Student Council 2014 - 2016

Candidate Information Booklet

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Table of Contents

Preface 2

Post Descriptions 3

Chairperson 5 Shimali De Silva (11P2) Dennis Lui (11P2)

Vice Chairperson 7 Henry Chiu (10D1) Yifan Ding (10D1) Lincoln Lam (11D2) Cedric Li (10D2) Christy Tsang (11G1)

Treasurer 12 Laurel Lee (9D2) Nicholas Ng (10X2)

Secretary 14 Eddy Park (10D1) Helen Wong (10P1

Public Relations Officer 16 Ryan Lee (11D1) Henry Lui (10G2)

Interviewers Comments 18

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Preface Dear Students, This year, the Student Council is pleased to have thirteen candidates running for the five positions of the Student Council, which are Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. Among these candidates, the Council is proud to inform that all of them are equally capable in steering the Student Council in the right direction for the future. Candidates who are successfully elected this year will be serving on the Apprentice Cabinet from 2014-15, and then serve on the General Cabinet from 2015-16. This Candidate Information Booklet provides invaluable information of all the candidates participating in this years Student Council Elections. This includes the reasons why they would like to join the Student Council, as well as why they believe they are suitable for the post that they are running for. Furthermore, this year, we have included a paragraph of comments from an interviewing panel, in order to provide you with further insight and knowledge of each candidate. Please take a careful look at each of the candidates profiles and information. We hope that this booklet will aid you in making a rightful decision for the future of this school. This years election will take place on the 11th of December 2013 during the morning assembly at the School Hall. Each candidate will present a speech. After that, you will be casting your vote for only one candidate per position. Let your vote cast the future of our Student Council. Nicolas Lai On behalf of the Sha Tin College Student Council 2nd of December, 2013

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Post Descriptions

Chairperson The Chairperson of the Student Council is the leader of the Student Council. There should only be one Chairperson for each cabinet of the Student Council, whilst the Chairperson of the Apprentice Cabinet shall assist the Chairperson of the General Cabinet in fulfilling his or her duties. They shall exercise the following powers and functions.

1. To lead the Student Council, 2. To preside over meetings, 3. To call for meetings (both bi-weekly and special meetings), 4. To decide on the agenda, giving priority to important items that are to be

discussed, 5. To decide on the appropriate time of meetings, 6. To be responsible for the implementation of this constitution and the

amendment of this constitution, 7. To be responsible in overseeing all Student Council activities, 8. To be responsible in executing impeachment processes and handling

resignation matters from all members of the Student Council apart from himself or herself.

Vice-Chairperson The Vice-Chairperson of the Student Council is the right-hand man of the Chairperson. There should only be two Vice-Chairpersons for each cabinet of the Student Council, whilst the Vice-Chairperson of the Apprentice Cabinet shall assist the Vice-Chairperson of the General Cabinet in fulfilling his or her duties. They shall exercise the following powers and functions.

1. To assist the Chairperson in leading the Student Council, 2. To preside over meetings jointly in the case of absence by the Chairperson, 3. To call for meetings if authorised by the Chairperson, 4. To be responsible in executing impeachment processes regarding the

Chairperson and handling resignation matters from the Chairperson.

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Secretary The Secretary of the Student Council manages the records of the Student. There should only one Secretary for each cabinet of the Student Council, whilst the Secretary of the Apprentice Cabinet shall assist the Secretary of the General Cabinet in fulfilling his or her duties. They shall exercise the following powers and functions.

1. To keep the official records of the Student Council, 2. To write up, keep and distribute the minutes regarding the content of each

meeting, 3. To be able to briefly give information about pending projects during meetings to

various members of the Student Council, 4. To have a copy of the Constitution and minutes from the previous 4 meetings

for members to refer to.

Treasurer The Treasurer of the Student Council manages the monetary logistics of the Student Council. There should only be one Treasurer for each cabinet of the Student Council, whilst the Treasurer of the Apprentice Cabinet shall assist the Treasurer of the General Cabinet in fulfilling his or her duties. They shall exercise the following powers and functions.

1. To be responsible for keeping record of the Student Councils finances, 2. To advise the Student Council of the Student Councils financial situation, 3. To source businesses, suppliers and other organisations or agencies outside of

Sha Tin College as needed by the Student Council.

