Rainbow District School Board welcomes Student Trustee for 2011-2012

Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Norm Blaseg welcomes Oshani Amaratunga of Lockerby Composite School to the Board as a Student Trustee for the 2011-2012 school year.

Oshani Amaratunga, a Grade 12 student at Lockerby Composite School, will serve as Student Trustee on the Rainbow District School Board for the 2011-2012 School Year. She was sworn in at the Board meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

“We are delighted to welcome Oshani Amaratunga as a Student Trustee,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “Rainbow District School Board values the student voice and Oshani will bring this important perspective to the table. In turn, she will have an opportunity to develop her skills as a future leader and gain a first-hand look at democracy in action.”

Oshani Amaratunga is enrolled in the Science Technology Education Program (STEP) at Lockerby Composite School, where she is a member of the Student Council. She served as Junior Treasurer in the last school year and will serve as Vice-President in the 2011-2012 school year. In addition to her commitment to the Student Council, she will be volunteering for the Breakfast Club and the Me to We group at Lockerby Composite School.

All all-round student, Oshani has participated in many extracurricular activities at Lockerby, including the Girls’ Basketball Team, Senior Girls’ Soccer Team and Senior Concert Band, where she played the saxophone. She enjoys sports, music and travelling. She plans to continue her studies in International Law and aspires to work for the United Nations.

“I am honoured to be part of the Student Senate and very excited to take on the role of Student Trustee with Rainbow District School Board,” says Oshani. “It’s great to know that, as students, we have the opportunity to be heard and I feel privileged to bring the student voice forward.” She added: “I am delighted to be able to work with such unique individuals and I know that I will put my best foot forward in fulfilling this important role.”

The new school year begins the day after Labour Day. The first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 for all area school boards, including Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario and le Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario. There will be no early dismissal on the first day.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.