Student leadership is a cornerstone of our College, empowering students to lead and represent their peers. Our leadership programs focus on developing these important skills from Years 3 - 12, ensuring every student has the opportunity to become an effective leader.
Our School Captains and Vice Captains are selected through a nomination process, where nominees deliver speeches to their peers, followed by confidential voting. Captains collaborate with our broader leadership team to oversee spiritual, social, and fundraising activities at Gilston.
At Gilson, we prioritise student well-being by addressing needs and fostering a sense of responsibility where all students play their part in building our supportive community. A key initiative at Gilston is the Student Representative Council (SRC), comprised of a lead teacher and elected students from each Year 8 -11 class, as well as one male and one female from Year 7.
SRC members embody the school’s values and serve as a collective student voice. They model appropriate behaviour and school uniform standards, discuss student needs, and plan initiatives to address them. SRC members are mentored in leadership and enjoy contributing to activities that improve school life, including functions, events, and fundraisers. This exciting program helps students practise leadership while strengthening the school community.
Each House elects their Captains and Vice-Captains at the beginning of the year. Our school Houses foster a sense of team spirit and unity which is, driven by our student leaders. House Captains and Vice-Captains are responsible for planning and coordinating sporting events on and off campus. They lead by example, encouraging their peers to participate, show good sportsmanship and excel in various activities, ensuring everyone puts their best foot forward.
Each Year 6 Captains and SRC members attend Young Leaders Day to develop their leadership capacity and learn about the characteristics of effective leaders.
We know that starting school is a significant transition for our young learners and we aim to create a positive and supportive environment by offering our Buddies Program to foster stronger connections between students at different stages of their learning journey.
Foundation students are paired with Year 6 buddies who visit their class once a week to engage in various activities, helping younger students feel welcomed and supported. Similarly, as Year 7 students transition to secondary they are paired with Year 11 mentors who provide guidance and encouragement.
Year 10 students receive mentorship training, helping prepare them for their role in Year 11. These initiatives create a cycle of mutual support and community building throughout our community.