Being the Student Council President during this tumultuous year was an extremely difficult task. We had to work alongside three new administrators, figure out how to plan events that would not be affected by CUPE or OSSTF strikes, and pivot completely when the COVID-19 virus brought our entire Semester Two schedule into a complete standstill.
However, I am still very proud of the work I have accomplished alongside the best Student Council Members, ever. Each member is constantly eager to help out, start new initiatives, and be role models to the rest of the school. They are truly the best team I could have asked for.
It is my hope that we are able to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus so we can accomplish the rest of our Mandate as the Student Council. I will continue to update this list with the things we do during this unpredictable time.
In the meantime, the list below showcases everything I have done as Student Council President up until March 13, 2020:
Prior to the 2019-20 School Year
- Created a Student Council-only Messenger group chat to facilitate open communication with professional etiquette between Student Council Members; June 2019
- Attended numerous meetings with Ms. Goldenberg prior to the end of the 2018-19 school year to indicate the Student Council initiatives planned for the following school year; June 2019
- Attended numerous meetings with the Guidance Office prior to the end of the 2018-19 school year to indicate the Student Council initiatives surrounding student support and mental health planned for the following school year; June 2019
- Attended a meeting with former President Areez Khaki to inquire about what was good about Student Council 2018-19 and what could have been improved; June 2019
- Met with newly elected Student Council Members to understand and listen to their goals and priorities for the following school year; June 2019
- Initiated a smooth and unbiased Selection Process for the remaining seven Selected Positions through the use of an objective points system; June 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and created a No-Drama Student Council and fostered unanimity and consensus on 8/9 Selected Position votes; June 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and sought to achieve a Gender-Balanced Student Council; June 2019
- Convinced newly minted Student Council Members to communicate with their predecessors to obtain valuable information on how to better do their jobs; June 2019
- Initiated open and transparent Committee Selection Processes for the first time by releasing Google Forms to the entire school for Committee Applications; June 2019
- Helped initiate Club President Contact Information Collection prior to the end of the 2018-19 school year in conjunction with Co-Clubs Coordinators; June 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and sat down with newly elected and selected Student Council members to decide on specific dates for events and initiatives; June 2019
- Cleared @mgci.sac of any useless posts from previous Student Councils; June 2019
- Dictated that @mgci.sac Instagram account unfollows any account that does represent a current or past Student Council Member, School Club, or important political figures; June 2019
- Revamped all MGCI Student Council Digital Media accounts with strengthened passwords for better security; June 2019
- Coordinated an all-Student Council Meeting prior to the end of the 2018-19 school year to discuss the Student Council’s plans in the new year and tasks to accomplish by September 2019; June 2019
Accomplished Campaign Promise and posted Meeting Minutes on @mgci.sac and in the Facebook group, MGCI Updates 2019-2020, for maximum accountability and transparency; June 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and set MGCI Student Council 2019-20’s yearly Student Council theme to “Just for You”; June 2019
- Tasked the Secretary to create a new Meeting Minutes format for better retention of important points during Student Council Meetings; June 2019
- Promoted local organizations and Clubs through the use of personal Presidential Instagram page, @nelson.president, like Hijabi Ballers and MGCI Relay for Life; July 2019
- Promoted and hosted a Thank You Ceremony for the outgoing Principal, Ms. Goldenberg; July 2019
- Made a LinkTree for MGCI Student Council to better present and communicate important links surrounding the Student Council and the school community; July 2019
- Tasked the External Affairs Coordinator to design and order Student Council-specific merchandise to better demonstrate a united Student Council; July 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the Spirit Convenor to bring back the House Colour System, update the House Colour lists, and plan Spirit Events surrounding the House Colour System; July 2019
- Posted information surrounding Registration Week on @mgci.sac; August 2019
- Planned a smooth and successful Registration Week alongside the Vice President so students can register and obtain important information in a quick and timely manner; August 2019
- Opened up negotiations on creating a MGCI Student Council Website with the School Administration and failed; August 2019
- Helped re-design the Clubs Brochure with Co-Clubs Coordinators; August 2019
Opened up negotiations on bringing back MGCI Yearbooks with the School Administration and succeeded; August 2019
- Increased the response rate and decreased response time on @mgci.sac when communicating and answering student’s questions; August 2019
- Renovated the Student Council Office to present a respectable aura that looks inviting and enables professional meetings to take place; August 2019
September 2019
- Worked with the Spirit Convenor to host Welcoming Committees on important days throughout the school year to increase Spirit; September 2019
- Gave talks alongside the Vice President during Grade Assemblies on the Student Council’s role within the school and how students can access Student Council resources; September 2019
- Highlighted important dates not under the Social Justice and Equity Committee purview on Instagram such as World Suicide Prevention Day; September 2019
