Winner

St Andrew's Anglican College

'Pay it Forward Week'

Congratulations St Andrew's Anglican College, on submitting the best entry which captured 'Leadership is any action that makes the world I touch a better place' and for involving the whole school in your project!  

Pay it Forward Week encourages students to do good deeds for others, and expect nothing in return.  The idea as developed from the global social phenomenon ‘Pay it Forward Day’, which touches the lives of people in 35 countries across the world.  Throughout the week students performed countless ‘random acts of kindness’, with the impact being so great that many students and teachers continued to pay it forward after week had concluded.  Primary School classes were encouraged to make a ‘pay if forward tree’, that had leaves added to it every time a student performed a good deed. Given the success of this year, it is believed that the event will become a part of the annual St. Andrew’s calendar – with many students already looking forward to paying it forward in 2012.

Runner's Up

St Ursula's College

The Campaign for Self Respect

Teen Health promotes the idea that a healthy mentality is the foundation for a healthier physical wellbeing. The initiative had a strong focus on self-respect, addressed through various pastoral care activities, events and student based discussions; with participation across the entire college.  Highlights of Teen Health included Exo Day – a day celebrating happiness and positivity; and a trivia night which raised over $2000 for Beyond Blue and The Toowoomba Base Hospital.  The girls are confident that Teen Health has lead to a greater sense of self worth and a more positive attitude across the school community.

St Peter Claver College 

Head, Heart and Hands - Ways of Giving

Head, Heart and Hands – Ways of Giving inspire students to consider ways of giving and take actions to make the world in which we live a better place. The project is closely linked to the school motto:  Concern, Love and Justice.  The project included activities and events that encouraged students to be mindful (head), to feel empathy and compassion (heart), and take action (hands) to give service to others.  The project enhanced the feeling of positivity amongst the school community, with students recognising that everyone has the capacity to make a difference in their world.
   
   

Finalists

Beenleigh State High School

The Pride Campaign

 The Pride Campaign was designed to demonstrate that ‘pride isn’t a word – it’s an action’.  Through a variety of student-driven activities and initiatives, Beenleigh SHS students were encouraged to have pride in themselves, pride in their school and pride in their community.    Through this campaign it was recognised that relationships between students in different grades were enhanced, school attendance and participation in school events was increased, and students gained a greater connection with the wider community.

Beerwah State High School

Connectivity through Positivity

 Connectivity through Positivity was designed to strengthen the relationships between different cohorts and increase the level of respect students have for their teachers, school grounds and community.  Seven key events were executed throughout the year to encourage students and teachers to enhance school, local and global communities.  It has been recognised that since the initiative was implemented, Beerwah school grounds are better looked after, and that there has been a strengthened connection between students and teachers.  There has also been a significant amount of money raised for The School of St. Jude in Tanzania.

Gympie State High School

Indigenous Mentor Program

The Indigenous Mentor Program is an initiative that enhances connections with Gympie’s indigenous community.  The initiative involves Gympie SHS student leaders working with local indigenous students and elders, and participating in a variety of fun and meaningful activities and events.  Success in this program has been recognised by improved literacy in Indigenous students, as well as enhanced self awareness, confidence and cultural understanding of all the students involved.

Ipswich Girls' Grammar School

Footsteps in the Park

Footsteps in the Park is an initiative designed to bring students together to serve the homeless in the Ipswich region.  Students cooked a BBQ meal, prepared from the generous donations from members of the school community; whilst engaging in conversations with the homeless.  The project has fostered a strong sense of community for homeless people in the Ipswich community, helped the girls gain a greater perspective on their own lives, and created greater understanding and empathy amongst the IGGS community for those less fortunate.

St John's Anglican College

Make a Difference 

The make a difference campaign was split into 5 key areas: Leadership, Environment, Fundraising, School Spirit and Flood Relief.  Through these initiatives student leaders were able to reach out to younger grades, improve the school environment through bush regeneration and litter reduction, raise money for various charities including the Archbishop’s Flood Appeal, and increase connection to the new St John’s College identity.  This campaign was enthusiastically embraced by the school community, and has ensured the notion of ‘make a difference’ is engrained in the college culture.