BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Candidate Profiles Student Election of ONE (1) Board Member

Allan, Sam Let's make Burnside High a place that we all look forward to
attending‐ a place that inspires and helps us to achieve our dreams.
Kia Ora! My name is Sam Allan and I would love to be your student
representative on the Board of Trustees in 2023/2024. Thank you for considering me as your Student Representative.

If elected I am committing to holding regular meetings in the library Vote Ayshanie today!
to be able to listen to student’s views. Additionally I wish to hold an
update on what is happening on the board at least once per term in
every divisional assembly. Whilst I have a strong vision for how we Chen, William
can improve Burnside, I am committed to representing what you want
to see on the board. I am not representing myself, but the 2,392 Hi there! I'm William Chen, one of the young minds at Burnside this
people who are students at Burnside. Additionally I would start an year. This past year has included me joining the student council,
instagram page detailing the work of the board and any upcoming winning the Burnside Top Junior Sports Team of the Year award, and
events to make it easy to stay informed. You shouldn't have to find coming first place in the Epro8 grand finals. If I do get this position, I
me to talk about an issue; I should be coming to you. These actions hope to attain more funding for the technology and drama blocks
will make me, and thus the board, more accessible to students, such as X block and M block. This is because X block desperately
creating better student representation. needs more funds for more 3D printers, better computers and
soldering irons, and better chairs, while M block needs more space for
I’ll be going into year 12 at the time I would be on the board. This the drama students to use, as currently some students are forced out
means I know the needs of seniors, and how we can make it easier to into the hallways to work, which could distract or disturb the music
cope with exams.This is why, if elected, I will push to abolish the students in other M block classes. Overall, I want to focus on funding
requirement for students to have to wear uniforms to exams. In such the important and maybe neglected blocks, so that the students
a stressful time, students of all year levels should be able to feel taking those classes can enjoy them better.
comfortable whilst sitting their exams, and it is unnecessary to make
students wear uniforms whilst they are not going to classes.
Corridon, Keelin
Additionally I’m in leadership positions in several clubs (such as Show
Quest and Debating) so work closely with students in the junior year *No candidate statement provided. *
levels, so would be able to work on issues that affect them. Being a
younger member of such a big school can be a challenge, so it is Elmallah, Zeyad
crucial we give them the support they need.
Dear Burnside High School Community,
On the board, students want someone who can fight for them, and I
know I can be someone who pushes for a better school for the people My name is Zeyad Elmallah, and I am excited to announce my
that learn here. candidacy for the Student Representative Board. As a Year 11 student
at Burnside High School, I am passionate about contributing to our
Nga mihi e hoa, school's community and advocating for our students' best interests.
Sam
I come to you with a strong background in leadership and a genuine
desire to make a positive impact. Throughout my high school journey,
Ayingaran, Ayshanie I've consistently sought opportunities to grow as a student and as a
leader. I firmly believe that every year should be a year of growth and
Tēnā koutou katoa, development, which is why I have continuously taken on new
challenges.
I am Ayshanie Ayingaran. I am running for Student Representative for
the Burnside High School Board because I want to make our high My track record includes involvement in various leadership roles, such
school experience a fun and memorable one, driven by our values of as serving as a member of the Student Council, part of the librarian
having manaakitanga, mana and rangatiratanga. team, Senior member of Tech crew, Semi-finalist in Debating in the
Christchurch Schools Competition, Representing New Zealand at the
As your Student Representative, I will advocate to heavily improve our 2023 Australian Cadet Fencing Championships. I've been actively
student facilities. This means that I will also explore ways to make our engaged in planning and executing school events and initiatives,
canteen serve affordable food so we may not go hungry at school. If learning the importance of effective communication and collaboration
elected, I will put every single bone I have to work to make sure we along the way.
will not have to be constantly begging our mates for money they
don’t or very rarely have for prices being constantly jacked up. I will In addition to my leadership experience, I am also committed to
ensure that every bathroom has soap; no more of that scody, icky fostering a more inclusive and supportive school environment. I
lukewarm feeling when attempting to wash hands. And I will advocate believe that by promoting diversity and understanding, we can create
for ways to make learning in the classroom more personalised, a school where every student feels valued and heard. Together, let's
because learning is NOT a one-size-fits-all type concept. I believe that work towards a brighter future for Burnside High School. If elected as
with the right tools, anyone can succeed. Though highly intelligent, a your Student Representative Board Member, I would also work
beaver wouldn’t use a drill to build a dam. towards making our uniform policies more flexible, with the aim of
having less strict rules, allowing students to express themselves while
At Burnside High, we have the power to transform our school into a maintaining a sense of unity. So if you would like to see this and more
vibrant and welcoming community where every student can thrive. happen then vote for Zeyad Elmallah.
Together, we can create a safe and inclusive environment that
encourages us to pursue our passions.

