SAIL as Far as You Can – Conference Attended

By Jasmine Santos, WCCHS
The Southern Alberta Interscholastic Leaders (SAIL) held their conference on May 22 at Lethbridge College with various student leaders from all around Southern Alberta who share the same passion for improving their schools and communities. The day was filled with ideas and inspiration as various topics were shared by the presenting students. Student leaders showcased what being a leader truly is. Being a leader is not about knowing everything; it is about facing challenges despite how overwhelming they may be and humbling yourself when you need help by asking for assistance or advice. Being a leader is a selfless act. It involves opening your mind and being committed to making your community the best it can be.
The program started at 9 a.m. in the college’s cafe courtyard with a warm welcome and an opening message from the keynote speaker, Alison Springer. Her speech focused on the importance of self-perception and acknowledging that you are the way you are for a reason. Comparing yourself to other people and beating yourself up because of your physical appearance or ability is a common experience. We look in the mirror and listen to it when it points out our flaws and imperfections. What we fail to realize, however, is that mirrors can lie. They only show parts of a bigger picture—the true picture. It is important to remember that we are capable of more than what is on the surface. We may wish to change some parts of ourselves right now, but one day all of these aspects will come together to bring out the best in you.
“You are the way you are for a reason, just wait for it.” Alison Springer
Students then went to their first breakout session. They were divided into four teams: A, B, C, and D. To ensure each school would get to see all presentations and have thoughts to bring back, students from the same school were split up as best as possible. All breakout sessions were led by students themselves, including some from the Livingstone Range School Division. Breakout #1 shared presentations on unitstudents were given some time to prepare for Breakout #2. These sessions had discussions on school spirit, finding solutions, and connection. Both breakouts were well done as they brought many insights and engaged with their audience through games and questions. Students had lunch after Breakout #2 and had some time to catch up with their friends as well as prepare for the final breakout sessions, which were held by senior high students. Team D was split and merged with Teams A, B, and C for the last rotation. These sessions talked about leadership initiatives, the impact of habits, and creating inclusive communities. Once again, the student presenters did a great job of engaging with their audience and leaving a lasting impression. Their topics were timely and could be applied to all schools and even personal lifestyles.
Finally, everyone gathered back into the cafe courtyard for some final remarks. The hosts, Rick Gilson and Jason Kupery, as well as keynote speaker Alison Springer, shared their experiences and takeaways from the event. Everyone is born with the capability of change. This event highlighted how being a leader is not about exerting your position or knowing how to do everything. Being a leader means being committed to learning about the needs of your community and wanting to make a difference. Students left this event with lots of new ideas and insights to bring back to their school.

Olds College Field Trip

By Skylar McLeod, WCCHS
The recent two-day trip to Olds College was quite a blast!We left at 3:20 pm Tuesday the 14th and came back around 3:50 pm Wednesday.
The 2-hour trip to Olds started off with a stop at Cross Iron Mills, where we stayed for an hour ate lunch at the food court and did some shopping. Then after another hour of driving we arrived at the hotel, Pomerey Inn where we checked out our rooms and went for a swim. The hotel had a pool with a hot tub and a slide where we hung out for an hour before curfew at 10 pm, there was also a gym by the pool where I enjoyed a workout the next morning.
Day 2
After the trip we ate breakfast and headed to the campus for their open house, there were a couple of other schools there but not many students. After going through a welcome booth where we received our swag, we were given a map with workshop times and activities, I chose to go to the Land and Water Resources course tour where I was able to identify different soils and wild plant species! Others may have decided to do the scavenger hunt where 1st 2nd and 3rd place prizes were available to win, consisting of large baskets filled with snacks and merch.
Lunch was provided around 11:30, which we needed a ticket for, consisting of a bun, a pop, and all the chili you could ever eat.
We left around 2:30, stopping at a gas station for a snack before arriving back at the school around 3:50!

High School Wellness

By Jasmine Santos, WCCHS
Voicing out one’s opinions is essential to development. Students at WCCHS were given the opportunity to share their ideas and experiences in school through their Wellness activity on Friday, May 24th. Students were told to gather in the foyer and have six to seven people at each table. This activity was a continuation of the last Wellness activity, which involved students answering a number of questions related to their school experience. They were put into groups and rotated around the tables. Each table had a question and students used sticky notes to answer.
Some questions were:
“How can we invite all students to share their ideas at school?”
“How do students lead their own learning?”
“How can we change school events or traditions?”
Students then received an envelope with all the responses from that activity. They were asked to sort the answers into categories. These categories were then placed on a whiteboard and students were tasked with voting on them. The top five categories were labeled priorities, and students were now asked to explain how they could accomplish these priorities. Many insightful ideas were given.
Giving students activities like this allows their ideas to feel welcomed and encouraged. We hope that these ideas ignite and continue to bring development to the school. Many platforms at WCCHS give students opportunities to use their voice. Student Leadership is open to all and many activities in school stem from those meetings. The Cobra Chonice, this article you’re reading right now, also aims to allow students to share their voice and passion. Nevertheless, this activity showed that the staff of WCCHS are eager to hear and pursue their students’ ideas. Solutions can definitely be achieved if staff and students continue to communicate effectively.