CedarBridge Academy students will, as of next week, have an official voice on issues affecting them at the school.

The senior secondary school elected its first student government during a leadership retreat at Warwick Camp this week.

While the 16-member executive was chosen by only 50 of the school's 1,200 students, school government coordinator and Family Studies teacher Joanne Anderson told The Royal Gazette that number was a "good representation'' for a new school.

And she explained that the 50 students, between the ages of 14 and 19, who attended the retreat on Thursday were part of the 60-member student council who volunteered to be a part of the student government.

"Students don't all know one another,'' Mrs. Anderson said. "So hopefully by May, relationships will have developed so we can have a school-wide election.'' Chosen during the internal elections were president Chanae Burgess, vice president Akneesha Harris, secretary Robyn Bean, assistant secretary Kidist Emery, treasurer Sakinah Dill, assistant treasurer Vernell Brown, chairperson Harley Place, four public relations officers Llewellyn Simons, Rosetta Augustus, Bruno Madeiros and Sirgute Maryam representing each school year, historians Samantha Matthews, Shanni Smith and Asweena Greenwich who will be responsible for keeping a scrapbook of articles published about the school, and two student activities coordinators Iyesha Caines and Alyssia Stewart who will be trusted to set up different committees and delegate responsibilities.

Mrs. Anderson said the president will be responsible for planning and conducting meetings and appointing members to certain positions as well as keeping members active and motivated.

The president will also work with the school administrators, including the principal, creating a link between students and teachers.

The chairperson, she explained, will attend executive meetings "just to find out what is on the agenda and what needs to be covered''.

"So while the meeting is going on, the chairperson will call things to order, keep things in order, and be a time keeper,'' Mrs. Anderson added. "We will also use the chairperson during elections and nominations.'' The president is set to deliver a two-minute address over the school's public address system on Monday.

"She will give a two-minute speech, explaining who the executive are and what he or she plans to achieve this year,'' Mrs. Anderson said.

"We really want the kids to take ownership of this government. I have explained to them that I am just the coordinator. And myself and six other advisors are just here to provide them with support, give them feedback. But they are the ones who are to take ownership and to run this government. We really want them to take the leadership of the school and get things moving in a positive way.'' During the day-long retreat, students also participated in four 35-minute, rotating workshops.

They examined leadership roles, protocol on meeting agendas, short-term and long-term goals for the school year, and debated teen issues, including teenage pregnancy and whether unruly 16-year-olds should be expelled from school.

"They are excited,'' Mrs. Anderson said. "The workshops only ran for 35 minutes and students did not want to leave. These are highly-motivated kids.

"They have been meeting since school started. But we just thought this would be a great opportunity for them to come up with mission statements, a philosophy, and a constitution. They are starting from scratch so we thought this retreat would be great.''