LDSB elects Student Trustees for 2020-2021

Limestone Learning Foundation
LDSB elects Student Trustees for 2020-2021
Posted on 05/08/2020

The Limestone District School Board has added a third Student Trustee position to represent Indigenous students beginning in the 2020-2021 school year. Previously, the Board had two positions for Student Trustees to provide for the interests of students within its school system.
 

The Student Trustee position allows students in Grades 11 or 12 to provide greater insight into student activities, programs and needs. This important role also encourages more student voice in the district’s governance activities, and a greater awareness and understanding of mutual issues between and among the Board, school staff and students.

Elections were held May 4, 2020. Congratulations to incoming Student Trustees for the 2020-2021 school year:

Indigenous Student Trustee: Quanah Traviss (Loyalist C.V.I.)

Urban Student Trustee: Namirah Quadir (Kingston C.V.I. / Kingston S.S.)

Rural Student Trustee: Annika Putnam (Sydenham H.S.)

This year’s election was held virtually because of extended school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the virtual election process, this year had the largest number of student applicants ever.

Our thanks to current Student Trustees Annika Putnam and Jessica Crook for their leadership and advocacy, and for representing Limestone students this year with such honour.

The position of Student Trustee is open to all senior students of the Limestone District School Board who meet the eligibility criteria. Student Trustees serve a one-year term (renewable for  a second term)and they are elected annually by InterSchool Council a central committee made up of student leaders from all secondary schools.

Meet your incoming Student Trustees:

Indigenous Student Trustee Quanah Traviss is a Grade 12 student who attends Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Quanah is returning to LCVI for a fifth year in September. 

Abridged Election Platform: Shé:kon/Aƞpétu wašté!  I want to represent other Indigenous students within the Limestone District School Board because I feel that the voice of Indigenous students is missing from many discussions that involve Indigenous related education. To be a trustee would give me an opportunity to advocate for many other students whose voices are not being heard when they should, and to represent the interests of hundreds of years of cultures and teachings. The opportunity to do this means more to me than anything I have previously done for my community, and I would be grateful for a chance to represent my people in a way where I could make a difference.

To me, student voice is about every student having some power to make a change in a way that matters. There are a lot of things my peers and I want to change when it comes to the representation of our culture, and I know that from here I might have an opportunity to do something about it. As an Indigenous student in any class or lesson that focuses on Indigenous culture and values, it can feel extremely isolating and stressful to have your heritage put on a pedestal and studied by your friends and classmates. Given our long history as co-existing peoples, there are countless reason as to why everyone in Canada needs to learn about who we are, and the values we have carried with us for thousands of years. At the same time, given that same history there is no reason any Indigenous student should feel that way. It is my aim to do whatever I can to combat this, be it finding some solution through meeting with other Indigenous students or finding other areas we can improve as a community. I think with my experience and time spent around dozens of other Indigenous cultures from across Canada, I will be able to better represent the interests of students belonging to more than just my own Mohawk/Lakota background. 


Image of Namirah QuadirUrban Student Trustee Namirah Quadir is a Grade 11 student at Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute/Kingston Secondary School who will return to KCVI/KSS for Grade 12 in September.

Abridged Election Platform: I feel very strongly about the need to represent student voice and would love to take part in the extraordinary learning experience that is working with the other members of the Interschool Council/Indigenous Student Leadership Circle in representing our community at district and provincial levels. I feel that as a confident, openminded, and compassionate young woman, I can effectively communicate with other students and equally with those who can shape our society and education system. In the past year as a grade representative at my school, I have found that many students are hesitant to speak to their concerns to administration or teachers but are comfortable with sharing such thoughts with me. I am not afraid to advocate for change and would like to act as a liaison between students with brilliant ideas and those who can implement them.

I think the promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion is of the utmost importance and would like to see these concepts implemented in our education system and school board. I would love to work together with the other trustees and school head representatives to brainstorm ways in which we can bring our Limestone schools together and represent the ideas and unique perspectives of our board at a provincial level.

Image of Annika PutnamRural Student Trustee Annika Putnam is a Grade 11 student who attends Sydenham High School. Annika is currently the Rural Student Trustee, and will be returning to SHS for the 2020-2021 school year to complete Grade 12. 

Abridged Election Platform: I would like to continue my work as a rural student trustee representing Limestone District School Board because I have a strong interest in being involved with planning and decision making at all levels. 

I think having the opportunity to continue the role of Rural Student Trustee would allow me to further my work with staff and students within the district in ensuring every student maximizes learning experiences and has the opportunity to advocate for their needs. This a chance for students to have their voices heard. 

The most important reason I wish to continue my work as the Rural Student Trustee is because I wish to continue to bring the voices of students attending small schools to the table. Students in small rural schools face unique challenges and have unique opportunities that are not always fully recognized or understood by other school communities. 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.