Sydney school leaders share their hopes for 2024

School’s back for another year and Sydney’s brightest, creative and talented students are leading the way to motivate their peers as captains.

Leaders from year 6 and 12 across the city’s public and private schools have shared what they are looking forward to most in the new year, and what they hope to achieve as school leaders.

From Penrith to the Northern Beaches, meet our young and upcoming leaders for 2024.

Hills District

St Michael's Primary School Baulkham Hills

St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills school captains Tom Herriott and Olivia Sayers.

Tom Herriott – School captain

Tom Herriott ran for school captain because he “wanted to make a difference”.

“I want to be someone that people are not afraid to come to if they need help,” he said.

om said being elected captain of the “loving community” at St Michael’s Primary in Baulkham Hills was his proudest achievement.

“I am looking forward to helping people in my school,” he said.

As a lover of English, the 11-year-old said he wanted to go to university and, one day, become an author.

But, for now, he wants to have a great year as captain and “make St Michael’s proud”.

Olivia Sayers – School captain

Olivia Sayers says she is “grateful” for the opportunity to be School Captain at St Michael’s.

She is looking forward to holding more responsibility in the school and wants to inspire her peers to be better every day.

“I want to help my peers learn and grow to be the best people they can be,” Olivia said.

“I felt so good when I was elected and found myself grateful for the opportunity.”

Although she is leaving her lifelong dreams wide open, Olivia says her biggest hope for the immediate future is “to do a really good job as school captain and help the lovely community of St Michael’s”.

Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill

Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill school captains Savannah Moubarak (left) and Alexander Palmer (right).

Savannah Moubarak – School captain

As proud as Savannah Moubarak is to have been elected School Captain of Gilroy Catholic College, the 17-year-old is even more proud of the “dedication, time, effort, perseverance, and patience” it took to get there.

“Running for school captain was a decision that I made long before senior year,” she said.

“It was for the reason of my love for leadership, public speaking and being able to work alongside my teachers to represent the student voices of Gilroy.

“Being elected was a rewarding experience, being recognised for my efforts over the years, and I am excited to step into this role.”

During her final year, as captain, Savannah hopes to work to enhance the school’s sense of community and unified student body; and as an eager year 12 student, she hopes to achieve the ATAR needed to win a place in a Commerce and Law degree at university.

“My big hopes for the future currently surround my academic and work goals, however, in all, I hope for success, the opportunity to work in something I love and thrive in it,” Savannah said.

“I also hope to be able to always prioritise my family, being the foundational reason for all my successes and achievement of goals.”

Alexander Palmer – School captain

Alexander Palmer is a leader both inside and beyond the school gates, and says taking on these roles has not only been enjoyable, but taught him “more about myself and how I can work better with other people”.

Staring down the barrel of the HSC year ahead, the 17-year-old aspiring physiotherapist knows how important the support of a team is going to be to get him across the finish line.

“I am looking forward to being able to work through the HSC course together with my friends,” Alexander said.

“Even though it is portrayed as a daunting experience I hope that by working with and through my friends, we are all able to achieve our goals.”

St Bernadette's Primary Castle Hill

St Bernadette's Primary Castle Hill school captains for 2024 Tiffany Lavulo (left) and Oscar Barone (right).

Tiffany Lavulo – School captain

If Tiffany Lavulo inspires one student to be a School Captain like her, she will leave St Bernadette’s very happy.

The young leader said she wants to use her final year at the school “helping teachers and the school”, doing her best and join as many activities as possible.

“I want to study really hard this year to get good grades and be the best leader that I can,” Tiffany said.

“I’m really proud that I’ve been elected school captain and grateful as there were a lot of students who also went for this role.”

And she looks set to have that altruistic streak continue well beyond the St Bernadette gates, whatever career she chooses and however her life unfolds.

Tiffany said: “I want to be in a job where I can help people. Being school captain of St Bernadette’s this year is a great place to start.”.

Oscar Barone – School captain

It is going to be a big year for fellow School Captain Oscar Barone, who is ready to throw himself into new challenges as a leader in and outside school. And he is confident he will do a good job.

“I ran for school captain because I know I can speak in front of an audience, I also know how to work with younger students as I have a younger brother and I’ve been mentoring him for a while,” Oscar said.

“I am proud that I have got the job and already I’ve enjoyed leading the school and having extra responsibilities.”

He wants to use the skills he’s put to the test at school and on the rugby league field to “help people”; and part of that plan involves the keen mathematician becoming a doctor when he grows up.

“I really like maths and science and want to use those areas in my future career,” Oscar said.

“I want to be able to lead people and be useful, if I’m a doctor I can also help people.”

Our Lady of Lourdes, Baulkham Hills

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Baulkham Hills, school captains Harper Saab, 10 (left), and Jacob Makdessi, 12

Harper Saab – School captain

Being School Captain is part of Harper Saab’s mission to “be more well-rounded” at school and at home.

“I ran for school captain as I think I am a good role model for my peers,” she said.

“And I wanted to push myself to step up and give back to my school that gave me so much.”

She said she was “happy and excited” to be elected to the leadership role.

“I am looking forward to the challenges that being a school captain brings me.”

One day she hopes to be a successful acrobatic gymnast and to own a gymnastics gym of her own.

Jacob Makdessi – School captain

Jacob Makdessi was “inspired” to run for School Captain by the leaders that came before him.

“When I saw how they would help the other students, I knew that is what I wanted to do as well,” he said, adding that he is very “proud” to be elected.

“This year I hope to be a positive role model to the younger students, fulfil my role as school captain to the best of my ability and prepare for high school.”

Even at age 12, the young leader already has his sights set on a big future: university to be a brain surgeon and be part of the Australian Dolphins swimming team at the Commonwealth Games.

But, for now, Jacob says he wants to make his last year of primary school the best ever.

“This year I am looking forward to creating wonderful memories with my friends and making our last year of primary school together unforgettable.”

Our Lady of the Rosary Primary Kellyville

Our Lady of Rosary Primary school captains for 2024 Bruno Sanchez Sanz (left) and Avarie Joson.

Bruno Sanchez Sanz – School captain

Bruno Sanchez Sanz, 11, did not expect to be School Captain – he almost did not apply at all. But when the opportunity presented itself, after being selected as a top 10 candidate, he thought he would “give it a go”.

Now he is looking forward to helping others and learning new skills and “what it is to be school captain”.

“I hope to achieve the trust of many others and to be seen as a helpful student,” Bruno said.

“I hope that I can make new friends and learn many more things to get ready for my journey in high school.”

The young leader hopes to continue helping people “in everything I do” and making people happy through his work. It is why he wants to be a baker when he grows up – “and I hope that it tastes really good too!”

Avarie Joson – School captain

Being School Captain is way more than having a badge to Avarie Joson. To her, the job is about “being a responsible role model in our school”.

That includes respecting the environment around her, and taking pride in keeping the school “inviting and tidy”.

She said she wanted to run for leadership as part of “trying new things” in her last year at Our Lady of Rosary. She also hoped to have plenty of fun with her fellow leaders (and to get better at Maths).

“My proudest achievement so far is receiving the role of school captain, and serving the Our Lady of Rosary community,” Avarie said.

She hopes to return to the classroom one day as a teacher – both of dance and either Kindergarten or Year 1 – but her biggest hope of all “is that we take care of the Earth”.

“As humans, we can’t see into the future, we don’t know if the environment can keep up like this, so that will be my hope for the future,” she said.

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