Public Relations Officer The Public Relations Officer of the Student Council manages the release of information to the student body. There should only be one Public Relations Officer for each cabinet of the Student Council, whilst the Public Relations Officer of the Apprentice Cabinet shall assist the Public Relations Officer of the General Cabinet in fulfilling his or her duties. They shall exercise the following powers and functions.

1. To be responsible in updating the notice board next to the reception and also the Student Council SMART Page,

2. To advise the Student Council on matters regarding the field of information technology,

3. To reply to all student enquiries, including messages from the Official School Email, Facebook, Twitter and in written form,

4. To produce materials needed by the Student Council, such as posters, voting ballots and leaflets,

5. To communicate with organisations outside Sha Tin College on behalf of the Student Council on means where it does not conflict with the duties of the Treasurer.

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Chairperson

Shimali De Silva (11P2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I think that the student council is a valuable means of interaction between those with different roles within the school community, for example the PTA, the staff faculty and of course, the student body. I would love to be a part of that discussion and use it as a tool to work towards our school ethos. I mean it when I say that STC has given me much in the way of opportunity, security, and experience, but I feel like I've spent my time in school using the resources it's provided me as opposed to taking an initiative to better the community. I want to integrate myself more thoroughly into the workings of the school, and what better way is there than the student council? Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? The position i've applied to, I think requires a balanced and multi-faceted personality. The first aspect of this would be being driven, committed and capable enough to fulfill goals and projects, and I think my academic track record demonstrates this. I also have the ability to present myself and communicate maturely in both spoken and written forms, while being sensitive to the audience I'm interacting with. This is important because a chairperson would need to act as an ambassador of sorts, knowing how to deal with a range of people. On the other hand, I think that the varied interests that i have outside of school would be a strength in dealing with the position, as they allow me to look at issues from different perspectives. On a small, but important side note, I don't have an ego issue or take myself too seriously (I hope!) - which is probably implicitly paramount in the position. I hope i'll be able to add a new positive energy and vitality to the council!

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Chairperson

Dennis Lui (11P2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? It is often thought that those who wish to join the Student Council have great ambitions, and are the ones to steer the future course of the school. I, for one, do not agree. Our school is a wonderful place, full of friendly students and more than satisfactory facilities which cater to many of our educational needs. There is no need to make massive changes and try to revolutionize how the school works or thinks. Why? Because the current system already works. But, of course, there is always room for improvement. This is where the Student Council comes in. They are responsible for smoothing out these little creases, managing these grumbles and helping in any way they can. Take the new student cards for example; gone are the flimsy little bits of paper, and in come the much, much better durable plastic IDs. They instill a subtle sense of pride for our school; sometime, in a long time, we can take out these cards again and remember the good old days of Shatin College. But to reinstate this state of mind throughout the Student Council and the school requires a strong leader. This leader must be able to friendlily communicate to all ages throughout the school. This leader must be able to sooth arguments and contribute positive resolutions. And most importantly, this leader must be passionate towards our school, and dedicate his time for the good of the student body. This leader is me. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? There are several reasons as to why I am more than suitable for the position. I have a naturally outgoing and friendly personality, able to communicate within all years of the school. This would be especially useful when it comes to informing the school on what the Student Councils latest project is about, as I feel that currently communications between the Student Council and the student body are not as smooth as it can be. I have a talent for public speaking and stage appearances; this is easily proven by my two years involvement of the School Production, both of which I play lead roles. I am also organized and responsible for my actions, unwilling to relieve myself from a project until it is completed perfectly. Finally, I am intensely dedicated towards our school. I believe that the school has given me much throughout the years, and that I should pay back my immense debt for them. It is with this passion that I believe that you should strongly consider me as the future Chairperson of the Student Council.

