Two students from Rainbow Schools on Minister’s Student Advisory Council

Two Grade 11 students from Rainbow Schools are among 60 from across Ontario who have been selected for the Minister’s Student Advisory Council for 2010-2011. C.J. Bartell of Lasalle Secondary School and Elysha Pinkerton of Manitoulin Secondary School are sharing their ideas and advice with the Minister of Education on how to make Ontario’s schools the best in the world. They attended their first meeting of the Council in Toronto on May 12th, 2010.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate C.J. Bartell and Elysha Pinkerton on being selected for the Minister’s Student Advisory Council,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “Only 60 of 400 students were selected and we are delighted that two of them are from Rainbow Schools. We know they will make an important contribution representing the student voice in Ontario.”

A resident of Sudbury, C.J. Bartell is a student in the Specialist High Skills Major in Business at Lasalle Secondary School. She enjoys sports, clubs, music and church activities. She has a passion for learning and has been an honours student at Lasalle Secondary School. She is currently working toward her Grade 8 in piano and singing.

C.J. Bartell is the Secretary of the Students’ Council at Lasalle Secondary School and hopes to join the Rainbow District School Board Student Senate next year. She is a member of the Lasalle Secondary School Vocal Ensemble and Reach for the Top team. She was also a member of the school’s Envirothon team that recently placed 7th at this year’s provincial competition.

In the future, she plans to major in languages and become a teacher or pursue a career in commerce and become an accountant. She has over 200 hours of community service and hopes to reach 300 hours by the end of Grade 12. C.J. Bartell believes in giving back and is actively involved in her school community and surrounding community. Over the years, she has received many honours from the Principal’s choice award to MVP.

“Being on the Minister’s Student Advisory Council will give me an opportunity to voice my concerns and offer solutions for making our Ontario school system the best in the world,” said C.J. Bartell. She added: “I wanted to be able to share with other people the way I learn best and give my input on how we can improve the way teenagers are being taught today. I see the Council as an opportunity to allow an ordinary student like me to voice my opinions and challenge me to become a future leader.”

Elysha Pinkerton has been a Students’ Council Executive member at Manitoulin Secondary School for two years. Last year, she served as the voice of all Grade 9 and 10 students as Junior Representative. This year, she is the Students’ Council Treasurer. In Grade 9, she was also chosen to be a Students’ Council Grade Representative.

She has served on a number of committees at Manitoulin Secondary School, including the S.H.A.R.E. Committee (Students Helping All Round Everywhere), the Women’s Issues Club and the Go Green Committee. She has also been a volunteer peer tutor for three years.

A number of school activities have benefited from her involvement. She has helped to plan every dance at Manitoulin Secondary School since becoming a student. She was chair of the Prom Committee for the 2009 Winter Formal. She also organizes pep rallies, helps out with the school’s magazine drive, its largest fundraiser, works on Grade 8 introduction events, and supports school initiatives such as the 30-hour famine.

Her contributions extend to the community as well. She assists the Gore Bay Recreation Committee with one of their annual children’s Christmas parades and participates in a number of community barbecues/fundraisers. In addition to establishing a healthy, happy family, Elysha Pinkerton hopes to graduate from Medical School and pursue a career in Neurology. She also aspires to work with Doctors Without Borders.

“I am pleased to have been selected for this important position because I believe it is a landmark opportunity for me to represent my fellow students from this Northern, rural community of Manitoulin Island,” says Elysha Pinkerton. “In any community, the voice of the student population is crucial to maintaining a highly functional education system. I can bring my previous leadership experience to the Minister’s Student Advisory Council – as well as learn a great amount from the other members – to help improve Ontario’s schools for all.”

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.