This week’s student leaders are from Redeemer Baptist School, North Parramatta, whose motto is: To Hear Is To Obey. 

See their Q&A: 

1)What’s unique about your school?

Stephanie Hermez: During my 14 years at Redeemer, I have been privileged to experience a school that is well structured and strongly built on respect, discipline and Christian doctrine where students and teachers are able to obtain family-like relationships. These attributes positively mould the ability of our students, both academically and socially. I believe that the commitment to our Christian belief and values is the foundation of our school’s unique provision of care and compassion.  

William Garth: One of the main things that stands out to me about Redeemer is the close relationships we all have with each other and our teachers as well as the time and effort that all our teachers dedicate to our schooling. We are a relatively small school with classes from Kindergarten to year 12 and with only about 400 students in total (there being only 18 of us in our year 12) but our small size means that we can maintain close friendships with students even outside our year level and contributes to the sense that the students and teachers all make up one big happy family. The teachers themselves are highly involved with their students, each displaying both a high level of competence in their chosen field and personally concerned about not just their student’s grades but also their wellbeing and personal development.

The school itself is incredibly multicultural there being at least seven nationalities represented in my own class alone. We focus not just on achieving outcomes for the higher achievers but also on supporting those who are struggling or suffer learning difficulties. Redeemer is also dedicated to a Christian Worldview in education and incorporates doctrine and devotions into the mandatory school curriculum. Students feel comfortable in the school environment and receive a great amount of support in their learning process in all areas of their schooling. 

2) What do you want to do when you leave school?

Stephanie Hermez: I aspire to study clinical psychology and eventually become a psychologist. Through this line of education, I hope to be a positive contributor in relieving the stress of those in our society that are in need. These ambitions are a product of the motivating staff found at Redeemer.

William Garth: I am still not sure exactly what it is I want to do once I leave school. I am confident that while I may not achieve quite well enough to get into medicine or law I should receive a high enough ATAR that any number of opportunities still exist as to selecting a suitable career path. As of yet I have few long term goals other than for my HSC and a gap year in which I plan on catching up on all that I’ve been missing out on over the last eight months. I think right now my aim is to really keep my head down and do the very best and work as hard as I possibly can this year to give myself a better chance of achieving the career that is right for me and allowing me to easily move onto a degree at university. 

3) Why do you think being a school leader is important?

Stephanie Hermez: Well-founded leadership is vital to the formation of students who will be productive members of society. Such a characteristic originates from the training and the confidence that is gained during school life. Leading students to the correct values and morals can only generate ethical and effective leaders of future generations, which will overall benefit our community. Within a school environment, senior students are inevitably role models to those younger than them and that is why it is crucial to set appropriate standards for the chain of such virtuous practices to continue.

William Garth: Taking a leadership role in the various areas of the school environment is important especially for the senior years as it both builds the confidence of that individual for perhaps holding a leadership role in their workplace and as it allows you to help and inspire others and make the school both safer and a more enjoyable place to attend. Particularly with respect to activities involving students from more than one year group such as the school drama club or band or even simply in the playground the  leadership of the older students is essential as it benefits both them and those around them and ensures that day to day events run smoothly. In Redeemer the leadership of the older students is greatly encouraged and healthy relationships always exist between these individuals and members of the younger years. 

4) If you were the principal what would you introduce?

Stephanie Hermez: I would possibly introduce suitable activities during lunch times where senior, middle school and primary students are able to interact through spiritual and sporting games. In addition, I would allow versatile ‘trivia-like’ competitions to re-enforce the harmonious relations between our students, simultaneously acclimatise a fun and knowledge. Some new students generally struggle to adapt to a new environment; therefore assigning a senior ‘buddy’ could possibly aid this fear, speeding up the acclimatisation process. On a personal level, I think selling Tim Tams at our canteen would definitely go a long way.

William Garth: One idea that I might attempt to implement if I was principal is a school movie club. I myself was a member of the school drama club for four years between year 8 and year 11 and enjoyed it immensely. I found that it both built my confidence both in relating to other people and performing under pressure as well as teaching me a great deal about the theatre industry as well as acting and projection techniques. A film club may make an interesting addition to the schools extra-curricular activities particularly as the drama club itself has recently been experiencing difficulties due to the sheer volume of people wishing to sign up and the prospect of learning something significant about the film industry and filmmaking.

Possibly some other ideas I might consider introducing would be a board game club or a reading club during lunch times to increase familiarity between the years and provide a source of enjoyment for those who might be interested.