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Vice Chairperson

Henry Chiu (10D1) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I believe that the Student Body is the fundamental core of a school. The school has an obligation to prioritise students at all circumstances, but whether or not the school's implementations will truly and ultimately work, really relies on the responses and reactions of the vast student body. The Student Council is the inner core of the student body that collectively represents the students of a school. I believe that being a member of the student council will not only enable me to use my full capability to seek improvements for the wellbeing of my fellow students, but to also get to know how the student body and school authority compromises and negotiates vital policies through the student council. Being a true member of the Sha Tin College community and striving for better school life for all students on a passionate basis will leave behind fond memories for me in the future, when I reflect, and think back on the best student life I wouldve ever experienced. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I am an extremely fulfilled student, and the very activities and enterprises I engage in put me in the very position to be suitable for a student council member. I have been an ESF student since Kindergarten, as well as being a member of the Sha Tin Community ever since Year One at Sha Tin Junior School, meaning that I am eminently familiar with the school network. I have the precious experience of being part of the SJS Student Council as well as being nominated by my teachers to be the liaison member of the Student Council during Year 8. During those years, my interest and understanding of the representation of a student body grew substantially. I am currently the team captain of Chinese Debating Team of STC, as well as being a long-term member of the STC Debating Team and participating in MUN conferences. These engagements that I have enable me to have the critical and analytical thinking skills required. Furthermore, participating in numerous interschool (HKSDC) and student led (SPARK) debating tournaments enabled me to meet many intellects across the Hong Kong secondary schools community, which will prove useful when it comes to interacting with numerous student councils in Hong Kong. In addition, being part of these teams enable me to interact with students from all over the school and thus, enabling me to understand how students perceive the school from all years. Last but not least, I have a true, sincere and genuine passion for this school.

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Vice Chairperson

Yifan Ding (10D1)

Why do you want to join the Student Council? I want to join the student council because I wish to be able to have a say in how the school utilizes its resources. I also want to be able to represent my peers in school. Lastly, I want to join the student council to gain experience for later life. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I believe that I am suitable because I am able to listen and learn from my peers and thus represent them. I feel that as Vice Chairperson of the student council, I would both be able to help the chair as well as everyone else by support them.

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Vice Chairperson

Lincoln Lam (11D2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? As a senior member of the school, and a person who has held back when given the opportunity to lead and represent our school, I feel like being a member of the student council will help me give back to the school community that has taught me so much, and to face my reluctance in participating in leadership roles. The student council gives me the chance to explore roles of leadership, in the relatively familiar environment and community that is Shatin College, allowing me to take a more active role in the school community. As a person, it allows me to grow and actively learn about leadership and the responsibilities that come with it, to try something new, to take a more decisive and vocal approach towards school affairs. This role of responsibility allows me to grow as a person, to learn about leadership, and to learn about responsibility responsibility to help the school in the best way possible, and responsibility for my actions. The role allows me to give a voice to my opinions, and the opinions of my fellow students, to make our opinions heard, to make our opinions count. As a long time student of Shatin College, this year is the very last year that I can apply for a role in the student council, and I intend to make the best of this last chance. It gives me a valuable opportunity to give back to the school that has taught me so much. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? As a long time member of Sha Tin College, I believe I have sufficient understanding of the workings of this school, which I believe to be important for the job. I am perfectly able to listen and carrying out instructions of others -especially my future chairman, while keeping and being perfectly able to voice my own opinions and views. I am perfectly able to keep myself organized (as most people are) , and will be able to keep my own work as well as my student council work up to date. Passion and motivation are both important values to hold as a student council member. I am passionate about our school, and I genuinely do care about the school, and will do everything i can to help the betterment of our school lives. Above all organizational and practical aspects that might make me suitable for the job, I am a realistic person, and one that does not make false promises. Lets be honest, countless promises were made during the elections last year, but the number fulfilled can probably be counted using the fingers of one hand. I might not promise much, but I will make what I promise count.

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Vice Chairperson

Cedric Li (10D2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I wish to join the student council because I truly love Sha Tin College and I wish to give something back to the school that has provided me with so much. Over the years I have heard and seen many of the students speak of their problems and lodge complaints to the council but I have rarely seen the council act to help our students. I believe I have waited to long, if I join the student council I will make sure the cries of our students are heard, and that we the student council, will act accordingly and provide justice to the students. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I believe I am suitable for the post because I believe that I am capable of assisting the vice chair ti preside over meetings. I also believe that I am a responsible person and that I have the ability to carry out the orders set by the chair. Finally, I believe that I have the ability and the knowledge to be able to contribute to the student council and help the council achieve its full potential.

