Leadership and Awards

Any student elected to a leadership position is required to fulfil their roles and responsibilities while meeting the Ascham values. All leaders should demonstrate:

• Respect and Kindness by being aware of the thoughts and feelings of others when making decisions. Attend to all members of your community: seek opinions, communicate respectfully and search to find and utilise the strengths in others.
• Collaboration and Community by attending and assisting at events relating to your position. Build relationships and support others by encouraging them to lead with you; actively engage students from younger years to get involved.
• Courage and Resilience by setting goals and proposing ideas to the relevant committee staff and, if challenges arise, being adaptable in order to respond effectively to these challenges, using them as opportunities for growth. Become aware of your attributes as a leader and develop positive habits to harness your strengths.
• Acceptance and Responsibility by setting an example for other students and including everyone, despite differences of opinion, and accepting responsibility for decisions of the team. Ensure that you and the members of the team are cognisant of your own and others’ feelings and opinions.
• Ambition by enthusiastically guiding the team to set and achieve goals through effective planning, organisation and communication.

During tenure, each position has a number of set tasks to complete. Please refer to the specific positions below:

School Committee

The following responsibilities apply to all Committee members:

• Attend a weekly meeting with the Head and/or Deputy Head of School.
• Chair a weekly meeting with the Portfolio Committee under the supervision of the Portfolio Head Teacher. Prepare and distribute agenda and minutes for each meeting.
• Attend both internal School events and those in the broader community as directed.
• Coordinate the portfolio assembly in consultation with the Portfolio Head Teacher.
• Make assembly announcements pertaining to the portfolio as required.
• Encourage and promote the student voice within School activities.
• Propose and implement new initiatives where appropriate in consultation with the Portfolio Head Teacher.
• Work collaboratively with other committees to achieve shared outcomes.

Chair/s of the School Committee

The Chair/s of the School Committee is a pivotal role responsible for leading and guiding the committee to achieve its objectives. The Chair will work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of School to ensure effective communication and collaboration between the student body and the school’s administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and facilitate the running of assemblies on Tuesday and Friday.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the student body and the Head and/or Deputy Head of School.
• Ensure that initiatives continue throughout the year e.g. Friday Funday, Friday Morning Gate duties

Vice Chair/s of the School Committee

The Chair/s of the School Committee is a pivotal role responsible for leading and guiding the committee to achieve its objectives. The Chair will work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of School to ensure effective communication and collaboration between the student body and the school’s administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stand in for the Chair of the School Committee when required.
• Take minutes at the School Committee meetings
• Provide Committee members with an overview of school events and encourage attendance.
• Assist in the running of assemblies on Tuesday and Fridays.
• Facilitate communication between the student body and Head and/or Deputy Head of School

Head of Boarding

• Oversee events during National Boarding Week, working with Boarders Committee and Boarders SRC as well as organising and facilitating boarding events throughout the year such as Sunday night assemblies, ‘in-weekend’ activities, dinner tables and special occasion events.
• Liaise with the Boarders SRC, Boarders Committee and staff to provide feedback on new initiatives in boarding or issues, and devise creative solutions.

Head of Charity

• Liaise and support other committee members with charitable endeavours.
• Organise and facilitate Charity events including whole (Senior) School, Year group initiatives and special event charities.

Head of Co-curricular

• Assist the Co-curricular Captains in the organisation of their various activities/events.
• Promote the importance of Co-curricular activities in School life.

Head of Drama

• Organise and facilitate Drama including the annual Performing Arts Panel, Margot Duncan showcase and other School productions.
• Assist with auditions and promotion of Ascham productions throughout the year.

Head of Dalton

• Organise and facilitate Dalton events such as Peer Tutoring and Founders Day.
• Assist in developing effective study and planning skills for all students, encouraging a love and appreciation of learning through the Dalton Plan.

Head of Houses/Head of Sisters

• Organise and facilitate House/Sisters events such as Cheers, March Past, House Festival, Amazing Race and Sisters meetings.
• Work closely with the Coordinators of Houses and Sisters on supporting the House Chairs in the lead up to major events, e.g. Swimming and Athletics Carnivals and House Festival.

Head of Music

• Organise and facilitate tasks at Music events such as running the BBQ, ushering and program distribution.
• MC’ing major Music events.

Head of Social Justice

• Organise and facilitate Social Justice events for assembly and/or lunchtime meetings.
• Keeping abreast of current Social Justice issues and promote an understanding of these within the School community.

Head of Sport

• Organise and facilitate Sports events for assembly and/or other events eg. Pink Sock Round.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Sports Captains in the lead up to their season and help promote the importance of Sport in School life.

Head of SRC

• Seek and provide feedback on various aspects of School life and facilitate communication between the Student Body and relevant Members of Staff.
• Work with the SRC to organise events and initiatives.

Head of Student Wellbeing

• Organise and facilitate Student Wellbeing events to promote belonging, support and connectedness within the School community.
• Capture, promote and represent student voice in whole school wellbeing approaches.

