Aditi Gangal

Hello all! I am thrilled to be running for HWDSB Student Trustee 2022-23. As, a student trustee, I would represent the voices of all students. I hope to put the skills learnt in all my activities in good use for the benefit of the student body of HWDSB. My top 3 foremost priorities as student trustee will be to make mental health resources accessible to all, make school experience happier and more inclusive and help introduce more activities and opportunities.

Outside of school, I have and currently am participating in various extracurricular and volunteer activities. I hold leadership positions for many honorable charities across Canada and the UN. These are dedicated to supporting students and their education. I also volunteer with an organization as a social and emotional development coach for kids aged 6 – 12. Lastly, I am the chapter president of Hamilton for Champions of Change, an organization dedicated to women empowerment and fighting gender inequality. I love to read books and going on long treks.

As a trustee, I will be accessible at all times and will be someone whom you can freely talk to without worrying. Lastly, please remember that I will work for you, with you and by you.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Aisha Mahmoud

My name is Aisha, and I’m a grade 11 student at Ancaster High. My job as your current Student Trustee is to “represent the student voice,” but what does that look like? I’ve turned student concerns into real changes across our education system.

Since decision-making affecting our everyday lives happens at board meetings not easily accessible to students, I co-created a series recapping meetings in short videos, and use Instagram as a platform to share mental health resources and provide relevant updates around pandemic learning.

I’m not afraid to challenge long-standing practices to prioritize the well-being of HWDSB students, so I co-spearheaded the motion to overhaul HWDSB’s sexist, fat-phobic dress code.

As co-chair of the Student Senates, I revamped the structure of our meetings to facilitate open discussions and translate ideas into tangible action.

I serve as Vice-President of OSTA-AECO’s Public Board Council, an organization of Student Trustees across Ontario directly informing government decisions. If I were elected for a second term, I would continue my push for student-centered change both within our Hamilton community and across the province.

I’ve witnessed just how possible it is to create an education system by students, for students. Let’s realize this vision together.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Aleeza Kamran

Our world is constantly changing and, some of these changes might even be scary. Amidst these changes, students need and deserve to be a part of the decision-making that directly impacts them. While the HWDSB board is increasingly diverse often, marginalized students feel isolated. As one of the Student Trustees, I would advocate for the rights of all students. I will work to make sure that students feel more connected. As a former member of “Youth Speak Up” from Model City Hall, I have experience presenting resolutions to lawmakers that impact our community. As a member of Uplift Ontario, where I am a Government Policy Council Member, I present policies to benefit homeless youth. At the YWCA I volunteer to fight gender-based violence. Through these experiences, I have displayed creativity in developing ideas, raising funds, implementing solutions and strong communication skills. As such I can be an effective bridge between students and the Board. As Student Trustee I would prioritize inclusivity, equity and better mental health practices for all. These past couple of years may not have been regular school years but, that does not mean change cannot be made. Feel like you should have a say? Vote Aleeza today!

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Connor Uhrig

The student body should vote for me because I am passionate about improving our experience at schools across the HWDSB, ensuring fair and equitable opportunities for ALL students and enabling our ideas and voices to be heard at the board level. My experience on student council over the past 3 years including this year as vice-president and the Sherwood Ambassadors program – which helps grade 8 students transition to high school – has taught me the value of working with others and to be inclusive of all ideas. I have also worked with students from various grade levels to ensure their voices are heard through various school-based consultations and advisory boards. In this role, I will draw upon my volunteering experiences from my elementary school breakfast program and from teaching over 500 seniors how to use technology to communicate with their families when COVID-19 emerged – my efforts were highlighted in an article by the Hamilton Spectator which was interesting. In closing, I ask for your vote because I can help make a positive impact that reflects the voices of students based on my proven track record of working with students and adults alike; collaborating with others to achieve successful results. Thanks.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Conrad He

“Teamwork makes the dream work”

That is what we hear people say, and that is what we should strive to achieve. When I learned of the opportunity to become a student trustee and help our school board by inputting student opinions into various board topics, I was immediately interested. Working with everyone around you, whether with everyone at school, or everyone across the school board is what makes the HWDSB dream work.

