Leadership on display at elementary school

By Rob Vogt
West Meadow Elementary School is developing the leaders of tomorrow – today.
The school has adopted the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and infused them into all aspects of learning at the school.
On Wednesday, May 31, the school hosted a leadership day, welcoming in family, friends, supporters of the school, community partners and the public.
It featured an assembly and tours of the school given by students.
Throughout the assembly, students explained the Seven Habits, which are:
1) Be proactive
Grade 1 students talked about taking responsibility for their actions, controlling their emotions, trying their best and more.
2) Begin with the end in mind
Grade 2 students discussed how they think about how they want something to turn out before starting it.
3) Put first things first
Grade 3 students said it means doing the more important things before the less important ones. If you get the important things done, then you can do the fun stuff.
4) Think win-win
Grade 4 students said if everyone works together they can all get what they want.
5) Seek first to understand then to be understood
Grade 5 students said it can mean to listen first before telling their own stories.
6) Synergize
Grade 6 students talked about how it means working together to achieve goals, helping each other achieve them, and how it is more fun when everyone works together. They used the example of a relay race.
7) Sharpen the saw
Kindergarten students described how it can mean sharpening your mind and body and being the best you can be.
Students also explained the different leadership roles they take on throughout the school.
Those include bus buddies, who help students get to the bus safely; and safety patrol.
There are playground buddies who help Kindergarten to Grade 2 students on the playground by pushing them on the swings, helping them reach the monkey bars, and more. There are more than 60 students who help with this role.
The announcement team shares information of the day with students including birthdays, events, riddles, the Seven Habits and more, and the school sings “O Canada”. The announcements are livestreamed so students learn about technology and speaking in front of a camera.
The assembly crew set up chairs and benches, then put them away after the assemblies, learning to work with people along the way.
The technology lead sets up the speakers and more for assemblies.
Hot lunch helpers get everything ready for breakfast and lunch. They saw leader Debbie Bronson had no help so the offered theirs.
Once the assembly concluded, people were invited to take a tour of the school, and see how the Seven Habits are infused everywhere.