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Vice Chairperson

Christy Tsang (11G1) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I would like to join the Student Council because I love our school and I know that I am not the only one who shares this sentiment; school life creates such monumental impact on the lives of everybody within it. It is the time for self-reflection, developing abilities, realising one's potential, setting goals for the future and creating bonds and memories that will be cherished forever. Therefore I want to take matters into my own hands and contribute directly to the betterment of our school. I know that there can always be improvements and I want to strive constantly to improve and sustain the quality and enjoyment of school life. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I believe I am suited for the post because not only am I eager to communicate with and listen to the ideas of the student body, I possess a rather analytical, pragmatic and goal-driven mindset and always try to look for creative solutions to existing problems; characteristics of which i believe would benefit the post greatly. I am dedicated to our school and I believe that I have the skills to create, plan and most importantly execute ideas.

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Treasurer

Laurel Lee (9D2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I want to join the Student Council because I want to have a chance to change the school and to pitch in ideas to the Student Council and make the school a better place for the students to go to. I have some ideas on how the school could change and I want to be able to present them. I want to become involved in all aspects of the school and student life. I want to grow into a leader and need the student council's help in order to do that. Let them know that a vote for you is a vote in the right direction and one in which they won't regret. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I believe I am suited for treasurer because I am organized and can plan things well and properly. I will be able to keep track of our financial records and try to get more fundraising ideas to help the school get more money. I can organize money and things that involve numbers well so I am suited for the post. I can also source businesses for the student council if needed.

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Treasurer

Nicholas Ng (10X2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I want to make the school community a better place, and I wish to do this through participation in the student council. I wish to make our school environment an enjoyable place to be in for student and teachers alike of all ages. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I have the dedication and will towards improving the school, and am a dedicated member of the STC community. Furthermore, I have good mathematical abilities ( I am in top set mathematics and regularly join mathematical competitions) , and regularly enjoy business and economics classes, which I believe will help me in completing the tasks involved in this post.

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Secretary

Eddy Park (10D1)

Why do you want to join the Student Council? I wish to not only contribute to the student council, but also to the school community by collecting and organising their opinions, which I will be able to do extensively as a Secretary. This post will let me practice my note-taking skills, as well as strengthen it. I believe that the Student Council is not just a place where students listen to general opinions about the school, but also where they can build up their path towards a person who listens to and reflects on the needs of the community and demands change, such as a founder of an organisation similar to Amnesty International or the Red Cross. These desires start out from little things like the Student Council. I want to attempt to fulfill these deeds by getting informed about and writing down what changes the students actually desire, as well as learning how to listen to the community and aiming to change the conditions they are in according to their needs. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I understand that the position of Secretary is to get informed and to inform the other members of the Student Council about the agendas, activities, projects and other things that ourselves have set up, as well as the opinions that the students in the school have. I am interested in the various needs that the students inside the school want, from the various issues stemming out from the Cafeteria such as the queues and the prices to rather absurd ideas like plugs inside lockers and a bridge connecting the Sports hall to the 4 or 5th floor of Block 3. I believe that I can write down all these issues, whether important or impertinent, and inform the various members of the student council, as well as myself, about these suggestions. I could also advise the various members of the council what could they do about a project as part of their duty; for example, for a project to improve IT support for 1-to-1 laptops, the Public Relations officer can not only inform the students that we are working on this project, but also use his IT skills to suggest various kinds of services that we can bring forward, while the Treasurer can then see if a certain service is plausible or not for the budget we have got.

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Secretary

Helen Wong (10P1) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I want to join the Student Council as it would be an amazing experience and I would want to help bring positive changes to the school as well as help improve the learning environment of our school. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I am a responsible person and I take things seriously. I am a good risk taker and I am willing to give up most of my time as a secretary. I am organised in many ways and I believe I can do the best in this position.

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Public Relations Officer

Ryan Lee (11D1) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I can reach out. The communication has gotten much better but there can be improvements. I want to be that person to hear out the students, tell them what's going on, and to let the Student Council know about student suggestions and complaints. I've had my share of ups and downs and I have the ability to relate a little with everyone. I'm doing this my peers at Sha Tin College; I would be willing to sit down and talk with them about issues that concern them at school. Why do you believe you are suited for the post you have applied to? I like talking to people. I've been a new student at two different schools now, and the way to make friends is to just start talking to random people and learning about their ideas and their culture, while also keeping some of your own identity. With this mentality, I believe I would be a great person to handle public relations. I'm also always connected, so I can make updates online almost instantly. There would be little delay between doing something and communicating that we've done something to the general public. I enjoy programming and doing things with tech; I created the School Fair website (www.stcptahk.org) and I have knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and Python. I think that my tech skills could be applied to say, making mobile webapps to support fundraisers and other events. My technical skills and my knowledge of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+) can help streamline communications and the idea of having the information that you need all in one place can be fully realized.

