GSSC captains prioritise connection

Sabri Ibisi

Sabri applied for leadership to try to create better connections between leadership and the student body.

“I noticed that a lot of students had lost trust in the leadership and I want to regain that trust and respect,” he said.

“I want to make sure that the leadership team is more open with the students and bridge the gap.”

Now that he holds the title of neighbourhood captain, Sabri is excited to be part of the decision-making process at the school.

However, he also wants that opportunity to be open to the broader school community.

“My goals would be to have the students be more involved in decisions made around the school and within the leadership team,” Sabri said.

Next year, he is hoping to study something related to law, having fast-tracked legal studies in Years 10 and 11.

Outside school, Sabri is dedicated to the Shepparton United Soccer Club.

Reyhaneh Hosseini

Reyhaneh is motivated by positive change, which led her to apply for leadership.

“I’ve just always been passionate about making positive change and being a voice for the students,” she said.

“I hope to inspire students to take up leadership roles and just be the best version of themselves.”

This isn’t her first time dabbling in leadership, having been in the student representative council since Year 8.

Next year, Reyhaneh hopes to explore the medical world by attending university.

“After I finish school, I intend to go to university and study something in the health field, but I’m keeping my options open,” she said.

Reyhaneh enjoys relaxing both at home and in nature.

“I enjoy reading and being in the outdoors,” she said.

Neighbourhood Two captains

Joanna Muli

Joanna originally had her sights set on being music captain, but when she was encouraged by people around her to aim higher, she did.

“I didn’t want to push my boundaries, and I didn’t think I was going to get it, but then my mum and sister pushed me to just try it out and I ended up getting it,” she said.

“I feel proud of myself and just represent people because growing up, I didn’t really see myself represented as a student leader in any school I went to.

“I want to make sure that everyone feels like they’re being represented in leadership roles and that they know that there’s someone in the leadership group that they can go to.”

She has a passion for music, playing the saxophone and singing at local events such as the Anzac Day service, where she sang the New Zealand anthem.

Outside school, her part-time job at a supermarket takes up most of her time.

Bella O’Dwyer

Bella’s desire for change motivated her to apply for leadership in her final year of school.

“During high school, I just noticed all the things that I particularly didn’t like or that I wanted to change them and have some power and some say in how we could change them or fix them,” Bella said.

Her goal this year is to tackle the major issues she’s identified.

“I want to bridge the gap between us as leaders and the leadership team and the rest of the student body,” Bella said.

Next year, she hopes to continue to identify and solve problems within the broader education system.

“I’m trying to figure out what I can do or what I can study at university to do what I want because there’s not really a specific pathway, but I kind of want to go into education and fix the education system as best I can,” she said.

“I don’t really think it’s properly set up for kids who are disadvantaged, such as multicultural students, immigrants, students with ADHD or autism.”

Outside school, Bella works at a café and said her favourite part was seeing the local dogs come in.

Neighbourhood Three captains

Madeline Judd

Madeline knew from the start that she wanted to pursue leadership.

“Ever since I walked in [to the school] when I started at McGuire in Year 7, I saw the school captains there and I just saw how well they brought schools together and things like that,” she said.

“It really inspired me.

“I built up my leadership skills through high school and I found that I really enjoyed the sense of responsibility that comes with the role.”

Madeline will focus on improving the school for the students who come after her.

“This role will let me use my leadership skills to help the other leaders as well as myself to implement things that we think could improve within the school,” she said.

Madeline is considering university next year but is leaving her options open.

Outside school, she enjoys volunteering at the Saturday park fun runs and socialising with her friends.

Trinity Drain

Trinity didn’t initially plan to apply for neighbourhood captain, hoping to be a house captain instead.

“Then I spoke to one of my teachers and she highly encouraged me to run for college captain, and so I did,” Trinity said.

“I didn’t have much faith that I would get it but then, surprise, I am, and I’m really happy that I’m able to be in this position this year.”

Her goals for the year are to help younger year levels feel prepared for the rest of high school.

“I want to try and strengthen the bond between the junior year levels and the senior year levels as well as help the junior levels feel more prepared, in a way that I feel I wasn’t and quite a few of my friends weren’t,” she said.

This isn’t her first time in leadership, being a proud house captain when she was in Year 9.

At school, she is an enthusiastic member of the symphonic band as a flautist, and when she’s not studying, she enjoys her job in a bookshop.