- Increased communication between the Student Council and Student Council Staff Advisors by sending Meeting Recap Emails after Student Council Meetings; September 2019
- Pushed major clubs such as DECA to increase their club’s member diversity; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and hosted a meeting between the External Affairs Coordinator and MGCI Student Senate representatives to coordinate a strategy on increasing MGCI’s presence across the TDSB; September 2019
- Started a systematic process to promote clubs through Instagram Stories on @mgci.sac; September 2020
Accomplished Campaign Promise and worked with the Spirit Convenor to ensure a successful Welcome Back Spirit Week with new Spirit activities, days, and Semester One Pep Rally; September 2019
- Created the House Colour Ticket System to record House Colour Points for Spirit activities; September 2019
- Worked with teachers by distributing a general staff letter to help the Spirit Convenor distribute House Colour Stickers onto Student IDs and explain the importance of school Spirit; September 2019
- Tasked the Spirit Convenor to take Portraits of all Student Council Members to increase Student Council Member’s visibility across the school; September 2019
- Tasked the Spirit Convenor to create a Student Council Introduction Video; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the Spirit Convenor to rebrand and redesign the Grade 9 BBQ as Frosh Day; September 2019
- Pressured Student Council Staff Advisors to inquire about the Student Council’s Budget with School Administrators and maximize the amount received; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the Secretary to create and submit Inspirational Announcements to lift student Spirit and morale; September 2019
- Requested all Student Council Committees to provide information on each member and set Committee Meeting Dates for increased consistency across all Student Council activities; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and started writing Student Council Open Letters for more communication, accountability, and transparency with students; September 2019
Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the Vice President to negotiate with Student Council Staff Advisors and School Administration to bring back Grade Representatives; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and started Coffeehouse Discussions with students on a weekly basis to understand their concerns surrounding the Student Council and the school; September 2019
- Fully supported Project Love by MGCI GSA and enlisted the Student Council a sponsor to the project; September 2019
- Tasked the External Affairs Coordinator to promote MGCI Student Council at every Parent Council and Student Senate meeting; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and had an Open-Door Policy during lunchtime and before school on a daily basis; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and created Democratic Metrics for Evaluations for the Student Council; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and began internal Student Council discussions on implementing a Ranked Choice voting system for Student Council Elections; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and began internal Student Council discussions on creating a Public Council of Advisors; September 2019
Started preliminary talks about Implementing a School-Wide Climate Pledge and about the help aide the efforts to stop the Amazon Rainforest Fires; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked Co-Communications Coordinators to revive the Media Production Club and revitalize School TVs; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and asked School Departments to revitalize School Bulletin Boards; September 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and publicly released Attendance Records of Student Council Members and introduced metrics on evaluating Student Council events and initiatives; September 2019
October 2019
- Rebranded Unhealthy Food Days to Student Council Food Fiestas; October 2019
- Communicated MGCI Student Council changes with former President Lisa Wang and got input and suggestions on future events and initiatives; October 2019
- Established professional rules and regulations on Instagram captions on @mgci.sac posts; October 2019
Accomplished Campaign Promise and transformed the Special Events Committee to the Multicultural Council; October 2019
- Re-established rules and regulations surrounding the Student Council Office to only permit Student Council Members, Committee Members, and Designated Students present under the supervision of the President or the Vice President; October 2019
- Met with the Head of Operation EcoPen to discuss how to increase environmental sustainability at MGCI; October 2019
- Met with MGCI Mentors to discuss how to increase their presence in MGCI; October 2019
- Started the discussion on creating a Vision 2030 Plan that enveloped events, initiatives, and social plans that would be engrained within the school atmosphere for the next decade; October 2019
- Started the discussion on creating a Clubs Social Responsibility Points System, which would take in numerous factors such as environmental sustainability and club diversity when allocating Club Budgets; October 2019
- Started the discussion on creating a campaign to change the attitude surrounding environmental consciousness within the school; October 2019
Accomplished Campaign Promise and introduced proposal to reduce Student Council waste at events and initiatives; October 2019
- Coordinated with the School Administration on how to mitigate the effects of the CUPE Strike on Student Council events and initiatives; October 2019
- Represented MGCI Student Council alongside the Vice President at the TOPS Open House Meeting; October 2019
November 2019
- Supported MGCI Key Club with Sleepover Night and opened up the Student Council Office to students during Sleepover Night; November 2019
- Promoted Student Council accomplishments on @mgci.sac; November 2019
- Used @mgci.sac to highlight University Scholarship opportunities for Grade 12s; November 2019
