Application for Middle School Senate

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of conceit. Rather, in humility value others
above yourself…”- Philippians 2:3

Congratulations.

The first sign of a good leader is initiative. By choosing to complete this application form
you have already demonstrated that you are willing to serve God and the Maranatha
school community.

There are two sections to this application. It is important that you read all areas carefully.
Don’t be afraid to ask your parents or teachers for help with questions that might be a little
tricky to understand at first.

Application Process

Week 1-3
• Fill out Application Form.
Applications must be completed and returned to Mrs J De Silva (Head of Middle
School – Girls) no later than 4pm on Friday, 27th October 2023.
• Applications forms must include a parents/guardian signature to proceed to an
interview.

Week 4-5
• Written applications will be considered, and you will complete a formal interview
with either Mrs J De Silva or Mr L Kannemeyer to discuss our expectations and
answer any questions you might have.
Personal Details

Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________________________

Amelia Houghton

Home Group Teacher (2023): ____________________________________________________

Mrs B Mathews

House: ____________________________________________________________________
Acacia
Part A: Leadership Traits

There are many different qualities that make a ‘good leader’.

Choose three of the following Leadership Traits that reflect why you would be a good
leader.

Confident Responsible Encourager

Positive Attitude Trustworthy Organized
Mature Helpful Respected by others

In the spaces below, briefly explain how you currently demonstrate these qualities.

1. Confident:

When talking to strangers or presenting to many people, I tend to use the situation as an
opportunity to develop my people and presentation skills. I frequently perform solos in
front of many people which enables me to put myself out there. I prepare well for class
presentations by memorising what I have to say, which allows me to maintain eye
contact with the audience and focus on my delivery.

2. Organised:

I participate in many extra-curricular activities, such as the Christian club,

Bridge, volleyball, the debating team, advanced English, and every Friday,
church band practice, whilst always being on top of my work. I always create
study plans when I have tests and exams, and consistently stick to them, to
ensure that I study efficiently whilst participating in extra-curriculars.

3. Positive Attitude:

I am always willing to learn and try new things. For instance, I was hesitant about
joining the debating team and Bridge, for fear of speaking in front of people I'd never
met before and possibly being criticised for my ideas. However, I knew that if I
avoided joining these teams I was passionate about, I would never step out of my
comfort zone and grow my character. I had to instead look for the benefits of joining.
For example, I could learn how to handle criticism better, and develop my public
speaking skills.
Part B: MCS Attributes

It is very important that our Middle School Senate strive to display our MCS Attributes
(RESPECT).

In this section, we would like you to write a short response for each of the following
questions. Remember to answer honestly and openly.

Reflect Christ
In what ways do you endeavor to Reflect Christ in your own life?

Being a part of the leadership team at Bridge for the last year has taught me how to
work effectively and cooperatively with others. Whilst reading certain chapters in the
New Testament, I came across Ephesians 4:2, where Paul tells us that we should,
with all humility, gentleness and patience, bear one another in love. When working
with the leadership team in Bridge, I have tried to reflect Christ by being patient and
refraining from getting frustrated with the other leaders, especially when I don’t get
my way. I have learned through Proverbs 19:11 that I should be slow to anger and
know that it’s best to overlook offence, because in a team, by forgiving others, we
can grow and lead well together.

Enduring
Write about a time you kept trying and didn’t give up.

When year seven commenced, a couple of my classmates and I had started our
own Bible club. We met together two times a week and one person would share a
passage from the Bible, what they thought it meant, and how it possibly applied to
our lives. One day, I invited my friend who didn't know much about Jesus and had
many questions to our Bible club, because it was my turn to share something from
the Bible, and I thought I could somehow help her. I had talked about the end times
in Revelation to answer her questions, but at the end of the session, my friend was
scared and more confused, which made me feel like giving up and leaving her in
question. I thought about what I should do with the situation and came to a
conclusion to continue inviting her to the club and ensured to spend time with her to
explain what I meant. Over time, I was able to clarify what I meant when I was
sharing, and my friend wasn't confused anymore. Her relief made me feel
accomplished, and ultimately glad that I persevered to help her.
Self-controlled
If elected, how do you intend to be a good example to others?

Leading by example means guiding others through my behaviour and inspiring

them to do the same as me. To lead by example, I have to be a servant to show
others how they need to act. If I were elected, I would aim to stick to my word,
have a positive attitude so that people around me would pick up on it and
naturally mirror it, hold myself accountable for what I do and say because I
would have an influence on others, follow the school rules so that students
would do the same, trust the other leaders in the Senate because they would be
elected for their capability to lead. I would make an effort to listen to others and
be attentive, let the others in the Senate know that I don't know the answers to
everything, and lastly, be eager to learn.

Passionate
a. Why is passion an important quality in a leader?
b. What are you passionate about?

Passion is a vital quality for a leader to have, as it infers that they make
a large effort to serve others, and are completely dedicated towards
leading. I am a passionate musician. I play several instruments including
the drums at my church every Sunday. I love using my passion for
music to worship God, and I feel that my ability to coordinate my
instrument with others demonstrates a sense of community and
teamwork.
Empathetic
Write about a time where you were sensitive to someone (or some people) who were
different to you.

There was a specific instance where I suddenly found two girls in my year level
crying because a teacher had yelled at them for their assignment. I took them
aside, consoled them, and asked them what had happened. They were very
vulnerable sharing about what had just happened, so I carefully listened,
making myself available to what they had to say.

Committed
In a team setting, commitment is very important. If elected, how will you ensure that you
are ready and willing to serve your peers?

If I were elected, I would demonstrate commitment by building trust with

my peers and other leaders in the Senate. I would aim to follow through on
my promises, which would show the team my level of dedication and help
them place their confidence in me as a leader.
Thoughtful
Why is thoughtfulness an important attribute in a leader?

Thoughtfulness is an important characteristic in a leader because they have to

consider the needs and desires of all people and not just their own. For example,
as stated by one of the leaders of the 2023 Senate in the library, when making
decisions as a team, they didn't consider others’ opinions until another leader,
whom they didn't expect much from, ended up having a useful idea that they
ultimately used. This shows that being thoughtful in a team aspect as a leader is
essential, as what you expect of others will not always be the outcome. Ultimately,
thoughtfulness demonstrates an open mind towards others’ opinions and ideas,
which can produce a better result than expected.

Student signature: Parent signature:

Date: 27/10/2023 Date: 27/10/2023