Programs enhance elementary students’ leadership skills
Two programs at Sussex Academy Elementary are allowing students to form relationships and enhance their leadership skills.
School counselor Juliane Hein, along with a team of teachers, created the Grade Buddies initiative and brought Character Climb (in partnership with Connecting Generations) to the school. Both of these methods unite students who might not otherwise know each other.
In Grade Buddies, students in grades three, four and five are buddies to their younger schoolmates in grades kindergarten, one and two. Throughout the year, the buddies get together to share various activities.
In December, Grade Buddies each worked on a gingerbread house color-by-number handout and shared their answers to get better acquainted. Older buddies helped read the prompts when needed, and students then shared their final gingerbread house with others to determine any similarities and differences.
Students keep the same buddies throughout their time in elementary school, until the fifth-graders move to sixth grade and the second-graders move into new leader roles in third grade.
“They get to know each other in the beginning of the year through activities and projects, and they celebrate each other and what makes them special,” Hein said. “For new third-graders, it’s their opportunity to be a leader to a younger student.”
Fourth- and fifth-graders must apply to be in the new Character Climb program, and they are accepted based on their submitted essay and conduct.
Students trained weekly since October to learn how to become mentors to younger students, and they are now paired up with students in kindergarten through second grade. Mentors play games, talk, and offer advice and guidance to their younger schoolmates.
Dean of Elementary Connie Hendricks said the program is also beneficial because it brings teachers together who would not usually work together, creates relationships and a sense of community, and allows older grade-level teachers to get to know the younger students.
