Student Voice - Waterloo Region District School Board (Waterloo Region District School Board)

As an educational system, we are guided by the voices of those we serve: students. Here, you will find a selection of stories where you will be able to hear directly from Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) students about their ideas for how we can better support their learning, and what matters to them as we prepare them to succeed in the 22nd century.

Rooted Thoughts: Grand View Students Reflect in Nature | #StudentVoice

Outdoor education plays a critical role in a well-rounded education at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). It helps students develop a connection to the environment and understand their responsibilities as future stewards of the planet. These experiences foster curiosity and promote environmental awareness and action.

Fabled Fashion: A Community of Style and Support at Jacob Hespler Secondary | #StudentVoice

Jacob Hespeler Secondary School (JHSS) has a new trendsetter on the rise, but it’s not a student—it’s a store. Run by the school’s Fashion Club, Fabled Fashion is offering students something truly unique. For three days every month, the club opens its doors, and students are invited to browse and take anything they wish—for free.

Thriving Together: Student Wellness Conference Paves the Path to Well-Being | #StudentVoice

Wellness and mental health have always been important to me, so when my school’s social worker asked me if I wanted to attend the Waterloo Region District School Board’s (WRDSB) wellness conference last April, I was thrilled.

Learn more about Thriving Together: Student Wellness Conference Paves the Path to Well-Being | #StudentVoice

Secondary Students Showcase Skills at Electric Vehicle Challenge | #StudentVoice

Excitement was in the air. The parking lot was filled with students, teachers and spectators, all excited to see the outcome of the race.

Inside the Student-Led Movement that is Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators | #StudentVoice

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming everything these days—from the way we communicate to the careers we plan to pursue one day. But in a world racing toward a tech-driven future, a critical question remains: Are our future generations ready to lead in that world?

WCI Graduate Reflects on Envirothon Experience | #StudentVoice

Less than a year ago, I was a Grade 12 student, wondering what defining high school experience would stay with me for the rest of my life. As I approached my final semester, I assumed my high school journey was coming to an end, but little did I know that some of the most incredible experiences were still ahead.

Learn more about Charles experience at WCI Graduate Reflects on Envirothon Experience | #StudentVoice

That Time of Year – A WRDSB Student Poem | #StudentVoice

March 20 is the first official day of spring!

To help celebrate the transition, WRDSB student Ivy has created a poem titled “That time of year.” Ivy’s poem reminds us of the opportunities that come with each seasonal transition in the year and pause for a moment, to take a moment to take it all in.

Explore more about Ivy’s creative poem at That Time of Year – A WRDSB Student Poem | #StudentVoice

Student Media Team – Creative Writing | #StudentVoice

#StudentVoice is a platform dedicated to highlighting and sharing stories directly from students about their schools and communities. We aim to showcase articles written for students, by students, covering key events and initiatives from across the region.

Read more about the Student Media Team at Student Media Team – Creative Writing | #StudentVoice

Students Explore Benefits of Extracurricular Activities| #StudentVoice

In high schools across the Waterloo Region District School Board, there seems to be an extracurricular activity for everyone. Whether it is a sports team, club, council, or performance opportunity, schools have greatly increased student activities outside the classroom.

Learn more about the students experience at Students Explore Benefits of Extracurricular Actvities | #StudentVoice

Glenview Park Hosts Islamic Heritage Event | #StudentVoice

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Glenview Park Secondary School hosted their first Islamic Heritage Event in October, welcoming around 200 guests from 11 Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools.

Learn more about the students experience at Glenview Park Hosts Islamic Heritage Event | #StudentVoice

Jacob Hespler Secondary School Winter Clothing Drive Helps Students, Community Stay Warm | #StudentVoice

Students at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School teamed up for a winter clothing drive to help students stay warm.

Students Shaping WRDSB Communications Through Co-Op | #StudentVoice

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) Communications Department welcomed two cooperative (co-op) education students in the 2023-24 school year: Nureyev and myself.

Read more about the students experience at Students Shaping WRDSB Communications Through Co-Op | #StudentVoice

Multilingual Language Learners Build Confidence and Community at Camp | #StudentVoice

WRDSB Multilingual Language Learners (MLL) headed to camp to celebrate the end of the school year. Over three days, 150 Grade 5 and 6 students from 41 WRDSB schools attended Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp.

