As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, St. Clair Catholic is proud to recognize Student Trustees Layla Hashim and Matt Moss for their outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to student voice.
Throughout the year, Layla and Matt served as key contributors at the Board table—sharing system-wide highlights from across our secondary schools, including student achievements in academics, athletics, the arts, STEM, and student government. Their insights brought real-time perspective and helped ensure that the voices of students were at the centre of every conversation.
“Everything we do at St. Clair Catholic is for our students,” said Chair of the Board John Van Heck. “Layla and Matt didn’t just take a seat—they brought leadership, reflection, and authenticity to every meeting. They reminded us that behind every decision is a student we are called to serve. Their voices helped shape our work this year in meaningful ways, and we are incredibly proud of them.”
In addition to their roles at the Board level, both students made an incredible impact within their school communities.
Matt, a Grade 11 student at St. Patrick’s Catholic High School, played a leading role in this year’s production of Mamma Mia and is well known for his energy and commitment to student life. “My experience as Student Trustee was nothing short of fulfilling,” shared Matt. “I had a wonderful time getting to meet all of the incredible people who run the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, as everyone was so welcoming to me—especially in the beginning when I was not entirely familiar with how school board meetings run or what the expectations were.”
He also credits the experience with preparing him for life beyond high school: “Getting to sit in at all of the school board meetings, I was able to learn about proper presentation skills and also how business meetings are often conducted. Since I am interested in taking up a business degree after high school, this whole experience gave me a good idea of what future business meetings will look like once I am out working in the business world.”
Layla, who graduates this June from Ursuline College, spent the year stage-managing UCC’s production of The Descendants while applying—and being accepted—to several Ontario universities. She will attend Western University in the fall to study Medical Sciences, with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.
“I’ve had a wonderful experience throughout my term as Student Trustee, and I highly encourage current high school students to apply for this role in the future,” said Layla. “Meetings at the board office may seem intimidating; however, all the board members and trustees are extremely kind and supportive.”
She adds, “Not only is this an excellent opportunity for personal growth, but I have also developed and improved my public speaking and leadership skills. There are also many unique opportunities and valuable connections that you will gain access to. For example, this year, I had the privilege of working with student trustees across Ontario to put together an Indigenous Influencers Book, in addition to meeting the Minister of Education!”
Both Layla and Matt reflected on the lasting value of their Catholic education.
“As someone who has had Catholic education since I was four years old, I only have great things to say,” says Layla. “The approach of Catholic education aims to take care of the whole person, focusing on their physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs. I would also say Catholic schools foster a strong sense of community, creating a close-knit environment grounded in faith, respect, and love. This is supported by Catholic morals, values, and beliefs, which encourage students to embody compassion, service, and respect in their daily lives.”
Matt adds, “What makes St. Clair Catholic and Catholic education in general so special is the fact that students are able to deepen their relationship with God while also pursuing an academic career all at the same time. Especially nowadays with social media on the rise, many high school students often weaken their relationship with God… however, by attending a Catholic high school, students are able to learn about God on a deeper level and get to see first-hand the wonderful things God does for everyone’s lives every single day.”
Director of Education Lisa Demers praised both students for the heart, integrity, and thoughtfulness they brought to their work. “These two extraordinary young people have given so much of themselves—not just to the Board, but to their peers and their schools,” she says. “They represented student voice with courage, grace, and deep care. Their leadership has left a mark on our system, and it has been a privilege to witness their growth. We wish them every success as they move forward into this next exciting chapter.”
Matt will return to St. Pat’s in the fall for his Grade 12 year, while Layla starts her university studies in London. Together, they’ve contributed to building a legacy of student voice, Catholic leadership, and lasting impact.