Student Leadership

Why do we believe in student leadership at Baulkham Hills High School?

  1. Student leadership is driven by service to others which is a value highly respected in our whole school community.
  2. Student leaders need to promote the good things, the things that are the most worthwhile and the most true within the community and nurture a better quality of civilisation for all students.
  3. Students are empowered by working together to achieve a common goal, a shared purpose.
  4. Students have the power, or the authority to make a difference in their schools.
  5. Leadership is a challenge and should be for all students, not just those elected into specific positions. This is difficult, but at Baulkham Hills we provide every opportunity for students to take a leadership role.
  6. Adult mentors, role models, people who have the capacity to listen, to help students explore ideas, to share their experiences, to facilitate processes and to provide feedback form the backbone of a successful leadership program.

The Prefect Body

Prefects

The Prefect body are a group of students elected by the Year 12 cohort and staff that play an integral role in the running of school functions and represent the school in the wider community.

The Prefects are a visible force within the school, acting as positive role models for the younger students.  The Prefects aid in the coordination of the annual Presentation Night and organise the school's ANZAC day services and assemblies.  Each year the Prefects raise in excess of $1000 for Parramatta Legacy through their "Prefects Slave Auction."  The Prefect body works closely with the school's SRC to coordinate large fundraising efforts and school projects.

Within the wider community the Prefects are enthusiastic about their involvement with the local retirement village where they are able to aid in functions and form friendships with residents.  The Prefects also have meetings with the leadership bodies in other Sydney metropolitan schools which fosters improvement in the quality of student leadership in all our schools.

Captains08 2008 Captains

Student Representative Council

SRC Photo

The SRC comprises 35 students from Years 8 - 12 and from the support unit.

The SRC continues its role of coordinating the school's charity fundraising efforts. It organised the school's involvement in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave. This was enormously successful, raising over $10,000. Other notable fundraising efforts included Jeans for Genes and World Vision forty hour famine. Each year the SRC raises in excess or $1000 for Parramatta legacy.

shave 2008 Alex

The SRC works with the prefect body to organise blue day and happy day. These are designed to raise awareness about youth depression and the support offered by the Kid's Helpline. Over $1000 was raised for Beyond Blue and the Kid's Helpline.

The SRC arranges a school wide futsal competition run during lunchtimes. This competition is conducted over one term and helps bolster school spirit as well as providing positive interaction between junior and senior grades as well as with members of staff.

Four of the student council representatives attended district SRC meetings and two were on the planning committee for the district SRC leadership camp. Ten students attended the Mitchell Youth Leadership Forum.

Student leadership opportunities

The Student Representative Council at Baulkham Hills is an active body who coordinate a range of whole school activities ranging from charity work to participation in school governance. Five of the students also hold a place in the prefect body of the school. The two groups work closely to provide an outstanding leadership service to the school community. They model exemplary practice in all aspects of school life to the student body.

Some particular examples of leadership initiatives include

Students at Baulkham Hills presented at the BOS Respect and Responsibility Forum where they discussed some of the ways in which the SRC and prefect body provide service to the local community. They also demonstrated the work they do with students from the support unit in developing their reading and comprehension skills through a peer reading program.

The SRC also provides leadership at all whole school events including year assemblies and the weekly assembly where they coordinate and conduct these events including operation of all sound, lighting and other equipment. In order to ensure a quality presentation the students work cooperatively with each other and with staff. They are outstanding role models for the student body.