Algoma District School Board bids farewell to Student Trustees and welcomes new faces for 2016/2017

Supplied by the Algoma District School Board…
Mackenzie Hulme from Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS) and Olivia Keenan of Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School (SHCVS) were thanked and acknowledged at the board meeting on June 14th for their service as Student Trustees for the 2015 / 2016 school year.

Together, Mackenzie and Olivia oversaw the ADSB Student Senate (established in 2006/07). A significant contribution of these two trustees this year included the changing of Policy 2.10 (Student Trustee Policy).  Previously, according to the policy, one student trustee was elected from the central secondary schools and one from our northern or eastern secondary schools to represent Sault Ste Marie and district schools respectively.

Student Senate, under the direction of the Student Trustees, this year researched, discussed and brought forward a change to this which will now see student trustees being elected based on criteria, regardless of their geographical location. This policy was passed by ADSB Trustees in April.  As Chair Jennifer Sarlo stated at that time “this is the first Student Senate to bring forward and see through a change in policy.  This is a significant accomplishment.”

Olivia and Mackenzie also played key roles in two Student Senate Planning Days, including one held in June which brought together incoming 2016/17 Student Senators from ADSB high schools to meet and brainstorm with the current Student Senate.  It is expected that this meeting ahead of the start of the 16/17 school year will help to ensure that incoming senators have a better sense of their roles and responsibilities as ADSB Student Senators.

Director Lucia Reece and ADSB Board Chair Jennifer Sarlo both thanked Olivia and Mackenzie for their commitment to their roles as Trustees.  They will officially complete their terms on July 31, 2016.

Applications for the 2016 / 2017 Student Trustees were invited from ADSB secondary schools and Algoma District School Board approved the appointment of Karlee Reece from Superior Heights Collegiate and Benn Fisher from White Pines Collegiate as Student Trustees for the  2016 / 2017 school year.

Karlee Reece will be going into Grade 12 in the fall.  She has extensive leadership experience in both her school and the community.  This past year, Karlee was one of a handful of students selected to be a member of the Minister’s Student Advisory Council (MSAC) where she shared her ideas and provided advice to the Minister of Education.  She was part of the Ontario Model Parliament Program, writing a “mock” bill and debating it in the Legislative Assembly.  At school, Karlee has been a member of Link Crew in Grade 11 and will continue in Grade 12.  She helped to organize Project ABCD events this year and last and was a key contributor to the 15/16 Student Senate, sharing what she learned from provincial MSAC colleagues with her own community and school.  Karlee is a French Immersion student and has been on the honour roll every year since Grade 9.

Benn Fisher is entering Grade 12 in the fall.  He has been active both at his school and within the community. As a Grade 11 student, Benn joined Link Crew at White Pines to assist Grade 9 students develop strong learning habits and to thrive within the secondary school setting.   He was this year’s Student Council Vice President and was in charge of White Pines’ ABCD Team (Action for Building a Community that is Drug Free).  Benn is a talented orator, last year winning a Provincial championship and placing third in a National public speaking competition.  Benn is the Vice Chair of the City of Sault Ste Marie’s Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and was a key coordinator of their highly successful first annual Youth Art Gala.  He is also a Flight Sergeant with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and has volunteered as a Youth Liaison Officer for Algoma 1812 activities.  All of this while maintaining a 90+ average at school.

Karlee and Benn will begin their terms officially on August 1, 2016.