Learn more about the MLL students camp experience at Multilingual Language Learners Build Confidence and Community at Camp | #StudentVoice

The Blue Heron Builders’ Esports Experience | #StudentVoice

Hello, my name is Georgia. I am a student at Blue Heron Public School. At our school, we have a Girls Who Game club, or GWG. We started the club with level one last spring, expanded with level two in the fall, and included level three for the first time in this session.

Read more about Georigia’s story here at Blue Heron Builders’ Esports Experience | #StudentVoice

Grade 11 English Course Supports Steps Toward Truth and Reconciliation | #StudentVoice

Grade 11 students across the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are earning their compulsory English credit while expanding their knowledge about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit experiences and perspectives . In the 2023-24 school year, the WRDSB has joined 30+ Ontario school boards in offering NBE (English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices) board-wide.

Learn more about this story at Grade 11 English Course Supports Steps Toward Truth and Reconciliation | #StudentVoice

Student Portraits Make an International Connection | #StudentVoice

The Memory Portrait Project is a collaboration with senior high school artists and children living in orphanages in areas across the globe. Student artists are invited to capture their partner child’s unique characteristics and personality through digital or mixed-media artwork.

Read more about this new story at Student Portraits Make an International Connection | #StudentVoice

Bluevale Electric Car Club Races to Victory – The Students Behind the Winning Team | #StudentVoice

Bluevale Collegiate Institute’s (BCI) Electric Car Club is a place where students can come together with a variety of skills and work towards the common goal of building electric vehicles from the ground up.

Learn more about BCI’s Electric Car Club at Bluevale Electric Car Club Races to Victory – The Students Behind the Winning Team | #StudentVoice

Student Artwork Chosen for City of Waterloo Pride Month Banners | #StudentVoice

Victor, a student at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute (FHCI) had his artwork selected by the City of Waterloo to be hung as a banner for their Pride Month celebrations.

Read more about Victor’s inspiration for this artwork at Student Artwork Chosen for City of Waterloo Pride Month Banners | #StudentVoice

Galt Collegiate Students Raise Funds for Haven House Women’s Shelter | #StudentVoice

Three Galt Collegiate Institute (GCI) students, Claire, Faiza, and Eyshah, have raised $950 for Haven House, a local women’s shelter operated by Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

Learn more about the story at Galt Collegiate Students Raise Funds for Haven House Women’s Shelter | #StudentVoice

Students Win International SXSW EDU Student Impact Challenge | #StudentVoice

Ashish, Anupam, Saumya, Ojaswi, and Shreeya are students from Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute (CHCI) and the creators of ReAlign, an app that diagnoses and treats amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.”

Read more about this new story at Students Win International SXSW EDU Student Impact Challenge | #StudentVoice

Grade 12 Student Recognized at International Film Festivals | #StudentVoice

Karina is a Grade 12 student and filmmaker in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). Her 3D animated film Nix’s Symphony has gained international recognition across Berlin, the United States, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Kenya and India.

Read more about Karina and her exciting future goals to teach 3D animation and open her own studio Grade 12 Student Recognized at International Film Festivals | #StudentVoice

Black Excellence Program Helps Students Build Connections and Community | #StudentVoice

Leilani shared her thoughts about her lived experiences and perceptions about how events and activities, such as Black Excellence events, help to bring students together and create inclusive school communities that celebrate Black joy.

Learn more about Leilani’s experience and her reflections from participation in recent Black Excellence program events at Black Excellence Program Helps Students Build Connections and Community | #StudentVoice

My Day as a City of Waterloo Councillor

Silvia sits at a Waterloo City Councillor's Desk

From breakfast with the head of the Waterloo Public Library to limo rides with the Mayor, Elizabeth Ziegler Public School student, Silvia, had a blast as a Councillor for a Day for the City of Waterloo.