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I am running for the Student Representative Board Member position dedicated to staying informed about the latest trends, research, and
because I am passionate about making a positive impact on our innovations in education. I will work tirelessly to make sure our
beloved school. I believe that by working together, we can achieve district remains at the forefront of educational excellence, adapting to
great things and ensure that your concerns and needs are met. I am the evolving needs of our students and preparing them for the
dedicated to being your voice, your advocate, and your partner in challenges of the future. Finally, I believe in fiscal responsibility and
building a better High school experience for all. accountability. I will make it a priority to ensure that our schools are
well-funded, efficiently managed, and that resources are allocated to
So, on election day, please vote for me, Zeyad Elmallah, as your have the most significant impact on student learning. In conclusion, I
Student Representative Board Member, and together, let's shape the offer my candidacy for the school board with a sincere commitment
future of our school for the better. to our students and a vision for a stronger, more vibrant educational
community. Together, we can create an environment where every
Thank you for your trust and support. child thrives, achieves their full potential, and becomes a responsible,
contributing member of society. I am excited about the opportunity
Sincerely, to serve, and I kindly ask for your support in this important endeavor.
Zeyad Elmallah Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Gupta, Chaitanya
Sinha, Shimeka
Kia ora and good morning distinguished school board members,
educators, parents, and fellow students. Today, I address you not only “Before I met you, I don’t think I ever felt that my voice was being
as a student but also as a fervent advocate for the transformation of heard or that my opinion mattered.”
our educational system. Our school serves as the nurturing ground for
tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and change-makers, and it is our These were the words that my peers told me. Back then I hadn’t really
collective duty to ensure that they receive the highest quality thought about it, my opinions and voice, or how my environment at
education possible. As we gather here, let us remind ourselves of our school would shape my journey as a student. My name is Shimeka
immense power to shape the future. With vision, dedication, Sinha and I am a Year 9 student who is the best fit to be the next
collaboration, and adherence to our core values of respect Student Representative on the Board of Trustees for 2024.
(Manaakitanga), pride (Mana), and the pursuit of excellence
(Rangatiratanga), we have the ability to ignite a revolution in From an early age, I have always held leadership positions in many
education that not only imparts knowledge to our students, but also social and cultural activities, the most keen to do any speaking event
ignites their passion, creativity, and resilience. Together, let us or lead any group task. I enjoy speaking about things I am passionate
embark on a journey to build a brighter, more promising future for about. I am a leader that possesses both values and skills. The ability
every child in our district. Let this meeting serve as a testament to our to lead and the ability to listen. I am a very caring, kind and
commitment to excellence, equity, and the relentless pursuit of a compassionate person. Always ready to listen and have a lot of
better education for all. Thank you for the opportunity to share my sympathy for others. Any problem comes up, I will work on a course
vision, and I hope to inspire you all to join me in this noble cause. of action to find a solution.

Through many extra-curricular activities I have achieved many great

feats. These include debating, cultural leader, ambassador, peer
Havea, Sione mediator, assembly leader and road patrol monitor. Another
accomplishment is the Rotary Speech Competition. Making it through
A Candidacy Statement As a member of the community and a to the finals and taking home awards, winning with a very
passionate advocate for quality education, I am excited to express my informative, funny, significant and eloquent speech on Mental Health.
intention to serve on the school board. I believe that my unique Many of my peers and teachers reached out and gave me great
combination of skills, experience, and unwavering commitment to the feedback and comments. I am also a big fan of the arts and am very
betterment of our educational system make me a strong candidate talented in multiple ways. I have taken part in many productions -
for this vital role. First and foremost, I am deeply committed to being up on the stage along with helping behind the scenes. This
ensuring that every child in our district receives a world-class exposure helped boost my confidence and improved the way I
education. I firmly believe that access to quality education is the connect with people.
cornerstone of individual success and the foundation of a prosperous
society. This belief has driven me to actively engage in educational Being at Burnside is an amazing opportunity and I want to make the
initiatives in our community over the years. My professional most of it. There are some changes I would like to make and with my
experience as an educator has equipped me with valuable insights great talents, variety of skills and the right mindset - ready to learn
into the needs and challenges of our school system. I have had the and lead - I am the best candidate and me as the next Student
privilege of working with students, parents, and teachers, gaining a Representative, the students and staff here at Burnside High School
profound understanding of the issues that we face and the will all relate to my peer saying - “Before I met you, I don’t think I ever
opportunities we can seize to create positive change. My background felt that my voice was being heard or that my opinion mattered.”
in curriculum development and pedagogy has given me a strong
foundation for making informed decisions that will benefit our Thank you
students. I am a firm believer in open communication and Shimeka Sinha
collaboration. I am committed to fostering an environment where all
stakeholders – parents, students, teachers, and the community at
large – have a voice in shaping the future of our schools. I will actively
seek input and engage in transparent dialogue to ensure that the
decisions made by the board are in the best interests of our students
and their families. In an ever-changing educational landscape, I am

