We are committed to developing leadership skills in all of our students and we consider the preparation of our future leaders a priority for our school. From prep to year six the development of such skills is embedded in curriculum units, classroom routines and extra-curricular activities. Our leadership program is most noticeable through the work of our elected student leaders (school captains and house captains) and the work of the student council. In addition, all students are regularly acknowledged for their positive effort, behaviour, attendance, achievements through certificates on assemblies, classroom stickers and awards, annual trophy presentations and recognition after each formal reporting cycle.
Student council
Each year two representatives from every year six and year five class are democratically elected by the class to represent them on student council. Student council meets once a week to discuss active local and global citizenship projects. Student council organises free dress days and other fun events for the student body. Funds raised contribute to school grounds improvements and donations are often made on behalf of the school to charities. The student council is an outlet for students to have a say in the operations of the school, negotiating with staff and administration.
Badges of office - elected student leaders
In term four of year five, students undertake an election process for school captain, house captain and cultural captains.
Applicants are interviewed by a panel consisting of the principal, the upper school deputy principal and the Head of Department - Curriculum or Head of Diverse Learning. Applicants are shortlisted for the election ballot with consideration of the written application, the interview, and their efforts from the previous year. Shortlisted applicants are invited to present a speech to a school assembly (year five and six students). The year five and six students and staff vote. All votes are of equal worth. A written preferential voting system is used. Once the voting is finalised, the school captains are announced. Unsuccessful applicants then have the opportunity to become house captains.
House captains are elected during house meetings. Applicants present a prepared speech, year five and six students vote, and the successful applicants are announced. The school leaders’ investiture ceremony takes place soon after the election process is complete. This ceremony takes place before the year one to six students in our school activity centre.
Special awards and recognition
Frenchville is fortunate to have a number of prestigious trophies and awards which are presented annually to year five and six students. They are available by application, and judged against a known set of criteria by the teachers concerned and the admin staff.
Year three - Kate Pennell reading award
Kate is a former student who has a love of reading and wanted to encourage youngers students to read.
Year five - Paul Eckel award for academic excellence
The Paul Eckel award is awarded to a year five student who has achieved well in their studies. This is a highly prestigious academic award, sponsored by a retired and long serving Frenchville teacher. Teachers and an administration representative meet to consider evidence of very high classroom achievements (A’s on report card), results from academic competitions and general classroom assessment items
Paul Andersen award for pride, honesty and persistence
This award is named after one of our long serving school patrons and former Frenchville teacher, who sadly passed away in February 2015 after Cylone Marcia. It is awarded to the year five student who best demonstrates the qualities of pride, honesty and persistence.
End of year awards
Awards are available in the following categories. Students apply by written application accessed on the student portal in term four.
- Academic award
- Music award
- Citizenship award
- Principal's award
- Sports award
- LOTE award
There is also a series of sporting excellence awards including sports person of the year.