Read more about her day as a Councillor and her ideas on how to improve Waterloo in the story My Day as a City of Waterloo Councillor | #StudentVoice

Student Newspapers: Spaces for #StudentVoice

There are a number of student-led newspapers in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), each with its own unique origins and qualities, but they share one goal: uniting and uplifting student voices.

Read more about how school newspapers promote student voice in the article by Kyo Lee, a student at Laurel Heights Secondary School: Student Newspapers: Spaces for #StudentVoice

From Blocks to Bytes: Unleashing Creativity at S.T.E.M. Night

Grand View Public School hosted a STEM night (science technology, engineering and mathematics) with several activities for students and teachers to enjoy and engage with!

The evening of creative building included tablets with games; five-minute towers; circuit boards; online architecture with blocks; bricks, paint and so much more.

Read more about the science filled night in Jade’s story: From Blocks to Bytes: Unleashing Creativity at S.T.E.M. Night | #StudentVoice

Educating Innovators for a Sustainable Futures

Student puts a leaf on a board that reads "match the leaf to the tree"

Eastwood Collegiate Institute (ECI) hosted the very first United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Expo.

Read more about the collaborative event organized by ECI staff, students, IMPACT (ECI’s climate action club), and the Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE) Department in Stefanja’s story: Educating Innovators for a Sustainable Future | #StudentVoice

Nuit Blanche: Student-led Art Initiative at Laurel Heights

Laurel Heights Secondary School (LHSS) transformed into a gleaming space of light, noise, and wonder for Nuit Blanche. Through the imagination of 150+ creative students, more than 50 art installations were displayed, ranging from glow-in-the-dark dances; DJ sets; art installations; short films; cafés; shadow performances; and many more.

Learn more about the artistic event at Laurel Heights in Kyo Lee’s story: Nuit Blanche: Student-led Art Initiative at Laurel Heights | #StudentVoice

Northlake Woods Students Celebrate the Holiday Season

Students at Northlake Woods use their voices to celebrate the holidays and learn more about the world.

Learn more about the holidays celebrations at Northlake Woods in Zoey and Sofia’s story: Northlake Woods Students Celebrate the Holiday Season | #StudentVoice

Microforests Bloom New Spaces for Learning

It was an exciting day for Southridge Public School students on Friday, October 27, as we celebrated the new Microforest! During the day, students learned about the environmental benefits of microforests.

Learn more about the microforests at Southridge in Adrija Tiwari and Ruby Finn’s story: Microforests Bloom New Spaces for Learning | #StudentVoice

Students Come Together to Celebrate Islamic History Month

Laurel Heights Secondary School (LHSS) hosted an event celebrating Islamic Heritage Month. The event took place on October 26, and schools all across the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) were invited to attend the event and celebrate with fellow Muslim students.

Learn more about the Islamic History Month event in Khadijah Asif’s story: Students Come Together to Celebrate Islamic History Month | #StudentVoice

Laurel Heights Student Roundtable: Where Ideas Spark and Leaders Connect

More than 120 students and staff from Laurel Heights Secondary School came together at our first roundtable meeting on October 23. Roundtables have been held at Laurel Heights for the past five years.

Learn more about the Roundtable and its impact at Laurel Heights in Kian Mirzaei’s story: Laurel Heights Student Roundtable: Where Ideas Spark and Leaders Connect | #StudentVoice

Laurier Hip-Hop Poetry Workshop

Twelve students from Doon Public School attended a hip-hop workshop with Shad on September 18 at Wilfrid Laurier University. Peliah Haile and Asiya Mohamud, Grade 8 students at Doon Public School, tell the story of their experience.

Read the whole story: Laurier Hip-Hop Poetry Workshop | #StudentVoicee

Fred Fox Visits Breslau Public School

Sylvia Kendall, a Grade 8 student at Breslau Public School shares about a special visitor for the schools Terry Fox Run.

Read the story: Fred Fox Visits Breslau Public School | #StudentVoice

Autism Myths & Facts

Quinn Plummer, a grade 8 student at Northlake Woods Public School and Disability Advocate, felt inspired to help promote acceptance and created a video message to share his personal thoughts on the Myths & Facts about Autism.

