A Centre Wellington District High School student has earned a spot on the 2015-16 Minister’s Student Advisory Council.
In an out-of-character move – according to her mother – Eden Blanchard, 17, applied to be a member of the council, and was accepted.
“Eden is not outgoing … so it’s a big deal,” said Blanchard’s mom, Kim Blanchard.
As one of about 60 students on the council, Blanchard is the only student in her school to hold the position.
“You had to fill out an application form online and then just submit it and then they choose who they think would be best and the most diverse,” Blanchard explained.
The Minister’s Student Advisory Council began in May 2009 and was created so students could give the minister of education advice on various topics regarding public education.
The application is open to any Ontario student from Grade 7 to 12 in a public school and a new council is chosen for each school year.
Blanchard said one of this year’s focuses is engaging students.
“At our first meeting we came up with subtopics on that and how we can engage students through those,” she explained. “I participated in an updated resources talk and so we just said what we thought we needed to improve within our schools.”
Disengagement was also a big focus of the application Blanchard completed.
“It asked … what you would do and have done to improve disengaged students, to engage them in school,” she explained.
The first Minister’s Student Advisory Council meeting took place on May 7 at Queen’s Park in Toronto and though she was nervous at first, the Grade 11 student said she was looking forward to, “Having the opportunity to change or to improve our system and meeting lots of new people.”
Though she may be less outgoing than some, Blanchard is no stranger to encouraging other students to become involved in the community.
Since her Grade 9 year she has been volunteering at James McQueen Public School. She now organizes student volunteers for school council babysitting and helps recruit volunteers for James McQueen's annual Bunny Breakfast.
“[Students] from the high schools so that they can get their hours and experience with helping children and what not,” she explained.
She chose to expand her scope of influence because she wanted to make a difference.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to get involved and to help with the education system in any way possible,” she said.
The May 7 meeting was more about getting to know the other members of the council and getting comfortable in the setting than actually make any recommendations, Blanchard explained.
That will come before the next school year.
The council is set to meet one more time this summer at the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre for a four-day leadership camp. The students will participate in leadership activities like canoeing and archery but they will also spend time with education minister Liz Sandals, who will be at the camp with them for a portion of the four days.
“The minister said that she will be meeting with the kids in smaller groups to get to know them … rather than as a group where it’s overwhelming,” Kim explained.
Blanchard said this will be her first time at a leadership camp and she’s not sure what to expect.
Though her Grade 12 year will be different now that she’s on the Minister’s Student Advisory Council, Blanchard also has her sights set on attending Boston University for cell and molecular biology with a genetics specialization and a minor in marine sciences.
She will be taking her SATs this month.
