“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy
BCD prides itself on its tightly-woven community and the wonderful relationships students form across all grade levels. There are many opportunities for mentoring to occur, whether during a peer reading session between 2nd graders and kindergarteners, on the athletic field, during a Student Council project, or an all-school tradition like Fun and Field Day. It is these experiences that enable students to begin to see themselves as change agents in school culture and role models for their younger peers. Our student leaders take pride in “passing the baton” of those beloved school traditions, but equally so while engaging in new opportunities that pave the way for future BCD students.
From a very young age, our students are expected to take responsibility for the care of each other. Students look out for one another, they reach out to a friend who has fallen, they tell a teacher when an incident doesn’t feel right, they discuss emergent issues every day in homerooms and advisory groups.
3rd grader Kate helps her Kindergarten friends Zora and Sadie at the annual Lower School Mountain Day
Allison and Brenna showed Raleigh how to complete the leaf rubbing they learned how to do when they were in Kindergarten
Lyle was a good buddy to Clay when he got chilly!
6th grader Shayna escorts her Grade 1-2 Vertical Classroom friends from P.E. class back to their homeroom
Upper School Student Leaders:
This year, the 8th grade had a unique opportunity to participate in a Peer Leadership Training Program sponsored by the District Attorney’s Office. After hearing great reviews about the program from a neighboring independent school, I contacted the D.A.’s office and enrolled our 8th grade students and advisors for a 12-week course:
“The program foundation applies best practices in peer leadership fundamentals from Partners Against Hate, a collaborative of the Anti-Defamation League; the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund; the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence and is certified by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals. A general principal of the program is the belief in the value and ability of young people to bring positive change in themselves and others. The goal of the training is to develop and refine students’ leadership skills, increase awareness around social issues impacting teens, and engage students to create and support a positive social environment that practices respect, empathy, and acceptance.
The course is facilitated by the District Attorney’s Office staff certified in peer leadership. The training agenda includes interactive discussions, media, role play, activities and team challenges on topics such as decision making, healthy relationships, communication, public speaking, peer pressure, bullying, social media, labels, stereotyping, discrimination and substance abuse.”
The Student Council serves as representatives of all students at BCD. The group works with faculty advisors, the administration, and the Parents’ Association to implement school-wide service projects, fun new social initiatives, as well as serving as an advisory committee to the Head of School and Associate Head. They have been part of the School’s Strategic Planning process, meeting with architects and different constituents, as they take real ownership of planning for BCD’s future generations.
We congratulate the newly elected 2014-15 officers: Fiona, Charley, Finn, Ruby and Alex L.
Thank you Student Council for kicking off the Holiday Gift Drive and Diaper Drive as well as for your help at today’s Soup celebration.
…More to come on how you’ve made a difference in our larger community!
Our Seniors:
Charlie and other 9th graders not only serve as a force on our athletic fields, but also hold several peer mentoring roles throughout the school, from sharing Monday lunches with preschoolers and lower school students, to serving as playground monitors for the Lower School’s recesses. They also serve as Team Captains on our sports teams. In short, their positive presence is felt throughout the day in many facets of school life.
Seniors Evan, Julian, and Alex L. were invited to attend the James Otis Lecture on the Magna Carta at Faneuil Hall. These history scholars were nominated by history teacher, Sarah Pitcher-Hoffman, and joined several prestigious schools from around Massachusetts to hear from distinguished faculty who have written about and spoken on Magna Carta and its significance around the world.
The event was sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates
“The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” -Dwight Eisenhower
