SJSH Students Selected to Sit on the Minister’s Student Advisory Council

Two more students from North Bay have been invited to sit on the Minister’s Student Advisory Council for the 2017-2018 school year.

Samantha McKinley, currently a Grade 9 student at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall, says she is excited for this opportunity and has already volunteered to work on a subcommittee to help incorporate mental health into the health curriculum.

“We’re taught about first aid for our body, we need first aid for our minds,” she says.

Amanda Derosier, who will be attending St. Joseph-Scollard Hall next year, has also been selected to sit on the Student Advisory Council. Derosier says she is proud to be a member of the 2017/2018 MSAC and is looking forward to advocating for her peers with special education needs.

“I look forward to meeting students from across the province,” says Derosier. “I will be a voice for students who cannot advocate for themselves.”

The Minister’s Advisory Council gives students the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Education and sit on subcommittees to prepare recommendations on topics of personal interest.

Both students will be part of the ninth cohort of Student Advisors and will be invited to participate in additional student forums, student events and conferences to discuss student-related issues.

This year, more than 480 students applied, with only 60 students accepted to sit on the Council.

“We are thrilled to have our students sitting on the Student Advisory Council during the next school year,” says Derek Belanger, Principal at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall. 

“We place high importance on student involvement and student voice and we are pleased to see our students getting involved at the provincial level as well. We look forward to hearing more about the important work they will be doing,” he adds.