As Grade 12 students finish their last exams at SMUS, Grade 11 students look ahead to their final year on campus as leaders of the Senior School.
Through a series of elections this spring, students and staff members took to the polls to vote current Grade 11s into positions of leadership, from Council Head, to Head of House in boarding, to Prefects.
We are incredibly proud of all students who step up and step forward with the goal of making our school a better place. We thank every single one of them, whether they are successfully elected or not, for being role models in our school community. Their contributions to the school, in all capacities, are what allow our community to thrive.
The first positions that have been elected are the Head Prefects for the 2024-25 school year. We are excited to announce and introduce Chelsea Lee and Will Cuddihy elected to hold these roles next year, two students who also happen to “Lifers” — students who have attended SMUS since Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten, or Grade 1.
We sat down with Will and Chelsea to learn more about them and their goals for next year.
Why did you want to be a Head Prefect?
Chelsea: I want to be a welcoming face on campus, to help lift school spirit. SMUS has given me so many leadership opportunities over the years, from Ambassador roles in Grade 5 at the Junior School, to becoming a WEB Leader in Grade 8, so I really wanted to be able to give back to the school by helping in any way I can to coordinate between the different grades and campuses.
Will: I think I listen to feedback really well; I like being able to make the people around me feel better, and to create active change. When the opportunity to run for Head Prefect came, I felt like I could do a good job in being a leader on campus, taking initiative and seeing those initiatives be accomplished.
What makes Will Head Prefect material?
Chelsea: I’ve thought for a really long time that Will would make an amazing Head Prefect, to be honest. He has great leadership and communication skills, I feel like anybody is able to talk to him and he gives great advice. He’s already seen as a really welcoming and dependable face on campus, he’s someone that everyone knows and feels comfortable with, and someone that people who don’t yet know him can look up to, too.
What makes Chelsea Head Prefect material?
Will: In the 12 years that I’ve known Chelsea, I’ve seen how driven she is. When she sets her mind to something, it always gets done no matter what. She’s got the right experience to help keep the Junior School closer to the Middle and Senior Schools, despite the barrier of distance.
What role do you see the Head Prefects and the Prefect Council playing for the JK-12 student body?
Will: Something I’d like to do is bring the three schools together, because physically it can be hard to collaborate between the Middle and Junior Schools, and Junior and Senior Schools. The Senior and Middle Schools are on the same campus, but I think there can be more done, like more events with all of the schools, people from the different campuses, which I think would be really helpful in fostering school spirit. I remember being a student in the Junior School and meeting the Head Prefects, and while I don’t remember their names, they were always kind, friendly, and approachable.
Chelsea: We have the opportunity to inspire the younger kids, to be seen as role models and as people who embody the leadership and values of SMUS. We’re in a really interesting position as Head Prefects this fall, because we’re out of the pandemic and are able to build off all of the work from recent Head Prefects like Maya and Aidan (23-24), and Talia and Ryan (22-23).
What are you most looking forward to about next year?
Will: Getting to know all the different people at SMUS, because we have such a diverse community here between you and old students, day and boarding students… I think the role of Head Prefect is so unique because we get to listen to everybody, not just the people immediately around us, so that’s something I’m excited for.
Chelsea: I’m looking forward to being the bridge between teachers and students. Because we have a pretty in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the school, wee can use our 12 years of experience here to know what has happened, what is happening, and what needs to be improved, in a different way than what a lot of people can. We want to be attending events and assemblies, so that the people who we are and feel comfortable around us, and hopefully bring the three schools together.
