Student Voice

Primary School Voice

Our innovative Student Leadership Program centres on building leadership capacity in our students and empowering them to make a positive influence in the world. It involves leaders from Years 3 – 6 in Primary, where students work collaboratively to respond to school student and local community needs. Student Voice Leaders conduct many activities throughout the year to raise money for a number of charities. Student Voice has raised the profile of and respect for our students and their contributions to major community events.
Narre Warren South P-12 College Primary Student Voice members meet once a week to discuss issues that have been raised from students by students. Student Voice members take part in professional learning sessions that help build the capacity of students and provide them with lifelong skills. Topics taught are what it means to be a role model? How to use your initiative?

What it means to be a leader? How to ask the right questions? Student Leaders work with teachers in making decisions about teaching and learning providing opportunities for student agency by analysing data collected from lesson surveys.
At NWSC P-12 primary students have the opportunity to apply for various leadership roles in the College.

• 2 x School Captains and 2 x School Vice Captains (Year 6 students)
• 2 x House Captains and 2 Vice House Captains per house (O’Neil, Namatjira, Chisolm and Clarke Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students)
• 4 x Sport Captains (Year 5 and Year 6 students)
• 2 x Art Captains (Year 6 students)
• 1 x Class Captain and 1 x Class Vice Captain in all Prep- Year 6 classes.

School Captains

At the end of every year, School Captains are elected by their peers. All students moving into Grade 6 are eligible to apply for one of the 2 School Captain and 2 Vice Captain positions. Applicants complete a speech to their peers in Year 5 who then vote.

Our school leaders and work hard performing many tasks such as:

• Leading whole school primary assemblies
• Meeting with our colleagues whole school captains
• Reporting to students
• PMP
• Welcoming and escorting special visitors.
• Attending leadership days

Sports Captains

These students are keen sportspeople who can lead and motivate their peers at school sporting events and participate at inter-school sports events with enthusiasm and fairness. They are called upon to assist our Sporting Events teacher in coordinating many sporting events throughout the year.

• 2 Sport Captains are students from Year 5 and 2 Sport Captains are from Year 6

Art Captains

Our Arts Captains are not necessarily student who have to be good at art. They are students who love to create, love to have fun and share that with others. The Arts Captains will help organise Art Clubs during lunch times and prepare termly colouring competitions

• 2 Art Captains are students from Year 6.

Class Captains

Students in Prep- Year 6 at the beginning of term 1 complete an application for class captains. Each grade will select 1 Class Captain and I Class Vice Captain. Students in the class will vote for the applicant of their choice.

Roles and Responsibilities of Class Captains Grade Prep – 6

• Act as the class representative and leader in school events such as assemblies.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the class teacher when advocating for the student body.
• Convey the opinion of the class in regard to an issue that may need defining or changing – i.e. litter in the yard, bullying, inappropriate behaviour, more lunchtime activities.
• Take on extra responsibilities as set by classroom teacher.
• Be a representative of the class e.g., assembly items, announcements.
• Liaise with the student voice representatives and sports captains. This includes collecting constructive feedback from classmates to present to the student voice team.
• Be a positive role model:
  show high attendance
  display behaviour that reflects the school PRIDE values.
• Assist in the planning of Primary College events as required
• On behalf of the school, welcome and thank any visitors/special guests.
• Be part of special event days designed for student leaders to build their leadership skills. 

Secondary School Voice

Student voice is not just about giving students the opportunity to communicate ideas and opinions; it is about having the power to influence some measure of change. At Narre Warren South College (NWSC), we aim to provide opportunities for authentic student voices, typically through the Student Voice Leaders or College Captains, to collaborate and make decisions with adults around their learning environment and community engagement.

Closely tied to student voice is student agency and student leadership which seeks to empower students to develop a sense of autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in their learning and relationships.

Student leaders work to carry themselves as problem solvers, decision makers, and pioneers for new or improved ideas. They act as a beacon for their peers to enable all to have a voice as all students are encouraged to use their voices to enact change and engage with the wider school community.

At NWSC, student leaders embody the PRIDE (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedicated Teamwork, and Excellence) values, reflecting the importance in maintaining these in all aspects of engagement and learning throughout their time at school. All students have the opportunity to apply for Student Voice Leader or College Captain positions within their year levels – College Captains work to upskill younger year level leaders through mentoring. 

Students are able to be nominated by peers, nominated by staff, or volunteer to take part in the initial selection process. From there, students begin a rigorous undertaking where they get to express their views on voice, agency, and leadership. This process includes a public speaking component, interviews conducted by staff and current leaders, as well as student voting.

Students will have the opportunity to ‘Step Up’, ‘Step In’ and ‘Step Out’ their ideas in order to improve the college, foster connections between Primary and Secondary, and engage with the wider community through provision of  special events or fundraisers.

In an attempt to encourage more students to utilise their voices, despite the lack of a formal title, the leadership positions/responsibilities will be as follows:

Year 12 College Captains

• Oversee and manage the operations of fellow student leaders as well as leading changes across the college and community. This includes events or fundraising for things such as end of year Valedictory.
• Represent the school in College-wide events or in the community where required
• Attend and chair meetings with other school leaders as well as staff such as Year Level Coordinator or Student Voice and Agency Leader
• Devise solutions to issues brought to them by the student body whilst also involving their peers in the process
• Meet and provide feedback to the College principal in regard to student experiences of College life
• Keep year level Google Site up to date with information
• Work collaboratively with staff and students
• Participate in selection process of future school leaders
• Mentor younger leaders including those within Primary leadership positions to build whole school connection
• Seek cohort feedback to inform their decision making and problem solving process
• Demonstrate the college values and being a voice for all students

Year 11 Vice-Captains

• Assist in whatever way the College Captains might require i.e. through mentoring
• Attend and participate in meetings with other student leaders; may also chair meetings with fellow leaders
• Represent their cohort/school in College-wide events or in the community where required
• Work collaboratively with other year level leaders and staff
• Keep year level Google Site up to date with information
• Utilise student feedback to present solutions to voiced problems
• Help in planning and running of year level or school-wide events
• Demonstrate the college values and being a voice for all students

Year 7-10 Student Voice Leaders

• Attend meetings where required
• Represent their cohort/school in College-wide events or in the community where required
• Work collaboratively with other year level leaders, staff, and peers
• Determine issues within the year level and seek cohort feedback to inform decision making and problem solving process
• Demonstrate the college values and being a voice for all students
• Assist in decision making through active participation

Want to know more?

• Email svt@nwsc.vic.edu.au

• In-person Student Voice Office D14 (before school, recess or lunchtimes)