Meet our Student Leadership Team for 2024
Libby Cooke, Head Girl
What is involved in my student leader role?
My role as Head Girl allows me to grow both as a person and in my leadership skills and confidence. This role will help me engage with students and teachers and build greater connections with them and the wider community. Together with the other head students I will represent the student body at school, community functions and organise and attend events, which is rewarding and beneficial for our whole school/kura. I want Te Puke High School students to strive in this environment and aim high by consistently showing our school values.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
During my last year of high school, I aim to represent my school and myself as someone that students can look up to. I want to engage with the students at Te Puke High School so that everyone can take as many opportunities as possible. I hope to expand and develop my relationships at every year level to create a collaborative system in our school/kura. I will bring a positive attitude to our school to create an enjoyable environment. I wish to create a space where students are dedicated and strive to the best of their ability.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I aspire to be a lasting and proud representative of Te Puke High School. I dedicate all of my abilities to the responsibilities entrusted to me by my school/kura. Beyond the routine tasks, my aim is to leave a positive legacy on the tapestry of our school community, specifically by aiding my fellow students in unlocking their full potential. I believe that by leading with compassion, empathy and a deep respect for the cultural values encapsulated in the concept of mana, therefore I can leave a powerful example to those who follow me. Through this approach, I hope to inspire a collective understanding of success for cultural, sporting, and academic achievements for our school/kura – encouraging not only individual triumphs but also fostering a supportive and thriving community where each member flourishes.
Isaiah Jepsen, Head Boy
What is involved in my student leader role?
My role as Head Boy opens up opportunities to engage with new people and nurture my skills as a young leader. I will be attending events and public gatherings such as ANZAC Day on behalf of Te Puke High School. Around school, I will be in charge or a part of various councils and teams such as The Student Executive Council which are dedicated to further improving our school. I will become familiar with the student body as I will be addressing and presenting to them during school assemblies and ceremonies. As Head Boy, I will set an example by demonstrating our core values, the 5 Rs both inside and outside of school. I will be guiding and encouraging our students towards the right direction whether it be academically or in other aspects around our school. I will represent our school with pride during school, at sports, while attending events, and out in public.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
As Head Boy I will be the best role model possible demonstrating the 5Rs and continue to be as approachable to students and staff around school. I will work effectively with my fellow leaders continuing a healthy and positive group leading to an effective student executive cohort. I will run the student executive in partnership with the Head Girl Libby Cooke to the best of our abilities. I want to bring an enjoyable environment where kids can succeed while having fun making memories throughout school. I will make sure the students’ voices are heard and bring those ideas and thoughts to reality at school.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want to be remembered as someone who succeeded in their role whilst maintaining a social and fun experience throughout high school. I would like to be remembered as someone people strive to be like and set examples for the rangatahi and future leaders of our school. I hope to be remembered as a person who lives in the moment valuing my time in school whilst I am young even with responsibilities and commitments elsewhere. Lastly, I want to leave a legacy that being a leader is cool and should be perceived as a goal for all young kids going through school.
Lydia Williams-Stewart, Arts Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
As Arts Leader I will be responsible for planning arts related events and activities at Te Puke High School throughout the year including Lip Sync, school production, running the Arts Committee and coming up with new and exciting ideas with the help of our Arts Committee members. I will be working alongside and supporting my co-leader and the Arts Teachers throughout the year. Most importantly, I will encourage students at Te Puke High School to get involved with the arts and give it their all.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
In my leadership role I would like to make the arts at Te Puke High School more inviting for every student to be a part of. I want to be someone that people feel like they can talk to, as a leader is a grower of people and communication is such an important part of my role. As creating and pursuing art of any type can be quite daunting, I would like to give other students, especially the younger students motivation and encouragement to realise that they can create and achieve whatever they would like to.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want my legacy as Arts Leader to be someone who helped create an inclusive and fun environment at Te Puke High School, especially in the Art department and to let other students know that anyone can take part in all parts of the Arts that our school has to offer. I want to let students know that to be passionate about the Arts is a cool thing and to participate in what we have to offer. Without participation, there is no show and every student makes it that much more special.
Andy Skiffington, Arts Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
As Arts Leader, my responsibility will be to work alongside my Co-Leader Lydia in planning, organising and running school activities and events related to the Arts as well as leading and communicating with the Arts committee every week to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get involved with art activities going on at school. As a Leader at school, I will also lead by example: demonstrating the 5Rs consistently and promoting a positive school spirit.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
My goal as Arts Leader is to foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere within the Arts at Te Puke High School so that everyone feels welcome to explore their interests and discover their passions no matter their skill level. It is never too late to pick up a skill and just putting themselves out there should be celebrated. I aim to give our students opportunities to step outside their comfort zone in a safe and welcoming environment.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want to leave behind a legacy of being an open and kind-hearted Leader but also an organised and methodical one. I want to have motivated students to reach their full potential throughout the years and strive for excellence. I also want to have been a role model for younger students and inspire them to take up leadership opportunities when they come by.
