Student leaders show promise

FOR Quinalow State School’s Gabrielle Bartkowski, becoming this year’s school captain came with some big shoes to fill.

Gabby’s father Darren was the Quinalow school captain back in 1996 and in her opinion, he did a pretty good job.

“Dad was the school captain when Quinalow was a much bigger school with lots more students, and from what I can tell he was a really good student leader,” she said.

“I grew up wanting to be school captain just like him, so when I was elected this year it was a really big honour to carry on the Bartkowski history.

“A lot of my family members attended Quinalow, and we’re all really proud to have gone to school there.”

Gabby addressed hundreds of fellow primary student leaders from 56 other Darling Downs schools across the region this morning at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillors morning tea, and her main message was simple.

“The world is full of good people, if you can’t find one be one,” she said.

“That’s something Mother Teresa was known for saying, and I think it’s really important to remember because as a student leader our main role is to encourage kindness in everything we do.”

Fellow student leaders from Cambooya State School also had plenty of good advice for their Year 6 peers regarding making the most of their year as leaders and how to best prepare for their first year of high school next year.

“Leaving Cambooya State

School and going to Harristown State High School next year is probably going to be a bit scary and nerve racking,” school captain, Joey Bonell said.

“But I’m sure once we get settled in and find our feet we will be courageous and confident in our new schools.”

Vice-captain Cooper Seddon also had some sage words of wisdom for the students and councillors in his honest and entertaining speech.

“I’ve been at Cambooya State School for seven years and when I leave for high school it will be the hardest thing I ever do, but I will get over it,” he said.

“I won’t take up much more of your time.

“Sometimes you have to keep things short and sharp, especially when there is morning tea just around the corner.”

SCHOOL PRIDE: Quinlow State School’s Gabrielle Bartowski gave an inspiring speech at the mayor’s leadership morning. Pictures: Bev Lacey

Gabbinbar State School captain Kayla Brown (left) with Zani Van Aardt from Glenvale State School and Gemma Gardner from Gabbinbar State School.

Cambooya State School captains, (from left) Joey Bonell, Cooper Seddon, Ashleigh Ciesiolka and Georgie Williams.

Keeley Purser and Jacob Thorneycroft from Meringandan State School.

Aisha Hargreaves (left) and Summer Bone from Fairholme College.