 13 students have the opportunity to nominate and then vote for their representative.

It is a particular responsibility of the student representative to channel information on student activities, attitudes, concerns and interests to the Board. There is no doubt that trustees value this input. As with all trustees, the Student Representative must attend monthly meetings and serve on committees. In this connection, it is necessary to read the meeting agenda, minutes, Principal's report, background material etc and be prepared to comment on them.

A vital quality of a Student Representative is the need for confidentiality and discretion when discussing Board matters with other students and members of the public. All trustees, including the Chairperson and the Principal, are only too happy to assist the student representative - particularly in the early stages of their tenure.

Board meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month (with occasional exceptions) at 7pm. The 2008- 2009 representative was Steven Christodoulou. The present Student Representative is Jess Arnold. Her first meeting was  the October meeting and she will hold office until September 2010.

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