This past week, I along with Superintendent Fernandes, joined Student Leaders from all
nine of our secondary schools for a two-day Student Leadership Conference at Camp Henry. The Camp is located in Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost tip of Canada’s mainland. Point Pelee, a mere two hours from London, is home to many different species and truly showcases the beauty of our country. (More about this next week!)
nine of our secondary schools for a two-day Student Leadership Conference at Camp Henry. The Camp is located in Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost tip of Canada’s mainland. Point Pelee, a mere two hours from London, is home to many different species and truly showcases the beauty of our country. (More about this next week!)
A very special thank you to Dan Gillen and Vanessa Di Marcelli who worked closely with our secondary Student Council Advisors to make the Conference possible. Thank you to: Steph Dundas, Hillary Gallivan, Ellen Loftus, Jill Maloney, Kylie Paquette, Gary Steer, Vanessa Tancredi, Lindsay Thompson and James Welsh. Your work with our student leaders is greatly appreciated. We also extend a special thank you to our community partners, YMCA Camp Henry, Brescia University, and Dan Moynihan for their support of this event. We thank Student Trustee Brady DeDecker for his leadership and unwavering enthusiasm throughout the Conference.
On the first day, Paul Barker, Professor at Brescia, spoke to our student leaders about the key qualities of a leader and identified characteras being a key to leadership. Accompanying Professor Barker were Jazymyn Jansen and Erica de Francisco who assisted in a variety of activities providing students the opportunity to ‘connect’ with fellow students across the district.
Dan Moynihan, our keynote speaker reminded students that, as leaders, they have an important responsibility to create a culture where everyone in the school community feels included. He also shared with them that doing the “right thing” while not always easy is always necessary. We are very grateful to Terra Kulen, YMCA Camp Director, and her wonderful and dedicated staff who lead several leadership initiatives, as well as, teambuilding activities, camp meals, and of course, the camp songs.
Key takeaways and experiences for our student leaders included:
- Connecting and bonding with peers from not only from their schools, but from schools around the district
- Development of key leadership skills, such as understanding their leadership personality, problem-solving, and team building
- The opportunity to address and share, goals and ideas/initiatives and plan for the 2019-2020 school year
Aligning with this year’s conference theme, that ofbeing A Reflective Community Member,
students were encouraged to implement the Experiential Learning Cycle. They were asked to do so individually and with their fellow leaders and continue to do so throughout the 2019-2020 academic year to promote their learning and action planning.
students were encouraged to implement the Experiential Learning Cycle. They were asked to do so individually and with their fellow leaders and continue to do so throughout the 2019-2020 academic year to promote their learning and action planning.The key questions posed by the Experiential Learning Cycle, What?, So What? and Now What?are important not only for the students but for all of us as we reflect on key experiences/opportunities provided us in both our professional and personal lives.
Participate – What?
Reflect – So What?
Apply – Now What?
“The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” William Butler Yeats
Reflect – So What?
Apply – Now What?
“The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” William Butler Yeats
