At Dehong Shanghai, we uphold a “students-first” philosophy, valuing student voices and choices while providing ample opportunities for leadership development. The Student Council serves as a dedicated platform for Secondary School students, aiming to deliver outstanding services and support for the entire student body. It inspires students to actively engage with the present and plan for the future, fostering independence, critical thinking, and the courage to turn their ideas into action.
Recently, after an intense and exciting election process, the new head student team of Dehong Shanghai’s Student Council has been announced! Four outstanding Grade 11 students have been elected as head students of the Global Citizenship, Student Voice, Community, and Wellbeing Departments. Congratulations to Hu, Shao, Jin, and Huang on their new roles!
At a recent assembly for all Secondary students and staff, the Student Council held a successful handover ceremony. The 2024 head students delivered their end-of-term reports, sharing the significant achievements of the past year. Following this, the newly elected 2025 head students took the stage to introduce themselves and outline their visions and plans for their respective departments. In the year ahead, they will serve as a vital bridge between the school and students, working alongside the entire Student Council to contribute to the growth and development of the Dehong community.
Cynthia H. - Head Student of the Student Voice Department
Cynthia has been a member of the student council for two years and is honored to serve as a head student this year. She sees this opportunity as a valuable platform to hone and showcase her abilities. With a strong interest in leadership-related activities, Cynthia views the Student Voice Department as a vital bridge between the school and students—an avenue to further enhance her communication and leadership skills.
The Student Voice Department is responsible for gathering student feedback and presenting it to the school, ensuring both the student council and the management team better understand students' needs. Cynthia shared, "In the coming year, I plan to start by understanding the fundamental needs of students. With their expectations and concerns in mind, I’ll collaborate with other departments to organize more engaging and enjoyable activities." She also hopes to achieve personal growth in communication and collaboration, further bridging the gap between the school, the student council, and the student body to create a better campus experience for all.
Gigi S. - Head Student of the Global Citizenship Department
This is Gigi's first time holding such a position, making this experience a valuable opportunity for personal growth. Influenced by Dehong's campus culture, Gigi developed a strong interest in global issues, cultural diversity, and cross-cultural communication, which was the driving force behind her decision to join the Global Citizenship Department.
The Global Citizenship Department focuses on enhancing students' global perspectives and sense of civic responsibility through events related to global issues. Gigi looks forward to collaborating with other departments to organize events during holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, so that students can enjoy the activities while also focusing on global topics. Speaking of her aspirations, Gigi said, "I will do my best to complete every task, encourage more students to get involved, and grow together with everyone." She also hopes to use this opportunity to further develop herself and be better prepared to face the challenges on her future path of learning and growth.
Adele J. - Head Student of the Community Department
Adele's initial motivation to apply for the role of head student leader was to enhance her leadership, communication, and organizational skills through involvement in school affairs. She chose the Community Department not only to leverage her strengths in event organization but also to support her future ambitions in economics, as the department’s work involves resource allocation, interpersonal relationships, and social impact, which are key skills in economics.
The Community Department is primarily responsible for promoting existing school activities and creating new ones. Adele plans to introduce more diverse events, such as an “Inspiration Exhibition,” next year to enrich campus cultural life. She shared, "In this valuable year of practice, I hope to improve my leadership, organizational, and time management skills, while learning how to maximize social benefits with limited resources, laying a solid foundation for my future academic and career development."
Janny H. - Head Student of the Wellbeing Department
For Janny, applying to become a head student is a new and exciting challenge. She firmly believes that mental well-being is an essential component of personal health and is passionate about observing the emotional changes around her. The Wellbeing Department focuses on the mental state of students in both their academic and daily lives.
Janny has noticed that some students still struggle to effectively receive notifications about activities and opportunities from the school and student council. Therefore, she plans to improve the school's notification system, such as by enhancing bulletin board content, to not only inform students about upcoming events in a timely manner but also spark enthusiasm and anticipation for them. Reflecting on her personal goals, Janny shared, "I look forward to every collaboration with my classmates, teachers, and the other three head students, and I also hope to find a leadership style that suits me and grow even more through this experience."
Being a head student is more than a title—it embodies Dehong Shanghai’s commitment to fostering student leadership and responsibility. We believe this invaluable experience will empower our head students to unlock their potential, refine their leadership skills, and master effective communication and execution within a team. Along the way, they will not only accumulate lifelong treasures but also inspire those around them.
In addition, the newly elected head students is now participating in the Student Leadership Conference with head students from other Dehong & DCI network schools (including Dehong, Dulwich, Sherfield, Hochalpines Institut Ftan, and Green School). This summit offers a unique platform to cultivate leadership skills, exchange ideas, and collaboratively plan initiatives for the year ahead. We eagerly anticipate seeing Dehong Shanghai’s head students grow through this experience, spearhead impactful projects, and lead their peers in bringing renewed vibrancy to campus life. Together, they will usher in a future at Dehong filled with infinite possibilities!
