SUDBURY—Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) student Sonya Jacko-Cywink is one of two new student trustees on the Rainbow District School Board (RDSB). She joins Sawyer Greene of Sudbury Secondary School (SSS) for the 2023-2024 school year. They will also co-chair the student senate which includes representatives from the board’s secondary schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island.
“Trustees, I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and we all look forward to working with our new student trustees Sawyer Greene and Sonya Jacko-Cywink,” said Bruce Bourget, director of education of the RDSB at a board meeting last week.
“I would like to welcome Sawyer Greene and Sonya Jacko-Cywink to their new roles,” said board chair Bob Clement. “I know they will both make an immense contribution to the board as they represent the student voice. They will have an opportunity to experience the decision-making process and learn more about public education locally and provincially.”
Ms. Jacko-Cywink, who is from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT), is returning to MSS. She will continue to be involved in various sports, including volleyball, basketball, badminton and softball.
“Students know students best,” said Sonya. “Involvement in school and school life is important because it gives students a chance to have their voice heard.”
Sonya is a past member of the MSS student council and The Three Fires Council, which she will join again this year. The council helps to plan the school powwow in which Sonya is the head dancer.
Sonya said joining committees, teams and clubs enables students to gain skills that will benefit them in the future, such as time management. “Being involved in extracurricular activities gives students a chance to meet new students and connect with their peers on a deeper level.”
Sonya enjoys cooking as she explained cooking tells a story and connects people. She loves listening to music, travelling, and trying out foods from different cultures. She also enjoys learning about people’s stories.
A Grade 12 drama student in the French Immersion Program Sawyer Greene is enrolled in the specialist high skills major in arts and culture at SSC. Sawyer has appeared in a number of plays and musicals as well as stage-managed and co-hosted performances and concerts.
Sawyer’s extra-curricular involvement in school extends beyond the arts. Sawyer was on the Reach for the Top Team that was invited to participate at the provincial level for the first time in decades. Being on student parliament gave Sawyer an opportunity to work on many projects, including the Cancer Gala and Dress Drive.
In addition to the arts Sawyer is passionate about cooking and baking, which they say requires patience and practice, ingredients for resilience.
“Involvement is school is important because young minds are able to bring fresh ideas to the table,” said Sawyer. “Students see new ways that events could be changed for the better,” adding that student voice can bring a new perspective, inform decision-making, and affect change.
“We are looking forward to working with both Sawyer and Sonya during the year in their role as student trustees,” added Mr. Bourget.
The two student trustees were sworn into their roles during the regular meeting of RDSB on August 29.