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Public Relations Officer

Henry Lui (10G2) Why do you want to join the Student Council? I want to join the Student Council as I believe it is my responsibility as a student to add to the school community. The Student Council is the only way for me to bring positive change to the school. It is a leadership role that I want to take and handle for the greater good of the school society. Why do you believe you are suited for the post that you have applied to? I am currently the Deputy Sales and Marketing Director in the school's Junior Achievement company and the Chairman of the UNICEF Committee. I am also an editor at the school's VOiCE magazine and junior reporter/opinion writer for the South China Morning Post's Young Post. I believe I can bring together my leadership and journalistic roles to fulfil this position, to allow for a clean and transparent council.

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Interviewers Comments

Chairperson Shimali De Silva (11P2) The interview board believes that this candidate is very well spoken and has a clear cut idea of what she wants to achieve as part of the Student Council. She seems dedicated, enthusiastic and willing to work hard, which may help her in leading the Council in the future. However she is also involved with many other different activities which may impede on her ability to fulfil her Student Council obligations. Dennis Lui (11P2) The interview board believes that this candidate is a compelling speaker that has a clear cut idea of what he wants to do as part of the Student Council. He is confident and sure of himself and envisions the Council to take part in more day to day elements of student life. However the interview board felt that his ideas about leadership and what the Council should aim towards were less compelling than they could have been.

Vice Chairperson Henry Chiu (10D1) The interview board believes that this candidate has the capacity to be organised and decisive, but may not have actual concrete plans for the Student Council, may be involved in too many other activities which may affect his ability to fulfil his Student Council obligations, and lack teamwork skills. Yifan Ding (10D1) The interview board believes that this candidate may not be able to voice his thoughts eloquently when under pressure, which could reduce his overall contribution to the Student Council. He may lack the organisation and prioritisation skills necessary to fulfil the role. However, this candidate may offer the Student Council a balance of personalities. Lincoln Lam (11D2) The interview board believes that this candidate may offer a different perspective on Student Council matters that could be very valuable. However, the board is unsure of this candidates ability to effectively communicate his own opinions when surrounded by large personalities. Cedric Li (10D2) The interview board believes that this candidate has clear goals and plans for the Student Council, and is prepared to take decisive action. However, he has numerous extra-curricular activities which may prevent him from spending enough time for his responsibilities at the Student Council. Christy Tsang (11G1) The interview board believes that this candidate is willing to take decisive action, as well as act in an organised, capable manner. She is enthusiastic and communicates

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effectively. However, we wonder whether she can bring innovative ideas to the Student Council.

Treasurer Laurel Lee (9D2) The interview board believes that this candidate has concrete aims and objectives for the student body and seems quite enthusiastic in serving the student body. However, her numerous extra-curricular activities raised concerns amongst the board, due to the sheer amount of time such activities take up - she may have insufficient time to dedicate to her Student Council responsibilities. Eye-contact was another issue raised by the board. Nicholas Ng (10X2) The interview board recognises this candidates previous experience with the role of Treasurer, but performs below par whilst under pressure - which may be a concern when working in pressurised environments which the Student Council constantly faces.

Secretary Eddy Park (10D1) The interview board recognizes that this candidate strongly values communication between the student body and Student Council and proposes innovative and real methods to complete tasks, but struggles to articulate his ideas in a persuading manner. Though his concerns and sincerity was certainly evident throughout the interview, he contradicted himself periodically. Helen Wong (10P1) The interview board believe this candidate articulates her ideas clearly, and answers adeptly the questions raised. She has on numerous occasions emphasized her proactiveness, flexibility and organization, but she could improve on her ambiguity on her explanation of her future ideas and goals for the Student Council.

Public Relations Officer Ryan Lee (11D1) The interview board believes that this candidate has expertise in using information technology to improve communication. However, he was not very confident in his answers and spoke softly, which is a problem in a role that requires strong communication skills. Henry Lui (10G2) The interview board believes that this candidate expressed his ideas extremely clearly and confidently. His strong communication skills can help him with this position. However, he has numerous extra-curricular activities which may prevent him from spending enough time for his responsibilities at the Student Council.

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Email: studentcouncil@stconline.edu.hk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stcstudentcouncil