Two years ago, the Trimont College faculty invited the student body to offer suggestions on ways to improve student life. This was intended as an exercise to promote healthy communication practices and to encourage a sense of independence but it quickly became much more.

The students responded eagerly, sharing a range of ideas, some wild and ambitious, others practical and attainable. From this exercise, it became clear that a more structured platform would be beneficial—a place where students could collaborate and develop ideas to enhance the Trimont experience.

After some encouragement from the vice-principal, the students formed a committee. It was decided that representatives from each upper school class would be elected and act as a voice for their peers’ interests in a singular governing body. Thus the Trimont Student Council was born.

In their first few meetings, the council set about brainstorming ways to add variation to their school life and soon conceived an innovative way to bring variety to the tuck shop menu. Through a student vote, new food options were made available, and it wasn’t long before a rotation of popular items became a standard at Trimont College: Doubles every other Wednesday and alternating weeks of Subway and KFC. These initiatives became an immediate success.

With the triumph of the Wednesday Lunch program under their belt, the council began investigating more ways to foster a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. In October 2019, the students asked their representatives to explore the possibility of friendly competition, something that would allow everyone to participate in the spirit of sportsmanship and enjoy a bit of school-day excitement. The council loved the idea and even agreed to fund prizes, giving rise to the first-ever Trimont Football Midday League.

When the 2020 pandemic struck, the Student Council adapted their plans beyond friendly competition and set about tackling the monumental task of encouraging school cohesion and camaraderie solely through online interaction. They organized the school’s first FIFA 20 Tournament, open to competitors on both XBOX and PS4. Over two weekends, eight participants in separate divisions vied for digital football supremacy, with matches live-streamed on Twitch and drawing dozens of viewers per game. The event was a major success, with cash prizes awarded to the winners and serving as a reminder to the students that, even though they were physically isolated, they were not alone.

Since its inception, the Trimont Student Council has remained dedicated to making school life better, always finding new ways to keep students engaged and happy so that learning becomes even more enjoyable.  

Written by: Charles Devaux