St Brigid's High School Armagh

Student Council

Student Council Representatives 2009-10

811      James Kelly                  Peter O’Neill-Marron

818      Sean Gorman                Callum McKee

913      Caolan Gormley             Anthony McArdle

919      Eoin Duffy                    Nathan McCann

1010    Caolan Toal                  Conor Conlon

1021    Eoin Fox                       Aaron Hughes

1106    Anthony McGinness       Enda McElroy

1122    Richard Carlyle             Shane Lavery

1209    Conor McCague            Bradley Collins

1216    Marek Machuski          Christopher McQuaid

Twenty new Student Council members of St. Brigids High School, Armagh, get together on a Wednesday morning for their formal meeting of the week. Boys have been elected by their classmates to ensure that their thoughts and opinions on key issues in the school are brought to the attention of the school authorities.

The representatives have been very enthusiastic in putting their opinions forward to the principal and have successfully argued their case in many instances. Padraig Cullen who was elected for the fifth year in a row onto the council says “The Student Council at St. Brigids High School gives us students a say in the decisions that affect us”. Topics that have already been addressed include: school coats; breakfast club; afterschools clubs; charity fundraising; anti-bullying; support for local organisations; the problem of litter in the school grounds; school events calendar and being accountable to the rest of the students in the school.

School councils need to strike a balance between:

• Doing things
• Asking for things
• Raising awareness.

All members of St. Brigids High School’s Student Council need to show leadership skills, have good communicational skills, good attendance and be respected class and school members. The Council was set up to raise achievements and standards at St Brigids High School. By striking the right balance between doing things, asking for things and raising awareness the Council will become more successful in the future.

Mr O’Hanlon, co-ordinator, is effusive in his praise for the Council Representatives. “These young people have shown a maturity beyond their years in dealing with school issues. There have been none of the outrageous demands that might have been expected. They have been extremely reasonable in their discussions and requests to the Principal, Mr O'Hagan. They have shown awareness not only of their rights but also their responsibilities.”