The Adrian T. Hazell Primary School says that Friday, October 16, 2015, “will go down as a historic date in the life of the school.” The reason is that after two weeks of awareness and campaigning, with a number of arrangements akin in some respects to a regular political election, the school’s first Student Council was elected on the above date.
The event climaxed on Monday this week, October 19, when the Student Council of exemplary boys and girls took the Oath of Office for the remainder of this academic year. It is a new and significant step which has brought much excitement to the Principal, Mrs. Tracelyn Hamilton, staff and pupils.
Mrs. Jacqueline Connor, Multi-Professional Support Services, chaired the proceedings. “The empowerment of young people cannot occur without their direct involvement – hence the need to establish the Student Council,” she told her listeners. “The Student Council affords the students a voice and enables them to make decisions in their own interest. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Teacher Chan and the team of teachers who guided the establishment of the Council.”
Ms Chan Buchanan, Lead Teacher for the Student Council, said the concept for such a body came about as part of the school’s child friendly programme which focuses on leadership. According to her she, and the rest of the support team, believed that in order to have an effective school there must be an input from all stakeholders – not just adults but children as well.
“A Student Council is a representative structure which allows students to become actively involved in the affairs of the school with themselves as the focus,” she continued. “They are provided with the opportunity to express their opinions to the decision-makers. Through the partnership of the school’s management, staff and parents, they work to better the school and the students.”
The students were also addressed by Mr. Clemvio Hodge, Chief Minister of the recently-established National Youth Parliament. He described the Executive Members of the Student Council as roles models for the other students and advised them that they had a very big task. “You are not representing just 294 students, but also students from every primary school and even the high school in Anguilla, and you are the first Student Council of the kind,” he said. He urged the members of the Student Council to be serious about their role and to perform well, having been elected by the other students and therefore having their support.
Following his address, he administered the Oaths of Office to the Executive Members of the Council and countersigned the relevant documents.
The Executive Members are: Mickhi Carty, President; Malachi Hughes, Vice President; Franchesca Nunez, Public Relations Officer (1); Tianna Richards, Public Relations Officer (2); Remisha Richards, Secretary (1); Jada Hodge, Secretary (2); Treasurer (1), Reba Stott; and Ayesha Crawford, Treasurer (2).
In addition, one pupil from each grade was selected by classmates to represent them at meetings of the Executive. The Representatives are Tatiana Henry, Kindergarten; Nakia Carty-Romney, Grade 1; Sanjye Harrigan, Grade 2; Sumuyah Carty, Grade 3; Richard Grant, Grade 4; and Jeriesha Hughes, Grade 5.
The Reverend Wilmoth Hodge and the Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs delivered the opening and closing prayers respectively.