Tempest Cassin,
Cultural Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
My role is to promote culture in our School (Kura) and raise awareness about cultural diversity and issues. Including building the spirit (Wairua) from the ground up in our School (Kura). I also lead a daily meeting (hui) called Cultural Committee where we discuss diversity and promotion upon all various cultures and traditions to respect and acknowledge all cultures and their spirit (Wairua). Lastly, my role involves welcoming new people onto our land (Whenua) for them to see our school spirit and how our (youth) Rangatahi and teachers (Kaiako) embody Te Puke High School and their 5 core values.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want people to look at me with passion and inspiration about my role and me as an individual. I want to demonstrate to the School (Kura) and our Teina to step out of their comfort zone and express their culture to promote cultural diversity and identity of who they are and where they have come from. This is the type of legacy I want to leave for our School (Kura) to prosper but most importantly our new (leaders) Kaiarataki for next years to learn from us but to grow as strong leaders and grow our Kaupapa and Whanau of
Te Puke High School.
Sukhnoor Kaur,
Cultural Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
My role as a Cultural Leader for 2024 is to make sure that all cultures are being represented within our school, with the help of my co-leader Tempest Cassin and the staff who are in charge of the Culture Committee. My role will be to encourage more students and new staff members at Te Puke High School to get more involved in cultural activities that the students and staff of the cultural committee organise throughout the year.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
What I want to do in my leadership role is to inspire students at Te Puke High School to be part of cultural week which is one of the busiest weeks for the cultural committee that takes the whole year to prepare for. Having students and teachers that are engaged to proudly present their culture is what we need in the cultural committee.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want to be a role model to my fellow pairs and the junior students. I want them to proudly present their culture just as I am. I want them to be confident to try things that are out of their comfort zones, even if they are not a leader, I would still want them to show leadership within their work.
Mya-Rose Wilson, Sports Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
In my role as Sports Leader, I will attend meetings involving all Student Leaders. I will also assist Mr Hopkins, our Sports Co-ordinator when organising sporting events and sports prize giving. I will involve myself in all sporting events such as swimming sports, athletics, cross country, etc. I will also run our sports committee meetings.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
I propose that in my leadership role, I will be organised, manage my time well and attend the meetings that I will be involved in. I will help and support our Sports Co-ordinator Mr Hopkins and I will also promote sport at any chance I am given. By doing this I am wanting to open the students’ perspectives on sport and how it can be enjoyable. I will also support our Head Boy and Head Girl, as well as our other Student Leaders.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want to leave a legacy where the students can view me as the Sports Leader who helped them change their perspectives on how enjoyable sport can be. I want my legacy to continue throughout school even when I am gone. I want the students to remember me as someone who was always reliable, supportive, and involved in encouraging the students to get themselves involved. I want to motivate more students to apply for the Sports Leadership roles.
Tinus Nel, Sports Leader
What is involved in my student leader role?
In my role as Sports Leader, I will attend the Executive meetings every week. I will also assist Ben Hopkins our Sports Co-ordinator and help to run the Sports Prize Giving. I will be involved in all of the sports days, like Athletics Day, Swimming Sports, Cross Country, etc. I will also run the Sports Committee meetings.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
I propose that in my role as Sports leader, I will attend and lead the sports committee talking with peers to develop new fun ideas to include sports and promote healthy rivalry and competition.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I would like to leave good ideas for sporting events or competitions that people enjoyed that future leaders could use in the future but most importantly I want people to remember my love and passion for sports and how crucial sports and exercise are.
Bella Ngawhika, Student Trustee
What is involved in my student leader role?
As a Student Representative on the Board of Trustees, I play a crucial role in representing the student body and ensuring that the ākonga (student) voice is heard in these important korero (meetings). I actively support and promote the interests of my fellow students, working alongside the Board of Trustees to ensure their voices are heard.
What I propose to do in my student leader role?
In this role I want to make small changes that add up to a big change. I want to ensure that students ‘ voices are heard. I will inform both students and my fellow Board members on the activities happening in our kura (school). I look forward to developing my relationships with not only Te Puke High School students, kaiako but also Te Puke and our wider area community.
What legacy do I want to leave?
I want ākonga (students) at our kura (school) to know that their voice is heard and the important kaupapa they want voiced is voiced to the board. I want to ensure that all ākonga know that they are valued and are a crucial part of our kura. I aim to leave a legacy where students’ are able to come to the board openly with ideas and are confident to voice them. As I said in my previous pātai I want to make small changes that add up to a big change. I hope that my personal qualities are instilled within the ākonga in our kura. “Mahia i runga i te rangimārie me te ngākau māhaki” “With a peaceful mind and a respectful heart, we will always get the best results”