In the fall, students gave back to the community through a series of activities. Leadership students greeted and provided information to families who attended Open House. Feedback from both staff and families shared an appreciation of the helpful way students answered questions and created a welcoming feeling by greeting families. In addition, students helped host a blood drive by greeting donors. Students also served at the school luncheon for veterans, and showed honor to our veterans by co-hosting at the Veteran’s Day assembly. Students helped our school by planning the Spirit Week Party and supporting the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Students also worked on a Power Point presentation to help sixth graders understand what it means to be successful in middle school. For this presentation, students created a power point, wrote a script, and recorded their presentations. They wanted to help their peers feel ready to transition from elementary to middle school.

At the beginning of the school year leadership students took a self assessment test to identify their strengths and weaknesses in leadership. At semester students reviewed their previous responses and retook the test to see in which areas they made the most growth in their leadership skills. Overall students made significant gains in their ability to communicate with each other by providing positive encouragement, generate ideas, be relied upon, commitment to completing projects, and self-management.

As their advisor, I am very excited about the commitment the middle school students have demonstrated in helping our school be the best. They are currently planning and coordinating an awards assembly for middle school students on February 17th at 1:25pm. Parents and guardians will be invited to attend and celebrate their students’ successes in grades, attendance, and behavior. In addition to the assembly students are planning a pride campaign to bring awareness to the current littering problem on campus. Students will interview staff and students and create a video to play on the school news. Finally, students will be working on elections to select our school’s ASB officers.

There are other projects on the horizon and we hope we have enough time to do all we want to do. I am excited and extremely proud about the skills students are learning in planning events, communicating with adults, and helping to make Chief Leschi the best. Middle School Leadership is only as good as its leaders, way to go class in all you accomplished and all you will accomplish.