Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards

On Friday 15th November the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards were held at the Rex Hotel in Canberra. Stromlo High School students were the proud recipients of two of the eight awards presented by Minister Joy Burch:
– The South Weston High Schools Network (made up of SRC students from Alfred Deakin, Melrose, Stromlo and Telopea) won the Group Award for their You R U Campaign. This project involved the four schools working together to run a series of activities that celebrated individuality and acceptance.
– Simone Bartram won an individual award for her fundraising efforts for Pegasus.
Liam McMurtire, Lauren Quilter, Simone Bartram and Kate Bolton attended the event and proudly accepted awards on behalf of Stromlo High School.

You R U Day – Friday 20th September

Representatives from each of the four network high schools holding the You R U logo designed in their school colours.

The South Weston High School’s Network Student Leadership Councils (or SRCs) has a history of being involved in high impact student action initiatives that aim to make a difference in our schools and local community.  In 2011 the network worked together to coordinate Cyber Safety Week, a week focused on students taking action to ensure a safe environment for all IT users. Last year Melrose, Telopea and Stromlo High Schools worked together to coordinate RED Day, a highly promoted and successful campaign to promote Respect Equity and Diversity in our school communities.  These successful student leadership action initiatives were the first of their kind in the ACT region and have received recognition through the ACT Children’s Week Awards, and the Youth InterACT Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards.

This year Alfred Deakin High School, Melrose High School, Stromlo High School and Telopea Park School have worked together again, to create the You R U campaign.  This campaign spreads the message that we are all individuals, to be respected and celebrated for who we are. 

On Friday 20th September (after our original day was rescheduled due to rain) 400 students from the network schools gathered at Telopea Park School oval to celebrate individuality.  Each school prepared a series of activities to help promote our message, and encourage students from different schools to mingle and get to know each other.  Students were given the opportunity to write a positive message for the affirmation wall, view some original artwork and vote for their favourite, have a BBQ lunch and participate in some cross-school house races and novelty events. The day was a huge success (despite the weather not being fantastic) and a brief story was aired on WIN news and featured in the Chronicle.

Thank you to all staff and students who were involved.