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Smith, Jasmine
Tan, Damon
My name is Jasmine Smith and I’m a student in Year 11 at Burnside.
I am Damon. I will do well and make good decisions. You can trust me.
I’ve attended schools in the district since Year 7 (Cobham
Anything from unlimited bacon to unlimited video games. I will be
Intermediate) allowing me to form a large network of connections
responsible.
with many of my peers, and I feel passionate about improving the
Burnside experience for everybody.
Damon Tan (23093)
When compared to the vast plethora of submissions presented by
fellow candidates, I acknowledge that my lack of prior experience may
Wu, Andrew
be an underwhelming factor during consideration. I am a particularly
quiet individual and I prefer to listen rather than dominate a
Outdated classroom equipment; a widespread vaping problem; and
conversation; however, I think that this opportunity would benefit me
the threat of the school banning phones. We complain about these
greatly in terms of experience. I have big dreams for my future—
issues to our friends, and joke about them as if they aren’t a big deal,
being the student representative on the board would be a much-
but we all know that they have an impact on our daily lives. These are
needed taste of life in the adult world.
problems we cannot ignore, and ones I will solve if I’m elected.
I am committed to learning and expanding on my current abilities. I'm
Hello Burnside, I am Andrew Wu, and I’m here to make Burnside a
also adaptable— doing whatever I possibly can to achieve the
better place for all. I’m part of the Sustainability Council, Robotics
greatest results for something is within my best interests. Former
Club, Chess Club, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and the Specialist
teachers of mine have described me as shy but intuitive, and I believe
Music Programme. I’m also a class Values Leader and have been
that while I may not be as outspoken as some of my peers I can still
involved in events such as Model EU, Scholar’s Cup, and Let’s
do a good job.
Negotiate.
In the future I want to pursue diplomacy and foreign relations, so
Through these activities, I’ve gained the important skills of leadership,
time as a representative on the school board would serve me greatly
negotiation, and debate. These skills will enable me to
and be an eye-opening experience. I'm sure it might even heighten
comprehensively represent students’ interests on the school board.
my communication skills as I would be forced out of my shell.
My negotiation skills will bring us the best possible terms on key
policies, and my debating skills will enable me to always fight for our
It would be the greatest honour to be considered as a candidate for
interests.
this opening. Thank you!
Here are some key policies I will implement:
Suphaskuldamrong, Aticha
1. Block the ban on phones. Phones are a vital communication
tool, in addition to other benefits. They allow us to connect
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, or good any time it
with our friends and whānau, and are crucial for emergency
may be for you reading this. My name is Aticha Suphaskuldamrong,
communication and safety. I believe the proposed ban on
and I’m a proud Year 9 student at Burnside High School who decided
phones is a huge step in the wrong direction, and I will
to run for Student Representative.
always vote to block the ban.
I’ve taken on communicative roles since primary school (Westburn
2. Improve our classroom equipment. Dated and often broken
School), where I was a House Leader—a position that regularly speaks
equipment not only hinders our learning, but also worsens
in front of a large audience. Additionally, I was awarded the
the learning experience overall. I believe the school budget
Leadership Cup at my Year 8 Prizegiving, which further established my
will be better spent on improving our learning experience
passion for leadership and communication.
than some unnecessary things which I won’t name here.
And while I’ve only attended Burnside for about a year, the people
I’ve met and connected with have made my time here feel like a 3. Provide better mental health support for students. Stress is
lifetime. I met people who are driven, passionate, and innovative, a common problem, and we’ve all felt stress before. I
people who have been here for longer than I have, and people who believe this school can do more to support students. I will
are all of the above but missing a voice box to speak their truth. advocate for more mental health support, such as better
counselling and other activities, so Burnside can be a
As a Student Representative, I’ll strive to be the voice for the people happier place for all.
who need or want it. I’ll enforce positive changes, communicate with
my peers, and ensure Burnside High School students are a lifetime’s Finally, as a student representative, I believe the voices of all students
worth of successors, like how we know it’s filled with a lifetime’s should be heard, not just in classrooms, but in the boardroom as well.
worth of good people. In addition to these policies, I have one more promise— I will always
be ready to listen to your opinion, and fight for it on your behalf. Feel
Good morning, good evening, or good afternoon. Whatever time it free to contact me at: [email protected].
may be for you, I will always remind my peers their greatness is
beyond the 24 hours of a day and that it will last for lifetimes.

Thank you for reading.

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