Prefects – The Pioneering Leaders of the PennSchool Community

On October 10, the Executive Board of Prefects was officially introduced during the Recognition Ceremony.

Being implemented for the first time at PennSchool this academic year, the Executive Board of Prefects is to ensure the maintenance of discipline, support the Board of Principals and teachers, and help create a safe, efficient, and inspiring learning environment for other students, coordinating school events and activities, and so on.

Following the recent Recognition Ceremony, 12 outstanding #HomeOfTheEagles were selected. In addition to electing the Head Prefects, team members were also assigned tasks, contributing not only to building a positive image for the school but also to fostering unity, nurturing strong bonds, and a spirit of care within the student community.

In her role as the Head Prefect, Do Danh Minh Thu from Grade 11 is responsible for upholding discipline, supporting school activities, and managing and delegating tasks efficiently to other members of the appointed Executive Board of Prefects.

“The academic year 2024 – 2025 at PennSchool marks the first year of full implementation of the Executive Board of Prefects, bringing new experiences and challenges. For the Head Prefect, these challenges are not just expected but integral to their roles. Leading a team requires dedication to ensure that responsibilities are met punctually and tasks are executed effectively. This role demands an excellent aptitude for organization, patience, and problem-solving skills, as the Head Prefects continuously adapt to fulfill their roles.

Furthermore, establishing the significance of the Head Prefect position within the school community is a gradual journey, requiring the trust and cooperation of both peers and faculty. While these challenges can be demanding, they also provide valuable learning opportunities. Serving as both Prefects and Head Prefects not only fosters leadership and teamwork skills but also offers a unique chance to connect with teachers and staff on a deeper level, bridging students and faculty for a stronger, more cohesive community. This role empowers individuals to grow, inspires the Prefects team, and builds a foundation for lifelong leadership.”
Sharing from Do Danh Minh Thu, Grade 11.

For Tan Y Lam, a Grade 8 student, becoming a member of the Prefects has motivated her to participate in various activities to help maintain discipline and build a safe learning environment.

“After I was assigned as a member of Prefects, one of my daily responsibilities was maintaining a no-running hallway during school break time. This means that I have to walk through the hallways to ensure that students are following school rules and are not running around wildly. By doing so, I help prevent injuries from reckless running. Prefects like me must remain patient, positive, and cooperative to prevent conflicts between the prefects and the students. Prefects were assigned to different areas of the school each day to check the hallways during break time. I am responsible for checking on the hallways twice a week on Thursdays and Fridays. Whenever I see a student running, I call him/her back to remind them of the school rules. Prefects also hold weekly meetings to discuss any issues and report our activities to the Head Prefects.

Besides strolling through the hallway, I assist the teachers in preparing for school events and activities to ensure everything runs smoothly. This role provides me with valuable leadership experiences. Helping out at events is my favorite task; it’s interesting and incredibly beneficial when making plans for activities in the future. Prefects are also known as school ambassadors. Sometimes, we get to introduce our school to visitors who come to visit our school. This is the role that I also really like and hope to have a chance to do in the future. Prefects also sometimes have to work extra hard because there are times when we have to take on extra duties in helping the school organize events and maintain a quiet hallway.”

This is an interesting insight from Lam Y Tan, Grade 8 about her position.

As members of the Executive Board of Prefects, students have gained many valuable experiences that help them develop personally while fostering a strong spirit of unity throughout the School. This is also how Jin Oh Yu and Nguyen Vu Thao Linh feel after a month in this position.

“Being a Prefect is incredibly rewarding. It provides me with a chance to develop leadership and communication skills and make a meaningful impact on the school community. Knowing I play a part in creating a supportive and respectful environment at PennSchool makes my experience fulfilling.”
Sharing from Jin Oh Yu, Grade 11.

“Being a Prefect gave me and will give me more experience being a leader and being a bit more responsible than other students since there will be meetings and situations that you might not encounter before.”
That is also the feelings of Nguyen Vu Thao Linh as a member of the Prefects.

We believe that being members of the Prefects is an excellent opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, demonstrate their courage and responsibility, and become an inspiration for future generations of students.