They are a practical demonstration of what your school stands for, showing that you’re part of the community’s fabric.
They demonstrate that your school isn’t a learning silo, but part of a close, healthy community.
Which school are you?
Primary schools generally fit into one of three service categories:
1.Hardy Annuals. Schools with long-established service traditions which leaders acts as stewards for each year. The same events (pet show, club program, stuffed animal drive) are held annually, allowing leaders to follow an established activity template.
2. Spring Blooms. Schools that respond to community requests or expressed student concerns. Projects meet current needs or causes such as collecting items for a time capsule, creating a recycling program, or raising funds for an animal shelter.
3. Edible Garden. Schools that spread their activities across the school year so that there is always a student-led project or activity around the corner. This model uses a mix of hardy annuals and spring blooms.
The Service leadership model
Early this year I asked six primary school principals that usde the Young Leaders Program in their school what drove their student leadership programs.
Specifically, I asked why they did what they did with students leaders?
After some discussion each agreed that promoting a sense of service was the main aim of their student leadership programs.
Yes, many leadership activities are highly engaging and the subsequent promotion of presentation skills, organisational abilities and teamwork, as well as an improvement in school culture were evident. But they were secondary results of the service-oriented approach where the benefits were deep and wide.
Service is the BIG picture
Teaching kids that to lead is to serve and developing their capabilities with that end in mind is the best preparation for the family, workplace and community leadership roles that they will step into as adults.
Service-oriented leadership is essential to the future of a civil society. It’s why explicit leadership development is becoming common place in primary schools.
Everyone benefits when student leadership with a service-orientation gets the attention it deserves.
Service is at the heart of the Young Leaders way of student leadership.
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Want an easy way to develop student leadership in your school? The Young Leaders Program is an easy-to-use, time-saving program that you can introduce to senior primary students immediately. Find out more about Young Leaders here.