West Meadow Elementary School opens doors to Leader in Me event

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
Student leadership was on display last week at West Meadow Elementary when the school opened its doors to families and friends.
The school hosted a Leader in Me Day on May 17, which had two purposes, according to Principal Sean Latta.
First and foremost it was a leadership opportunity for students, but also a way to bring parents and families back into the school after the pandemic limited access for the better part of two years.
The school has been studying the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People which are to:
1) Be proactive;
2) Begin with the end in mind;
3) Put first things first;
4) Think win-win;
5) Seek first to understand then to be understood;
6) Synergize;
7) Sharpen the saw.
More than that, the school has infused the Seven Habits into every aspect of the school.
In order to showcase what students have been doing, students gave tours of the school.
Working in pairs, they took people down the school’s hallways which have names such as “First Things First Lane”, “Proactive Place”, “Understanding Way”, and “Think Win-Win Way”.
They also pointed out various activities that support the Seven Habits such as art, posters and the mission statement each class wrote and signed together at the beginning of the year.
They also had a trade fair where students were at seven tables, one for each habit, and were available to explain that habit.
“It’s a step on our journey as we continue on down this path,” Latta said. “We’re really excited about the work our students do.”
Moreover, it is not about parents or staff, but the students who did everything from greet visitors at the door and conduct tours, to explain the habits at the trade fair and offer people the chance to do a survey before they leave.
“We sit back and watch our students at work,” Latta said.