How Elementary School Student Council Shapes Their School

Welcome to the WAB Podcast. In this episode, we take a closer look at what student leadership looks like in our Elementary School, and how even our Elementary students are making a difference in their school community. 

We're joined by three members of the ES Student Council: Carolina and Maya from Grade 5, and Julian from Grade 3, as well as Elementary School Principal Catherine Pierre-Louis. Together, they reflect on what it means to be part of Student Council, why they chose to get involved, and how they’ve worked together to lead projects that matter to them and their peers. 

Building Leadership Through Action 

Catherine explained that the ES Student Council operates as an after-school activity (ASA), where students sign up through SchoolsBuddy. They can join one or all of the three activity seasons throughout the year. Looking ahead, there's a vision to expand the program into a year-long commitment to foster leadership development and support more student-led projects. 

Once they join, students collaborate to brainstorm, vote on, and implement ideas that enhance the school environment. Through this process, they learn how to express their thoughts, turn ideas into action, and develop essential skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork. 

Why and What They Lead 

When asked what motivated them to join, Carolina shared that she wanted to make a positive change in the school environment. Maya was inspired to contribute positively and help others. Julian joined out of curiosity and discovered a passion for leadership along the way.  

They also highlighted some of the projects they've led. Maya and her friends transformed an underused Grade 5 hangout spot into a welcoming space by cleaning and repainting it. Julian brought creative ideas to Spirit Week by introducing different themed dress-up days. Carolina led an initiative to build connections between students and cleaning staff, encouraging students to take responsibility for cleaning up after meals. 

Overcoming Challenges and Creating Impacts 

Catherine shared how students had faced actual challenges, like adapting when events don't go as planned, and learn to problem-solve and rally support from their peers. One success story is the Plant Squad, which reopened the school greenhouse for student use during breaks, overcoming initial hurdles related to supervision and participation. Student feedback has also played a key role in shaping larger school initiatives, such as the redesign of the ES playground, where many student ideas were incorporated into the final plan. 

Tune in to this episode to hear how WAB's ES Student Council empowers students to voice their opinions, build leadership skills, and take an active role in shaping their school community and learning spaces.