Student voice, agency and leadership is highly valued at Heathcote Primary School. We are proud that the percentage of positive responses from students at Heathcote PS in the Department of Education's annual Attitudes to School Survey data is above the State achievement. 

There are multiple leadership opportunies across the school, starting from Foundation. A structured and sequential leadership program provides students with opportunities to develop their communication, problem solving, decision making and teamwork skills. Students can influence change and are actively encouraged to do so, in collaboration with staff.

Leadership opportunities are available through:

Class Meetings

As part of the start up program at the beginning of the year, classes establish class meeting expectations and work together to develop their classroom behaviour expectations. All students are involved in this process.

Classroom Monitors

Leadership opportunities are available for all students from the very start of their schooling life through classroom monitor roles.

Junior School Council (JSC)

Each class elects two Junior School Council representatives. JSC meet regularly to plan activities and events to support the school and broader community. For example, they lead a variety of clubs at break times and organise special fundraising events for local organisations including the SES and Community House. 

Peer Mediators 

Grade 5 and 6 students have the opportunitiy to become peer mediators. Before becoming a peer mediator, students complete a a series of training sessions and participate in ongoing reflective practice sessions. As peer mediators, students support their peers at break times. They are easy to spot in their pink peer mediator vests. 

Buddies

Our Buddy Program partners Grade 6 students with a Foundation buddy. Each fortnight, students spend time completing a task together. Our Grade 6s also plan and teach a lesson. 

School and House Captains

There are two School Captains and four House Captains. Grade 6 students are invited to write a speech and present it to students in Grades 3 - 6 who then vote for the person they would most like to lead the school the following year. It is always a difficult decision as there are so many excellent future leaders. 

Each week, the six captains attend a leadership meeting with the principal. They prepare the assembly agenda (and led it later in the day), count the values cards and work on a variety of leadership projects. For example, organising a hot lunch day for the whole school, planning an end of term games day for all year levels, working through a process of naming the Houses. Throughout the year, the captains take visitors on school tours, speak to visiting MPs and attend community events. They also present a School Leaders report once a term at School Council. 

General

We strongly believe that 'you don't need a badge to be leader' and we encourage students to use their initiative and look for ways they can make our school even better. Recent examples of our students demonstrating leadership include:

• Foundation students noticed that there was some rubbish in the eating area so they organised a little clean up crew
• Grade 1 students noticed that a bubble tap was squirting water higher than normal and they did not want anyone to be squirted accidentally so they made a sign at break time to place above the tap.
• Grade 3/4 students noticed the bike shed needed sweeping so they volunteered as bike shed monitors
• Grade 5/6 students organised a game of netball with another local school. They contacted the school via email, organised umpires and even ensured there were oranges for half time

We are proud that our students feel confident, comfortable and able to share their ideas and make a positive contribution to the school community.