My name is Conrad He. I am a Grade 11 student – going into Grade 12 next year and I would like to become one of your Student Trustees for the next school year. Like I stated above, I learned through a long and hard journey that it takes everyone together to make the dream work. I strongly believe that everyone deserves a voice, and everyone has a part, that’s why I want to represent everyone; I want to listen to everyone’s thoughts and ideas, I want to work with everyone and help everyone by bringing your ideas to the school board. That is why I want to be one of your Student Trustees for the 2022-2023 school year, please vote for me!

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Deema Abdel Hafeez

An effective education system must reflect the values of the students in which it serves, and in order to accomplish that, student voice must be at the forefront of all decisions and deliberations made. I’m Deema Abdel Hafeez, your current HWDSB Student Trustee. Throughout my term, I have worked on many projects prioritizing the diverse needs of our student body, always looking at issues through an equitable lens. This includes revising HWDSB’s dress code to be more inclusive and equitable, implementing data-based strategies to gain insight on student perspectives, and advocating to enhance our lines of protection against covid to ensure students are kept in schools. I’ve learned a lot about how powerful student voice truly is through co-chairing our student senate, facilitating discussions around new policies, and networking with Student Trustees across the province through my various positions on the Ontario Student Trustees Association. The HWDSB student body needs Student Trustees that are dedicated to amplifying their valuable voices, and that are committed to supporting students of diverse needs. With my experience and previous work in this role, I’m confident that I’ll be able to continue fulfilling these duties, further building a system that students are reflected in.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Gloria Li

Despite not being an “English” person, I believe that all words have meaning; and that is the main idea I would like to bring forth as your student trustee. What is a student trustee to you? These may be mere words to you- after all, it seems like just a title.

Like any person, it’s fair to acknowledge that we are not perfect. Yet we have values, the perfect catalyst for movement. I am a student before any position or title and would like to focus on improving:

a) Student mental health and safety without compromising our education (this means that we should be given *choices* on how we learn).

b) Bringing transparent and ACCESSIBLE communication through all stages of discussions.

c) Going above just student satisfaction…we want ALL students to be involved in the decisions that affect our school board.

Now enough about me. What is it that YOU want? Often, we feel left to the sidelines, but I want to fight for your words because they matter. If you have the drive to speak up and crave change, I am more than happy to be the fuel that helps take us there.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Isra Bashir

Dear HWDSB students,

Practically since 2019, our student lives have changed radically. Going back and forth between online and in-person, extended breaks, draining quadmesters, the nightmare called Microsoft Teams, confusion, fear, helplessness.

It’s been a hard two years, and I get that, I really do.

Yet life moves on. We continue working, learning, and growing. Somehow we find the strength to move forward with more resilience and compassion, which continues to amaze me. Imagine what we could accomplish if we worked together to make positive change!

I realize now, more than ever, our school board needs student representatives that are hard-working, motivated, and ready to make a difference, especially when challenges arise. Our world is changing, I think for the better, and our school board should reflect that.

Pandemic or not, your voice still matters. Your thoughts, worries, dreams, complaints, they’re all valid and valued. I have a lot of plans for next year, but the most important one is listening.

Listening, because all of your voices deserve to be heard.

As a Trustee, it’s my responsibility to represent the student body, and it would be the greatest honor to represent you.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?

Zainab Al-Rammahi

As a student going into grade 12 who is experienced with politics and student voice, I believe that I could best represent student voice in a school board that needs it. There have been many instances where student voice needs to be heard, and with my experience, discipline, and morality, I will further push our voices onto the board table. My friends and I own our own school club, MEDLIFE, and I am in many other clubs, extracurriculars, and have a part time job that provided me with leadership opportunities that are needed to be a student trustee. I would address many things if I became a student trustee, such as equity, actual mental health assistance and support, and a safe space where any and all students who feel comfortable are able to speak up and genuinely be heard. There are a myriad of things that can be improved upon, and I have learned many different approaches that are actually effective in bringing about change. Overall, I believe that with my wide scope of experiences in many different areas, I could bring about real and effective change to HWDSB.

Question 1: What would you like to accomplish as Student Trustee, as both a member of Student Senate and as a member of the Board?

Question 2: The world is changing as a result of a global pandemic – Students, Families and Communities are navigating the significant impact it has had on them. As a Student Trustee, how would you support students and provide student voice to support and guide the pandemic recovery efforts by HWDSB and the Ministry of Education?