The Student Council
Back Row: Alan O Sullivan, Josh Mullen, Cian O Leary, Aileen Cronin
Front Row: Raymond Crowley, Eleanor Lane, Denise Kelleher and Marie Murphy
The role of the Student Council is to represent the student body at McEgan College. The Student Council is the voice of all the students. It provides pupils with an open forum to discuss student’s issues.
Each year group votes in two members at the start of the academic year. One male and one female are voted in a democratic manner. A new council is voted in each year to give different students a chance of participating in the student council. However, if a member of the council proves to be invaluable and a great asset they can be asked to remain on the Council. At Junior Cert level, the voting takes place during the CSPE Class.
The Student Council meet two or three times a month to discuss issues that are concerning students. The Student Council have an important role to play in new rules and policies that are implemented in the school. In the past the Student Council have been responsible for
- Changing the food and beverages in the canteen
- Dealing with locker problems
- Introducing a drinkable water fountain for pupils in the assembly area
- Consulting with management on changes to the school uniform
- Attending and assisting in the Open Evening for the incoming first years
- Fundraising for self help in Africa
- Consulting with the Principal on changes in policies and the introduction of new policies.
- For the past few years, McEgan College Student Council representatives have attended Comhairle Na Nóg in Cork City along with many other secondary school representatives.
The Student Council is a very active and important organisation at McEgan College.
The Principal or Deputy - Principal are often invited to attend the meetings with the students when an issue of concern arises. During these meetings, the Student Council are given the opportunity to voice their concerns in a formal manner to the management of the school. The Chairperson of the Council chairs the meeting with the help of Ms Condon. Ms Condon’s role is to facilitate the meetings and to help the pupils with the running of the Council. The Secretary appointed takes the minutes and these are then written up and placed in the Student Council Notice Board for the entire student body to read.
On occasion, the Chairperson along with one or two members arranges to meet with management to discuss areas of concern. This is a formal meeting and the pupils’ viewpoints are listened to. Where possible, solutions are sought. The primary aim of The Student Council is the representation of pupils by pupils.
Orla Galvin, Chairperson of the Student Council for the past 3 years receiving an award from Mr Ted Owens, CEO of Cork ETB, in September 2013, for her outstanding efforts and contribution in the running of a very successful Student Council at McEgan College