By Nate Loken | April 19 2021 |
It’s official, the votes are in! On Tuesday April 6th KSS students rolled into the voting booths (which are figurative of course, there’s a global pandemic) and picked our Student Association representatives for Head Reps, Vice Chair, Deputy Commissioner and Secretary. The results are as follows: Emily Hesp and Satish Patel were elected head representatives of KSS, Sadie DeArruda was elected Vice Chair, Ailsa Kerr was elected Deputy Commissioner and Emma Saunders was elected Secretary of SA. Congratulations to all representative-elects and candidates who weren’t voted in; it’s fantastic to see KSS students competing to make our school a better place. See the bottom of the article for a description of all four of the positions.
We at the Bears Bulletin are especially ecstatic to see three of the new representatives coming from our very own team: Satish, Sadie and Emily have all contributed pieces to our newspaper,--feel free to look for them under content.
We were also very pleased to have the privilege of interviewing each of these elected officials in order to get to know them better.
Why did you run for your position?
Satish responded that it began with a recommendation from Ms. Howie, who enthusiastically encouraged him to run for the position. The core of his motivation to run was rooted in his belief that he could make a difference at KSS. He stated, “I thought I could really make a difference and I think I’m very good at coming up with solutions to problems. I find I’m a little more critical than most people; if there's something that could be organized better I find it really irritating, I want to find solutions. Most people would move on but I don’t move on, I like making things the best they can be.”
Sadie informed us that it was Mr Compeau who gave her the first push to participate in the Student association. She went to speak with Ms Gauthier and discovered that her name had been thrown around a couple of times. Sadie told us, “I was really surprised. I was sitting on the bus and it was 2:30 and I did the video on Friday and I remember thinking I’m way over my head. I saw the videos and I saw I was going against the previous grade rep and I went to vote at around a quarter to four on Tuesday and I saw I won.”
Emma responded that her main intention for running was “to bridge the gap between the general student body and our SA.” She seeks to “be an effective first point of contact for any inquiries.”
Emily told us her main reason for running was her positive past experiences at KCVI and KSS, chiefly, “how each student supported each other in achieving [school events such as Chicago, Model UN and Relay for Life].” She informed us that she believes “students should be able to create fun memories, feel supported and connect with each other through school activities despite the challenges we may face due to the pandemic,” and Emily intends to see this belief through.
Ailsa expressed that she ran for SA because of the incredibly positive experience she had this year as a grade 9 representative on SA. She told us that she enjoyed making announcements and managing the grade nine instagram and stated, “I knew I wanted to apply to be in SA and I thought that the deputy communications position would best suit my personality and skills.”
What do you hope to achieve in your position?
Satish expressed that COVID-19 has been making school less enjoyable. He wants to focus on making the grade 12 year of the 2022 graduates as enjoyable as it can possibly be and in general, make students more excited about and engaged in school events. He stated some of his more specific goals, “I want to bring some new original ideas and make assemblies as fun as possible.”
Sadie remarked that “last octomester flew by and it was a lot of the same thing.” Because of this, she wants to “make days more memorable.” Sadie told us that she wants to make spirit days something SA does more often than once a month and something students don’t have to participate ‘all out’ in to have fun. She also expressed that “transitions from class to class are hard because you change classes and you get disconnected from your friends.” Sadie wants to help connect the student body while remaining safe in the pandemic.
Emma told us that she wants to “help ensure that SA meetings run smoothly,” and that she wants to ensure that SA meetings reflect student concerns.
Emily responded that she aspires to “see students' needs and voices being echoed through the activities [planned] on SA,” because “the personal and academic well being of many students have been greatly impacted by the pandemic, and it is essential that the school environment is made to be as supportive as possible during these times.” She told us “ In the year to come, strong communication between the students association and the student body will allow for loads of collaboration, as well as equitable, new and invigorating experiences for the whole student body.”
Ailsa informed us that she aims to “be a part of organising fun and successful events” and told us she is hoping to use her position “to make our unpredictable school year more enjoyable for students.”