WRDSB Celebrates Recipients of the 2023-24 Past-Directors’ Bursary to Support Trade Education

Fourteen Grade 12 students from across Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) received the 2023-24 Past-Directors’ Bursary during the WRDSB Board of Trustees meeting on May 27. Each recipient of the bursary will receive $150. The selected students will receive the bursary to support them in pursuing a trade through college or apprenticeship programs.

Read more regarding the WRDSB student’s furthering their learning pathways and entering careers in the skilled trades WRDSB Celebrates Recipients of the 2023-24 Past-Directors’ Bursary to Support Trade Education

Student Reflects on Being the Youngest Winner of the CBC Poetry Prize

Kyo Lee is the youngest ever winner of the CBC Poetry Prize. The CBC Poetry Prize is a national poetry competition that has been recognizing Canadian writers since 1979. Each year, the winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and a two-week writing residency, and their work is published on CBC books.

Read more about Kyo’s personal and professional writing journey at Student Reflects on Being the Youngest Winner of the CBC Poetry Prize

Students Take the Lead with Design Thinking at Groh Public School

Students at Groh Public School in Kitchener are taking the lead in their learning journey thanks to a design thinking approach used by their teachers. We first caught up with the students in December 2022, as they set out with the goal of improving the experiences of newcomers in their community.

Read the full story here at Students Take the Lead with Design Thinking at Groh Public School

Transforming Education: Literacy and Numeracy for a Changing World

The Waterloo Region District School Board’s (WRDSB) innovative programming was on display at the board’s Transforming Education: Literacy and Numeracy for a Changing World event.

Learn more about the WRDSB’s commitment to providing comprehensive and engaging education for its students at Transforming Education: Literacy and Numeracy for a Changing World

Students build language and life skills at Multilingual Language Learners camp

This month WRDSB re-launched the Multilingual Language Learners (MLL) camp. This long-loved program made a successful comeback after a four-year hiatus. The department hosted the camp over three days at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp.

Learn more about the MLL camp experience here Students build language and life skills at Multilingual Language Learners camp

Open Gate Filmmaker Lab Empowers Students Through Innovative Pilot Program

Secondary students from Forest Heights Collegiate Institute and Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute brought their passion for film-making to the big screen last week as they concluded the Open Gate Filmmaker Lab.

Learn more about the program at Open Gate Filmmaker Lab Empowers Students Through Innovative Pilot Program

WRDSB Student Trustees receive the Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO have announced Kenzy Soror and Vaishnave Raina, student trustees of WRDSB, as the recipients of this year’s Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship.

Learn more about the contributions Kenzy and Vaishnave have made for both the school community and the Board at WRDSB Student Trustees receive the Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship

One Asia, Many Cultures – WRDSB celebrates Asian Heritage Day

On May 11, Eastwood Collegiate Institute (ECI) hosted the inaugural Asian Heritage Day under the theme, One Asia, Many Cultures, a first-of-its-kind event for the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). The event offered students opportunities to connect with their roots, celebrate their heritages and learn about the histories of Asian cultures in Canada.

Read more about the celebrations at One Asia, Many Cultures – WRDSB celebrates Asian Heritage Day

Student Makes a Difference With Mindful Mornings

Shubham Patel is teaching his peers about how taking a few minutes for mindfulness can support their mental health. The Grade 12 student at Preston High School (PHS) in Cambridge is helping bring mindfulness exercises to students across the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).

Learn more about Shubham’s Mindful Mornings program at Student Makes a Difference With Mindful Mornings

Finding Purpose in Eliminating Discrimination

Hana Adham, a Grade 12 student in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), is driven to help eliminate racial discrimination. The spark that ignited her interest in social justice and human rights began with the opportunity to take part in the Ripple Effect Education (TREE) and Kindred Credit Union’s Peace Innovators Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

Read more about Hana’s story at Finding Purpose in Eliminating Discrimination

EDSS Robotics Team Goes to World Championship in Houston | #StudentVoice

The Elmira District Secondary School (EDSS) robotics team, 4917 Sir Lancerbot, recently attended the First Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas. The team sent eleven senior student representatives of its 47 student members to Houston.

Read more about the student’s experience at EDSS Robotics Team Goes to World Championship in Houston | #StudentVoice