NOTICE
The Nomination Package deadline is extended to Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The second stage of the election process will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2014. A MAXIMUM of twenty (20) applicants will be selected to move on to Stage 2 through the assessment of the nomination package.
The April 10, 2014 York Region Presidents' Council meeting will be a meeting of the general assembly.
2014-2015 Student Trustee Elections
Students entering grades 11 and 12 next year are eligible to run for the position of student trustee. Information about the commitments, duties, and responsibilities, is outlined in Roles and Responsibilities.
Elections will take place in two stages on: Thursday, April 22, 2014 and Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Please ensure that you are available to attend the selection process on both of these dates. More information about the process is in the 2014-2015 Student Trustee Nomination Package. The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, April 22, 2014.
How do I know if qualify to be a student trustee?
To be a student trustee, you must be:
- a York Region District School Board student in Grade 11 or 12, and
- a full-time student or an exceptional pupil in a special education program for whom the Board had reduced the length of the instructional program.
There is a significant amount of work involved in being a Student Trustee. It is strongly recommended that students who are considering running for this positon are in good academic standing and have strong leadership, time management and communication skills.
There is an opportunity for student trustees to earn Cooperative Education Credits. If you want more information about this option, you can speak with your principal or guidance department.
How do I apply?
Applications for the position of Student Trustee for the 2014-2015 school year are due Thursday, April 10, 2014. Students entering Grades 11 or 12 next year and who wish to be considered for the position are required to submit the following documents to Student Trustee Pai Liu and Sutina Chou by Friday, April 4, 2014:
- Nomination Form
- Student Endorsements
- Two lettes of recommendation (one from school administrator and one by another member of the school community)
- A brief summary of student engagement activities
- A letter to students
Detailed information about the nomination process and required documents is outlined in the 2014-2015 Student Trustee Nomination Package. Please print the nomination package and fill in required fields. All documents should be scanned and submitted electronically to pai.liu@yrdsb.ca and sutina.chou@yrdsb.ca, or sent through inter-school courier to Pai Liu at Bur Oak Secondary School.
Information about how you can apply for the position of Student Trustee will be posted as soon as it is available. If you would like additional information, please contact Student Trustee Sutina Chou or Student Trustee Pai Liu.
What does the election process look like?
Stage 1: Application
All documents, outlined in the 2014-2015 Student Trustee Nomination Package, must be submitted electronically to both pai.liu@yrdsb.ca and sutina.chou@yrdsb.ca or in hard copy via inter-school courier to the attention of Pai Liu at Bur Oak Secondary School by Tuesday, April 22, 2014. (Note: If you are submitting your package via hard copy, please allow enough time for this information to be delivered). A maximum of twenty (20) applicants will be selected to progress to Stage 2 of the election process through the evaluation of the nomination packages. Nomination packages will only be viewed by the current student trustees and Board staff members and will be kept strictly confidential.
Stage 2: York Region Presidents' Council Election
Elections to identify four candidates (from 20 applicants) to proceed to stage three will be held at the York Region Presidents' Council meeting at Richmond Hill High School on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Along with a brief two-minute speech, candidates will be asked one of the following questions related to student leadership.
- Define leadership.
- Define student voice.
- How will you raise awareness about the Student Trustee position?
- What student issues have you seen in the York Region District School Board and what would you do in your role as a Student Trustee to correct them?
- In your role as a Student Trustee, how would you enrich the student voice in York Region District School Board schools?
- In your role as a Student Trustee, how would you increase civic engagement in York Region?
- Which of your past leadership experiences best prepares you for the role of Student Trustee?
- How would you contribute to the York Region Presidents' Council
Stage 3: Pannel Discussion at the 2014 Our Voice: Take Action Conference
The four finalists identified by the York Region Presidents' Council will be presented at the Our Voice: The Way Forward Conference at the Richmond Hill Sheraton Parkway Hotel on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The candidates will address senior elementary and secondary students through a facilitated discussion panel. Delegates of the conference will each be asked to vote for two of the four candidates for the position of Student Trustee. Additional information and supports will be provided to the four finalists at the conference. The election results will be announced at the conference.
What if I am elected?
The two students elected for the 2014-2015 school year will be contacted by staff in the Director's Office to:
- complete the necessary paper work;
- schedule a meeting with the Director of Education; and
- identify a time to meet with Board and Trustee Services staff members to review the roles, responsibilities and expectations of student trustees.
The 2013 Ontario Student and Parent Survey 2013
The Ontario Student and Parent Survey is OSTA-AECO's largest initiative to consult with the students of Ontario. This year, OSTA-AECO worked in partnership with Student Vote, People for Education and ScholarshipsCanada. More than 7,100 students and 2,500 parents were surveyed on approximately ten questions ranging from social media, mental health, to sex education. Visit www.studentsurvey.ca to view the results.
Mental Health and Well-Being Charter of Rights
OSTA-AECO published the Charter of Rights for Mental Health and Well-Being last May. The Charter of Rights for Mental Health and Well-Being for Children and Youth is a set of values that children and youth have designated as imperative in order for both schools and communities to adequately address and provide support for mental health issues. Student Trustees from across Ontario have worked hard with the Coalition for Child and Youth Mental Health to produce this document.