What is something you want KSS students to know about you?
Satish wants students to know that he is open to new ideas, telling us, “talk to me whenever, I just want people to enjoy spirit days and events.”
Sadie wants to express that she is an approachable person and informed us that “if you need something I’m going to help you out, even if that's not my area. I’m not going to pass you off, I'm going to stick with you until you get what you want.”
Emma told us that a fun fact about her that she wants to be known: her ancestors bred the very first McIntosh apples.
Emily expressed that she is “down to lend an ear or a hand and listen to/help out with any ideas or comments [you] have on KSS or [your] High School experience.” Emily wants students to know that they can reach out to her by email at hespe@limestone.on.ca or on Instagram @emilyhesp if they have any questions.
Ailsa apologetically informed us that she is a cat person, even stating “I know it’s a touchy subject.”
The final question the electees were asked--and arguably the most important--was:
What is your favourite type of pizza?
Sadie and Satish both answered that they love meat lovers pizza but are also big fans of olives--very similar answers, could an alliance be brewing between them?
Emma responded that she enjoys cheese pizza, especially wood-fired crust which our chief analytical team suggests may be a subtle advertisement for Wooden Heads Gourmet Pizza, who also funded her campaign and have been accused of interfering in the election.
Emily stated that she enjoys all types--possibly a deceitful attempt to appeal to as many people as possible--but then told us that she is “inclined to any pizza with pesto sauce”.
Ailsa answered that she enjoys cheese pizza but her favourite is probably vegetarian--could this be hinting at tension between her and the Satish and Sadie meat lovers pizza alliance?
For full interviews, click here.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS:
If you’re curious what these positions are and what the responsibilities of the representatives are, refer below.
HEAD REPS WILL:
- Attend all regularly scheduled meetings (every Wednesday at 3:00 pm) and call special meetings as necessary, online and/or in-person
- Participate on all S.A Committees and maintain contact with all S.A affairs
- Attend all S.A run events online and/or in-person
- Mentor and support S.A members online and/or in-person
- Demonstrate leadership and initiative at all times online and/or in-person
- Maintain regular classroom attendance and a suitable level of academics online and/or in-person
- Act as a liaison between the S.A and principal and staff of the school
- Represent the S.A of KCVI on all special occasions as necessary online and/or in-person
- Represent the S.A of KCVI on the School’s Parent Council online and/or in-person
- Represent the S.A of KCVI on the LDSB Inter-school Council online and/or in-person
VICE-CHAIR WILL: (*2 year position)
- Attend all regularly scheduled meetings (every Wednesday at 3:00 pm) and call special meetings as necessary, online and/or in-person
- Participate on all S.A Committees and maintain contact with all S.A affairs
- Attend all S.A run events online and/or in-person
- Be aware of the duties of the Chair.
- Perform the duties of the Chair in his/her absence or at his/her request.
- Chair one meeting every month, after September.
- Carry out other tasks as assigned by the S.A.
SECRETARY WILL:
- Attend all regularly scheduled meetings (every Wednesday at 3:00 pm) and call special meetings as necessary, online and/or in-person
- Participate on all S.A Committees and maintain contact with all S.A affairs
- Attend all S.A run events online and/or in-person
- Record all minutes of meetings and ensure their distribution.
- Receive, keep, and answer all correspondence, the replies having been approved.
- Keep all records other than financial records.
- Post the minutes of each meeting for the student body to read
DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS (* 2 year position) WILL:
- Attend all S.A meetings (every Wednesday at 3:00 pm) and stay informed on current and future S.A run events online and/or in-person
- Direct and manage all advertising for events the council initiates, in liaison with the council and Communications Officer online and/or in-person
- Assist the Communications Officer in managing S.A public relations through social media and announcements online and/or in-person
- Act as a direct S.A connection for clubs that run through the school (excluding arts and athletics) online and/or in-person
- Attend all S.A run events online and/or in-person
- Maintain regular classroom attendance and a suitable level of academics online and/or in-person
Congrats everyone!!!
The meat lovers alliance has been outed