Accomplished Campaign Promise and encouraged an open debate atmosphere by doubling the number of Open Meetings hosted per Semester; November 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the Grade 9 Representative to create the Self-Empowerment Initiative; November 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and started School Discussion surrounding Prayer Rooms, which led to the full-time implementation of such resources; November 2019
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and created the first MGCI SeasonsPass for cheaper event attendance, skipping lines, and more benefits; November 2019
- Delayed International Street until Semester Two based on advice from the School Administration and experts due to cultural tensions and conflicts in neighbourhoods surrounding MGCI; November 2019
Attended November’s Parent Council meeting and pulled together TDSB officials, Trustees, Superintendents, and School Administration to prioritize student safety in the MGCI community; November 2019
- Convinced the Treasurer to institute rules and policies that allowed for an objective allocation of money and ensuring the survival of smaller clubs; November 2019
- Convinced the Treasurer to allocate at least 15% of the Student Council’s Budget to Spirit activities to foster stronger Spirit within MGCI; November 2019
December 2019
- Helped sell Winter Wonderland Tickets and set up before the Dance; December 2019
- Coordinated with the School Administration on how to mitigate the effects of the OSSTF Strikes on Student Council events and initiatives; December 2019
- Led effort to establish a spectacular Christmas Spirit Week after the cancellation of Christmas Show due to the OSSTF Strikes; December 2019
- Transformed a physical Student Council performance during Christmas Show to an online karaoke video released on Christmas Day; December 2019
Contacted all Student Council Presidents from 2010-2020 about their biggest accomplishments and made an End-of-Decade Post; December 2019
January 2020
- Started the discussion on tasking Clubs to raise money for environmental efforts around the world; January 2020
Supported the Social Justice and Equity Coordinator’s plan of doing a 21-Days Pledge of Kindness; January 2020
- Met with all Student Council Members to look back at their job during Semester One and their goals for Semester Two; January 2020
- Wrote Mandate Letters for all Student Council Members on their expected tasks and goals during Semester Two; January 2020
February 2020
- Brought back General Updates to the Student Council Meeting Agenda; February 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and created the Universal Mental Health Program by designating February as MGCI’s first Mental Health Awareness Month; February 2020
Created a Mental Health Brochure which gathered all in-school and external resources surrounding mental health and distributed that to staff and students; February 2020
- Worked with the Vice President and Spirit Convenor to create a spectacular Semester Two Pep Rally; February 2020
- Worked with the Vice President to reassess the role of Grade Representatives and ways to better aide them in their job; February 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and tasked the External Affairs Coordinator to find volunteering and summer job opportunities for MGCI Students in the local and external community; February 2020
Accomplished Campaign Promise and introduced the Clean Up Your Mess Campaign which promoted Caretakers and spread their message of keeping MGCI clean; February 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and dictated the use of Student Council funds to create a Student Council Video Production Team; February 2020
- Opened up negotiations on bringing back International Show with the School Administration and failed; February 2020
- Established Grade Representative Mentors to help guide incoming Semester Two Grade Representatives with their goals and tasks; February 2020
Opened up negotiations on bringing back Fun Fair with the School Administration and succeeded and succeeded; February 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and worked with MGCI Eco Team to host a waste-offset event set for April 2020; February 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and persuaded the Social Convenor to make Semi-Formal’s theme “The Great Gatsby”; February 2020
- Allowed the sale of Good Vibes sweaters at MGCI; February 2020
March 2020
- Wrote and sent a letter to all teachers about the importance of explaining the need to provide support to students surrounding Mental Health; March 2020
- Formalized MGCI Student Council Committees by releasing Committee Member information, increased their budgets, set up stronger support structures, and more; March 2020
Opened up negotiations on creating an elected position for “Climate” who will have the responsibility of improving mental health awareness and environmental consciousness at MGCI with the School Administration; March 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and created the Transition Package to aide future Student Councils with advice and guidance; March 2020
- Accomplished Campaign Promise and hosted an extremely successful Student Council-Only Food Fiesta, bringing in over $350; March 2020
- Hosted a meeting between the External Affairs Coordinator and MGCI Student Senate representatives to coordinate a strategy on increasing the chances of electing an MGCI student to the TDSB Student Senate; March 2020
- Started writing a Handbook for Future Student Council Presidents; March 2020
- Opened up negotiations on creating a Senior Trip with the School Administration; March 2020
- Opened up negotiations on establishing a MGCI Student Council Website with the School Administration; March 2020
Gave a formal address on the COVID-19 virus and its effect on MGCI students
- Hosted a Live Instagram video on the COVID-19 virus and its effect on MGCI students
It is my hope that we are able to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus so we can accomplish the rest of our Mandate as the Student Council. I will continue to update this list with the things we do during this tumultuous time.
Sincerely,
Nelson Lee
MGCI President 2019-2020
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