Head of Sustainability

• Lead initiatives, ideas or themed events to support the School’s Sustainability aspirations, encouraging current and future portfolio member participation.
• Support educational messaging and/or relevant updates to the School community regarding sustainability, such as at assembly presentations or via notices.

Houses and Sisters Committee

House Chairs

• Attend weekly meetings with Coordinator of Houses and Sisters.
• Encourage and promote all Houses and Sisters events within Senior School and the wider community.
• Organise and implement Sisters activities, including Swimming and Diving Carnival House Cheers, Athletics Carnival Cheers and House Festival.
• Assist in the organisation and implementation of the Inter-House Debating, Public Speaking and Chess competitions.
• When necessary, write articles for Hub news and communicate Houses and Sisters information during assembly.
• Create and present a report and/or video for assembly.

House Representatives

• Attend meetings with House Chairs prior to House events.
• Support the House Chairs during large House events such as Swimming Carnival Cheers, Athletics Carnival March Past, House Festival, Battle of the Books and other House events throughout the year by liaising with the students in their Year group.

Co-Curricular Captains

The Co-curricular Captains include:

Captain of Chess; Captain of Debating; Captain of Duke of Edinburgh; Captain of Public Speaking; Captain of Speech and Drama.

The following responsibilities apply to all Co-curricular Captains:

• Attend weekly meetings with Head of Co-curricular and the staff member in charge of your position.
• Attend all necessary training, competitions, workshops and events. Exceptions will be made if the girls are involved in a School event that prohibits them from attending.
• With the exception of Captain of Duke of Edinburgh, assist in the organisation and implementation of the Inter-House Competition in conjunction with Head of Houses and House Chairs.
• Encourage and promote the elected Co-curricular area in the Junior and Senior School and the wider community.
• When necessary, write articles for Hub news and communicate information during assembly.
• Be aware of achievements and acknowledge them where appropriate.
• Support and promote all Ascham School events both within your elected area and other Co-curricular events.
• Organise and facilitate events pertaining to your area as directed by your Head Teacher.

Dalton Captains

Includes Captain(s) of Innovation

The following responsibilities apply to Captain(s) of Innovation :

• Attend weekly meetings with Head of Dalton and the staff member in charge of your position.
• Attend all necessary competitions, workshops and events. Exceptions will be made if the girls are involved in a School event that prohibits them from attending.

• Assist in the organisation and implementation of the da Vinci Decathlon, promotion of STEAM within the school and linking activities with the Library
• Encourage and promote STEAM and innovation within the wider community.
• When necessary, write articles for Hub news and communicate information during assembly.
• Be aware of achievements and acknowledge them where appropriate.
• Support and promote all Ascham School events both within your elected area.

• Organise and facilitate events pertaining to your area as directed by your Head Teacher

Music Captains

The Music Captains include:

Captain of Bands; Captain of Choirs; Captain of Guitar; Captain of Orchestra; Captain of Strings.

The following responsibilities apply to all Music Captains:

• Assist the Music Department in the organisation of Music events (e.g. concerts, camps, service learning and assemblies)
• Arrive early to rehearsal to set up rehearsal spaces.
• Lead and model warm-ups/tuning.
• MC concerts applicable to your area of leadership.
• Write an article on the event applicable to your captaincy.
• Support staff in stage managing concerts.
• Meet weekly with Music Committee and take on tasks within this forum (e.g. Music Camp mentoring, Project Harmony).
• Demonstrate involvement with the Junior School Prefect Committee (e.g. P–12 Concerts).
• Contribute to and support the annual Music Committee assembly.
• Promote the Music program and acknowledge achievement where appropriate.

Sports Captains

The Sports Captains include:

Captain of Athletics; Captain of Basketball; Captain of Cross Country; Captain of Dance; Captain of Diving; Captain of Equestrian; Captain of Football; Captain of Gymnastics; Captain of Hockey; Captain of Netball; Captain of Rowing; Captain of Sailing; Captain of Snowsports; Captain of Swimming; Captain of Tennis; Captain of Touch Football; Captain of Water Polo.

The following responsibilities apply to all Sports Captains:

• Attend fortnightly meetings with Head Coach and attend meetings with Head of Sport on the alternate fortnight.
• Attend all associated trainings, fixtures, competitions and events. Exceptions will be made if the girls are attending a School event that prohibits them from attending or if they are injured and have notified the Head Coach.
• Encourage and promote School, community, team spirit and participation, including in non-playing roles.
• Lead/model warm-ups, stretches and cool downs.
• Assist in the organisation and implementation of the Boarder v Day Girl event.
• Demonstrate involvement with the Junior School where the schedule and sport permits.
• Model the correct uniform for your sport at all times.
• Nominate a candidate for Sports Girl of the Week in consultation with the Head Coach.
• Be aware of individual or team achievements within your sport and acknowledge them where appropriate.
• Support and promote all Ascham School Sport events.

Student Representative Council

Year Level Student Representative Council Members:

• Attend a weekly meeting to provide feedback on various aspects of School life.
• Work with the SRC to organise events and initiatives.