The Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) held its highly anticipated student council elections for the academic year 2024-2025, with a series of classroom and executive elections culminating in the official announcement of the newly elected council on the 10th of October 2024. The elections aimed to foster student leadership, giving students from Grades 1 through 5 the opportunity to engage in democratic practices and showcase their leadership skills.

Classroom Elections: The Path to Representation

In the first phase of the election process, each grade held their classroom elections. Students were encouraged to nominate and vote for their peers who they believed would represent their class well in the student council. Each class had a set number of representatives who would go on to serve in various portfolios, contributing to the growth and improvement of student life at CISB.

Grade 1 , 2 and 3 each elected one representative , while Grade 4 had two representatives per class. Grade 5 had a more competitive process, with three candidates being elected from each class to account for the increased responsibilities they will undertake. This system allowed for broad representation across the lower school, ensuring that every grade had a voice in shaping the school community.

The Executive Election: October 10th, 2024

The next phase of the elections was the executive selection, where students from Grade 5 ran for the top leadership positions within the council. These positions required the candidates to campaign, give speeches, and demonstrate their ability to lead on a larger scale. The executive positions included President, Vice President of Activities, Vice President of Academics, Secretary, and two chairs: Chair of Culture and Chair of Marketing & Communication.

After a spirited campaign and democratic voting process, the following students were elected to the executive council:

President: Jiaqi (Ethan). Z (Grade 5)

Vice President – Activities: Jiacong (William S) .S (Grade 5)

Vice President – Academics: Olivia .W (Grade 5)

Secretary: Xuan Yan (Leeane) .M (Grade 4)

Chair of Culture: David .W (Grade 5)

Chair of Marketing & Communication: Islam .F (Grade 4)

These students were chosen for their leadership qualities, ability to communicate effectively, and their vision for enhancing student life at CISB.

The New Student Council 2024-2025

With the elections concluded, the student council for 2024-2025 is now ready to take on the responsibility of representing the student body, organizing events, and addressing any concerns students may have. The council members from each grade will work closely with the executive members to ensure that the voices of all students are heard and that CISB continues to be a thriving and inclusive community.

Here is the full list of student council representatives for each grade:

Grade 5: William G5, Jack G5, Olivia G5, Ethan G5, David G5, Joshua G5, Kate G5, Evelyn G5

Grade 4: Olivia G4, Leeane G4, Adela G4, Madeline G4, Fay G4, Islam G4

Grade 3: Milo G3, Derek G3, Alessandro G3

Grade 1 & 2: Valerie G2, Feanah G2, Mabel G2, Doris G1, Justin G1, Claire G1

The council’s efforts will focus on organizing activities, fostering cultural awareness, promoting academic excellence, and enhancing communication throughout the school. With their new leadership in place, CISB is set for another exciting and productive year ahead, where students have an active role in shaping their educational experience.

The school congratulates all elected members and looks forward to seeing the positive impact of the 2024-2025 student council on the CISB community!

– Contributed by Pieter Cilliers van Ellewee