Our incoming school captains for 2021-22 were announced at the end of Term 2. An official induction ceremony of the Senior Leadership Team will now take place in Term 4. In the meantime, we thought it was time our community met school captains Saffron Little and Joshua Ralph (pictured below in the centre of the front row).
What led you to decide to apply for school captain?
JR: I had been involved in leadership in sporting teams and always looked up to the Year 12 leaders, like Noah Oshiro, and thought I’d like to contribute in that way – to carry the leadership baton and continue to build upon a strong community.
SL: I wanted to give back to the school. I saw the previous school captains and I’ve always thought to myself, since Year 7, I want to be able to do that. I want to be able to help others and help the school. I know you can do so much with the position and I want to give back.
How did you feel when you found out you were selected?
JR: I was quite surprised and humbled to be named captain, but I was so excited, and it’s going to be a great year as we’ve got a great team and I’ll be working alongside my good mate Oli Millar.
SL: I tried out for the position knowing I might not get it so it was surprising and exciting to find out I was successful. I also think the leadership team will work really well together. I’ve already personally benefitted from having a team around me.
What do you hope to bring to the position?
JR: I aim to bring the leadership team together and ensure the variety of voices within the team are heard. I also want to keep building our understanding and support for Indigenous culture and community within SACS. Our main project that we are leading is the Bridging the Schools Project,which is linking with a mostly Indigenous school from regional NSW and we hope to bring a group of their students to SACS and then a group of us will head to their school for a few days.
SL: I want to be kind and loving. I’d really like to get to know everybody and help as many people as I can. I like the idea of being able to have relationships across the years, including the younger years. We want the Year 7 and 8 students to feel comfortable enough to come to the older years and have a relationship. Throughout my schooling at SACS, I’ve tried to reach out to students across year groups, whether that’s in a sports team or in drama productions.
What activities have you most enjoyed being involved in at SACS?
JR: I started at SACS in Year 7 and have really loved being involved in sport. I have played rugby, touch football and athletics for SACS. Probably the highlight was our team making the finals in rugby in 2019 and winning the semi-final against Chevalier, which is one of the dominant rugby schools. I also made it to national level in athletics – in the 400m hurdles and javelin in 2019. Outside of school, I play AFL and am part of the University of NSW Under 19 squad and the Swans Academy.
SL: I’ve done a broad mix. Everything from music, where I was involved in the choir, to sport, where I’ve done dance, netball and the Firsts Softball team. I also really like Drama and I’ve been involved in a lot of productions, both as a director and as an actor. I’ve also participated in CRU and peersupport as well.
Josh, you are the first senior student leader to have Indigenous heritage. What does this mean for you?
JR: It’s a huge honour and a big thing and it’s great that it is something to be celebrated. I’m so proud to be part of a school that established Gawura and through it, the entire school has a richer understanding of Indigenous issues and celebrates Indigenous culture with Gawura students. I am not part of the Gawura scholarship program but I have joined Gawura students for various First Nations’ activities and celebrations as all Indigenous students at the school are invited to participate. My family are members of the Gumbayngirr Nation, near Nambucca Heads.
Coming to SACS in Year 7, I didn’t have a deep history of my culture but through St Andrew’s, I have had the opportunity to be involved in all First Nations’ celebrations and assemblies, excursions and On Country tours and I’ve learned about the different languages, histories and lifestyles of a variety of people groups.
How has your Christian faith and beliefs been shaped at SACS?
JR: I have grown up in a Christian family and so I found it quite good and normal to attend chapel and Christian talks when I started in Year 7. The school’s Christian ethos and Chapel talks and the Cru groups and camps have helped build my faith and moral foundation, and they are all easy to get involved in as they are just part of school life.
SL: I want to be able to spread the Christian message through helping people out. I want to be able to show it through actions and, as a leader, express who I am as a Christian through my behaviour. SACS has given me the confidence to do this because of things like CRU groups, where you’re encouraged to express your faith.
