In this profile piece, new president Sally shares what she loves about VSV, why she wanted to join school council and what she hopes to achieve with her team.
Tell us about your child at VSV and their experience?
I am a step-parent of a student in year 10. Their acceptance into VSV was the catalyst in helping them turn their life around. In just a few short weeks we have seen a tremendous improvement in their engagement with schooling. My child’s well-being is extremely important and knowing VSV fully supports them means so much to our family.
What makes VSV special for you?
VSV is unique in its approach. It makes the school experience much less daunting for students that, for a variety of reasons, are unable to thrive and reach their full potential in the mainstream schooling system.
The class structure in the online environment was something we were very sceptical of due to the way it was conducted by the mainstream school our child previously attended. However, VSV has been so very different to what our family experienced during the pandemic that we were put at ease very quickly.
What made you want to join School Council?
I wanted to give something back to the school for providing such an accepting learning environment for not only our family, but all families that attend VSV.
At VSV we talk about the team around the learner, what’s the team around the President like?
I firmly believe that a team means every person contributes. All opinions and ideas are valid and everyone chips in to get the job done. Titles don’t make a person’s voice any more important than anyone elses. The team that makes up the school council are a hardworking group, dedicated to supporting the school and the staff to ensure the best possible learning environment for all of the students at VSV. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.
What’s your favourite VSV value (growth, empathy, respect and collaboration) and why?
Honestly, I don’t have a favourite. They are all as equally important as each other. VSV’s values are key components to preparing students for life after school as well as a reminder to each of us on how to treat the people we encounter in our day-to-day lives.
What do you hope to achieve during your time as President of VSV’s School Council?
I hope to be able to help VSV continue to be a place for students to attend where they can feel safe, welcome and included in their educational journey. I am a staunch activist for closing the neurodiversity gap and removing the stigma associated with various neurodiverse differences. I would love to see a program implemented to help neurodiverse students explore the possibilities life could offer; knowing and understanding that their neurodiverse talents are a superpower that can make them a very valuable addition to society as a whole.
New President, Sally, is excited about what she and Council can achieve together
