Servant Leadership | St. Oscar Romero CSS

Recently, members of St. Oscar Romero’s student council took part in a TCDSB virtual leadership workshop. This workshop provided members with an opportunity to share with other student leaders from across the TCDSB and to further grow in our journey to do “what is right and just,” in our school community and be what God intends us to be as future Ontario catholic school graduates.

As members of St. Oscar Romero’s student council, we hold our family motto very close to our hearts. As a school family navigating all things COVID, we recognize that student council is more important than ever before. Thus, we grow as caring family members, with a deep committed to the well-being of St. Oscar Romero CSS.

For the past two years, students been thrust into a new world of schooling where learning has taken place at home, school schedules have been modified and extra curricular activities have been paused. All of these changes have not been easy for many.

As we approach the two-year mark of when Ontario schools first went virtually due to COVID, we have to recognize the toll such realities have had on students’ mental health and the well-being of all invested in schools.

It is not easy for students or staff to switch to remote learning in order to accommodate a pursuit of an education. Since this has happened, students have been feeling isolated and alone, and are not yet accustomed to being back in school. Because of this, it is important for student leaders to engage meaningful and bring some much needed joy. Over the course of the past two years, many students did not have a chance to have a full high school experience. Thus, as school leaders, it’s important that we try our best to engage in activities that will help boost self-esteem, confidence, and bring people together.

With COVID responsible activities and through positive role modelling, student council has lifted students’ spirits. Day-by-day, the goal is to restore enthusiasm and remind the St. Oscar Romero school family that through hardship rises new beginnings.

Recently, we’ve had the pleasure of offering a series of activities, raffle prizes and candy grams for the Christmas and Valentine’s seasons. Just this week, we’ve also worked to support those impacted by the crisis in Eastern Europe through fundraising. We look forward to hosting a carnival day in the Spring and hosting a number of other activities that will bring people together. With all of this, special thanks are extended to Ms. Borean, who is currently the student council staff moderator. Ms. Borean’s dedication and mentorship is much appreciated.

With all of this, all members of student council recognize that serving is a true privilege. Through student council we have the opportunity to grow and learn about ourselves and others. We all thank the school community for their trust and partnership.

Last week, as I spent my final day in Ms. Conforti’s Gr. 12 Visual Arts class working away on an artist reflection, Vice Principal Perrotta visited with his video camera in hand. As some of you may know, he often visits classrooms to document student learning and he asked me to write this reflection. We chatted about my goals after Romero and how art can connect to my future career as a social worker.

Looking to the future, I’m so proud to share that I will be studying to be a social worker at George Brown College come September. I’m so excited to learn and I also know that visual arts will give me an advantage as I look to build a successful career.

Any artistic form, can empower an individual to express and share repressed feelings or emotions. The creative process can be very therapeutic for both future patients and myself as I work to be a support to people in need.

As a social worker, my goal is to protect vulnerable children and support families in need of assistance. With this, my art experience will allow me to think critically, problem solve and look at situations in different ways.

I know first hand that art can be healing.

In my own experience, a social worker was able to get me to trust her by pulling out a bin of crayons and asking me to draw my family. At that moment I knew she understood how I was feeling and that I was safe to be open and vulnerable with her.

From healing to diagnosing a mental illness, the creative process allows for storytelling that transcends languages and cultures. Whereas I discovered art at a young age, adults can also find healing and wellness by putting a paint brush to a canvas, a pencil to a sketchbook, even a crayon to a
colouring book.

The creative process can bring a sense of safety – creating with purpose and accomplishing amazing things that come from inside one’s self. Art brings people together – it bonds people from all over the world. When looking at any art work, you’re able to see a story. In creating, you’re able to to share and be understood.

So, looking ahead to my future as a social worker, I know that art can heal and is a great way to connect and share. I’m so proud of where I am heading and so thankful of my learning experience in the Romero visual arts program.