ISSU
Island School Student Union
Island School is a brilliant place for students to get involved in all aspects of school life. More importantly, Island School gives students the opportunity to be able to have a say and take responsibility of the world around them. Island School believes that it is important for students to have a certain amount of control of their environment. This leads to a harmonious setting in which the students can enjoy learning. The leadership opportunities provided by roles such as these allow for students to learn new skills that will be useful well into any career.
The Island School Student Union (ISSU) is group of Year 12 students who are democratically elected by the student body around November. Throughout the remainder of the academic year, the ISSU is given the opportunity to make significant changes within the school.
In mid-October, Year 12 students start organising themselves into groups, usually with no more than 28 people. We name ourselves, sit down together and draw up a list of what we would like to change or add to the school, create a banner that is hung up for the school to see (along with all of the other groups’ banners), and campaign for a week to win the students’ votes. All kinds of activities occur; carnivals, live music, sticker distribution, bake sales, cotton candy machines, barbeques etc. The list is endless. It is rounded off with an assembly where the presidents of the different groups showcase their videos and try to sell their manifesto to the crowd. Then, during break times, the students are allowed to vote. The next morning, the previous year’s winning party announces the newly elected ISSU.
So begins the effort to make all of the changes that are promised come true. This year’s winning ISSU is FIT. We did not want to be one of those groups that promises tons of different things and isn’t able to deliver anything. Our manifesto wasn’t as flashy as the others, but it was a carefully compiled list of points that needed doing and, most importantly, could be done.
As a group of friends, we have grown so much closer simply by being involved in a project that required everyone to be hands on. Plus, we have had loads of fun doing it. FIT is a group of some of the most tightly-knit friends in Year 12 who just want people in the lower years to enjoy learning in an environment that they can have some autonomy over. We always do our best for the student body and while it can be difficult at times, at the end of the day, we always get the job done and we try to do it well.
This year, we have done the following in Island School:
* Installed anti-slip pads on the stairs to prevent anyone from falling when they get slippery in the wet season;
* Worked alongside WANBO, the environmental team, to produce reusable plastic water bottles in an effort to reduce waste and be more eco-friendly;
* Helped to host Cultural Evening; a celebration of the 40+ different nationalities we have here;
* Added salt and pepper to the tuck shop;
* Increased the school tuck shop’s bagel supply to meet demands;
* Changed the water stocked from Meko to the much tastier Vita as well as stocking Bonaqua in the vending machines;
* Ensuring the new vending machines are now octopus operated;
* Been involved in the process of next year’s tuck shop contract;
* Distributed student cards within the student body so that they can make use of discounts around the whole of Hong Kong in various facilities, eateries and shops;
* Held themed Time Outs; nights at Island School where students in Years 7-9 can go to spend time with friends and have fun getting involved in various games and activities;
* Offered our opinion in the decoration of the new Sixth Form Common Room;
* Evaluated the detention system;
* Gave our bookshop some new ideas for the upcoming academic year.
Overall, FIT has worked hard to put their ideas into practice. We specifically crafted our manifesto to include ten items that could be achieved easily throughout the duration of the school year. We are happy to say that we only have one more to tick off the list at this point in time. They are simple ideas that greatly impact school life, helping to make it a little more enjoyable than it already is.
Isla Petersen & Oliver Billing (co-Presidents of FIT 2009-2010)